ftp.xmission.com/2014.06.ftp.xmission.com.tar/ftp.xmission.com/pub/lists/abolition-usa/archive/v01.n160

Internet Message Format | 1999-07-31 | 48KB

From: [e-mail] (abolition-usa-digest)
To: [e-mail]
Subject: abolition-usa-digest V1 #160
Reply-To: abolition-usa-digest
Sender: [e-mail]
Errors-To: [e-mail]
Precedence: bulk


abolition-usa-digest      Sunday, August 1 1999      Volume 01 : Number 160




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

Date: Sat, 31 Jul 1999 16:07:10 -0700 (PDT)
From: [e-mail] (marylia)
Subject: (abolition-usa) De-alert lttr/CA release

Dear peace advocates: This is the press release we are customizing to send
to media on August 6th, in concert with FOE-Australia and other groups
across the country. The topic is the sign on letter to Presidents Bill and
Boris demanding de-alerting of nuclear weapons. I am posting our press
release to offer ideas for your area release. If your organization has not
yet signed on to the letter, contact John Hallam, FOE-Australia at
<[e-mail]>. All thanks for the original drafts of the letter
and circulating it for sign on go to John and Hannah at FOE. Read on...

Contact:
Rene' Steinhauer, Tri-Valley CAREs, [phone]
Sherry Larsen-Beville, Livermore Conversion Project, [phone]

=46or Immediate Release  August 6, 1999
CA ACTIVISTS & U.S. LEGISLATORS JOIN 200 GROUPS, LUMINARIES
AROUND THE WORLD TO DEMAND CLINTON & YELTSIN
"TAKE NUCLEAR WEAPONS OFF ALERT"

CITE Y2K RISK OF ACCIDENTAL NUCLEAR CATASTROPHE

Today, on the 54th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, Japan, a
letter signed by over 200 groups, legislators and noteworthy individuals
worldwide was sent to U.S. President Bill Clinton and Russian President
Boris Yeltsin demanding the two leaders immediately de-activate the more
than 5,000 nuclear weapons in their respective nations that are currently
on hair-trigger alert.

The letter has among its signatories notables such as U.S. Representative
Edward Markey (D-MA), Senator Doug Roche (Canada), Maj-Britt Theorin
(Member European Parliament) and Dr. Helen Caldicott (internationally known
physician from Australia). Other signers include prominent lawyers,
additional elected officials from around the globe and many environmental
and peace organizations throughout the U.S., Russia, Ukraine, Europe,
Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific Islands and Central America.
The world's two largest environmental organizations, Friends of the Earth
International and Greenpeace International have both endorsed the letter.

Locally, Tri-Valley CAREs, Livermore Conversion Project and Western States
Legal Foundation are among the sponsoring organizations. Other
California-based groups that have signed the letter include Atomic Mirror,
Grandmothers for Peace International, Healing Global Wounds, International
Centre for Peace and Justice, Nuclear Age Peace Foundation, Pedals for
Peace and Save Ward Valley.

"Our grave concern is that Year 2000 (Y2K)-related computer failures in
nuclear weapons systems may lead to nuclear war by accident or
miscalculation," explained Rene' Steinhauer, Community Organizer with
Tri-Valley CAREs (Communities Against a Radioactive Environment), an
environmental group based in Livermore that is well-known as the "watchdog"
over the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, a primary U.S. nuclear
weapons development lab. Mr. Steinhauer further stated that "the principle
danger lies in the potential for erroneous computer data leading to a
launch of nuclear weapons."

The letter to Presidents Clinton and Yeltsin spotlights three past
examples, in 1980, 1983 and 1995, when disasters were averted only at the
last moment. The 1980 incident involved a U.S. computer chip malfunction,
sending alert signals; the 1983 incident involved Russian satellites
mistaking glare from cloud tops for a U.S. missile launch, and disaster was
prevented only by the refusal of the local commander to believe the
warnings were genuine; and the 1995 incident involved a U.S. research
rocket launched from Norway which set off a full-scale Russian alert. In
this latter incident, it took Russian decision-makers eight minutes,
operating in high emergency mode, to realize the launch was not part of a
surprise strike by the U.S. - less than four minutes before their "launch
on warning" deadline for ordering a nuclear response. "The potential for
computer malfunction leading to a nuclear response is enormously
exacerbated by Y2K," said Steinhauer.

"Since no nuclear weapons state can guarantee its nuclear weapons computers
are proof against such errors during the Y2K rollover to the year 2000, the
logical and responsible thing is for all nuclear weapons nations to take
their nuclear weapons off alert status and to decouple nuclear warheads
from delivery vehicles," said Sherry Larsen-Beville of the Oakland-based
Livermore Conversion Project. "If all sides are verifiably de-alerted, it
will become impossible for any nation to launch a disarming first strike
attack," she stated. "This will provided the margin of confidence needed to
assure decision-makers in the event a Y2K computer error indicates a
nuclear launch has been made by one nation upon another."

The appeal also cites as a potentially exacerbating factor the current,
tense political relations between Russia and the U.S. over the U.S.-led
NATO bombings of Kosovo, because, as a result, Russia has withdrawn
high-level cooperation with the U.S. on Y2K nuclear compliance problems.
The letter's 200-plus signers are clearly laying the issue at the feet of
the two presidents, asking them to rise to the occasion and to overcome
this breakdown in international communication and cooperation.

The letter concludes:  "The immediate stakes are so high, and the potential
for global catastrophe so clear, that mutually verified de-alerting =8A must
take precedence over all other considerations of politics and national
security."

- -30-

Copies of the letter with its more than 200 signatories is available on
request. Also available is a fact sheet detailing twenty cases where
computer malfunction and misinterpretation of data have already brought the
world to the brink of nuclear war. Call Tri-Valley CAREs at [phone].

=46ollowing this page is a flier containing information on the Hiroshima
commemoration and protest action at the Lawrence Livermore National
Laboratory, 2:30 PM on August 6th.



Marylia Kelley
Tri-Valley CAREs
(Communities Against a Radioactive Environment)
2582 Old First Street
Livermore, CA USA 94550

<http://www.igc.org/tvc/> - is our web site, please visit us there!

[phone] - is our phone
[phone] - is our fax

Working for peace, justice and a healthy environment since 1983, Tri-Valley
CAREs has been a member of the nation-wide Alliance for Nuclear
Accountability in the U.S. since 1989, and is a co-founding member of the
international Abolition 2000 network for the elimination of 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: Sat, 31 Jul 1999 11:48:21 +1000
From: FoE Sydney - Nuclear Campaign <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: (abolition-usa) LETTER TO MARKEY

At 4:10 AM +1000 31/7/99, [e-mail] wrote:
>I am meeting with Congressman Joe Hoeffel of Pa. on Monday am. I would like=
 a
>copy of the letter on de alerting which Markey signed so that I can pass it
>on to Hoeffel who is an intelligent and good man. Please get it to me asap,
>Jonathan Granoff
>
>-

Dear Jonathan Granoff,
Here is the letter to date.

It still is not properly collated, so there may be things that need to be
corrected.

