ftp.xmission.com/2014.06.ftp.xmission.com.tar/ftp.xmission.com/pub/lists/abolition-usa/archive/v01.n227

Internet Message Format | 1999-11-23 | 53KB

From: [e-mail] (abolition-usa-digest)
To: [e-mail]
Subject: abolition-usa-digest V1 #227
Reply-To: abolition-usa-digest
Sender: [e-mail]
Errors-To: [e-mail]
Precedence: bulk


abolition-usa-digest    Tuesday, November 23 1999    Volume 01 : Number 227




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

Date: Mon, 22 Nov 1999 16:41:56 +1000
From: FoE Sydney - Nuclear Campaign <[e-mail]>
Subject: (abolition-usa) Can You Get this to your Local Media?

Dear All,

According to Paul Laurie,

>In the US on NBC tonite, there is a TV drama about Y2K. It includes drama
>The press is very interested in talking to us. Please have everyone you know
>call them now. I believe the next few days because of this nbc show will be
>very hot.

If the result of the NBC show is to suddenly make the press interested in
Y2K, and in talking to us, can people get this to their local media?

It concerns Senator Bennetts egregious misrepresentation of the
Europarliament Y2K resolution.

I suggest using your own names on it (and making whatever changes are
necessary), or else using both mine and your own names.  But it's perfectly
OK to substitute your own names. Make whatever changes you see as necessary
to get a local angle.

Go for it!

John Hallam


U.S. SENATE Y2K CHIEF GETS EURO- Y2K-VOTE WRONG, WRONG, WRONG.

Antinuclear activists who lobbied for the European Parliament to pass a
motion last Thursday, for US and Russian strategic nuclear weapons to be
taken off hairtrigger alert are shocked by utterly incorrect statements
from Senator Robert Bennett (R-Utah), that the European Parliament has
voted for nuclear early warning systems to be shut down.

According to(insert name)
"To be misrepresented in this way by Senator Bennett in his capacity as US
Senate Y2K  Special Committee chief is shocking. Its clear that he has
simply not read the text of the Europarliamentary resolution."

"What it calls for is for the US and Russia in particular to de-alert
nuclear weapons systems. De-Alerting has been called for by a variety of
bodies starting with Australia's own Canberra Commission, the Tokyo Forum,
two recent resolutions of the Australian Senate, and two recent resolutions
of the First Committee of the United Nations General Assembly, as well as
two General Assembly resolutions last year. There has never been any
implication that it meant switching off early warning systems as Senator
Bennett says. Nobody has ever said warning systems should be switched off
and no- one ever will."

"It is precisely because Y2K - related computer malfunctions may indeed
shut down or degrade warning systems that the European Parliament has
enacted a very cautious and responsible motion, namely that nuclear weapons
should be de-alerted, that is, taken off hairtrigger alert over the Y2K
rollover so that it is not possible to fire them in error, or as a result
of false alarms caused by defective warning systems. The British have
already done the needful by changing the 'notice to fire' on their nuclear
weapons from minutes to days, and this is exactly what the EP is asking
for."

"The resolution of the European Parliament deserves first of all correct
reporting, and second, applause. We call on Senator Bennett to actually
read the motion, which we have faxed him, and to withdraw his irresponsible
statements."

(insert name)
John Hallam, Friends of the Earth Sydney Nuclear Campaigner, 61-2-9517-3903
h 61-2-9810-2598

