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abolition-usa-digest     Friday, December 18 1998     Volume 01 : Number 051




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Date: Thu, 17 Dec 1998 01:36:29 EST
From: [e-mail]
Subject: (abolition-usa) Fwd: Minnesota Protests

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4:30 pm at the Federal Court House, downtown Minneapolis
Thursday, Decemember 17th there will be a protest against the military
strikes against Iraq

for those that can make it here :)

Dwight


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------------------------------

Date: Thu, 17 Dec 1998 14:13:30 -0500
From: ASlater <[e-mail]>
Subject: (abolition-usa) New Agenda UN vote: op-ed

Dear Friends,

Below is an article I wrote on the UN vote in which all of our NATO allies,
with the exception of Turkey, UK and France resisted US pressure and voted for
speedier steps to disarmament.  While this unprecedented breach in the NATO
wall (thanks in large part to grassroots lobbying by our global Network) has
received extensive coverage internationally, there has been no word of it in
the US.  Please consider writing your own, or using this one, as well as
letters to the editor, etc. about US lawless behavior. In light of the awful
events in Iraq, it's becomes ever more urgent that the American public know
how
out of step our own country is, even with our allies.


TIME FOR A NEW NUCLEAR POLICY AGENDA
by Alice Slater

Calling on the nuclear weapons states ôto demonstrate an unequivocal
commitment
to the speedy and total eliminationö of their nuclear arsenals, the New Agenda
Coalition of eight nations-- Ireland, Sweden, New Zealand, South Africa,
Mexico, Brazil, Egypt and Slovenia-- won an extraordinary victory in the UN
this December on their resolution for a new nuclear policy agenda.  Despite
intense lobbying by United States envoys in capitols all over the world,
urging
governments to vote against the resolution, it passed by a vote of 114 in
favor, 18 against and 38 abstentions.  Slovenia, a NATO-wannabe, had to
withdraw its sponsorship and voted to abstain after some arm-twisting by Uncle
Sam.

Overturning long-standing precedent, all of the non-nuclear NATO nations with
the exception of Turkey withstood heavy-handed pressure from the US, aided by
France and the UK, breaking ranks to abstain on the resolution.  Canada,
emulating its leadership role in pushing through the landmines treaty and
International Criminal Court agreement over US objections, sent
representatives
to NATO capitols urging those nations to resist US pressure.  Germany, Italy,
Netherlands, Norway, Greece, Spain, Belgium, Luxembourg, Iceland, Portugal,
and
Denmark, as well as non-NATO allies Japan and Australia all rejected the rusty
cold war position of the US.

The New Agenda Coalition has issued a clarion call to the nuclear weapons
states and the nuclear capable states which are not members of the
Non-Proliferation Treaty (India, Pakistan, Israel), to take more immediate and
practical steps towards nuclear disarmament, urging that we not enter the next
millenium without a clear and rapid path towards the elimination of nuclear
weapons.  The US strenuously objected in the UN debate to the New AgendaÆs
call
to review existing nuclear strategic doctrines and to dealert all nuclear
weapons, stating that such measures would undermine its policy of nuclear
deterrence.

The new German Foreign Minister recently issued a call that NATO adopt a no
first use policy, although GermanyÆs Defense Minister, on a subsequent
visit to
Washington avoided a clear statement on no first use, responding to US
pressure
and expressions of alarm that NATO Cold War doctrine might actually be changed
to conform to new realities.  CanadaÆs Foreign Affairs Committee recently
issued a parliamentary report urging that Canada and NATO allies should work
with the New Agenda Coalition and encourage the nuclear weapons states to
conclude negotiations leading to the elimination of nuclear weapons.  It also
endorsed the de-alerting of all nuclear weapons, and called upon the
government
to ôargue forcefullyö for a re-examination of NATOÆs nuclear policy.

Now is the time for the US to heed its allies and begin taking the practical
steps recommended by the New Agenda Coalition.  With the Y2K problem
threatening uncertain possibilities for tragic nuclear accidents due to faulty
computer programming, taking our weapons off hair-trigger alert is
particularly
appealing.   Reports from Russia that the Duma is likely to pass START II,
reducing arsenals to about 3500 deployed strategic warheads in each country,
and then to move for cuts much deeper than the 2500 warheads contemplated
under
START III,  is an added further incentive for the US to support the lead of
its
partners in NATO and friends in the New Agenda Coalition by moving towards
meaningful nuclear disarmament.

The continued reliance on nuclear weapons as instruments of national security
is a provocative  invitation to other nations to acquire themwitness events in
India and Pakistan.  ItÆs time to put the cold war behind us and negotiate a
treaty to eliminate nuclear weapons.  By clinging so obdurately to its useless
and dangerous nuclear capability, the US is perceived by other nations as
having joined the league of so-called ôrogueö states which use the terror of
weapons of mass destruction as an instrument of policy.  The US should join
with its allies in working rapidly to eliminate the nuclear scourge.  It must
not repeat the tragic and shameful conduct that led to its pariah status on
the
landmines and International Criminal Court treaties.