There are to my poor addition:
257 organisational signatures,
16 friends of the Earth groups including the FOE-International chair Kevin
Dunion,
59Australian groups including 23 state and federal MPs,
7 really big or heavyweight international groups including Greenpeace
International,
18 UK groups
9Russian groups
7 members of the European Parliament
43 European or eastern european groups
63 US groups including 14 church groups
15 Canadian groups including 4 mps,
21 NZ groups including 7 MPs.

Of course this could (and hopefully will) change overnight, and I will have
to print again.

Enjoy!

=46ROM:
=46RIENDS OF THE EARTH INTERNATIONAL,
=46RIENDS OF THE EARTH AUSTRALIA,
=46RIENDS OF THE EARTH NEW ZEALAND,
=46RIENDS OF THE EARTH ENGLAND WALES AND NORTHERN IRELAND,
=46RIENDS OF THE EARTH EL SALVADOR,
=46RIENDS OF THE EARTH NIGERIA,
=46RIENDS OF THE EARTH UKRAINE,
=46RIENDS OF THE EARTH GEORGIA, (TBILSI)
=46RIENDS OF THE EARTH FINLAND,
=46RIENDS OF THE EARTH DENMARK,
=46RIENDS OF THE EARTH ESTONIA
=46RIENDS OF THE EARTH FRANCE,
=46RIENDS OF THE EARTH CYPRUS,
=46RIENDS OF THE EARTH JAPAN SIBERIA PROGRAM,
=46RIENDS OF THE EARTH AUSTRIA (GLOBAL-2000)
=46RIENDS OF THE EARTH MACEDONIA,


AUSTRALIAN PEACE COMMITTEE,
MEDICAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE PREVENTION OF WAR,
PAX CHRISTI N.S.W.,
UNITING CHURCH OF AUSTRALIA,
WAYSIDE CHAPEL, UNITING CHURCH IN AUSTRALIA,
PITT STREET UNITING CHURCH, PITT ST, SYDNEY,
ST JOHNS ANGLICAN CHURCH, DARLINGHURST, SYDNEY,
CAMPAIGN FOR INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION AND DISARMAMENT (CICD) AUSTRALIA,
AUSTRALIAN ANTI-BASES CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE,
PEOPLE FOR NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, N.S.W.,
WAR RESISTERS INTERNATIONAL AUSTRALIA,
THE WILDERNESS SOCIETY,
AUSTRALIAN CONSERVATION FOUNDATION,
ENVIRONMENT CENTRE OF THE NORTHERN TERRITORY,
ARID LANDS ENVIRONMENT CENTRE,
ENVIRONMENT CENTRE OF W.A.,
ANTI-URANIUM COALITION OF W.A.,
PEOPLE FOR NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT WESTERN AUSTRALIA,
CENTRE FOR URBAN ECOLOGY, S.A.,
EVERYONE FOR A NUCLEAR-FREE FUTURE LISMORE,
BIG SCRUB ENVIRONMENT CENTRE,
EVERYONE FOR A NUCLEAR-FREE FUTURE GOLD COAST,
EVERYONE FOR A NUCLEAR FREE FUTURE ADELAIDE,
PACIFIC CONNECTIONS,
TWO BILLION VOICES FOR PEACE PROJECT,
UNITED TRADES AND LABOUR COUNCIL SA.,
UNITED FIREFIGHTERS UNION OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA,
MEDIA AND ENTERTAINMENT AND ARTS ALLIANCE S.A.,
CFMEU, SOUTH AUSTRALIAN BRANCH,
A.M.W.U., SA. OFFICE.,
ALL-UNION GREEN CAUCUS,
GRAHAM F. SMITH PEACE TRUST, SA.,

SENATOR LYN ALLISON, VIC.,
SENATOR MEG LEES, LEADER, DEMOCRATS, VIC.,
SENATOR NATASHA STOTT-DESPOJA, DEPUTY LEADER AUSTRALIAN DEMOCRATS,
SENATOR VICKY BOURNE, DEMOCRAT SENATOR FOR N.S.W.,
SENATOR ANDREW BARTLETT, DEMOCRAT SENATOR FOR QUEENSLAND,
SENATOR DEE MARGETTS, GREENS, W.A.,
SENATOR BOB BROWN, GREENS, TAS,
SENATOR GEORGE CAMPBELL, ALP,  N.S.W.,
SENATOR MARGARET REYNOLDS, ALP, N.S.W,
SENATOR JIM MC KEIRNAN, ALP., W.A.,
ANTHONY ALBANESE, ALP FEDERAL MP FOR GRAYNDLER,
TANYA PLIBERSEK,  ALP FEDERAL MP FOR SYDNEY,
JANN MC FARLANE, ALP FEDERAL MP FOR STIRLING, W.A.,
JILL HALL M.P., MEMBER FOR SHORTLAND,
IAN COHEN, GREEN MLC, NSW.,
LEE RHIANNON, GREEN MLC, NSW.,
SANDRA KANCK, DEMOCRAT MLC, S.A.,
IAN GILFILLAN, DEMOCRAT MLC, SA,
ROBYN GERAGHTY, MP, STATE MEMBER FOR TORRENS, SA,
=46RANCES BEDFORD, MP, STATE MEMBER FOR FLOREY, SA.,
JIM SCOTT, W.A., GREENS, LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, W.A.,
LOUISE CROSSLEY, NATIONAL CONVENOR, GREENS,
HANNAH MIDDLETON, PRESIDENT, COMMUNIST PARTY OF AUSTRALIA,

WORLD COURT PROJECT UK,
SENATOR DOUGLAS ROCHE, SENATE, CANADA,
BRITISH-AMERICAN SECURITY INFORMATION CENTRE, US/UK,
GREENPEACE INTERNATIONAL,
JAPAN CONGRESS AGAINST A AND H-BOMBS (GENSUIKYO)
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF LAWYERS AGAINST NUCLEAR ARMS (IALANA),
WOMENS INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE FOR PEACE AND FREEDOM (Geneva/NY),
CENTRE FOR DEFENCE INFORMATION, WASHINGTON, USA,

CAMPAIGN FOR NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT U.K.,
SAFFRON WALDEN GROUP AGAINST NUCLEAR WEAPONS,
YOUTH AND STUDENT CAMPAIGN FOR NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT,
WEST MIDLANDS CAMPAIGN FOR NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT,
YORKSHIRE CAMPAIGN FOR NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT,
MEDACT (IPPNW UK),
TRIDENT PLOUGHSHARES 2000 NORFOLK UK.,
NETWORK INFORMATION PROJECT, SOUTHAMPTON,UK, .,
CAMPAIGN FOR ACCOUNTABILITY OF U.S., BASES,
MENWITH HILL WOMENS PEACE CAMP, YORKSHIRE, UK.,
GLOBAL NETWORK AGAINST  WEAPONS AND NUCLEAR POWER IN SPACE,
ANGLICAN PACIFIST FELLOWSHIP, MILTON KEYNES, U.K.,
EPISCOPAL PEACE FELLOWSHIP, U.K.,
ST BARTHOLEMEWS JUSTICE AND PEACE GROUP, ST ALBANS, U.K.,
CHRISTIAN CAMPAIGN FOR NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, U.K.,
CALDERDALE GREEN PARTY, YORKSHIRE, U.K.,
PUBLIC INTEREST CONSULTANTS, SWANSEA, U.K.,
Y2K COMMUNITY ACTION NETWORK U.K.,