>COMPROMISE RESOLUTION
>
>Tabled by
>Elly Plooij-Van Gorsel on behalf of the ELDR Group,
>Maj-Britt Theorin on behalf of the PSE Group,
>Heidi Hautala and others on behalf of the Green/EFA Group,
>Giles Chichester and others on behalf of the PPE Group,
>?? on behalf of the GUE Group
>
>
>To replace resolutions B5-268/99 (ELDR), B5-279/99 (PSE), B5-292/99
>(Green/EFA), B5-303/99 (PPE),
>
>
>On the Year 2000 Bug in the civil and military sectors
>
>
>The European Parliament,
>
>- having regard to the responsibilites of the EU in the areas of major
>accidents and their consequences, relating to radioactive and chemical
>pollution, and its role in nuclear safety under the Euratom Treaty,
>
>- having regard to the report of  Parliament on the 'Year 2000 problem,
>which requested a 3 monthly update from the Commission, as well as various
>reports from the Commission, and the conclusions and the resolution of
>Council, as well as the work of the G8 and the IAEA,
>
>- having regard to the update given by the Commission to the Industry,
>External Trade, Research and Energy Committee on November 8th,
>
>A. noting growing concern worldwide that the failure of computers to
>recognize the year 2000 date change could affect control systems at
>nuclear and other environmentally sensitive plants, as well as off-site
>electrical supplies from the networks to such plant, in addition to
>command, control, communications and intelligence systems of nuclear
>forces,
>
>B. whereas nuclear power plant safety systems are not generally digitally
>based, though monitoring systems normally are, and while the Commission
>has recognised that enormous progress has been made, there is also
>increasing acceptance about the infeasibility of bringing all such
>computerised systems to year 2000 computer compliance, resulting in some
>risk of infrastructure disruption, and a lack or preparedness amongst
>SMEs,
>
>C. noting that as a result, according to respected analysts, there exists
>a small but unacceptable risk of serious nuclear or other accidents,
>especially in Central and Eastern Europe, and the NIS, especially where
>nuclear plant use plutonium fuel, and similar risk of an accidental
>nuclear war,
>
>D. whereas there are hundreds of operating nuclear plants and research
>reactors and thousands of other environment-sensitive plants around the
>globe, and whereas there are such installations in all EU Member States,
>and whereas data errors have caused mishaps and near accidents at nuclear
>power stations in the past,
>
>E. whereas date errors and false signals may also affect the nuclear armed
>forces, with potentially disastrous consequences, notably where nuclear
>weapons are on "hair-trigger" alert, such as in the United States of
>America and the Russian Federation, and whereas two EU Member States have
>nuclear armed forces which may be affected by year 2000 computer problems,
>
>F. welcoming the UK government's announcement that it has relaxed the
>notice to fire of its nuclear forces from minutes to days,
>
>G. noting that in 1996 the Canberra Commission on the Elimination of
>Nuclear Weapons recommended that all nuclear forces be taken off
>hair-trigger alert, preferably by physical separation of the warheads from
>delivery vehicles,
>
>H. noting that a number of resolutions in the UN General Assembly, notably
>Resolution 53/77Y "Towards a nuclear weapon- free world: the need for a
>new agenda", have called for nuclear forces to be de-alerted,
>
>1. Calls on the governments of the states having a nuclear weapon
>capability to take all the necessary steps to avoid that year 2000
>computer problems may lead to the accidental or unintended firing of
>nuclear weapons by 'de-alerting' those weapons;
>
>2. Calls on all non-nuclear-weapons Member States of the European Union to
>make vigorous representations to that effect;
>
>3. Calls on all governments to instruct the operators of all nuclear or
>other environment-sensitive plant not able to verifiably demonstrate their
>complete Y2K compliance, that such plant must be at least temporarily shut
>down at the Millennium, and that in any case stand-by electrical power
>should be available for up to 60 days at all nuclear plant to operate
>cooling pumps and safety systems, and longer term back-up must be provided
>for spent fuel cooling ponds; suggests that the Council and Commission
>press all governments accordingly, especially in Central and Eastern
>Europe, Russia and the NIS, and Turkey;
>
>4. Recalls and restates its resolution of 25/02/99 on "The Year 2000
>Computer Problem", and notes that in the meantime two particular problems
>seem to persist:
>- the degree of progress in some Member States is not sufficient, which
>may lead to consequences in view of existing cross-border global and
>sectorial levels of integration;
>- SMEs are more exposed to possible disruption than big international
>companies and a certain number of them may be liable to suffer heavy
>financial consequences if they do not adjust in time, requiring urgent
>action by the Commission, and national and regional administrations;
>
>5. Strongly recomments that the European Council of Helsinki, to be held
>just a couple of weeks before the turn of the century, adopt appropriate
>measures, and make an awareness statement to the European citizens on the
>precise situation of the problem and the potential risks;
>
>6. Calls on the OECD Members to urgently provide specific resources to
>Central and Eastern European countries and the NIS for the purpose of
>financing alternatives to their nuclear power plants at the Millennium and
>in the medium term, to close down those nuclear power plants no longer
>fulfilling internationally recognised safety standards and to fund
>alternative sources of energy;
>
>7. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission,
>the Council, the UN Security Council, the IAEA, the governments of the
>Member States and the applicant states and the Members of the OECD and the
>IAEA.





- -
 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: Mon, 22 Nov 1999 13:04:38 -0500
From: ASlater <[e-mail]>
Subject: (abolition-usa) ACTION ALERT-NATO REVIEW

Dear Abolitionists,

NATO promised, at the 50th Anniversary meeting in April, to review its
nuclear policy at their meeting during the first week in December in
Brussels.  Pol Huyvetter, Chair of our Abolition Days Direct Action Working
Group is organizing demonstrations at the NATO headquarters on December 2nd
and 3rd.

If you can't get to Brussels, there's still a lot you can do. Regardless of
whether or not you live in a NATO state, please contact your legislators,
heads of state, foreign ministers, and ask either that your government as a
member of NATO act to change NATO nuclear policy to reflect the post-cold
war reality, or if your country is not a member of NATO, that your
government contact NATO states to realize the promise of nuclear
disarmament 10 years after the fall of the Berlin Wall.

ITS IMPORTANT THAT WE KEEP THE PRESSURE ON!! EVEN THOUGH THE US RELUCTANTLY
AGREED TO REVIEW NATO NUCLEAR POLICY AT THE APRIL 50TH ANNIVERSARY, THERE
IS INFORMATION THAT THE US WILL ONCE AGAIN TRY TO SWEEP IT UNDER THE
TABLE!!  WE MUST NOT LET THAT HAPPEN!!

Ask that you government demand steps consistent with our Abolition Statement:
1. An immediate commitment to begin negotiations for a treaty to eliminate
nuclear weapons.
2. Guarantees of No First Use
3. Taking all nuclear weapons off alert
4. Taking all US nuclear weapons out of Europe


Letters to the editor, op-ed pieces, etc. will be helpful too.

SPREAD THIS MESSAGE TO ALL YOUR EMAIL LISTS--IF YOU ARE IN A MEMBERSHIP
ORGANIZATION
ASK YOUR MEMBERS TO HELP CREATE A GROUNDSWELL FOR MEANINGFUL STEPS TOWARDS
NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT AT THE NATO REVIEW.     Many thanks for your help.

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: Mon, 22 Nov 1999 15:17:25 -0500
From: Hisham Zerriffi <[e-mail]>
Subject: (abolition-usa) De-Alerting: Launch of New Campaign

Back from the Brink Campaign Launched
New Video Released

On January 25, 1995, millions of people were minutes away from being
incinerated by a mistaken nuclear weapons launch. Russian radar had detected a
US-Norwegian rocket that looked like a US Trident nuclear missile. The routine
notice that it was a weather rocket was lost in the bureaucracy. The black
suitcase containing Russian nuclear launch codes was already with President
Yeltsin when he was informed that it was a mistaken alert.

