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From: owner-abolition-usa-digest@lists.xmission.com (abolition-usa-digest) To: abolition-usa-digest@lists.xmission.com Subject: abolition-usa-digest V1 #158 Reply-To: abolition-usa-digest Sender: owner-abolition-usa-digest@lists.xmission.com Errors-To: owner-abolition-usa-digest@lists.xmission.com Precedence: bulk abolition-usa-digest Wednesday, July 28 1999 Volume 01 : Number 158 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 26 Jul 1999 21:56:45 -0400 From: Proposition One Committee <prop1@prop1.org> Subject: Re: (abolition-usa) Prop1 for Nuclear Disarmament and Economic Conversion At 11:07 PM 7/26/99 -0400, you wrote: >This is good,but it should call for a nuclear weapons convention rather >than unilateral disarmament, which is a bit quixotic. Are there >cosponsors? Have there been in the past? Is there a way to get hearings >going? > Peter Weiss > Peter, I don't think we ever fully understood each other when you and I talked about this idea in The Hague back in November 1995. There's nothing unilateral about Ms. Norton's bill. It is merely a promise to the world and the citizens of the US that our country WILL do these things IF EVERYONE ELSE DOES. Lynn Woolsey's got a resolution going for a convention at the U.N. level. What this is about is getting a commitment, clear and unequivocal, from the U.S. Congress. Please read the bill a bit more carefully for the last paragraph. And please endorse it! There's a letter you can draw from, and email address website links for Congress, at http://prop1.org/prop1/letter.htm Yes, Lynn Woolsey has promised she will co-sponsor (did it last session too, but for some reason the official website at Thomas.gov didn't show the names of any of the co-sponsors.) Co-sponsors in the past have been Charles Rangel of NY, Al Wynn of Maryland, John Lewis and Cynthia McKinney of Georgia, Earl Hilliard of Alabama, Jim Oberstar and David Minge of Minnesota, Walter Tucker of California (now retired), Lynn Woolsey of California. Ellen Thomas PROPOSITION ONE COMMITTEE P.O. Box 27217, Washington, DC 20038 USA 202-462-0757 (phone) | 202-265-5389 (fax) http://prop1.org | prop1@prop1.org - - To unsubscribe to abolition-usa, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" 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: Mon, 26 Jul 1999 22:01:28 -0400 From: Proposition One Committee <prop1@prop1.org> Subject: (abolition-usa) Please Come! HR-2545 - EH Norton's Bill and Press Conference Please come or send representatives to the Press Conference with Ms. Norton this Friday, July 30, 1999, at 10:00 a.m. -- WHAT: PRESS CONFERENCE / Community Advisory WHEN: Friday, July 30, 1999, 10:00 a.m. WHERE: Capitol Building Room HC-9 WHO: Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes (and Expert Speakers) WHY: To introduce HR-2545, the "Nuclear Disarmament and Economic Conversion Act of 1999" (NDECA). - --------- 106th CONGRESS CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H.R. 2545 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Ms. NORTON introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Armed Services and International Relations Committees on July 16, 1999 A BILL To provide for nuclear disarmament and economic conversion in accordance with District of Columbia Initiative Measure Number 37 of 1993 1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 4 This Act may be cited as the "Nuclear Disarmament 5 and Economic Conversion Act of 1999". 6 SEC 2. REQUIREMENT FOR NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT AND 7 ECONOMIC CONVERSION. 8 The United States Government shall---- 1 (1) disable and dismantle all its nuclear weap- 2 ons and refrain from replacing them at any time 3 with any weapons of! mass destruction; 4 (2) redirect resources that are currently being 5 used for nuclear weapons programs to use 6 (A) in converting all nuclear weapons in 7 dustry employees, processes, plants, and pro- 8 grams smoothly to constructive, ecologically 9 beneficial peacetime activities during the 3 10 years following the effective date of this Act, 11 and 12 (B) in addressing human and infrastruc- 13 ture needs such as housing, health care, edu- 14 cation, agriculture, and enviromnental restora- 15 tion; 16 (3) undertake vigorous good faith efforts to 17 eliminate war, armed conflict, and all military oper- 18 ations; and 19 (4) actively promote policies to induce all other 20 countries to join in these commitments for world 21 peace and security. 22 SEC. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE. 23 This Act shall take effect when the President certifies 24 to the Congress that all foreign countries possessing nu- 25 clear weapons have established legal requirements com- 1 parable to those set forth in section 2 and those require- 2 ments have taken effect. ______________________________________________________________________ If you have any questions about the bill or event, please contact Ellen Thomas, PROPOSITION ONE COMMITTEE PO BOX 27217, WASHINGTON, DC 20038 USA 202-462-0757-- (voice) | 202-265-5389 -- (fax) prop1@prop1.org -- (e-mail) | http://prop1.org -- (World-Wide-Web) - - To unsubscribe to abolition-usa, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" 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: Tue, 27 Jul 1999 08:07:59 -0700 From: "David Crockett Williams" <gear2000@lightspeed.net> Subject: (abolition-usa) Global Peace March '99, India From: anil sharma <anilpravakta@hotmail.com> Subject: INVITATION Date: Tuesday, July 27, 1999 3:07 AM INVITATION Dear Friends, As you might know a Global Peace March is being presently taken out with = the objective of total nuclear disarmament, a weapons free society and for establishment of a just and humane global order. A world-wide signature campaign is simultaneously going on, in support of this march. The march= is also making people aware about the dangers of radioactivity and seeking abandonment of nuclear energy programme too. WE WOULD LIKE TO INVITE YOU TO JOIN US DURING THE END OF THE MARCH, AUGUS= T 6, 1999, (HIROSHIMA DAY) FROM VARANASI TO SARNATH, AND FOR A DAY-LONG PROGRAMME ON THE SAME DAY AFTER REACHING SARNATH. Kindly reach Varanasi = by August 5, 1999 in order to participate in this historic event and join th= e march from Varanasi to Sarnath on early morning of August 6, 1999. Please contact Ajit Singh, S-8/395, Khajuri Colony, Varanasi, Phone: (054= 2) 342253, in Varanasi. The public meeting on August 6 will take place in Tibetan Institute, Sarnath, where the contact person is Prof. Rimpoche. Admiral L Ram Das, Arundhati Roy, Prof. S. Rimpoche, Kishen Patnaik, Siddharaj Dhadda, Narayan Desai, Thomas Kochery, Kuldip Nayar, Anand Patwardhan and numerous others will participate in the Hiroshima day even= t at Sarnath. Fuzikawa San, second generation Hibakusha from Hiroshima Jap= an, will also personally join the march to acquaint the gathering about the horrors of Atom Bomb tragedy which spelled doom for Hiroshima residents. The residents of Khetolai (Pokaran, where India conducted it=92s nuclear tests), Rawatbhata (nuclear power plant), Jadugoda (Uranium mining area i= n Bihar), will also join in to narrate the horrifying hazards of nuclear radiations to the assembled people. On August 7, 1999, a meeting will be organized to discuss further action plans on the issues of disarmament and peace. You are also requested to be present in New Delhi on August 9, 1999 (Nagasaki Day) to participate in the events, including handing over of signatures to representatives of all nuclear weapons nations and the Unit= ed Nations organization to mark the formal close of the Global Peace March. Arundhati Dhuru A-893, Indira Nagar, Lucknow =96 226 016, Phone: (0522) 347365 Email: asha@lw1.vsnl.net.in - ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Web site for the peace march: http://www.aidindia.org/peace Web site for electronic signature campaign: http://www/indiatogether.org/petitions/gpm.htm IF YOU HAVE COLLECTED SIGNATURES PLEASE MAIL THEM SOON AT THE LUCKNOW ADDRESS MENTIONED ABOVE. ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com =DB - - To unsubscribe to abolition-usa, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" 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: Tue, 27 Jul 1999 16:35:10 -0400 From: "Joan Wade" <disarmament@igc.org> Subject: (abolition-usa) Fall Call for Abolition Action! This is a multi-part message in MIME format. - ------=_NextPart_000_0130_01BED84D.FE94D240 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable To: Abolition Activists From: Joan Wade, Disarmament Clearinghouse Coordinator RE: Fall Action for Abolition Activists Date: July 26, 1999 FALL CALL FOR ABOLITION ACTION!!!!!!! This fall marks the 10th annivesary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. = Though the Cold War is over, the threat of nuclear war persists. Over = 36,000 nuclear weapons remain in the world, 5,000 of which are on alert, = ready to be launched in moments. Isn't it time to make a change? This = fall, two unique series of events will be organized to heighten public = awareness about nuclear weapons and to light the abolition flame. We = invite you and your organization to take part. =20 60 Minutes II Organizing Opportunity: This fall CBS will air a new = documentary on "60 Minutes II" on the nuclear legacy of the Cold War. A = date has not yet been set, but