JEANETTE FITZSIMMONS MP, NZ GREENS,
BRIAN DONELLY, MP,
HARRY DUYNHAVEN, MP, NZ LABOUR,
LIANNE DALZIEL, MP, NZ LABOUR,
JUDY KEALL, MP, NZ LABOUR,
PETER DUNNE, MP, NZ LABOUR,
SANDRA LEE, MP, DEPUTY LEADER, ALLIANCE,
DISARMAMENT AND SECURITY CENTRE, NZ,
AOTEOROA/NEW ZEALAND PEACE FOUNDATION, AUCKLAND, NZ.,
ENGINEERS FOR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, N.Z.,
NEW ZEALAND GREENS,
NATIONAL CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE ON DISARMAMENT, N.Z.,
PEACE ACTION DUNEDIN, N.Z.,
PEACE COUNCIL OF NEW ZEALAND,
ABOLITION-2000 NEW ZEALAND,
IPPNW NEW ZEALAND,
VETERANS FOR PEACE NZ.,
ARCHITECTS AGAINST NUCLEAR WAR, NZ.,
C.N.D., VETERANS NEW ZEALAND,
CENTRE FOR PEACE STUDIES, UNIV. OF AUCKLAND, NZ,
NEW ZEALAND NUCLEAR - FREE PEACEMAKING ASSOCIATION,
WILPF AOTEOROA,

PACIFIC ISLANDS ASSOCIATION OF NGOS, BELAU.,
COALITION OF PETROLEUM PRODUCING STATES OF NIGERIA,
MALAYSIAN PHYSICIANS FOR THE PREVENTION OF NUCLEAR WAR,
GREEN ACTION KYOTO,
Y2K WORLD ATOMIC SAFETY HOLIDAY, SENDAI, JAPAN,
SOUTH ASIAN COMMUNITY CENTRE FOR EDUCATION AND RESEARCH, NAGERCOIL, INDIA,
AWAMI COMMITTEE FOR DEVELOPMENT, MULTAN, PAKISTAN,
INDONESIAN NATIONAL NETWORK FORUM ANTI-NUCLEAR SOCIETY,
ALTERNATIVE ENERGY PROJECT FOR SUSTAINABILITY, (AEPS) THAILAND,

ECODEFENSE KOENIGSBERG/MOSCOW,
WISE-KALININGRAD,
ANTINUCLEAR CAMPAIGN OF SOCIAL-ECOLOGICAL UNION MOSCOW,
PLATAN YOUTH GROUP, KALININGRAD,
EDUCATIONAL COMMITTEE KALININGRAD REGIONAL DUMA,
GREEN WORLD, SOSNOVY BOR, ST PETERSBURG, RUSSIA,
ST PETERSBURG PEACE COUNCIL, ST PETERSBURG, RUSSIA,
CENTRE FOR NUCLEAR ECOLOGY AND ENERGY POLICY RUSSIA,
BAIKAL ENVIRONMENTAL WAVE, RUSSIA,

ECOSENS, ROMANIA,
COMMITTEE OF 100, FINLAND,
PEACE UNION OF FINLAND,
STUDENT NATURE PROTECTION GROUP, TARTU, ESTONIA,
SWEDISH PHYSICIANS AGAINST NUCLEAR WEAPONS (SLMK - SWEDISH CHAPTER OF IPPNW)=
,
NORWEGIAN PHYSICIANS AGAINST NUCLEAR WAR (IPPNW)
PEACE MOVEMENT OF ESBJERG, DENMARK,
WAR RESISTERS INTERNATIONAL, FREDRIKSHAVN, DENMARK,
ALDRIG MERE KRIG (AMK) DENMARK,
DANISH ASSOCIATION OF CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS,
WOMENS INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE FOR PEACE AND FREEDOM (FRANCE),
MOUVEMENT DE LA PAIX, FRANCE,
INTERNATIONAL ALBERT SCHWEITZER FOUNDATION,
DR SCHWEITZER HOSPITAL FUND, FRANCE/SWITZERLAND
GLOBAL INITIATIVE FOR IMMEDIATE DISARMAMENT, SWITZERLAND,
DARMSTAEDTER FRIEDENSFORUM, GERMANY,
NUCLEAR-FREE AWARD, GERMANY,
ANTI-ATOM PLENUM, BOCHUM, GERMANY,
CITIZENS INITIATIVE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, LUECHOW-DANNEBURG,
GERMANY,
CENTRE FOR ENCOUNTER AND ACTIVE NON-VIOLENCE, BAD ISCHL, AUSTRIA,
IPPNW AUSTRIA,
ANTI-ATOM INTERNATIONAL, AUSTRIA,
COORDINATION OFFICE OF AUSTRIAN ENVIRONMENT GROUPS, AUSTRIA,
INDEPENDENT SALZBURG PLATFORM AGAINST NUCLEAR DANGERS, AUSTRIA,
PLATFORM GEGEN ATOMGEFAHR, AUSTRIA,
ENERGIE ZUKUNFT MOHTVIERTEL, AUSTRIA,
CENTRUM ENERGIE, CZECH REPUBLIC,
BURGERINITIATIVE UMWELTSCHUTZ, BUDWEIS,  CZECH REPUBLIC.,
=46OR MOTHER EARTH INTERNATIONAL, GHENT, BELGIUM,
WORLD INFORMATION SERVICE ON ENERGY, AMSTERDAM,
MDB ENERGY PROJECT, NETHERLANDS,
=46OR MOTHER EARTH NETHERLANDS,
CENTRE FOR INDIGENOUS PEOPLES, NETHERLANDS,
GLOBAL ANTI - NUCLEAR ALLIANCE, NETHERLANDS,
ANPED (NORTHERN ALLIANCE FOR SUSTAINABILITY) NETH,
ASEED- EUROPE, (AMSTERDAM)
STROHALM (UTRECHT) NETHERLANDS,
ITALIAN LAWYERS AGAINST NUCLEAR ARMS,

MAJ-BRITT THEORIN, MEP, PRESIDENT, IPB.,
ELIZABETH SCHROEDTER, MEP,
ERNST GULCHER, MEP, GREEN GROUP, GERMANY,
HEIDI HAUTALA, MEP, GREEN GROUP, FINLAND,
GLYN FORD, MEP, LABOR, SW ENGLAND,
OZAN KEYHUN, MEP, GERMANY,
PER GAHRTON, MEP, GREENS, SWEDEN,