There have been many false alerts on the US side as well, including one in
which a nuclear warfare training tape being run on the command center computer
was mistaken for the real thing.

The Cold War officially ended after the Soviet Union fell apart eight years
ago. Yet today, the people of the United States and Russia still face the risk
of being evaporated in an accidental nuclear war. That risk is increasing
because of deteriorating infrastructure and the poor state of the Russian
economy.

There is something that can be done to greatly reduce this risk: take nuclear
weapons off of hair trigger alert. De-alerting nuclear weapons does not
require
a change in the size of the US or Russian arsenals. Nor are lengthy arms
reduction negotiations or legislative debates needed. De-alerting simply
requires a determination by national leaders to increase nuclear safety and
abandon confrontational nuclear postures.

On December 9, 1999, a major national effort to de-alert nuclear weapons, the
"Back from the Brink Campaign," will be launched. That morning, a new video
made by the Center for Defense Information, discussing nuclear dangers and how
de-alerting can reduce them, will be released at the National Press Club in
Washington, D.C. Speakers will include: Bruce Blair, one of the world's
foremost authorities on the subject and a MacArthur Fellow; former Senator
Dale

Bumpers, now head of the Center for Defense Information; Beatrice Brailsford,
Program Director of the Snake River Alliance, a statewide peace and
environmental group in Idaho, and Arjun Makhijani, President of the Institute
for Energy and Environmental Research in Takoma Park, Maryland.

The heart of the campaign will be outside Washington, DC. That's where the
pressure to persuade President Clinton as well as the House and Senate to
de-alert nuclear weapons must come from.

You can participate in the launch of the Back from the Brink Campaign by
showing the video at a house party or on your local cable access channel. Free
copies of the Back from the Brink Campaign video are available. To get one,
send an e-mail to [e-mail] or write the temporary campaign
office at
310 E. Center, Suite 205, Pocatello, Idaho 83201. After December 1, 1999, you
can call our toll free number at 1-877-55BESAFE.

You can also arrange a news briefing in your community around the showing of
the video. The campaign can send you sample press materials and other
information in a packet that you can use and distribute to local media.

The website of the campaign is at www.dealert.com

**************************************
**************************************
Arjun Makhijani
President, Institute for Energy and Environmental Research
6935 Laurel Ave., Suite 204
Takoma Park, Maryland 20912, U.S.A.
Phone [phone]
Fax: [phone]
e-mail: [e-mail]
web page: http://www.ieer.org


- -
 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: Mon, 22 Nov 1999 16:33:39 -0500
From: ASlater <[e-mail]>
Subject: (abolition-usa) Fwd: Fw: NMD Test A Fake

>Date: Mon, 22 Nov 1999 14:48:46 -0500
>Subject: Fw: NMD Test A Fake
>X-FC-MachineGenerated: true
>From: [e-mail] ([e-mail])
>
>>>
>>>   All Rights Reserved  NewsMax.com
>>>
>>>
>>> Monday November 22, 12:01 AM
>>>
>RECENT NMD TEST WAS "FIXED", COUNTERPUNCH SAYS
>>>
>>> All the world stood in awe as we watched the video last month of a
>successful ABM test.
>>>
>>> The Pentagon test purported to show an interceptor missile - known as an
>EKV or Exoatmospheric Kill Vehicle - strike and destroy an incoming "dummy"
>ICBM. The dummy ICBM was fired from California's Vandenberg Air Force Base
>and struck by the EKV as it neared its target over the mid-Pacific Ocean.
>>>
>>> For the first time it appeared the Pentagon had figured out a way to
>>"hit
>a bullet with a bullet." There has been growing support for an effective
>Anti-Ballistic Missile or ABM system - and even Clinton administration
>doves
>have been joining the chorus for one.
>>>
>>> Critics of an ABM system have contended the technology didn't exist to
>create an effective interceptor missile. During the Gulf War the Patriot
>missile was hailed as an example of how ABM technology could work. Later it
>was revealed the Patriot had a dismal success rate.
>>>
>>> CounterPunch, a monthly investigative newsletter edited by Alexander
>Cockburn and Jeffrey St. Clair, reports that a classified Pentagon document
>reveals how the ABM test was "fixed."
>>>
>>> According to CounterPunch, the dummy ICBM "was tracked by an on-board
>C-band beacon and GPS. Ground track radars were neither needed nor used to
>guide the EKV."
>>>
>>> In other words, the dummy ICBM had two homing devices that guided the
>interceptor missile - the EKV - right to the kill. This means the latest
>Pentagon ABM technology will work if Russia, North Korea and China will be
>so kind as to put a homing beacon in their missiles - enabling us to guide
>our interceptor missiles at them. Our guess is they won't be so kind.
>>>
>>> That's why building an adequate ABM system should have been among the
>nation's highest priorities. The Clinton administration has blocked,
>stymied
>and delayed implementation of such a system during most of the past decade.
>>>
>>> Inside Cover notes that Russia already has an effective ABM system.
>>Former
>Defense Intelligence Analyst William Lee reports that Russia has a
>nation-wide system of ABM defenses, with battle management radar. According
>to Lee, Russia also figured out how to get around the "bullet hitting the
>bullet" problem. The Russians outfitted their ABM interceptors with neutron
>warheads. Russian interceptor missiles need not hit their targets
>precisely,
>just get close enough to fall victim to a nuclear explosion.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> HotBot - Search smarter.
>>> http://www.hotbot.com
>
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: Tue, 23 Nov 1999 20:56:31 -0800
From: Nuclear Age Peace Foundation <[e-mail]>
Subject: (abolition-usa) Abolition 2000 Grassroots Newsletter November 1999