it will air on a Tuesday night no sooner = than September 28th. The film will include discussion of the breadth of = U.S. and Russian stockpiles as well of the danger of warheads on = hair-trigger alert. This is a rare chance to engage the general public in our issues through = the popular media and a perfect opportunity to organize house parties = and other group events to ignite the abolition flame! Organizing kits = will be available for all those interested in hosting house parties, or = bigger events at churches and town halls. Invite potential activists, = community leaders, and friends to watch the program and discuss. You can = also invite your local CBS affiliate to cover your event and interview = participants on their nightly broadcast. If you are unable to host an = event the night of the show, tape it and plan on a screening sometime = soon after. Or tape it regardless and organize mutiple events! Speakers Tour: Project Abolition will also launch a speakers tour this = fall which will consist of several large scale community forums = organized around the 60 Minutes piece followed by a greater number of = events around the 10th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall = (November 9th). The moderated forums will emulate the hip format of the = current hit TV show "Politically Incorrect." Speakers will include = national and local legislators, activists, and commentators. A publicity = campaign is being coordinated around the tour, including print ads, = radio appearances, and public service announcements. =20 The tour will begin in New Hampshire and Iowa and move throughout the = country through the fall. If your local group is interested in hosting = a tour event, please contact Karina Wood (details below). Change the Message!: We anticipate a considerable level of media = attention to the Berlin anniversary, which will likely focus on how the = U.S. "won" the Cold War. It will be up to the abolition community to = highlight the fact that the U.S. has squandered the opportunity of the = post Cold War decade to make the world safe from nuclear destruction, = and as a result, has engaged in a dangerous arms race with itself that = is fueling proliferation worldwide.=20 What Next?: As the dates for the CBS program and the speakers tour are = finalized, we encourage you to think about ways to mobilize around both = events and contact people you think might be interested in taking part. = More information will be provided as soon as it is available. In the = meantime, please feel free to contact us with any new ideas or questions = through the channels listed below: Contact: Joan L. Wade, Disarmament Clearinghouse Coordinator, ph: (202) 898-0150 = x232, fax: (202) 898-0172, e-mail: disarmament@igc.org, web: = http://www.psr.org/Disarmhouse.htm Karina H. Wood, Field Coordinator, Project Abolition, ph: (401) = 276-0377, fax: (401) 756-1476, e-mail: kwood@igc.org, web: = www.fourthfreedom.org House party organizing kits will soon be available for this fall's = abolition-related events. Each kit will include a house party organizing = guide, timely action alerts, sample letters to the President, and more! = Fill out the order form below to receive up to five kits free, or call = Joan Wade at the Disarmament Clearinghouse to order more. Project Abolition is a new initiative of the Fourth Freedom Forum, with = assistance from the Global Resource Action Center for the Environment = (GRACE), the Nation Institute, the State of the World Forum, and the = Rubin Foundation, working in coalition with leading U.S. disarmament = organizations - Disarmament Clearinghouse, Peace Action, PeaceLinks, = Physicians for Social Responsibility, and Women's Action for New = Directions. _______________________________________________________________ ___ Yes! I would like to order a Disarmament Clearinghouse house party = kit today! Please send ____ kits to: ______________________________________ (name) ______________________________________ (organization/affiliation) __________________________________________ (phone, e-mail) _________________________________________________________________ (address, city, state, zip) Please return this order form to the Disarmament Clearinghouse=20 no later than September 1st, 1999. *Activist Flash: Disarmament Clearinghouse has updated it's de-alerting = organizing kit. Contact the Clearinghouse to find out more!* - -- Joan L. Wade Disarmament Clearinghouse Coordinator 1101 14th Street, NW, Suite 700 Washington, DC, 20010 Ph: (202) 898-0150 x232 Fax: (202) 898-0172 E-mail: disarmament@igc.org - ------=_NextPart_000_0130_01BED84D.FE94D240 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable <!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META content=3D"text/html; charset=3Diso-8859-1" = http-equiv=3DContent-Type> <META content=3D"MSHTML 5.00.2314.1000" name=3DGENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=3D#ffffff> <DIV> <DIV> To: Abolition Activists From: Joan Wade, Disarmament Clearinghouse=20 Coordinator RE: Fall Action for Abolition Activists Date: July 26, 1999 FALL CALL FOR=20 ABOLITION ACTION!!!!!!! This fall marks the 10th annivesary of the fall of = the=20 Berlin Wall. Though the Cold War is over, the threat of nuclear = war=20 persists. Over 36,000 nuclear weapons remain in the world, 5,000 = of which=20 are on alert, ready to be launched in moments. Isn't it time to = make a=20 change? This fall, two unique series of events will be organized = to=20 heighten public awareness about nuclear weapons and to light the = abolition=20 flame. We invite you and your organization to take part. = 60 Minutes II Organizing = Opportunity: This=20 fall CBS will air a new documentary on "60 Minutes II" on the nuclear = legacy of=20 the Cold War. A date has not yet been set, but it will air on a Tuesday = night no=20 sooner than September 28th. The film will include discussion = of the=20 breadth of U.S. and Russian stockpiles as well of the danger of warheads = on=20 hair-trigger alert. This is a rare chance to engage the general public in our issues = through the=20 popular media and a perfect opportunity to organize house parties and = other=20 group events to ignite the abolition flame! Organizing kits will be = available=20 for all those interested in hosting house parties, or bigger = events at=20 churches and town halls. Invite potential activists, community = leaders,=20 and friends to watch the program and discuss. You can also invite your = local CBS=20 affiliate to cover your event and interview participants on their = nightly=20 broadcast. If you are unable to host an event the night of the = show, tape=20 it and plan on a screening sometime soon after. Or tape it = regardless and=20 organize mutiple events! Speakers Tour: Project Abolition will also launch a = speakers=20 tour this fall which will consist of several large scale = community=20 forums organized around the 60 Minutes piece followed by a greater = number of=20 events around the 10th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin = Wall=20 (November 9th). The moderated forums will emulate the hip format of the = current=20 hit TV show "Politically Incorrect." Speakers will include national and = local=20 legislators, activists, and commentators. A publicity campaign is being=20 coordinated around the tour, including print ads, radio appearances, and = public=20 service announcements. The tour will begin in New Hampshire and Iowa and move throughout the = country=20 through the fall. If your local group is interested in hosting a = tour=20 event, please contact Karina Wood (details below).<FONT=20 face=3DArial> Change the Message!: We anticipate a considerable level of = media=20 attention to the Berlin anniversary, which will likely focus on how the = U.S.=20 "won" the Cold War. It will be up to the abolition community to = highlight=20 the fact that the U.S. has squandered the opportunity of the post Cold = War=20 decade to make the world safe from nuclear destruction, and as a = result,=20 has engaged in a dangerous arms race with itself that is fueling = proliferation=20 worldwide. What Next?: As the dates for the CBS program and the speakers = tour=20 are finalized, we encourage you to think about ways to mobilize = around=20 both events and contact people you think might be interested in = taking=20 part. More information will be provided as soon as it is available. In = the=20 meantime, please feel free to contact us with any new ideas or questions = through=20 the channels listed below: Contact: Joan L. Wade, Disarmament Clearinghouse = Coordinator,=20 ph: (202) 898-0150 x232, fax: (202) 898-0172, e-mail: <A=20 href=3D"mailto:disarmament@igc.org">disarmament@igc.org</A>, web: <A=20 href=3D"http://www.psr.org/Disarmhouse.htm">http://www.psr.org/Disarmhous= e.htm</A> Karina H. Wood, Field Coordinator, = Project Abolition,=20 ph: (401) 276-0377, fax: (401) 756-1476, e-mail: <A=20 href=3D"mailto:kwood@igc.org">kwood@igc.org</A>, web: <A=20 href=3D"http://www.fourthfreedom.org">www.fourthfreedom.org</A></P= > House party organizing kits = will=20 soon be available for this fall’s abolition-related events. Each = kit will=20 include a house party organizing guide, timely action alerts, sample = letters to=20 the President, and more! Fill out the order form below to receive up to = five=20 kits free, or call Joan Wade at the Disarmament Clearinghouse to order=20 more. Project = Abolition is a new=20 initiative of the Fourth Freedom Forum, with assistance from the Global = Resource=20 Action Center for the Environment (GRACE), the Nation Institute, the = State of=20 the World Forum, and the Rubin Foundation, working in coalition with = leading=20 U.S. disarmament organizations - Disarmament Clearinghouse, = Peace=20 Action, PeaceLinks, Physicians for Social Responsibility, and = Women’s Action for=20 New Directions.