CONGRESSMAN EDWARD J. MARKEY, (D-MASS) WASH, D.C.,
GLOBAL RESOURCE ACTION CENTRE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT (GRACE) N.Y.,  U.S.,
TRI-VALLEY CARES, LIVERMORE, CALIF, U.S.,
NUCLEAR INFORMATION AND RESOURCE SERVICE, U.S.,
WESTERN STATES LEGAL FOUNDATION, U.S.,
NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL COALITION OF NATIVE AMERICANS,
AMERICAN-INDIAN MOVEMENT OF OKLAHOMA,
NUCLEAR-FREE NEW YORK,
SAVE WARD VALLEY, CALIF, U.S.,
METRO-BOSTON COMMITTEE TO DE-ALERT NUCLEAR WEAPONS,
NUCLEAR AGE PEACE FOUNDATION, CALIFORNIA, U.S.,
PHYSICIANS FOR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, U.S.,
LIVERMORE CONVERSION PROJECT, OAKLAND, CALIF.,
ACTION SITE TO STOP CASSINI FLYBY,
PROPOSITION-1 COMMITTEE, WASHINGTON DC, US.,
HEALING GLOBAL WOUNDS, TECOPA, CALIF, U.S.,
AMERICAN FRIENDS SERVICE COMMITTEE,
UNITING CHURCH OF CHRIST ROCKY MOUNTAIN CONFERENCE, PEACE AND JUSTICE TASK
=46ORCE,
ALL SOULS UNITARIAN CHURCH COLORADO SPRINGS, U.S.,
METHODISTS UNITED FOR PEACE WITH JUSTICE, U.S.,
QUEST MINISTRIES, OHIO, U.S.,
INTERNATIONAL CENTRE FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE, SAN FRANCISCO, US,
WAR RESISTERS LEAGUE, NY, USA.,
NEW YORK STUDENT ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION COALITION,
PEACE RESOURCE CENTRE OF SAN DIEGO, CALIF, U.S.,
PROMOTING ENDURING PEACE, NY., U.S.,
PROFESSIONAL NETWORK FOR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, NY, U.S.,
GRANDMOTHERS AND MOTHERS ALLIANCE FOR THE FUTURE,
WOMENS ACTION FOR NEW DIRECTIONS,
CENTRE FOR ENERGY RESEARCH, OREGON, USA,
CITIZENS PROTECTING OHIO,
OHIO CITIZEN ACTION,
CONCERNED CITIZENS FOR NUCLEAR SAFETY NEW MEXICO,
PEACE ACTION USA.,
PEACE ACTION CENTRAL NEW YORK,
METRO NEW YORK PEACE ACTION COUNCIL, USA.,
PAX CHRISTI U.S.A.,
PAX CHRISTI NEW YORK,
PAX CHRISTI, MORRIS COUNTY, NJ, USA.,
PAX CHRISTI TEXAS,
PAX CHRISTI ST AUGUSTINE FLORIDA,
=46ELLOWSHIP OF RECONCILIATION TASK FORCE ON LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARRIBEAN=
,
ENVIRONMENTAL COALITION ON NUCLEAR POWER,
CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA CITIZENS FOR SURVIVAL,
THREE MILE ISLAND ALERT, PENNSYLVANIA, U.S.,
ATOMIC MIRROR, CALIF, U.S.,
NATIONAL CAMPAIGN FOR A PEACE TAX FUND,
PEDALS FOR PEACE, SAN LUIS OBISPO, CALIF, U.S.,
SACRAMENTO VALLEY CITIZENS ALONG THE ROADS AND TRACKS,
GRANDMOTHERS FOR PEACE INTERNATIONAL, CALIF, U.S.,
TAI MEI PEACE ACTION, SAN GABRIEL, U.S.,
SERIOUS TEXANS AGAINST NUCLEAR DUMPING, U.S.,
STUDENTS FOR A SUSTAINABLE EARTH, W. MICHIGAN, U.S.,
ALLIANCE FOR SURVIVAL, COSTA MESA, CALIF., U.S.,
LONG ISLAND ALLIANCE FOR PEACEFUL ALTERNATIVES,
Y2K-WASH CAMPAIGN BAY AREA CHAPTER,

BILL BLAIKIE MP, HOUSE LEADER, NEW DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF CANADA,
SVEND ROBINSON MP, HOUSE OF REPS, CANADA,
JUDY WASLYCIA-LEIS, MP, WINNIPEG, CANADA
VETERANS AGAINST NUCLEAR ARMS, CANADA,
PHYSICIANS FOR GLOBAL SURVIVAL, CANADA,
NEW GREEN ALLIANCE, CANADA,
PACIFIC CAMPAIGN FOR DISARMAMENT AND SECURITY, BC, CANADA.,
THE SIMONS FOUNDATION, VANCOUVER, B.C.,
PLOUGHSHARES, CALGARY, CANADA,
O.P.I.R.G., PETERBOROUGH, CANADA,
UNITED NATIONS ASSOCIATION OF CANADA,
INDIGENOUS WOMENS NETWORK, CANADA/USA.,


PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN,
OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT,
KRASNOPRESENSKAYA-2, MOSCOW, RUSSIA,
[phone], [phone] [phone],

PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON,
WHITE HOUSE, WASHINGTON, US,
[phone], [phone].

WILLIAM COHEN, US SECRETARY OF DEFENCE,
[phone],

BILL RICHARDSON, US SECRETARY OF ENERGY,
[phone].

IGOR SERGEYEV,
DEFENCE MINISTER OF RUSSIA,
Znamenka-19, 103160, Moscow, Russia,
[phone], 247-2795, 247-2722, 293-3323.

=46OREIGN MINISTER OF RUSSIA,
[phone], [phone],

CC
ALL HEADS OF STATE (BY EMAIL)
ALL UN MISSIONS (BY EMAIL)

Dear Presidents Yeltsin and Clinton, Defence Ministers and Defence
Secretaries, Heads of State and UN Missions,

The organisations above, representing millions of people worldwide, are
writing to convey their extreme concern  over the possibility that Year
2000 (Y2K)-related computer failures in nuclear weapons systems may lead to
an unacceptable risk of  nuclear war by accident or miscalculation.

In the current political situation this is most especially the case.
According to Alexandr Arbatov, of the Defence Committee of the Russian
State Duma, US-Russian relations are at 'the worst, most acute,  most
dangerous juncture since the US-Soviet Berlin and Cuban missile crises.'

The danger   during the Y2K rollover lies primarily in the possibility that
spurious data may induce commanders, even at the highest levels, to
mistakenly authorise the launches of nuclear weapons.

Events similar to this have already occurred. For example:

In the US in 1980,  a malfunctioning computer chip sent spurious alert
signals;

In 1983 in Russia, satellites mistook glare off the tops of clouds for a US
missile launch, (and disaster was averted by the refusal of the local
commander to believe the warnings were real);

In 1995,  a Norwegian research rocket prompted a full-scale Russian alert.

If Y2K breakdowns produce inaccurate early warning data, or if
communications and command channels are compromised, the combination of
hair-trigger force postures and Y2K failures could be disastrous. There
should therefore be a 'safety first ' approach  to Y2K and nuclear
arsenals.

Because none of the nuclear weapons states can guarantee that their
nuclear- related computer systems are Y2K compliant, the only responsible
solution is for them all to  stand down nuclear operations. This approach
should include taking nuclear weapons off alert status and decoupling
nuclear warheads from delivery vehicles.

The stakes involved in any nuclear exchange between Russia and the US are
such that they dwarf any other considerations. The future of life itself on
earth could be in doubt.

In  light of this, we strongly urge that you remove all strategic and
tactical nuclear weapons from 'hair trigger' alert, and place them in a
status in which at least hours and preferably days would be required to
launch them.