Alice Slater
Global Resource Action Center for the Environment (GRACE)
15 East 26th Street, Room 915
New York, NY 10010
tel:  [phone]
fax:  [phone]
email:  [e-mail]

GRACE is a member of Abolition 2000, a global network working for a treaty
to eliminate nuclear weapons.

- -
 To unsubscribe to abolition-usa, send an email to "[e-mail]"
 with "unsubscribe abolition-usa" in the body of the message.
 For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send
 "help" to the same address.  Do not use quotes in your message.

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 17 Dec 1998 14:13:30 -0500
From: ASlater <[e-mail]>
Subject: (abolition-usa) New Agenda UN vote: op-ed

Dear Friends,

Below is an article I wrote on the UN vote in which all of our NATO allies,
with the exception of Turkey, UK and France resisted US pressure and voted for
speedier steps to disarmament.  While this unprecedented breach in the NATO
wall (thanks in large part to grassroots lobbying by our global Network) has
received extensive coverage internationally, there has been no word of it in
the US.  Please consider writing your own, or using this one, as well as
letters to the editor, etc. about US lawless behavior. In light of the awful
events in Iraq, it's becomes ever more urgent that the American public know
how
out of step our own country is, even with our allies.


TIME FOR A NEW NUCLEAR POLICY AGENDA
by Alice Slater

Calling on the nuclear weapons states ôto demonstrate an unequivocal
commitment
to the speedy and total eliminationö of their nuclear arsenals, the New Agenda
Coalition of eight nations-- Ireland, Sweden, New Zealand, South Africa,
Mexico, Brazil, Egypt and Slovenia-- won an extraordinary victory in the UN
this December on their resolution for a new nuclear policy agenda.  Despite
intense lobbying by United States envoys in capitols all over the world,
urging
governments to vote against the resolution, it passed by a vote of 114 in
favor, 18 against and 38 abstentions.  Slovenia, a NATO-wannabe, had to
withdraw its sponsorship and voted to abstain after some arm-twisting by Uncle
Sam.

Overturning long-standing precedent, all of the non-nuclear NATO nations with
the exception of Turkey withstood heavy-handed pressure from the US, aided by
France and the UK, breaking ranks to abstain on the resolution.  Canada,
emulating its leadership role in pushing through the landmines treaty and
International Criminal Court agreement over US objections, sent
representatives
to NATO capitols urging those nations to resist US pressure.  Germany, Italy,
Netherlands, Norway, Greece, Spain, Belgium, Luxembourg, Iceland, Portugal,
and
Denmark, as well as non-NATO allies Japan and Australia all rejected the rusty
cold war position of the US.

The New Agenda Coalition has issued a clarion call to the nuclear weapons
states and the nuclear capable states which are not members of the
Non-Proliferation Treaty (India, Pakistan, Israel), to take more immediate and
practical steps towards nuclear disarmament, urging that we not enter the next
millenium without a clear and rapid path towards the elimination of nuclear
weapons.  The US strenuously objected in the UN debate to the New AgendaÆs
call
to review existing nuclear strategic doctrines and to dealert all nuclear
weapons, stating that such measures would undermine its policy of nuclear
deterrence.

The new German Foreign Minister recently issued a call that NATO adopt a no
first use policy, although GermanyÆs Defense Minister, on a subsequent
visit to
Washington avoided a clear statement on no first use, responding to US
pressure
and expressions of alarm that NATO Cold War doctrine might actually be changed
to conform to new realities.  CanadaÆs Foreign Affairs Committee recently
issued a parliamentary report urging that Canada and NATO allies should work
with the New Agenda Coalition and encourage the nuclear weapons states to
conclude negotiations leading to the elimination of nuclear weapons.  It also
endorsed the de-alerting of all nuclear weapons, and called upon the
government
to ôargue forcefullyö for a re-examination of NATOÆs nuclear policy.

Now is the time for the US to heed its allies and begin taking the practical
steps recommended by the New Agenda Coalition.  With the Y2K problem
threatening uncertain possibilities for tragic nuclear accidents due to faulty
computer programming, taking our weapons off hair-trigger alert is
particularly
appealing.   Reports from Russia that the Duma is likely to pass START II,
reducing arsenals to about 3500 deployed strategic warheads in each country,
and then to move for cuts much deeper than the 2500 warheads contemplated
under
START III,  is an added further incentive for the US to support the lead of
its
partners in NATO and friends in the New Agenda Coalition by moving towards
meaningful nuclear disarmament.