<FONT=20 face=3DArial> <FONT=20 face=3DArial>____________________________________________________= ___________<FONT=20 face=3DArial> ___ Yes! I would=20 like to order a Disarmament Clearinghouse house party kit = today! Please send ____ kits to: ______________________________________ (name) ______________________________________ (organization/affiliation) __________________________________________ (phone, e-mail) <FONT=20 face=3DArial>____________________________________________________________= _____ (address, city, state, zip) Please return this order form to = the=20 Disarmament Clearinghouse no later than September = 1st,=20 1999. *Activist Flash: Disarmament Clearinghouse has = updated it’s=20 de-alerting organizing kit. Contact the Clearinghouse to find out=20 more!*</DIV> <DIV>-- Joan L. Wade Disarmament = Clearinghouse=20 Coordinator 1101 14th Street, NW, Suite 700 Washington, DC, = 20010 Ph:=20 (202) 898-0150 x232</DIV> <DIV> Fax: (202) 898-0172</DIV> <DIV>E-mail: <A=20 href=3D"mailto:disarmament@igc.org">disarmament@igc.org</A></DIV><= /DIV></BODY></HTML> - ------=_NextPart_000_0130_01BED84D.FE94D240-- - - To unsubscribe to abolition-usa, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" 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: Tue, 27 Jul 1999 15:10:51 -0700 From: Jonathan Parfrey <psrsm@psr.org> Subject: Re: (abolition-usa) Fall Call for Abolition Action! > > Dear Joan, My only concern is that the 60 Minutes piece may be coming too soon . . . not enuff time to organize. > > _x__ Yes! I would like to order a Disarmament Clearinghouse house party kit > today! > > Please send __3__ kits to: > > see signature below > > > Please return this order form to the Disarmament Clearinghouse > > no later than September 1st, 1999. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jonathan Parfrey Executive Director Physicians for Social Responsibility, Los Angeles 1316 Third Street Promenade - Suite B1 Santa Monica, CA 90401-1325 310 458 2694 voice - 310 458 7925 fascimile psrsm@psr.org http://www.labridge.com/psr/ - - To unsubscribe to abolition-usa, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" 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: Wed, 28 Jul 1999 20:37:57 +1000 From: FoE Sydney - Nuclear Campaign <nonukes@foesyd.org.au> Subject: (abolition-usa) BRIEFING PAPER ON Y2K AND THE THREAT OF GLOBAL CATASTROPHE John Hallam Friends of the Earth Sydney, 17 Lord street, Newtown, NSW, Australia, Fax(61)(2)9517-3902 ph (61)(2)9517-3903 nonukes@foesyd.org.au http://homepages.tig.com.au/~foesyd THE following briefing paper has been put together by Hannah Middleton. Briefing Paper Y2K and the Threat of Global Nuclear Catastrophe - - Year 2000 (Y2K) problems are likely to affect the computer systems that co-ordinate strategic nuclear weapons systems. Many respected experts are warning that due to Y2K problems these systems, both in the US and Russia, pose an unacceptable risk of accidental nuclear war. - - The Y2K problem is buried in millions of lines of software code that use two digits to represent four-digit years. That will lead some software around the world to read "00" not as 2000, but 1900, and possibly cause computers to crash or issue false data. No one knows for sure what will happen. - - The biggest fear is that a cascading effect will occur. In the worst-case scenario, even systems that have been tested as Y2K compliant will be infected with the Y2K bug as a result of their connection to non-compliant systems through the Internet or other networks. They, in turn, will contaminate others. - - The result could be a digital snow-ball that wipes out whole sectors of the infrastructure on which modern societies have been built, from major communications and transportation nodes to entire power grids. - - The greatest concern is that Y2K could cause a malfunction in the nuclear early warning network and command-and-control systems of the nuclear weapon states, leading to an accidental or mistaken launch command. - - The US nuclear command and control system will be affected by any malfunctions in its bases in Australia: especially the ballistic missile launch detection and other satellite intelligence collection systems at Pine Gap, and Trident submarine