The Canberra Commission in August 1996, noted that terminating nuclear
alert status would:
- --Reduce dramatically the chances of accidental or unauthorised  nuclear
missile launch.
- --Help set the stage for intensified cooperation on a more far- reaching
disarmament agenda
- --Have a very positive influence on the political climate between nuclear
weapon states.

This last is especially relevant in the current tension between Russia and
NATO, which has prompted Russia to withdraw from cooperation with the US on
Y2K problems.

According to the Canberra Commission,
"Taking nuclear forces off alert could be verified by national technical
means and nuclear weapon state inspection arrangements. in the first
instance, reduction in alert status could be adopted by the nuclear weapon
states unilaterally"

If both sides are verifiably de-alerted, it will not be possible for either
to launch a disarming first strike.

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.


Signed

Kevin Dunion, Chairperson, Friends of the Earth International,
John Hallam, Nuclear Campaigner,  Friends of the Earth Australia,
Wendy Johnson, Friends of the Earth New Zealand,
Dr Patrick Green, Senior Energy, Nuclear and Climate Campaigner, Friends of
the Earth England Wales and Northern Ireland,
Ricardo Navarro, Friends of the Earth El Salvador,
Nnimmo Bassey, Friends of the Earth Nigeria (Environmental Rights Action),
Benin City, Nigeria,
Viktor Khazan, Friends of the Earth Ukraine,
Manana Kochladze, Friends of the Earth Georgia, Tbilsi, Georgia.
Jan Kunnas, Friends of the Earth Finland,
Bo Stroem, Friends of the Earth Denmark,
Tonu Oja, Chairperson, Friends of the Earth Estonia, Tartu, Estonia.
Amis de la Terre, Paris, France,
Loukia Pavlidou, President, Friends of the Earth Cyprus,
Oleg Svistunov, Friends of the Earth Japan Siberia Program,
Corine Viellers, Global-2000(Friends of the Earth Austria)
Daniela Stojanova, General Secretary, Friends of the Earth Macedonia,

Peter Garrrett, President, Australian Conservation Foundation,
Helen Caldicott, MD, Founding President, PSR,
Irene Gale, Australian Peace Committee, SA Branch,
Denis Doherty, Secretary, Pax Christi NSW,
REV. John Mavor, President,  Uniting Church of Australia
Rev. Ray Richmond, Wayside Chapel, Uniting Church in Australia,
Pitt Street Uniting Church, Pitt St, Sydney,
Rev. John Stanley, St Johns Anglican Church, Darlinghurst, Sydney,
Julie Marlow, Australian Anti-Bases Campaign Committee,
Babs Fuller-Quinn, Australian Peace Committee, National Committee,
Susan Wareham, President, Medical Association for the Prevention of War,
IPPNW Regional Vice-President, Aust.,
Pauline Mitchell, Campaign for International Cooperation and Disarmament,
Peter Jones, War Resisters International, Australia.,
Alec Marr, National Campaign Director, The Wilderness Society,
Mark Wakeham, Environment Centre of the Northern Territory,
Deborah Metters, Arid Lands Environment Centre, Alice Springs, NT.,
Rowena Skinner, Environment Centre of W.A.,
Robin Chapple, Anti-Uranium Coalition of W.A.,
Cherie Hoyle, Centre for Urban Ecology, SA.,
Graham Daniell, People for Nuclear Disarmament, Western Australia.,
Zohl D' Ishtar, Pacific Connections,
Richard Goode, 2 Billion Voices for Peace Project,
Ian Dixon, Big Scrub Environment Centre, Lismore,
Isabelle Whyte, Everyone for a Nuclear-free Future, Lismore,
Robin Taubenfeld, Everyone for a Nuclear-Free Future, Gold Coast,
Jonivar Skullerud, ENUFF, Adelaide,
Chris White, Secretary, United Trades and Labour Council, SA,
Paul Martinella, State Secretary, CFMEU, SA,
Trevor Smith, National Secretary, CFMEU, Forests and Forests Products
Division, SA,
Stephen Smith, Secretary, CFMEU, Furnishing trade Division, SA,
Jacob Grech, Earthworker, All-Union Green Caucus,
Mick Doyle, United Firefighters Union of SA,
Paul Noak, Secy, A.M.W.U. SA Office.
Martin O' Malley, Secy, CFMEU, SA Branch.
Stephen Spence, Secretary, Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance, SA.,
Leonie Ebert, Graham F. Smith Peace Trust, SA.,

Senator Lyn Allison, Democrat Senator for Victoria,
Senator Meg Lees, Democrat Senator for South Australia, Leader of the
Australian Democrats,
Senator Vicky Bourne, Democrat Senator for NSW.,
Senator Natasha Stott-Despoja, Deputy Leader, Australian Democrats,
Senator Andrew Bartlett, Democrat Senator for Queensland,
Senator Bob Brown, Green Senator for Tasmania,
Senator Dee Margetts, Green Senator for Western Australia,
Senator George Campbell, ALP Senator for NSW.,
Senator Margaret Reynolds, ALP, NSW,
Senator Jim Mc Kiernan, ALP, W.A.,
Anthony Albanese. ALP, Federal member for Grayndler,
Tanya Plibersek, ALP,  Federal member for Sydney,
Jann Mc Farlane, Federal member for Stirling, W.A.,
Jill Hall, M.P., Federal member for Shortland, NSW,
Cheryl Davenport MLC., W.A.,
Ian Cohen, MLC, Greens, NSW,
Lee Rhiannon, MLC, Greens, NSW,
Sandra Kanck, MLC,Democrats, S.A.,
Ian Gilfillan, MLC, Democrats, SA,
Robyn Geraghty MP, Member for Torrens, SA.,
=46rances Bedford, ALP State MP for Florey, S.A.,
Jim Scott, WA Greens, Legislative Council, W.A.,
Dr Louise Crossley, National Convenor, Greens, Australia,

Commander Robert Green RN (Ret'd), Chair, World Court Project UK,
=46elicity Hill, Womens International League for Peace and Freedom, Geneva/N=
Y
Martin Butcher, British-American Security Information Centre, US/UK,
Stephanie Mills, Greenpeace International Nuclear and Disarmament Campaign,
Bernice Boermans, Executive Director, International Association of Lawyers
Against Nuclear Arms, (IALANA), The Hague, Neth.,
Rear-Admiral Eugene J. Carroll, USN (retd), Deputy Director, Centre for
Defence Information, Washington, USA,

Dave Knight, Chair, Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, U.K.,
Janet Bloomfield, Former Chair CND, Abolition U.K, Saffron Walden Group
Against Nuclear Weapons,
Bruce Kent, Vice-President, CND,
Jenny Maxwell, West Midlands CND, Birmingham, U.K,
Tigger Mc Gregor, Youth and Student CND, U.K.,
Dave Webb, Yorkshire CND., U.K.,
Anni Rainbow and Lindis Percy, Campaign for Accountability of American
Bases, U.K.,
Gillian Reeve, Director, MEDACT (IPPNW U.K),
Jane Tallents, Trident-Ploughshares 2000, Norwich, Norfolk, U.K.,
Di Mc Donald, Network Information Project, Southampton, U.K,
Catherine Euler, Menwith Hill Womens Peace Camp, Yorkshire, U.K.,
Catherine Euler, Global Network Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space,
Sue Claydon, Anglican Pacifist Fellowship, Milton Keynes, U.K.,
Mary H. Miller, Episcopal peace Fellowship, U.K.,
Monica King, St Bartholemews Justice and Peace Group, St Albans, U.K.,
Calderdale Green Party, Yorkshire, U.K.,
Alan Watson, Partner, Public Interest Consultants, Swansea, Wales, U.K.,
Paul Swann, National Coordinator, Y2K Community Action Network, U.K.,