The continued reliance on nuclear weapons as instruments of national security
is a provocative  invitation to other nations to acquire themwitness events in
India and Pakistan.  ItÆs time to put the cold war behind us and negotiate a
treaty to eliminate nuclear weapons.  By clinging so obdurately to its useless
and dangerous nuclear capability, the US is perceived by other nations as
having joined the league of so-called ôrogueö states which use the terror of
weapons of mass destruction as an instrument of policy.  The US should join
with its allies in working rapidly to eliminate the nuclear scourge.  It must
not repeat the tragic and shameful conduct that led to its pariah status on
the
landmines and International Criminal Court treaties.

Alice Slater
Global Resource Action Center for the Environment (GRACE)
15 East 26th Street, Room 915
New York, NY 10010
tel:  [phone]
fax:  [phone]
email:  [e-mail]

GRACE is a member of Abolition 2000, a global network working for a treaty
to eliminate nuclear weapons.

- -
 To unsubscribe to abolition-usa, send an email to "[e-mail]"
 with "unsubscribe abolition-usa" in the body of the message.
 For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send
 "help" to the same address.  Do not use quotes in your message.

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 17 Dec 1998 14:13:30 -0500
From: ASlater <[e-mail]>
Subject: (abolition-usa) New Agenda UN vote: op-ed

Dear Friends,

Below is an article I wrote on the UN vote in which all of our NATO allies,
with the exception of Turkey, UK and France resisted US pressure and voted for
speedier steps to disarmament.  While this unprecedented breach in the NATO
wall (thanks in large part to grassroots lobbying by our global Network) has
received extensive coverage internationally, there has been no word of it in
the US.  Please consider writing your own, or using this one, as well as
letters to the editor, etc. about US lawless behavior. In light of the awful
events in Iraq, it's becomes ever more urgent that the American public know
how
out of step our own country is, even with our allies.


TIME FOR A NEW NUCLEAR POLICY AGENDA
by Alice Slater

Calling on the nuclear weapons states ôto demonstrate an unequivocal
commitment
to the speedy and total eliminationö of their nuclear arsenals, the New Agenda
Coalition of eight nations-- Ireland, Sweden, New Zealand, South Africa,
Mexico, Brazil, Egypt and Slovenia-- won an extraordinary victory in the UN
this December on their resolution for a new nuclear policy agenda.  Despite
intense lobbying by United States envoys in capitols all over the world,
urging
governments to vote against the resolution, it passed by a vote of 114 in
favor, 18 against and 38 abstentions.  Slovenia, a NATO-wannabe, had to
withdraw its sponsorship and voted to abstain after some arm-twisting by Uncle
Sam.

Overturning long-standing precedent, all of the non-nuclear NATO nations with
the exception of Turkey withstood heavy-handed pressure from the US, aided by
France and the UK, breaking ranks to abstain on the resolution.  Canada,
emulating its leadership role in pushing through the landmines treaty and
International Criminal Court agreement over US objections, sent
representatives
to NATO capitols urging those nations to resist US pressure.  Germany, Italy,
Netherlands, Norway, Greece, Spain, Belgium, Luxembourg, Iceland, Portugal,
and
Denmark, as well as non-NATO allies Japan and Australia all rejected the rusty
cold war position of the US.

The New Agenda Coalition has issued a clarion call to the nuclear weapons
states and the nuclear capable states which are not members of the
Non-Proliferation Treaty (India, Pakistan, Israel), to take more immediate and
practical steps towards nuclear disarmament, urging that we not enter the next
millenium without a clear and rapid path towards the elimination of nuclear
weapons.  The US strenuously objected in the UN debate to the New AgendaÆs
call
to review existing nuclear strategic doctrines and to dealert all nuclear
weapons, stating that such measures would undermine its policy of nuclear
deterrence.

The new German Foreign Minister recently issued a call that NATO adopt a no
first use policy, although GermanyÆs Defense Minister, on a subsequent
visit to
Washington avoided a clear statement on no first use, responding to US
pressure
and expressions of alarm that NATO Cold War doctrine might actually be changed
to conform to new realities.  CanadaÆs Foreign Affairs Committee recently
issued a parliamentary report urging that Canada and NATO allies should work
with the New Agenda Coalition and encourage the nuclear weapons states to
conclude negotiations leading to the elimination of nuclear weapons.  It also
endorsed the de-alerting of all nuclear weapons, and called upon the
government
to ôargue forcefullyö for a re-examination of NATOÆs nuclear policy.

Now is the time for the US to heed its allies and begin taking the practical
steps recommended by the New Agenda Coalition.  With the Y2K problem
threatening uncertain possibilities for tragic nuclear accidents due to faulty
computer programming, taking our weapons off hair-trigger alert is
particularly
appealing.   Reports from Russia that the Duma is likely to pass START II,
reducing arsenals to about 3500 deployed strategic warheads in each country,
and then to move for cuts much deeper than the 2500 warheads contemplated
under
START III,  is an added further incentive for the US to support the lead of
its
partners in NATO and friends in the New Agenda Coalition by moving towards
meaningful nuclear disarmament.