(Apologies to anyone who receive duplicate posts due to list cross-overs)

Abolition 2000 Grassroots Newsletter
November 1999

************************
In This Edition...
************************
I.                  Introduction
II.                 New Organizations
III.                Articles
IV.                 Commentary
V.                  Actions You Can Take
VI.                 Calendar Events
VII.                Resources
VIII.               Letter from the Editor



************************
Introduction
************************

This year at the Abolition 2000 annual general meeting held at  Hague
Appeal for Peace, we set the goal of enrolling 2000 organizations by the
year 2000.  Currently, the Network is comprised of 1,391 organizations in
89 countries and 239 Municipalities have endorsed the Abolition 2000
Municipal Resolution.  We are seeking your support to help us reach our
goal.  Please join me in wishing a warm welcome to the following
organizations and municipalities which have recently endorsed the Abolition
2000 statement and joined the network.   I urge you to support those within
the network and continue building relationships with like-minded
individuals and organizations.  Please set a goal of enrolling at least one
new organization during the month of December.  Thank you for your
continued support.



************************
New Organizations
************************

Association Togolaise des Jeunes Scientifiques, Togo/West Africa
Buddhist Peace Fellowship, Berkeley/California
Citizens Awareness Network, Shelburne Falls/Ohio
Citizens Protecting Ohio, Bexley/Ohio
Earth Action Congo, Brazaville/Republic of Congo
Global Forum International and Christian Religion for Peace, Justice and
Freedom, Benin/Nigeria
Gray Panthers of Metro Detroit, Royal Oak/Michigan
International Center for Peace Initiatives, Mumbai/India
Nagasaki Peace Institute, Nagasaki/Japan
Northern New Jersey Nation Associates, Hackensack/New Jersey
Pathways to Peace, Larkspur/California
Pax Christi, Michigan
Resource Center for Non-Governmental Organizations (CREST), Romania
The Romanian Multiple Schlerosis-MS Society, Romania
Waldron Island Nuclear Free Zone, Waldron Island/Washington
Youth for Environmental Sanity or YES!, California/US
YWCA Aotearoa, Wellington/Aotearoa



************************
Articles
************************


       "Oboe 2":  Protesting the Effects of Subcritical Testing

"It's in our backyard... it's in our front yard. This nuclear contamination
is shortening all life. Were going to have to unite as a people and say no
more! We, the people, are going to have to put our thoughts together to
save our planet here. We only have One Water...One Air...One Mother Earth."
 -Corbin Harney- Newe (Western Shoshone) Spiritual leader, Founder /
Executive Director of Shundahai Network

On Tuesday, November 9 at 2:19 p.m., "Oboe 2", a subcritical nuclear
experiment was detonated at the Nevada Nuclear Test Site, just 85 miles
north of Las Vegas.  Members of the Shundahai Network sponsored a
non-violent protest of the nuclear experiment and six activists were
arrested at the Mercury entrance to the test site.  Protesters also rallied
in front of the Foley building in Las Vegas, protesting the fact that the
Department of Energy (DoE) is "expanding their nuclear testing program
while becoming increasingly secretive about their testing."

Gregor Gable, a spokesperson for the Shundahai Network, stated that despite
the fall of  the Berlin Wall ten years ago, "the DoE has accelerated their
nuclear testing program after the US rejection of the Comprehensive Test
Ban Treaty, demonstrating their desire to return to full-scale nuclear
weapons testing...with no end in sight."

While the DoE claims their past nuclear tests have not contaminated any
groundwater, they remain uncertain about the effects of subcritical testing
and continue to jeopardize public safety for current and future generations
by dispersing more plutonium in the earth.

For more information on "Oboe 2" and the Shundahai Network please contact:
Shundahai Network
5007 Elmhurst
Las Vegas NV 89108
Tel:  [phone]  Fax:  [phone]
Email: [e-mail]  URL:  Http://www.shundahai.org



             Voters Call for Nuclear Weapons Abolition

  In Cambridge and Newton,  Massachusetts,  local activists placed the
question of whether or not the President of the United States should be
instructed to negotiate a treaty to abolish nuclear weapons on a local
referendum. Councilor Kathleen Born brought the petition to the Council to
give voters the opportunity to voice their opinion in a message to
President Clinton.  On September 13th, the Cambridge City Council voted
unanimously to put the "Citizen's Advisory Question" on the November
ballot.

The advisory, addressed to President Clinton, asked him to initiate
negotiations for  a treaty calling for the elimination of nuclear weapons,
in a specific timetable with effective verification and enforcement
measures.  The ballot question stressed that in signing the
Non-Proliferation Treaty Extension in 1995, the US, Russia, the UK, France
and China committed themselves to reducing nuclear weapons globally, and
ultimately to eliminating them.  However, nuclear weapons continue to
threaten all life on earth. Developing and maintaining nuclear arsenals is
costly and diverts resources from social programs such as health and
medical care, education, welfare and protecting the environment.

 On November 2nd, election day, unofficial results indicated that voters in
Cambridge endorsed the negotiation of a nuclear weapons abolition treaty by
a margin of 75-25%.  The pro-abolition vote in Newton was even higher!
Similar ballot questions have been passed by 33 towns in Vermont and by a
wide margin in Framingham, Falmouth and Lincoln, MA.

For more information, please contact:
Joseph Gerson
American Friends Service Committee
Email:  [e-mail]



          Landmark Decision Serves Justice for TP2000 Women

  On Thursday October 21, 1999, Sheriff Margaret Gimblet instructed a jury
at the Greenock Sheriff Court to acquit three members of the Trident
Ploughshares 2000, who had been charged with causing ú80,000 damage to a
Trident barge.  Angie Zelter, Ellen Moxley and Ulla Roder were cleared from
charges on four accounts of maliciously and willfully damaging the
"Maytime", a floating laboratory that provides operational support for
Trident submarines on the waters of Loch Long in Scotland.