Jeanette Fitzsimmons, MP, NZ Greens,
Brian Donelly, MP,
Harry Duynhaven, MP, NZ Labour,
Lianna Dalziel, MP, NZ Labour,
Judy Keall, MP, NZ Labour,
Peter Dunne, MP, NZ independent,
Sandra Lee, Deputy leader, Alliance,
Dr Kate Dewes, Disarmament and Security Centre,
Marion Hancock, Aoteoroa/NZ Peace Foundation, Auckland, NZ.,
Gerry Coates, Engineers for Social Responsibility, NZ,
Keith Locke, Foreign Affairs Spokesperson, NZ Greens,
Llelwyn Richards, National Consultative Committee on Disarmament, NZ,
Barbara Frame, Peace Action Dunedin, NZ.,
John Urlich, Peace Council of New Zealand,
Rev. John Murray/Dame Laurie Salas/Robin Halliday, Abolition-2000, New Zeala=
nd,
Ian Prior, IPPNW New Zealand,
Chris King, Veterans for Peace New Zealand,
Derek Wilson, Architects Against Nuclear War, NZ,
Robert E. White, Director, Centre for Peace Studies, University of
Auckland, NZ.,
John Gallagher, New Zealand Nuclear-Free Peacemaking Association,
WILPF Aoteoroa,

Richard N. Salvador, Pacific Islands Association of NGOs, Belau,
Tom Mbeke-Ekarem, Chair, Coalition of Petroleum-Producing States of Nigeria,
Ron Mc Coy, Malaysian Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War,
Petaling Jaya, Malaysia,
Yumi Kukuchi, Y2K WASH Campaign, Sendai, Japan/USA,
Aileen Mioko Smith, Director, Green Action Kyoto, Japan.,
Hiroshi Taka, Assistant Secretary, Japan Council Against A and H-Bombs
(Gensuikyo),
S.P. Udayakumar, South Asian Community Centre for Education and Research,
Nagercoil, Tamil Nadu, South India,
Asif Rasheed Leghari, Awami Committee for Development, Multan, Pakistan,
Nana Suhartana, Indonesian National Network Forum Anti-Nuclear Society,
Pipob Udomittipong, Alternative Energy Project for Sustainability, Thailand,

Vladimir Sliviak, Ecodefense, Russia,
Galina Raghouzhina, World Information Service on Energy (WISE) Kaliningrad,
Alexandra Koroleva, Educational Committee, Kaliningrad Regional Duma,
Mikhail Trofimov, Ecodefence! International, Kaliningrad,
Alisa Nikoulina, Antinuclear Campaign of Social-Ecological Union, Moscow,
Pavel Malyshev, Platan Youth Group, Kaliningrad,
Oleg Bodrov, Green World, Sosnovy Bor, St Petersburg, Russia,
Vera Brovkina, St Petersburg Peace Council, St Petersburg, Russia,
Lydia Popova, Centre for Nuclear Ecology and Energy Policy, Russia,
Marina Rikhmanova, Baikal Environmental Wave, Baikal, Russia,

George Razvan Marcu, Ecosens, Romania,
Malla Kantola, Committee of 100, Helsinki, Finland,
Laura Lodenius, Peace Union of Finland, Helsinki, Finland,
Pepe Mardiste, Student Nature Protection Group, Tartu, Estonia,
Gunnar Westberg, MD., SLMK (IPPNW), Swedish Physicians Against Nuclear
Weapons,
Bjorn Hilt, Chair, Norwegian Physicians Against Nuclear War, (IPPNW)
Poul Eck S=F8rensen, Peace Movement of Esbjerg, Denmark,
Arne Hansen, War Resisters International, Fredrikshavn, Denmark,
Majken Jul S=F8rensen, Aldrig Mere Krig, (AMK) Denmark,
Anja Johansen, Militaernaegterforeningen, (Danish Association of
Conscientious Objectors)
Daniel Durand, Secretary, Mouvement de La Paix, France,
Solange Fernex, Womens International League for Peace and Freedom, France,
Chrystoph Wyss, International Albert Schwietzer Foundation, France/Switz,
Chrystoph Wyss, Dr Schweitzer Hospital Fund, Switzerland,
Dr Roland Schutzbach, Global Initiative for Immediate Disarmament, Switzerla=
nd,
Xanthe Hall, Assistant Director, IPPNW Germany, Berlin,
Regina Hagen, Darmstaedter Friedensforum, Germany,
Claus Biegert, Nuclear-Free Award, Germany,
Horst Hohmier, Anti-Atom Plenum, Bochum, Germany,
Ilona Joerden, Citizens Initiative for Environmental Protection,
Luechow-Danneburg, Germany,
Matthias Reichl, Centre for Encounters and Active Non-Violence, Bad Ischl,
Austria,
Dr Klaus Renoldner, President,  IPPNW Austria,
Claudia and Margit, Anti-Atom International,
Claudia and Margit, Coordination Office of Austrian Environment Organisation=
s,
Heinz Stockinger, Independent Salzburg Platform Against Nuclear
Dangers,(PLAGE), Salzburg, Austria,
Josef Puehringer, Platform Gegen Atomgefahr, Austria,
Josef Puehringer, Centrum Energie, Czech Republic,
Josef Puehringer, Burgerinitiative Umweltschutz, Budweis, Czech Republic,
Josef Puehringer, Energie Zukunft Mohtviertel, Austria.,
Pol D'Huyvetter, For Mother Earth International, Ghent, Belgium,
Peer de Rijk, WISE- Amsterdam, Netherlands,
Ophelia Cowell, MDB Energy Project, Netherlands,
Marjan Willemsen, For Mother Earth Netherlands,
Ak Malten, Global Anti-Nuclear Alliance, Netherlands,
Pieter Van Der Gaag, Deputy international Coordinator, ANPED, Northern
Alliance for Sustainability,
=46rank Van Schaik, Transport Coordinator, ASEED-Europe,
STROHALM, Utrecht, Netherlands,
Kaj Leers, Journalist, Netherlands,
David Boerma, Coordinator, Pacific Region, Centre for Indigenous Peoples,
Netherlands.,
Giorgio Nebbia, Professor Emeritus, Faculty of Economics, University of
Bari, Italy,
Dr Joachim Lau, Italian Lawyers Against Nuclear Arms,

Maj-Britt Theorin, MEP, Sweden,
Elizabeth Schroedter, MEP, Germany,
Ernst Gulcher, MEP, Green Group, Germany,
Heidi Hautala, MEP, Green Group, Finland,
Glyn Ford, MEP, Labour, SW England,
Ozan Keyhun, MEP, Germany,
Per Gahrton, MEP, Greens, Sweden.,