The continued reliance on nuclear weapons as instruments of national security
is a provocative  invitation to other nations to acquire themwitness events in
India and Pakistan.  ItÆs time to put the cold war behind us and negotiate a
treaty to eliminate nuclear weapons.  By clinging so obdurately to its useless
and dangerous nuclear capability, the US is perceived by other nations as
having joined the league of so-called ôrogueö states which use the terror of
weapons of mass destruction as an instrument of policy.  The US should join
with its allies in working rapidly to eliminate the nuclear scourge.  It must
not repeat the tragic and shameful conduct that led to its pariah status on
the
landmines and International Criminal Court treaties.

Alice Slater
Global Resource Action Center for the Environment (GRACE)
15 East 26th Street, Room 915
New York, NY 10010
tel:  [phone]
fax:  [phone]
email:  [e-mail]

GRACE is a member of Abolition 2000, a global network working for a treaty
to eliminate nuclear weapons.

- -
 To unsubscribe to abolition-usa, send an email to "[e-mail]"
 with "unsubscribe abolition-usa" in the body of the message.
 For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send
 "help" to the same address.  Do not use quotes in your message.

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 17 Dec 1998 19:20:44 -0500
From: ASlater <[e-mail]>
Subject: (abolition-usa) Fwd: ACTION ALERT-Stockpile Stewardship Resolution

Dear Friends,
I am forwarding this action alert prepared by the Alliance for Nuclear
Accountability.  If your Congressperson is not on the list below, please
make every effort to follow up.

>STOCKPILE STEWARDSHIP RESOLUTION ACTION ALERT
>
>Please contact your US Representatives and ask them to cosponsor the Markey
>Resolution in 1999.  With enough cosponsors, we could get a floor vote on
>the resolution or a similar amendment this year.
>
>Brad
>
>THE UNITED STATES SHOULD START THE NEW YEAR AND THE NEW 106TH CONGRESS
>LEADING THE WAY INTO A SAFER WORLD
>
>COSPONSOR THE MARKEY RESOLUTION
>
>The Stockpile Stewardship Program (SSP) is the new name for nuclear weapons
>research, development, testing, and production activities at the Department
>of Energy's many labs and nuclear weapons facilities.  At a price tag of
>$4.5 billion annually, the SSP involves dozens of upgraded and new research
>facilities and supercomputers, enhanced weapons production capabilities,
>and
>explosive tests using nuclear weapons material including uranium and
>plutonium.  The nuclear weapons establishment claims that this program is
>needed to ensure the safety and reliability of existing nuclear weapons.
>But the SSP has little to do with ensuring safety of the arsenal
>(preventing
>accidental detonations) or verifying reliability (assuring the bombs
>explode
>as predicted).  The SSP is intended to maintain the capability to design
>and
>develop new weapons and to train a new generation of nuclear weapons
>designers.
>This is provocative to other countries, and runs counter to our Nuclear
>Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) obligations to negotiate in good faith the
>cessation of the nuclear arms race and nuclear disarmament.  The
>provocative
>nature of the SSP was realized this spring when India cited this program as
>they detonated several underground nuclear tests.
>What are the alternatives?  Under the START II arms control agreement,
>potential START III negotiations, and proposed unilateral cuts, the US
>stockpile is growing ever smaller.  As nuclear weapons stockpiles shrink,
>the existing stockpile can be maintained with a more responsible
>custodianship program that is far smaller that the SSP, which is less
>expensive and requires fewer facilities.  A number of more appropriate
>alternatives can fulfill US stockpile maintenance requirements while
>complying with the obligations of the NPT and the Comprehensive Test Ban
>Treaty, signed by the President and currently held hostage by the Senate
>for
>advice and consent.
>
>PLEASE ASK YOUR REPRESENTATIVE TO JOIN REPRESENTATIVE MARKEY AND OTHERS BY
>COSPONSORING THE MARKEY RESOLUTION, AND REDIRECT CUSTODIANSHIP OF THE
>NUCLEAR WEAPONS ARSENAL TOWARD LESS COSTLY, LESS PROVOCATIVE ALTERNATIVES.
>
>
>Alliance for Nuclear Accountability
>
>ACTION ALERT!
>
>CALL YOUR REPRESENTATIVE TODAY!
>
>In 1998, Representative Ed Markey (D-7-MA) and 14 other members of the US
>House of Representatives had the courage and foresight to call for a less
>provocative, less wasteful, and more responsible custodianship program to
>save billions of dollars and ensure the real safety of the US nuclear
>weapons stockpile.  If your member of the US House is listed below, please
>thank them and encourage them again to cosponsor the Markey Resolution in
>1999.  If your member of the House is not listed below, please ask them to
>join the others and cosponsor the Markey Resolution before they return in
>January.
>
>Cosponsors of the Markey Resolution in 1998:
>Rep. Ed Markey (D-7-MA)
>Rep. Barbara Lee (D-9-CA)
>Rep. John Tierney (D-6-MA)
>Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-6-CA)
>Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-14-NY)
>Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-8-NY)
>Rep. Nita Lowey (D-18-NY)
>Rep. Bob Filner (D-50-CA)
>Rep. Frank Pallone (D-6-NJ)
>Rep. Jim McGovern (D-3-MA)
>Rep. Major Owens (D-11-NY)
>Rep. George Miller (D-7-MA)
>Rep. Lois Capps (D-22-CA)
>Rep. Elizabeth Furse (D-1-OR-Retired)
>Sen.-elect Charles Schumer (D-9-NY)
>
>URGE YOUR REPRSENTATIVE TO COSPONSOR THE MARKEY RESOLUTION
>
>For more information, a copy of the original legislation, contact the
>Alliance for Nuclear Accountability DC Office at  202-833-4668, or to reach
>your member of Congress ccall the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121.
>Your Representative can contact Representative Markey's office and
>Legislative Director Jeff Duncan at
>202-225-2836.
>                         ********************************
>                                     Brad Morse
>                                 Program Assistant
>                          Alliance for Nuclear Accountability
>                               1801 18th St., NW
>                                   Suite 9-2
>                             Washington, DC  20009
>                               www.ananuclear.org
>                      ph:[phone]  fax:[phone]
>
>
Alice Slater
Global Resource Action Center for the Environment (GRACE)
15 East 26th Street, Room 915
New York, NY 10010
tel:  [phone]
fax:  [phone]
email:  [e-mail]