communications transmitter site at North West Cape. - - Even if the risk is very small, it is not a risk the planet and humanity should be subjected to. - - The risk can be eliminated or minimised by taking nuclear weapons off hairtrigger alert. - - There should therefore be a "safety first" approach to Y2K and nuclear arsenals. - - The only responsible solution is for them all to be taken off alert status, preferably with the decoupling of nuclear warheads from delivery vehicles. All strategic and tactical nuclear weapons should be placed in a status in which at least hours and preferably days would be required to launch them. - - The immediate stakes are so high, and the potential for global catastrophe so clear, that mutually verified de-alerting in the face of the Y2K computer problem must take precedence over all other considerations of politics and national security. - - To unsubscribe to abolition-usa, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" 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: Wed, 28 Jul 1999 21:34:06 +1000 From: FoE Sydney - Nuclear Campaign <nonukes@foesyd.org.au> Subject: (abolition-usa) AUSTRALIAM MEDIA CORRESPONDENTS CONTACTS John Hallam Friends of the Earth Sydney, 17 Lord street, Newtown, NSW, Australia, Fax(61)(2)9517-3902 ph (61)(2)9517-3903 nonukes@foesyd.org.au http://homepages.tig.com.au/~foesyd FRIENDS OF THE EARTH AUSTRALIA ATTN. CONGRESSMAN EDWARD MARKEY 1-202-226-0092 RE: CONGRESSIONAL RESOLUTION ON DE-ALERTING Dear Congressman Markey, I am writing as the coordinator of the global sign-on letter, that you signed on Friday, asking for nuclear weapons to be taken off hairtrigger alert, especially over the Y2K rollover period. I understand you are working on a US Congressional resolution to that effect. This is an extremely important initiative. I would like to express our very strong support for any resolution in the US Congress that calls for nuclear weapons to be taken off their current hairtrigger alert status, especially over the Y2K 'rollover' period. This is exactly what is asked for by the letter. The global sign on letter that you have signed now has well over 200 signatures from organisations and parliamentarians around the world, expressing a desire for strategic nuclear weapons to be taken off hairtrigger alert. These organisations include the largest international environment network in the world, Friends of the Earth International, with member groups in 59 countries, the second - largest international environment group in the world, Greenpeace International, the British-American Security Information Council, (BASIC), the Centre for Defence Information, Tri-Valley CARES, Global Resource and Action Centre on the Environment, the Nuclear Information and Resource Service, Western States Legal Foundation, and Physicians for Global responsibility. Outside the US, the letter bears the signatures of 20 Australian parliamentarians, 4 Canadian MPs including Senator Doug Roche, six New Zealand MPs, and six members of the European Parliament, as well as those of the Womens International League for Peace and Freedom, and the World Court project. Taking strategic nuclear weapons off hairtrigger alert is a sensible measure with or without the Y2K problem, that was strongly recommended by the Canberra Commission in 1996. ( It is best achieved by the physical removal of the firing mechanism from delivery vehicles, or by separation of warheads.) (The Canberra Commission was set up by the Australian Government in the wake of French nuclear testing, to reccommend the way to abolish nuclear weapons.) Given that there may be problems with the US Y2K remediation programme for the complex interconnected computer networks that constitute the C3I system for the strategic nuclear weapons complex of the US, and given that Russian systems are highly unlikely to be anywhere near Y2K ready, taking strategic nuclear weapons off hairtrigger alert would appear to be no more than good sense. This in no way lessens the need for other measures (such as measures for US-Russian cooperation, and a joint monitoring centre). The stakes involved are, ultimately, the survival of the planet. The chance of the ultimate catastrophe should this reasonable measure not be taken is just too great, and de-alerting is in any case something that needs to be done. We urge you to proceed with this worthy initiative, and to use this global sign on letter in any way that will ensure its success. John Hallam, Coordinator, De-Alerting Sign on letter. - - To unsubscribe to abolition-usa, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" 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: Wed, 28 Jul 1999 08:49:23 -0400 From: "Joan