 After an 18 day trial, the Sheriff (or judge) concluded that the women had
acted without malice and without criminal intent.  The Defense brought in
five expert witnesses, who argued that International Law applies in
Scotland. The  Defense argued that the ruling of the International Court of
Justice, which declared the threat or use of nuclear weapons to be against
International Law, applies everywhere, including Scotland, and the
deployment of Trident is therefore a threat.  After convincing arguments
from the Defense, Sheriff Gimblet was convinced that the illegality of the
Trident system under international law justified the actions of the three
women and she directed the jury to acquit the women on all charges.

In her address to the jury Sheriff Gimblett stated, "I have to conclude
that the three in company with others were justified in thinking that Great
Britain in their use of Trident ......could be construed as a threat and as
such is an infringement of international and customary law.  ...I have
heard nothing which would make it seem to me that the accused acted with
criminal intent."

For more information, please contact:

Trident Ploughshares 2000, 42-46 Bethel Street,
Norwich, Norfolk, NR2 1NR, UK
Tel:  [phone]  Fax: [phone]
Email :    [e-mail]  URL:  Http://www.gn.apc.org/tp2000



          Global Fax Campaign Targets Clinton and Cohen

On September 1, a global fax campaign was initiated by John Hallam, Friends
of the Earth/Sydney, requesting Presidents Bill Clinton and Boris Yeltsin
to take nuclear forces off alert during the Year 2000 (Y2K) roll-over
period in order to prevent global nuclear catastrophe.  In response to the
original letter, which has now been signed by more than 460 NGO's, Russian
Foreign Minister Ivanov stated, "The question of removing from the military
duty of Russian and American nuclear armaments which you mention in your
appeal may become the matter for discussion between the two countries in
the context of negotiations on further limitation of the strategic nuclear
weapons."  Beginning November 7, fax a letter to President Bill Clinton and
Secretary of Defense William Cohen asking them to address concerns about
Y2K vulnerabilities and convincing them that taking nuclear weapons off
"hair-trigger" alert is the most appropriate and effective means of
preventing a global nuclear catastrophe.

In order to avoid Global Nuclear Catastrophe, it is imperative that
President Bill Clinton and President Boris Yeltsin take nuclear weapons off
alert during the Year 2000 (Y2K) roll-over period. Taking US and Russian
nuclear missiles off alert is the most important issue facing the world
between now and December 31st, before the Y2K bug wreaks havoc on their
command and control systems.

Background   Although the Cold War ended years ago, nations such as the
United States and Russia continue to maintain their nuclear arsenal.
Nearly five thousand nuclear weapons remain on high-alert, threatening all
of creation and that which we hold most precious - life. Although the US
and Russia have announced their formal "de-targeting" of one another, the
agreement is meaningless as both countries maintain their weapons on
"hair-trigger" alert and in "launch-on" warning posture.

    Contrary to conventional thought, keeping nuclear weapons on
hair-trigger alert does not enforce the security of any nation. In fact, it
actually has the adverse effect in that it makes every individual and
nation less secure.  The Canberra Commission concluded in its 1996 report
that taking nuclear weapons off alert is an immediate action and practical
step to reduce the risk of nuclear war and enhance the security of all
states.

    As you may know, the US and Russia came to the "brink" of launching
their nuclear weapons on several occasions because of miscommunication,
misunderstanding or poor data. Removing nuclear weapons from high-alert
status would eliminate the risk of global catastrophe caused by a hasty
reaction from any nuclear weapons-holding nation, especially during the
year 2000 rollover period when so many questions about computer-related
glitches are still unanswered.

Action You Can Take   Beginning November 7, 1999, fax a letter to President
Bill Clinton and Secretary of Defense Cohen, requesting them to take
nuclear weapons off alert to avoid a global nuclear catastrophe. A letter
drafted by John Hallam, Friends of the Earth/Sydney, is posted at the
Abolition 2000 website for you to download and fax to the numbers listed
below.

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

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




      Abolition 2000 Working Group on Corporate Issues to Co-Host Forum
                  on the World Trade Organization

The Abolition 2000 Working Group on Corporate Issues will conduct a forum
and non-violent direct actions during the World Trade Organization (WTO)
Ministerial in Seattle throughout the week of November 27 to December 3,
1999.   Pacific Northwest Disarmament Coalition (US) and End the Arms Race
(Canada) have co-organized a forum on the WTO and the Global War System
that will cover topics such as WTO and Economic Globalization, Weapons
Corporations and Economic Conversion, and Nuclear Weapons and their
Abolition.

Representatives from more than 10,000 non-governmental organizations and
unions are expected to protest during the WTO Ministerial Meeting.  The
official meeting is scheduled from November 30 to December 2 1999, to set a
new agenda of international trade negotiations.  With power far beyond just
promoting and regulating trade, the WTO is now considered one of the most
important multilateral institutions in the world, often  marginalizing the
role of the United Nations as the main forum for international relations.
The WTO also directly contributes to some of the root causes of war,
including poverty, human rights violations, and environmental degradation,
by promoting unobstructed capitalism at the cost of a government's ability
to control its own economy.

The Abolition 2000 Working Group on Corporate Issues hopes that the joint
actions will strengthen the international network of activists and
organizations working to promote nuclear abolition, peace, human rights,
workers rights, and sustainable development.