GRACE is a member of Abolition 2000, a global network working for a treaty
to eliminate nuclear weapons.

- -
 To unsubscribe to abolition-usa, send an email to "[e-mail]"
 with "unsubscribe abolition-usa" in the body of the message.
 For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send
 "help" to the same address.  Do not use quotes in your message.

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 17 Dec 1998 19:53:38 EST
From: [e-mail]
Subject: (abolition-usa) Re: Gensuikyo's Letters to Clinton & UN

Dear Akamatsu-san,

Please accept the good wishes of War Resisters League and, I am sure, many
others. I am delighted to have the text of your letter. Clinton's actions are
a crime and international protests are imperative. Thank you for coming to the
aid of the American peace movement at this most difficult moment.

Peace,
David McReynolds
War Resisters League, NYC
<< Subj:     Gensuikyo's Letters to Clinton & UN
 Date:    12/17/98 5:41:32 AM Eastern Standard Time
 From:    [e-mail] (antiatom)
 Sender:    [e-mail]
 To:    [e-mail]

 Dear friends of peace,

 We are sending you for your reference our letter of protest sent to
 President Clinton on US attack against Iraq, and also a letter of request
 to the United Nations to stop this outrage.  We staged a protest action in
 front of the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo this evening.

 In solidarity,

 Japan Council against A & H Bombs (Gensuikyo)

 ------------------------------------------------

 December 17, 1998

 Mr. Bill Clinton
 President of the United States of America
 White House
 Washington, D.C., U.S.A.

 LETTER OF PROTEST

 Mr. President,

 On the early morning of December 17(Japanese time), the U.S. government
 launched a massive military attack against Iraq, on the ground of
 non-compliance of Iraqi government on the problem of inspection on its
 weapons of mass destruction.  This action by the U.S. was taken
 unilaterally even while the U.N. Security Council was in session to discuss
 the inspection problem.  This is totally unlawful in the light of both the
 U.N. Charter and international law.  We Japan Gensuikyo strongly denounce
 this outrageous action.

 The development of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction, by
 whatever country, should resolutely be opposed.  Since the Iraqi Government
 has agreed on the U.N. inspection, it should naturally cooperate to the
 inspection activities.  Nevertheless, this does not justify the unilateral
 military action of the U.S.  Far from it, such action itself constitutes
 the violation of the Security Council resolution adopted in March this
 year, which prohibited any military action not approved by the U.N.O.

 At the same time, we must point out as the fundamental problem that a total
 ban on nuclear weapons has not yet been achieved even now, and that this
 fact keeps generating a danger of nuclear weapon development.  The U.S.
 government should be held heavily responsible for this, too, as it
 constantly opposes a convention totally banning and eliminating nuclear
 weapons, while holding on to the enormous stockpile of its own nuclear
 weapons.

 Japan Gensuikyo strongly urges the U.S. government to immediately stop all
 military actions now taken, and to work for a peaceful solution of the
 problems.