Wade" <disarmament@igc.org> Subject: Re: (abolition-usa) Fall Call for Abolition Action! Dear Jonathan, Thanks for your message. I understand your concerns about the documentary timing. With no date certain yet, however, it looks like it will be later rather than sooner, and definitely not earlier than September 28th. Fortunately, the documentary itself provides much of the main substance for a party, so at least that will be taken care of. FYI, house party kits will not be mailed until the end of August when we have a date certain, etc. Please let me know if there's anything I can do to help you plan before then. - -- Joan L. Wade Disarmament Clearinghouse Coordinator 1101 14th Street, NW, Suite 700 Washington, DC, 20010 Ph: (202) 898-0150 x232 Fax: (202) 898-0172 - - To unsubscribe to abolition-usa, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" 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: Tue, 27 Jul 1999 07:20:09 -0400 From: "Lachlan Forrow" <lforrow@igc.org> Subject: RE: (abolition-usa) Prop1 for Nuclear Disarmament and Economic Conversion The issue, which I think is crucial, is the "framing" of this. I understand that the substance of this resolution isn't a problem, but I strongly agree with Peter Weiss that we need to be very, very careful about anything that could, even if completely unfairly and inaccurately, be attacked as 'unilateral disarmament.' I think that the winning U.S. message, which I hope some political leader will take on, is something like the following: "No U.S. citizen or city should ever face the prospect of nuclear annihilation. Today there are still thousands of nuclear weapons, in Russia and China, that threaten all of our children. If I am elected President (or Senator or...), then I will use every power of my office to try to ensure that every nuclear weapon in the world is verifiably and permanently destroyed. Of course, the price we Americans will need to pay for this historic achievement is to agree to reciprocally dismantle our own nuclear arsenal. As long as others insist on stockpiling these genocidal weapons, we will maintain our own. But as we enter a new millenium, threatening global holocaust can no longer be accepted as a civilized approach to international problems. I call on the leaders of Britain, France, China, Russia, India, and Pakistan [no one will dare mention Israel] to join me in negotiating and implementing a Nuclear Weapons Convention, with adequate provisions for verification and enforcement, at the earliest possible date. Our children deserve no less." - --LF > -----Original Message----- > From: owner-abolition-usa@lists.xmission.com > [mailto:owner-abolition-usa@lists.xmission.com]On Behalf Of David > Crockett Williams > Sent: Tuesday, July 27, 1999 12:38 AM > To: abolition-usa@lists.xmission.com > Subject: (abolition-usa) Prop1 for Nuclear Disarmament and Economic > Conversion > > > The bottom line of the bill and the Prop1 movement is for > multilateral not > unilateral nuclear disarmament.... > -----Original Message----- > From: peter weiss <petweiss@igc.org> > To: abolition-usa@lists.xmission.com > <abolition-usa@lists.xmission.com> > Date: Monday, July 26, 1999 9:10 PM > Subject: Re: (abolition-usa) Prop1 for Nuclear Disarmament > and Economic > Conversion > > > >This is good,but it should call for a nuclear weapons > convention rather > >than unilateral disarmament, which is a bit quixotic. Are there > >cosponsors? Have there been in the past? Is there a way to > get hearings > >going? > > Peter Weiss > - - To unsubscribe to abolition-usa, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" 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: Wed, 28 Jul 1999 11:35:48 EDT From: DavidMcR@aol.com Subject: Re: (abolition-usa) Prop1 for Nuclear Disarmament and Economic Conversion Lachlan (and others), This is, I think, one half of what needs to be said. You have framed it well, the points are sound. The other half calls to the better part of us, and I think people do respond to that. It would say something (I am wording on the run): "And I know that no American would want to be responsible for the killing of every father, mother, and child in Russia. Our present nuclear technology makes every family in the world a hostage to this insanity. As we seek, ourselves, to live in peace and safety, so we know this is true of the parents in Russia, in China, in all nations. We want a foreign policy centered on what is best for the children of the world, in all nations. Nothing less is worthy of an American foreign policy". Peace, David McReynolds << Subj: RE: (abolition-usa) Prop1 for Nuclear Disarmament and Economic Conversion Date: 7/28/99 9:09:44 AM Eastern Daylight Time