For more information on activities and a calendar of events, please contact:
Steven D.Staples
Tel:  [phone]   Email:  [e-mail]

For more information on the WTO, please visit:
End the Arms Race's Arms Trade and Globalization Campaign (Peacewire)
Http://www.peacewire.org/campaigns/content.html

World Trade Organization
Http://www.wto.org




           Increased Municipal Support for Nuclear Abolition

53% of Municipal councils in Aotearoa have endorsed the Abolition 2000
statement and an additional 26% have endorsed its goals.  An inspiring
chart, representing support for Abolition 2000 in Aotearoa, has been
provided by Lawrence Carter and is now available on the Abolition 2000
website at:
 Http://www.napf.org/abolition2000/nz-nuclear-free-zones.htm.

In Japan, 2,451 out of 3,300 municipalities have passed resolutions
declaring themselves nuclear free.  The same number of municipalities has
also signed petitions requesting that the Japanese government endorse a
treaty calling for the total elimination of nuclear weapons.  For more
information about support for nuclear abolition in Japan, please contact
the Japan Council against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs at [e-mail]

Follow their lead in your community with the Abolition 2000 Nuclear-Free
Municipal Declaration.  For information on how to introduce legislation
into your city or municipal council, please download and print the
Abolition 2000 Municipal Resolution available on the website or contact
Carah Ong at [e-mail].




************************
Commentary
************************


             "Nuclear disarmament should be sped up! "


"Nuclear disarmament should be sped up! " was the conclusion of
participants after two working days convened by the Mouvement de la Paix.

In Bordeaux (South west), fifty peace activists met on a barge, anchored in
the Garonne river. They came from local committees of the Mouvement de la
paix in Bordeaux, Toulouse, Mont-de Marsan, Cahors, Pau, as well as from
groups of the Appel des Cent pour la paix, Coalition Stop-Essais,
Greenpeace and French IPPNW. They discussed the urgent need to sign a
Convention on the abolition of nuclear weapons to  confront the new threats
of proliferation and of a new nuclear armamament race.

  Participants decided to take a regional and international initiative in
March-April 2000 at the Barp, as part of Abolition 2000. Participants
vigorously challenged the development of simulation programmes and lab
tests everywhere including Le Barp, near Bordeaux (megajoule laser) and
Livermore Lab in California.  Participants urged the French and American
government to declare an immediate moratorium on this research. In order to
inform the public and develop a necessary public discussion, the minutes of
the meeting will be broadly sent out to activists in the civil society, to
elected representatives, scholars and scientists.

In Brittanny, fifty activists met in Crozon, across the Ile Longue and its
nuclear submarine base. They came from local groups of the Mouvement de la
Paix in Brittanny (Brest, Crozon, Morlaix, Rennes, St.-Brieuc, Angers,
St-Nazaire) as well as CND Exeter, CND Cornwall and the World Court
Project, and from union members of the CGT in FinistΦre and from the Brest
arsenal.

The demand for the total elimination of nuclear weapons was vigorously
expressed, based on the diverse approaches of participants.  Many
emphasized how much the continued modernization of nuclear weapons were
incompatible with the NPT and the CTBT, if not with the law, as indicated
by the International Court of Justice.  Nuclear weapons remain an
instrument of domination and power which goes against building a world of
collective security, cooperation and justice.  New initiatives will take
place in the year 2000 in the region, in order to train activists and
inform the public.

After these two abolition days, the Mouvement de la Paix nationally renewed
its request to President Chirac of having France initiate an International
conference in the year 2000 in Paris, in order to complete an international
convention on the abolition of nuclear weapons.

For more information, please contact:

Lysiane Alezard
Le Mouvement de la Paix
139 BD VICTOR HUGO - F-93400 SAINT-OUEN
Email:  [e-mail]  URL:  Http://www.asi.fr/~ddurand/




************************
Action You Can Take
************************


                          Strengthen the Network!

Now, more than ever, your action and support are needed to make a
difference.   As the year 2000 quickly approaches, we must unite in our
common endeavors to create a more peaceful and just world, free from the
threat of nuclear weapons.  Although our different organizations are unique
and have a variety of priorities and agendas, we all are striving for the
same end...nuclear abolition.

Here are three things you can do to unite and strengthen the Network:

1.  Enroll  Commit to enrolling at least one other organization in the
month of December.
2.  Circulate  the Abolition 2000 International Petition among your
friends, family and in your community and introduce the Municipal
Resolution to your local government.
3.  Donate  Please commit to making a donation, however large or small to
forward our common work and goals for this upcoming critical year.



                         Global Peace Now!

The Year 2000 Global Peace Walk will begin on January 15, 2000 at the
Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial in San Francisco, California.  Peace
Walkers will embark on a nine month journey across the US, carrying
petitions and messages of peace.  Among other survival issues, the Global
Peace Walk has agreed to carry the Abolition 2000 message and petition.
The journey will conclude in Washington, D.C. on October 8, 2000
(Indigenous People's Day) and the various petitions and messages will be
delivered to governmental leaders.

Support from Abolition 2000 members is needed to help carry the message of
disarmament to various communities.  If you are interested hosting
activities surrounding the Year 2000 Global Peace Walk in your city or in
becoming a supporter, please contact:

Global Peace Walk
P.O. Box 170245
San Francisco, CA  94117-0245
Tel:  [phone]  E-Fax:  [phone]
Email:  [e-mail]  or  [e-mail]
URL:  Http://www.globalpeacenow.org




                      Y2K: Ready or Not?

Did you know that there are 433 nuclear reactors around the world and each
will be susceptible to Y2K-related software glitches?  There are also
approximately 4,400 nuclear weapons in the US and Russia that are still on
hair-trigger alert.  Visit the World Atomic Safety Holiday website at
Http://www.y2kwash.org or email:  [e-mail] to find out more
about the issues surrounding the Y2K roll over and sign the on-line
petition to make nuclear installations safe for Y2K.