 Sincerely,

 Koichi Akamatsu
 Secretary General

 ----------------------------

 Mr. Kofi Annan, Secretary General of the United Nations
 Mr. Didier Opertti, Chairman of the General Assembly
 Mr. Jassim Mohammed Buallay, Chairman of the Security Council
 United Nations
 New York, NY 10017
 U.S.A.

 December 17, 1998

 Dear Sirs,

 We, the Japan Council against A & H Bombs (Japan Gensuikyo) have strongly
 denounced the U.S. military attack against Iraq and urged the U.S.
 government to immediately stop all military actions.  Iraq must naturally
 submit to the UN inspection. However, this problem would by no means
 justify the U.S. military actions under whatever international law.  On the
 contrary, the U.S. action in itself is a violation of the U.N. Charter and
 the Security Council resolution that prohibits military action not
 authorized by the U.N.O.

 We herewith send you a copy of our letter of protest addressed to U.S.
 President Clinton, and request that the United Nations takes immediate
 action necessary to stop such action.

 Sincerely,

 Koichi Akamatsu
 Secretary General
    >>

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 To unsubscribe to abolition-usa, send an email to "[e-mail]"
 with "unsubscribe abolition-usa" in the body of the message.
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------------------------------

Date: Fri, 18 Dec 1998 01:58:59 EST
From: [e-mail]
Subject: (abolition-usa) Not yet ready: Menno response to bombing

In a message dated 12/17/98 10:52:36 PM Eastern Standard Time,
[e-mail] writes:

<< Subj:     Not yet ready: Menno response to bombing
 Date:    12/17/98 10:52:36 PM Eastern Standard Time
 From:    [e-mail] (Mennonite Church Peace and Justice Committee,
Orrville Ohio)
 Sender:    [e-mail]
 Reply-to:    [e-mail] (Mennonite Church Peace and Justice
Committee, Orrville Ohio), [e-mail],
[e-mail]
 To:    [e-mail], [e-mail]

 Friends,

 I apologize. I was really hoping to get this finished up tonight, but
 that isn't going to happen.

 PJC and GCMC are working with MCC to suggest that, on Sunday,
 congregations pray for repentance and dedicate gauze to be sent to
 President Clinton.

 By tomorrow, I hope to post here and on the PJC web site:
 --Prayer of repentance
 --Action idea explanation: collecting, dedicating and mailing gauze
 to the White House
  --Litany of dedication (of ourselves to peace and the gauze to
 the Iraqis)
 --Sample note to send to President Clinton with the gauze

 We suggest gauze because

 -it resembles swaddling clothes and reminds us of what our focus
 should be, especially this time of year

 --is used to bind up wounds (Luke 4). Wounds caused by the sanctions
 and wounds caused by the current and past military actions.
 (conservative projections by the Clinton administration run at 10,000
 Iraqi civilian casualties) The gauze is a wonderful idea that reminds
 us of wounded relationships that need healing.

 --is less available in Iraq because of the sanctions and symbolic of
 the kind of things we should be sending to Iraq rather than missiles.

 --it might be used in various ways as altar decorations to symbolize a
 congregation's feelings about the Iraqi situation

 -- (on a practical note) it is light weight and thus cheaper to mail
 and handle

 You might want to purchase enough packages of gauze for each
 household or member of your congregation and leave time in your
 service for this activity.

 Thanks for your patience and interest!

 Peace,
 Susan
 Susan Mark Landis
 Minister of peace and Justice for the Mennonite Church
 PO Box 173, Orrville OH 44667-0173
 phone/fax [phone]
 [e-mail]
 http://www.MennoLink.org/peace/
  >>

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------------------------------

Date: Fri, 18 Dec 1998 01:59:05 EST
From: [e-mail]
Subject: (abolition-usa) Re: Just in case

In a message dated 12/17/98 8:57:15 PM Eastern Standard Time,
[e-mail] writes:

<< Subj:     Re: Just in case
 Date:    12/17/98 8:57:15 PM Eastern Standard Time
 From:    [e-mail]
 To:    [e-mail], [e-mail],
[e-mail] (David McReynolds, New York City),
[e-mail], [e-mail]

 For some great ideas about prayer and action, please see:

 http://www.MennoLink.org/peace/may13.html

 The PJC site also has a few new things up on the Iraqi page.

 And, David, if you forward to this list the web sites where FOR, etc,
 are calling for a day of mourning on Saturday, I'd appreciate it.
 While I'm working hard to get some prayers and litanies together with
 other ideas, this one is also entirely appropriate. I guess I haven't
 had the time to search other sites since earlier this morning.

 Friends, keep buying the gauze!