Congressman Edward J. Markey, (D-Mass), Capitol Hill, Washington, DC.
Alice Slater, Global Resource Action Centre for the Environment, NY., USA.,
Marylia Kelley, Tri-Valley CARES, Livermore, California, US.
Mary Olson, Nuclear Information and Resource Service, US.,
Jackie Cabasso, Executive Director, Western States Legal Foundation, US.,
Grace Thorpe, National Environmental Coalition of Native Americans,
Carter Camp, Chair, American-Indian Movement of Oklahoma, US,
Bill Smirnow, Nuclear-Free New York, US,

Molly Johnson, Coordinator, Save Ward Valley, Calif, USA.,
William F. Santelmann, Metro-Boston Committee to De-Alert Nuclear Weapons
David Krieger, Nuclear Age Peace Foundation, Santa Barbara, Calif, US.
Robert W. Tiller, Physicians for Social Responsibility, U.S.A.,
Dr Lachlan Forrow, Past Chair, IPPNW,
Jonathan Mark, Action Site to Stop Cassini Flyby,
Sherry Larsen-Beville, Livermore Conversion Project, Oakland, Calif, USA.
Ellen Thomas, Proposition-1 Committee, Washington DC, US.,

Diana Roose, Peace Education Director, American Friends Service Committee,
Patricia Watson, Peacework, American Friends Service Committee,
Robert Kinsey, Peace and Justice Task Force,  Uniting Church of Christ,
Rocky Mountains Conference,
Rachel Keeler, Executive Director, Pax Christi, New York,
Nancy Small, National Coordinator, Pax Christi, USA,
=46rank Dworak, Pax Christi, Morris County, NJ, USA.,
Adam Eidinger, Pax Christi Washington Action Group, U.S.,
Joyce Hall, Pax Christi Texas,
Paul Villavisanis, Pax Christi, St Augustine, Fl,
Betty Obol, SL, The Loretto Community, U.S.,
Phil Mc Manus, Chair, Fellowship of Reconciliation Task Force on Latin
America and the Carribean, U.S.,
Heidi Cooper, All Souls Unitarian Church, Colorado Springs, US.,
Howard W. Hallman, Methodists United for Peace with Justice, Washington, USA=
=2E,
Guy Templeton Black, Quest Ministries, Ohio, U.S.,

Jennifer Olaranna Viereck, Coordinator, Healing Global Wounds, Tecopa, CA,
USA.,
Karen Talbot, Director, International Centre for Peace and Justice, San
=46rancisco, California, US.,
Chris Ney, War Resisters League, NY, USA.,
Jasmina Arsova, War Resisters League,, NY. USA.,
Holly-Poole Kavana, New York Student Environmental Action Coalition,
Carol Jahnkow, Peace Resource Centre of San Diego, Calif, US.,
Janette Michelle Cuevas, Executive Director, Promoting Enduring Peace, NY.,
Babette Lindfield, Professional Network for Social Responsibility, NY, U.S.,
Susan Lee Solar and Maria Mendez, Grandmothers and Mothers Alliance for the
=46uture,
Susan Shaer, Executive Director, Womens Action for New Directions,
Peter Bergel, Centre for Energy Research, Salem, Oregon, USA.,
Harvey Wasserman, Citizens Protecting Ohio, USA.,
Sarah Ogdahl, Toledo Area Director, Ohio Citizen Action,
Jay Coghlan, Concerned Citizens For Nuclear Safety, New Mexico, USA.,
Gordon S. Clark, Executive Director, Peace Action USA.,
Diane R Swords, Peace Action Central New York,
=46ran Teplitz, Peace Action, Peace Action Education Fund, USA.,
Sonya Ostrom, Metro New York Peace Action Council,
Judith H. Johnsrud, Environmental Coalition on Nuclear Power, Pennsylvania,
U.S,
Judith H. Johnsrud, Central Pennsylvania Citizens for Survival, U.S.,
Scott D. Portzlines, Three Mile Island Alert, Pennsylvania, U.S.,
Pamela Meidell, Atomic Mirror, Calif, U.S.,
Tom Keirans, National Campaign for a Peace Tax Fund,
Shiela Baker, Pedals for Peace, San Luis Obispo, Calif, U.S.,
Inga Olson, Sacramento Valley Citizens Along The Roads and Tracks,
Earth-Savers, Syracuse, U.S.,
Barbara Weidener, Grandmothers for Peace International, Calif, U.S.,
Lyn Miles, Tai Mei Peace Action, San Gabriel, U.S.,
Alan Moore, Butterfly Gardeners Association, Berkley, Calif,
Don Moniak, Program Director, Serious Texans Against Nuclear Dumping,
Amarillo, Tex, U.S,
Andrew Nixon, Students For A Sustainable Earth, W. Michigan University, U.S.=
,
Jack and Felice Cohen-Joppa, The Nuclear Resister,
Marion Pack, Alliance for Survival, Costa-Mesa, California, USA.,
Peggy jacobs, Long Island Alliance for peaceful Alternatives, U.S.,
Jane Grossman, Bay Area Chapter, Y2K WASH Campaign, (World Atomic Safety
Holiday), USA/JAPAN,

Senator Doug Roche, Canadian Parliament,
Bill Blaikie MP, House Leader, New Democratic Party of Canada,
Svend Robinson MP, House of Representatives,Canada,
Judy Waslycia-Leis, MP, Winnipeg, Canada,
Dr David Morgan, President, Veterans Against Nuclear Arms, Vancouver,
Canada,
Dr Barbara Birkett, President, Physicians for Global Survival, Ottawa, Canad=
a



- -
 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: Sun, 1 Aug 1999 18:30:10 +1000
From: FoE Sydney - Nuclear Campaign <[e-mail]>
Subject: (abolition-usa) DE-ALERTING LETTER FAXED - PRESS ALERTS

=46RIENDS OF THE EARTH
HIROSHIMA DAY COMMITTEE

PRESS ALERT FOR AUG 6 1999 (HIROSHIMA DAY)

WORLD SAYS TAKE N-WEAPONS OFF ALERT TO AVOID Y2K GLOBAL CATASTROPHE

WHERE: NSW STATE PARLIAMENT PRESS CONF. ROOM
WHEN: 10 AM FRIDAY, AUGUST 6TH.
WHAT:
Over 257 peace, environment, church groups, trade unions, and
parliamentarians from the US, Russia, Australia, NZ, Canada, Europe, Japan,
and elsewhere, have written a letter to Presidents Yeltsin and Clinton,
asking them to take strategic nuclear missiles off hairtrigger alert over
the Y2K rollover period,  in view of concerns that Y2K-related computer
errors may create an unacceptable risk of accidental nuclear war.

Those signed on now include over 20 Australian parliamentarians, 7 New
Zealand MPs, 7 Euro-MPs, 4Canadian MPs, and US Congressman Edward Markey,
as well as international environment groups Friends of the Earth
International and Greenpeace International, and the British-American
Security Information Council.(BASIC).

The letter will be released on Aug 6th in Parliament House Sydney by Hannah
Middleton, Helen Caldicott and John Hallam, and in Adelaide at 6pm on the
steps of Parliament House by the SA member for Florey, Frances Bedford.

It will be released internationally in Auckland, New York, San Francisco,
Toronto, London, Moscow, and Costa Rica.