For further information on Y2K and De-Alerting, please visit the following
sites:

Friends of the Earth/Sydney Http://homepages.tig.com.au/~foesyd
Http://www.nirs.org
Http://www.enviroweb.org/nukenet/
Http://www.kisnet.or.jp/wash/
Http://www.basicint.org/y2krept.htm
Http://www.noradiation.org/main.htm
Http://www.kreative.net/carolmoore/4-reasons-nuke-war.html




                       Put Pressure on NATO

 At the 50th Anniversary meeting in April, NATO vowed to review its nuclear
policy at their meeting during the first week of December in Brussels.  Pol
Huyvetter, Chair of our Abolition Days Direct Action Working Group is
organizing demonstrations at the NATO headquarters on December 2nd and 3rd.
Please contact your legislators, heads of state and foreign ministers, and
tell them to support change in NATO nuclear policy.    For information
about the demonstrations, contact:
Pol D'Huyvetter
Abolition -Days
Tel:  [phone]  Fax:  [phone]
Email:  [e-mail]




************************
Events
************************


November

25-26  DAPHNE International Seminar on Gender and Militarism will be held
in Leeds, UK at Bodington Hall.  Themes include:  "Violence Against Women
in Peace an War", "Military Masculinities and Constructions of National
Security", "Are Women More Peaceful than Men?".  For more information,
please contact:
Jane Gregory, Conference Administrator  Email:  [e-mail]
Research Centre on Violence, Abuse and Gender Relations
School of Cultural Studies,  Leeds Metropolitan University, Leeds, UK  LS1 3HE

26-December 3 is YouthPeace Week 1999.  For information on how you can join
a coalition of organizations and individuals who want to make peace and
justice a global youth priority, please contact the War Resisters League at:
[e-mail]  or call 1-800-975-9688


December

9-10  A lecture on "Arms and the Environment:  Preventing the Perils of
Disarmament", sponsored by the National Energy-Environment Law and Policy
Institute will take place at the University of Oklahoma at Tulsa.  For more
information please contact Dr. Lakshman Guruswamy at the University of
Tulsa College of Law.
310 E. Fourth Place
Tulsa Oklahoma  74104  USA
Tel:  [phone]  Fax:  [phone]  Email:  [e-mail]

30-January 2  The Nevada Desert Experience is announces "Walking the Ways
of Peace", a non-violent demonstration that will be held at Bishop Gormon
High School, Las Vegas and the Nevada Test site.  Join a candlelight
procession onto the Test Site at midnight on December 31st.  For more
information, please contact the Nevada Desert Experience at:  Telephone:
[phone]   Email:  [e-mail]  URL:  http://www.shundahai.org/nde



January

15-October 8  Year 2000 Global Peace Walk will journey from San Francisco
to Washington, D.C., carrying petitions and messages of peace.  For more
information visit:  Http://www.globalpeacenow.org

31  A protest vigil sponsored by the Global Network Against Weapons and
Nuclear Power in Space will be held from 10 am to 1 pm in front of the
Hyatt Regency in New Mexico during the 17th Annual Symposium on Space
Nuclear Power and Propulsion.  For more information visit:
Http://www.globenet.free-online.co.uk/



April '00

24-28  Auckland, New Zealand College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Massey University (at Albany) is holding a conference entitled "Enhancing
the prospect of peace within pluralistic societies and the pluralistic
global body, across the realms of Community, Nationality, International
Relations, and Individuality".   For further information on conference
themes and registration, please visit the website at:
http://www.massey.ac.nz/~wwsocial/homepage.htm

or contact:  Dr. Warwick Tie (conference convenor), School of Sociology and
Women's Studies Massey University, Private Bag & Helli, North Shore Mail
Centre, New Zealand. Fax [phone]
Email: [e-mail]

24-May 19  Mark your Calendars!  The 2000 NPT Review Conference will be
held at the UN in New York.  Stay tuned for forthcoming information on
action you can take to demand disarmament from the nuclear weapons states.



May

7-13  Shoshone Walk and Run for the Damaged Land, Warm Springs to Mercury.
Please call Johnnie Bobb of the Western Shoshone Nation, Yomba Tribe at
[phone]




************************
Resources
************************

                                  Videos

The Hague Appeal Mobilization Video is now available for purchase.  The
video features some of the campaigns, including Abolition 2000, that were
present at the Hague Appeal for Peace Conference this past May.  Running
time is approximately 17 minutes.  To purchase a copy of the video, please
send your request along with a $20 payment to:

Hague Appeal for Peace
c/o IWTC
3rd Floor, 777 UN Plaza
New York, NY  10017
Tel:  [phone]  Fax:  [phone]
Email:  [e-mail]

The Y2K WASH briefing video is a 20-minute video outlining the Y2K
vulnerabilities faced by nuclear power plants and weapons systems.  The
emphasis is on nuclear power plants and the video promotes the World Atomic
Safety Holiday platform for nuclear safety.  The video is designed for
briefing decision-makers and citizens and is produced by Options 2000
International.  The VHS cassette is available for $20 USD or PAL format
copies for $25 USD including shipping and handling.  Please make checks
payable to Y2K WASH and send your request to: P.O.Box 1047, Bolinas, CA
94924



                                   Books

"The Moruroa Blues: a tale of spontaneous protest sailing adventure in
the South Pacific"*  by  Lyn Pistollis a story that begins in June of 1995
when French President Jacques Chirac made the decision to resume nuclear
testing in the South Pacific. Shortly after the announcement, 14 New
Zealand yachts were prepared and provisioned for a 3000 nautical mile
voyage to Moruroa, to protest against the French madness.