 Susan
 Susan Mark Landis
 Minister of peace and Justice for the Mennonite Church
 PO Box 173, Orrville OH 44667-0173
 phone/fax [phone]
 [e-mail]
 http://www.MennoLink.org/peace/

  >>

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------------------------------

Date: Fri, 18 Dec 1998 01:59:17 EST
From: [e-mail]
Subject: (abolition-usa) Brief note - Iraq

Others have said very wise things. I sent along Edward Said's piece and hope
you got it.

Most of you getting this are either in international groups or have contact
with them.

All possible, immediate pressure is needed on the US and British governments.
Labour back benchers might get reported on the BBC TV and would have some
impact here (where at least in NYC we get BBC TV). Russia's withdrawal of her
ambassador underlines the seriousness of the situation.

For those of you in the US, you may want to send a fax directly to the Iraqis
Mission - not to offer political support but to say that you are ashamed of
and oppose the US action, and do not accept that the people of Iraq are an
enemy of the people of this country. In any case, at a human level, I suspect
the folks at the Iraqi Mission are nervous and worried about what is happening
at home. In this situation that Mission is one of the few places we can
address notes of condolence (with the added and certain comfort that NSA will
monitor this traffic - and so we get double duty - it is filed for those doing
analysis of opposition to the bombing, and it is a human gesture of Iraq).

Fax: 212 / 737.7770.

I deeply appreciate the notes that have come in on Abolition 2000 from those
in Canada, Japan, England, etc. Please - we need those.

Also as many of you may know, Peace Action, the Fellowship of Reconciliation,
War Resisters League, the Friends Committee on National Legislation, and the
Arab American Anti-Discrimination Committee have called for THIS Saturday, the
19th being a national day of mourning in the US with vigils and demontrations
where possible.

I would add a personal note of quiet fury at watching the host of political
figures trotted out to assure us (as Tony Blair did - SHAME!) that there is no
connection to the impeachment. And a terrible sense of shame that we excuse
the bombing by saying we had to start it before Ramadan lest we give offense
to the Muslims. What about the Christians? Isn't this already the season of
the Prince of Peace?

Peace,
David McReynolds
War Resisters League staff
NYC

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------------------------------

Date: Fri, 18 Dec 1998 20:07:35 -0600 (CST)
From: [e-mail] (Robert Smirnow)
Subject: (abolition-usa) Fwd: YUCCA MOUNTAIN VIABILITY RELEASE

- ---

Date: Fri, 18 Dec 1998 16:53:35 -0500
From: Michael Mariotte <[e-mail]>
Reply-To: [e-mail]
Organization: NIRS

To: [e-mail]
Subject: Yucca Mt viability release

Sender: [e-mail]


News Release from 100 Environmental and Consumer Organizations


For Immediate Release:                       Contact: Auke Piersma,
202-546-4996,
ext. 318
Dec. 18, 1998                                                      Mary
Olson, 202-338-0002

DOE's Viability Assessment: Showstoppers Abound

        WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Environmental and consumer organizations
called today
for Energy Secretary Bill Richardson to disqualify Yucca Mountain as
the
proposed site of a nuclear waste repository. The data within the
Department
of Energy's Viability Assessment (VA), released today, confirm that the
site
must be disqualified.  Furthermore, the VA snubs necessary public
involvement.

        In the Viability Assessment, the scientific data supports the
Petition to
Disqualify Yucca Mountain, which 219 environmental organizations
submitted
on Nov. 18. The rapid water travel times from the proposed dump to the
nearest wells supplying drinking water require the energy secretary to
disqualify Yucca Mountain as a site to dump high-level nuclear waste.
Several other concerns are likely showstoppers, including seismic
activity,
volcanic activity and geothermal upwelling.

        "We object to the content of the report for its optimistic
conclusions."
the groups said. "Our petition has highlighted clear evidence of
showstoppers. It is time for the DOE to stop the show and disqualify
Yucca
Mountain."

        DOE models, despite their large uncertainties, predict massive
radionuclide
contamination, peaking up to 20 times above current radiation
protection
standards for other geologic waste dumps. "It is outrageous that DOE
will
continue to study this site when their own data predicts excessive
radiation
exposure to citizens of our nation," said Wenonah Hauter, the director
of
Public Citizen's Critical Mass Energy Project.

        Earlier this month, representatives of environmental and
consumer groups
met with Richardson to urge that the VA be written with an open
democratic
process that fosters public participation. However, the DOE has failed
to
solicit the views of citizens.

        "We are frustrated with the DOE's lack of effort in upholding
the integrity
of the process to characterize Yucca Mountain," said Michael Mariotte,
the
executive director of the Nuclear Information and Resource Service.
"The
VA
should be accompanied by several public hearings across the country in
the
many states that would be affected by this program."

        The DOE says the VA is intended to present an assessment of
Yucca Mountain
at this time, but the agency has failed to allow for an outside
independent
peer review that is representative of the full range of concerns. The
DOE
should establish a convening body to select a representative group of
peers
across the full spectrum of issues and expertise, the groups said.