From: lforrow@igc.org (Lachlan Forrow) Sender: owner-abolition-usa@lists.xmission.com Reply-to: abolition-usa@lists.xmission.com To: abolition-usa@lists.xmission.com The issue, which I think is crucial, is the "framing" of this. I understand that the substance of this resolution isn't a problem, but I strongly agree with Peter Weiss that we need to be very, very careful about anything that could, even if completely unfairly and inaccurately, be attacked as 'unilateral disarmament.' I think that the winning U.S. message, which I hope some political leader will take on, is something like the following: "No U.S. citizen or city should ever face the prospect of nuclear annihilation. Today there are still thousands of nuclear weapons, in Russia and China, that threaten all of our children. If I am elected President (or Senator or...), then I will use every power of my office to try to ensure that every nuclear weapon in the world is verifiably and permanently destroyed. Of course, the price we Americans will need to pay for this historic achievement is to agree to reciprocally dismantle our own nuclear arsenal. As long as others insist on stockpiling these genocidal weapons, we will maintain our own. But as we enter a new millenium, threatening global holocaust can no longer be accepted as a civilized approach to international problems. I call on the leaders of Britain, France, China, Russia, India, and Pakistan [no one will dare mention Israel] to join me in negotiating and implementing a Nuclear Weapons Convention, with adequate provisions for verification and enforcement, at the earliest possible date. Our children deserve no less." --LF >> - - To unsubscribe to abolition-usa, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" 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: Wed, 28 Jul 1999 12:00:03 -0400 From: "Lachlan Forrow" <lforrow@igc.org> Subject: RE: (abolition-usa) Prop1...Idealism, Patriotism and Abolition Yes. Thanks for the additional, vitally important theme. We need the right combination of idealism and national self-interest if we are ever going to build to the 2/3 Senate vote needed to ratify a Nuclear Weapons Convention. Any US-bashing will backfire badly; at the same time we need to find ways of saying clearly that current US policy in regard to threatened use of nuclear weapons (or tolerating accident by maintaining weapons on high alert) is morally abhorent. I've taken to quoting a Republican when I speak: Abraham Lincoln, who closed his Gettysburg address by saying "We here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth." The risk of accidental nuclear war because weapons remain on high-alert, and the longer-term threat of nuclear holocaust as long as weapons exist anywhere, threaten everything America at its best has stood for. Nuclear war would mean the end of everything that democratic institutions have built since 1776. The fact that our government continues to threaten use of nuclear weapons when 87% of Americans would like a verifiable and enforceable nuclear weapons convention challenges all of us who believe in "government of, by, and for the people" to act today. - --LF > -----Original Message----- > From: owner-abolition-usa@lists.xmission.com > [mailto:owner-abolition-usa@lists.xmission.com]On Behalf Of > DavidMcR@aol.com > Sent: Wednesday, July 28, 1999 11:36 AM > To: abolition-usa@lists.xmission.com > Subject: Re: (abolition-usa) Prop1 for Nuclear Disarmament and > EconomicConversion > > > Lachlan (and others), > > This is, I think, one half of what needs to be said. You have > framed it well, > the points are sound. The other half calls to the better part > of us, and I > think people do respond to that. It would say something (I am > wording on the > run): > > "And I know that no American would want to be responsible for > the killing of > every father, mother, and child in Russia. Our present > nuclear technology > makes every family in the world a hostage to this insanity. > As we seek, > ourselves, to live in peace and safety, so we know this is > true of the > parents in Russia, in China, in all nations. We want a foreign policy > centered on what is best for the children of the world, in > all nations. > Nothing less is worthy of an American foreign policy". > > Peace, > David McReynolds > - - To unsubscribe to abolition-usa, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" 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. ------------------------------ End of abolition-usa-digest V1 #158 *********************************** - To unsubscribe to $LIST, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" with "unsubscribe $LIST" 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.