The account reveals the inside story of the protest from the view of one
skipper. It covers the struggle, challenges, and achievement of organizing
and preparing for the venture.  The campaign focused world-wide attention
on the French program, and  ultimately resulted in the signing of the South
Pacific Nuclear Free Zone and the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty; ending
five decades of nuclear testing by the superpower States.

The book is 204 pages long with 70 supporting pictures and illustrations.
It  was published  September 1999 and is available for $24.95. Order forms
can be obtained from Peace Movement Aotearoa at:
http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/sept99.htm
or send a request to:
PMA
PO Box 9314, Wellington,
Aotearoa / New Zealand; fax + 64 382 8173; [e-mail]

*Full review can be found at:  http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/muroroab.htm




The revised edition of the briefing book "Fast Track to Zero Nuclear
Weapons" by Rob Green is now available through the Middle Powers Initiative
and IPPNW.  This book highlights the deepening nuclear weapons crisis,
makes the case for the feasibility and desirability of rapid nuclear
disarmament and explores the role that middle power governments, supported
by citizens, can play in abolishing nuclear weapons.  The book is 88 page
long and includes illustrations.  Copies are available for  $10 USD each or
$6 USD each for orders of 10 or more. US shipping/handling is $2 each and
international is $4 each.  Please send your request with a check in the
proper amount of US funds to:
IPPNW
727 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02139.
Phone:  [phone]     Email [e-mail]

The German edition is available from Xanthe Hall, Co-Director of  IPPNW
Germany in
Berlin.  For more information please contact Xanthe at:
Koertestrasse 10, D-10967
Berlin 61,Germany.
Tel: [phone]  Fax: [phone]
Email:  [e-mail]    http://www.ippnw.de

The Japanese edition is available through Hiromichi Umebayashi, Executive
Director
of the Peace Depot.  For more information, please contact Mr. Umebayashi at:
3-3-1 Minowa-cho,
Kohoku-ku, Yokohama,
223-0051, Japan
Tel:  [phone]  Fax:  [phone]   Email: [e-mail]

For information about the Finnish edition please contact MPI for
information at:
Suzanne Pearce, Coordinator
Middle Powers Initiative
727 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02139,  USA
Tel:  [phone]  Fax: [phone]
MPI webpage:  www.middlepowers.org





**************************
Letter from the Editor
**************************

"If humanity is to maintain hope for the future, we must act now with
courage and decisiveness to achieve a nuclear-free world."
Takashi Hiraoka, 1995
Mayor of Hiroshima

Dear Friends and Activists,

Did you know that the sunflower is not just one flower, but actually a
collection of as many as 2,000 individual flowers, united together to
appear as one organic whole? The sunflower is the official logo for
Abolition 2000, and how appropriate!  Abolition 2000 is like the sunflower
because it is not just one organization, but rather a network of
organizations united by our common work. Now, more than ever, your action
and support are needed to make a difference.

As the 1999 comes to a close, I am preparing a report on the status of the
Network at the Year 2000.  This comprehensive report is intended to
evaluate the diverse aspects of the Network, produce appreciation for all
actions that have contributed to the Abolition 2000 movement and inspire
action.

I would like to hear of significant events, pertaining to the Network, that
have taken place in your country/region/organization throughout 1999 and
what plans are being made for the year 2000.  I intend to have this report
finished and available to all by the end of December 1999.  I would greatly
appreciate input from your country/region/organization by December 15, if
possible.

Suggested topics:

1.  What significant events relating to Abolition 2000 or the abolition of
nuclear weapons have taken place in your country/region/organization this
year?

2.  What plans pertaining to the Abolition 2000 network or actions towards
abolishing nuclear weapons does your country/region/organization have for
the year 2000?

3.  How does your country/region/organization envision the future of the
Network?  What is your country/region/organization doing to carry out that
vision?

4.  How can the network be more effective in the year 2000?  What type of
actions should the Network take to become more unified and to achieve our
goal of nuclear abolition?

Thank you for your continued actions in support of the Abolition 2000
network.  I look forward to hearing from you soon.  Please be encouraged to
continue in your various endeavors, knowing that the effects of our actions
together produce a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts.

Yours In Peace,
Carah


Carah Lynn Ong
Coordinator, Abolition 2000
Nuclear Age Peace Foundation
1187 Coast Village Road PMB 121, Suite 1
Santa Barbara CA 93108

Phone [phone]  FAX[phone]
Email: [e-mail]
Website http://www.wagingpeace.org/abolition2000


Join the Abolition-USA or Abolition-Global Caucus list serve to regularly
receive updates about the Abolition movement.  Both caucus' also provide a
forum for conversation on nuclear-related issues as well as they are used
to post important articles and information pertaining to nuclear abolition.



To subscribe to the Abolition Global Caucus, please do one of the following:

1. Send a message to the list moderator at [e-mail]

2. Visit the Abolition-caucus website at:
Http://www.egroups.com/list/abolition-caucus/ and submit a membership form.

3. Visit the Abolition 2000 website and submit a membership form.

4. Send an e-mail to:  [e-mail]  (leave the
subject line and body of the message blank).


To post a message to the Abolition Global Caucus, send your message to:

[e-mail]


To subscribe to the Abolition-USA listerve, send a message (with no
subject) to:
[e-mail]
In the body of the message, write:
"subscribe abolition-usa" (do not include quotation marks)

To post a message to the Abolition-USA list, mail your message to:
 [e-mail]



- -
 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 #227
***********************************

-
 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.