         "The environmental community stands ready to nominate members
of a
convening body in an open process," said Hauter. "We also look forward
to
the Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board's review, but we encourage
them
to
not stop short of the obvious conclusions of Yucca Mountain that need
to
be
drawn."

        Recent independent cost estimates for the Yucca Mountain
program
suggest a
shortfall of $25 billion. "It would be outrageous for DOE to make the
decision to go forward with more work at Yucca Mountain when the
evidence in
their own study  - - a leaky mountain, leaky containers, and
earthquakes
- - -
disqualify the site. It is time to move on and stop wasting billions of

dollars," said Ann Mesnikoff of Sierra Club's Global Warming and Energy

Program.

# # #

Action for a Clean Environment * Alliance for Nuclear Accountability *
Alliance to Close Indian Point * Alliance for Survival * American's for
a
Safe Future  * Appalachia - Science in the Public Interest * Arizona
Safe
Energy Coalition * Atlanta Food Not Bombs * Baltimore's
Hiroshima-Nagasaki
Commemoration Cmte * Bay Area Nuclear Waste Coalition * Bison Land
Resource
Center * Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League * California
Communities
Against Toxins * Californians for Radioactive Safeguards * Center for
Energy
Research * Central Pennsylvania Citizens for Survival * Chenango North
Energy Awareness Group * Chernobyl Children's Project * Chicago Media
Watch
* Citizen Alert * Citizen's Resistance at Fermi Two (CRAFT) * Citizens
Awareness Network * Citizens Action Coalition of Indiana * Citizens For
a
Healthy Planet * Citizens League for Environmental Action & Recovery
(CLEAR)
* Citizens Protecting Ohio * Clean Environment * Coalition for Peace
and
Justice * Coalition for a Nuclear Free Great Lakes (CNFGL) *
Connecticut
Green Party * Desert Citizens Against Pollution * Don't Waste Oregon *
Don't
Waste Michigan (DWM) *  E.D.E.N. Calendar of Southeast Michigan * Earth
Day
Coalition * Earth Care * Earth Concerns of Oklahoma * El Paso Chapter
National Lawyers Guild * Environmental Advocates * Environmental
Coalition
on Nuclear Power * F.A.C.T.S. (For A Clean Tonawanda Site), Inc. *
Flagstaff
Opposed to Nuclear Transportation * Florida Coalition for Peace &
Justice *
Forces of Nature * FRIENDS of the COAST - Opposing Nuclear Pollution *
GE
Stockholders' Alliance * Global Resource Action Center for the
Environment
(GRACE) * Grandmothers for Peace International * Grass Roots
Environmental
Organization of New Jersey * Green Party of New Jersey * Hanford Watch
*
Heads Up Media * Institute for Local Self Reliance * Kalamazoo Area
Coalition for Peace and Justice * Long Island SHAD (Sound & Hudson
against
Atomic Development) * Maryland Safe Energy Coalition * Massachusetts
Citizens For Safe Energy * Native Forest Network - Eastern North
American
Resource Center * NC WARN * New England Coalition on Nuclear Pollution
*
Non- Violent Student Organization- Kalamazoo College * Nuclear
Information
and Resource Service * Nuclear Waste Citizen's Coalition * Nuclear
Energy
Information Service * Nukewatch * Orange County Greens * Peace Action
Maine
* Pennsylvania Environmental Network (PEN) * Pennsylvania Consumer
Action
Network * Philadelphia Solar Energy Association * Physicians for Social

Responsibility/Maine * Physicians for Social Responsibility, Los
Angeles
*
Prairie Island Coalition * Public Citizen * RACE, Regional Association
of
Concerned Environmentalists * Redwood Alliance * Rocky Mountain Peace
and
Justice Center * Safe Energy Communication Council * Save Ward Valley *

Sierra Blanca Legal defense/ El Paso * Sierra Club * Snake River
Alliance *
Solar Energy International * Southwest Research and Information Center
*
Southwest Toxic Watch * STAR (Standing for Truth About Radiation) *
Stop
Mobile Chernobyl!/People Against Unsafe Nuclear Transportation *
Student
Environmental Organization - Kalamazoo College * Students for a
Sustainable
Earth - Western Michigan U * SUN DAY Campaign * Swords into Plowshares
Peace
Center - Western Michigan University * The Radiation and Public Health
Project * Three Mile Island Alert * Tippecanoe Environmental Council *
Vermont Public Interest Research Group * Women Legislators' Lobby *
Women's
Action for New Directions * Women's International League for Peace &
Freedom
* World Tree Center for Peace, Justice and Mother Earth * Yggdrasil
Institute *




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End of abolition-usa-digest V1 #51
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