Contact:
SYDNEY:John Hallam,  61-2-9517-3903, H61-2-9810-2598,
Dr. Hannah Middleton, 61-2-9660-7562, 0411-409-954,
ADELAIDE:  Ron Gray, Australian Peace Committee,
61-8-8212-7138, 8-8364-2291,
AUCKLAND:Aoteoroa/New Zealand Peace Foundation, 64-9-3732-379,

NEW YORK: Diane Hatz, Global Resource Action Centre for The Environment,
(GRACE)  1-212-726-9161, fx9160

SAN FRANCISCO:
Tri-Valley CARES, Rene Steinhauer, 1-925-449-4696,  1-925-443-7148,
Livermore Conversion Project, Sherry Larson-Beville, 1-510-663-8065

TORONTO: Operation De-Alert, 1-905-632-8687.fx-8627
MOSCOW: Vladimir Sliviak, Ecodefense,
7-095-278-4642, 7-0112-437-286,
LONDON; Martin Butcher, British-American Security Information Council,
44-171-407-2977 fx2988
COSTA RICA: Felicity Hill, WILPF,  [phone], Fx: [phone]

X-From_: [e-mail]  Sun Aug  1 09:10:16 1999
Date: Sat, 31 Jul 1999 16:07:10 -0700 (PDT)
X-Sender: [e-mail] (Unverified)
Mime-Version: 1.0
To: [e-mail]
=46rom: [e-mail] (marylia)
Subject: De-alert lttr/CA release
X-MIME-Autoconverted: from quoted-printable to 8bit by envirolink.org id
TAA08794
Reply-To: [e-mail]
Sender: [e-mail]

Dear peace advocates: This is the press release we are customizing to send
to media on August 6th, in concert with FOE-Australia and other groups
across the country. The topic is the sign on letter to Presidents Bill and
Boris demanding de-alerting of nuclear weapons. I am posting our press
release to offer ideas for your area release. If your organization has not
yet signed on to the letter, contact John Hallam, FOE-Australia at
<[e-mail]>. All thanks for the original drafts of the letter
and circulating it for sign on go to John and Hannah at FOE. Read on...

Contact:
Rene' Steinhauer, Tri-Valley CAREs, [phone]
Sherry Larsen-Beville, Livermore Conversion Project, [phone]

=46or Immediate Release  August 6, 1999
CA ACTIVISTS & U.S. LEGISLATORS JOIN 200 GROUPS, LUMINARIES
AROUND THE WORLD TO DEMAND CLINTON & YELTSIN
"TAKE NUCLEAR WEAPONS OFF ALERT"

CITE Y2K RISK OF ACCIDENTAL NUCLEAR CATASTROPHE

Today, on the 54th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, Japan, a
letter signed by over 200 groups, legislators and noteworthy individuals
worldwide was sent to U.S. President Bill Clinton and Russian President
Boris Yeltsin demanding the two leaders immediately de-activate the more
than 5,000 nuclear weapons in their respective nations that are currently
on hair-trigger alert.

The letter has among its signatories notables such as U.S. Representative
Edward Markey (D-MA), Senator Doug Roche (Canada), Maj-Britt Theorin
(Member European Parliament) and Dr. Helen Caldicott (internationally known
physician from Australia). Other signers include prominent lawyers,
additional elected officials from around the globe and many environmental
and peace organizations throughout the U.S., Russia, Ukraine, Europe,
Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific Islands and Central America.
The world's two largest environmental organizations, Friends of the Earth
International and Greenpeace International have both endorsed the letter.

Locally, Tri-Valley CAREs, Livermore Conversion Project and Western States
Legal Foundation are among the sponsoring organizations. Other
California-based groups that have signed the letter include Atomic Mirror,
Grandmothers for Peace International, Healing Global Wounds, International
Centre for Peace and Justice, Nuclear Age Peace Foundation, Pedals for
Peace and Save Ward Valley.

"Our grave concern is that Year 2000 (Y2K)-related computer failures in
nuclear weapons systems may lead to nuclear war by accident or
miscalculation," explained Rene' Steinhauer, Community Organizer with
Tri-Valley CAREs (Communities Against a Radioactive Environment), an
environmental group based in Livermore that is well-known as the "watchdog"
over the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, a primary U.S. nuclear
weapons development lab. Mr. Steinhauer further stated that "the principle
danger lies in the potential for erroneous computer data leading to a
launch of nuclear weapons."

The letter to Presidents Clinton and Yeltsin spotlights three past
examples, in 1980, 1983 and 1995, when disasters were averted only at the
last moment. The 1980 incident involved a U.S. computer chip malfunction,
sending alert signals; the 1983 incident involved Russian satellites
mistaking glare from cloud tops for a U.S. missile launch, and disaster was
prevented only by the refusal of the local commander to believe the
warnings were genuine; and the 1995 incident involved a U.S. research
rocket launched from Norway which set off a full-scale Russian alert. In
this latter incident, it took Russian decision-makers eight minutes,
operating in high emergency mode, to realize the launch was not part of a
surprise strike by the U.S. - less than four minutes before their "launch
on warning" deadline for ordering a nuclear response. "The potential for
computer malfunction leading to a nuclear response is enormously
exacerbated by Y2K," said Steinhauer.

"Since no nuclear weapons state can guarantee its nuclear weapons computers
are proof against such errors during the Y2K rollover to the year 2000, the
logical and responsible thing is for all nuclear weapons nations to take
their nuclear weapons off alert status and to decouple nuclear warheads
from delivery vehicles," said Sherry Larsen-Beville of the Oakland-based
Livermore Conversion Project. "If all sides are verifiably de-alerted, it
will become impossible for any nation to launch a disarming first strike
attack," she stated. "This will provided the margin of confidence needed to
assure decision-makers in the event a Y2K computer error indicates a
nuclear launch has been made by one nation upon another."

The appeal also cites as a potentially exacerbating factor the current,
tense political relations between Russia and the U.S. over the U.S.-led
NATO bombings of Kosovo, because, as a result, Russia has withdrawn
high-level cooperation with the U.S. on Y2K nuclear compliance problems.
The letter's 200-plus signers are clearly laying the issue at the feet of
the two presidents, asking them to rise to the occasion and to overcome
this breakdown in international communication and cooperation.

The letter concludes:  "The immediate stakes are so high, and the potential
for global catastrophe so clear, that mutually verified de-alerting =8A must
take precedence over all other considerations of politics and national
security."

- -30-

Copies of the letter with its more than 200 signatories is available on
request. Also available is a fact sheet detailing twenty cases where
computer malfunction and misinterpretation of data have already brought the
world to the brink of nuclear war. Call Tri-Valley CAREs at [phone].

=46ollowing this page is a flier containing information on the Hiroshima
commemoration and protest action at the Lawrence Livermore National
Laboratory, 2:30 PM on August 6th.



Marylia Kelley
Tri-Valley CAREs
(Communities Against a Radioactive Environment)
2582 Old First Street
Livermore, CA USA 94550

<http://www.igc.org/tvc/> - is our web site, please visit us there!

[phone] - is our phone
[phone] - is our fax



- -
 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.

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

End of abolition-usa-digest V1 #160
***********************************

-
 To unsubscribe to $LIST, send an email to "[e-mail]"
 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.