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abolition-usa-digest     Friday, December 10 1999     Volume 01 : Number 231




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

Date: Fri, 10 Dec 1999 17:34:40 +1000
From: FoE Sydney - Nuclear Campaign <[e-mail]>
Subject: (abolition-usa) Join 460 Groups! -Ask Yeltsin/Clinton, to take N-Weapons Off Alert before Y2K

THIS EMAIL IS A SIGN ON LETTER FOR GROUPS.
IF YOUR GROUP HAS ALREADY SIGNED IT YOU NEED DO NO MORE.

HOWEVER IT WOULD BE DESIRABLE IF YOU WOULD PASS IT ON TO OTHERS WHO MIGHT
SIGN IT.

You could also ask your members to send to US Defence Secy Cohen Clinton,
and Yeltsin, the sample letters posted yesterday and today.


Dear Non-Governmental Organisation, Parliamentarian or Religious group,

The European Parliament passed a resolution on Nov 18th, calling on the US
and Russia to take 5,600 nuclear weapons off hairtrigger alert before
December 31, for the Y2K 'Rollover'.

Mounting concern is being expressed over the possibility of accidental
nuclear war due to Y2K related computer failures in the vast interconnected
computer complexes that control nuclear weapons.

De-alerting has also been incorporated in two recent resolutions passed by
the United Nations General Assembly and two similar ones passed last year,
as well as two resolutions passed recently by the Australian senate. It has
been reccommended by the Canberra Commission of 1996 and by the Tokyo
=46orum.

The letter below, which I hope you will sign, has already been signed by 22
Australian MPs, 10members of the European Parliament, 9 NZ parliamentarians
and 4 Canadian parliamentarians as well as three congresspeople.
Altogether it has been signed by over 460 NGOs, including Friends of the
Earth International, (and FOE-UK), Greenpeace International, the British
American Security Information Council and the Centre for Defence
Information in Washington.

I hope you can sign it.

John Hallam, Letter Coordinator.


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,
Maria Minkova, Deputy Chair, Friends of the Earth Bulgaria/Ecoglasnost, Sofi=
a,
Prof. Vladimir V. Kokylukhin, Chair, Friends of the Earth Belarus, Brest,
Belarus,
Petra Maier, Friends of the Earth Germany (BUND),

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
Debra A. Brown, Uniting Church Social Responsibility and Justice Agency,
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.,
Dr. John Ward, Health Professionals for Global Responsibility,
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,
Geoff Holland, Institute for Global Futures Research, Earlville, Queensland,
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.,
P.T. Muldoon, General Manager, Richmond River Shire Council,
Craig Barrass, Administrator, (for Mayor), Uralla Shire Council,
Anna Guiliani, City of Darebin, Vic,
Councillor Kris Kruden, Mayor, City of Leichhardt, NSW.,
Councillor Yvonne Caddy, Mayor, Mitcham City Council, S.A.,
Tony Zappia, Mayor, Salisbury City Council, 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,
Carolyn Pickles MLC, 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,
Hannah Middleton, President, Communist Party of 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,
Colin Archer, International Peace Bureau, Geneva, Switzerland,

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.,
Monica King, St Bartholemews Justice and Peace Group, St Albans, U.K.,
Calderdale Green Party, Yorkshire, U.K.,
Alan Francis, Chair, Green Party of England and Wales,
Alan Watson, Partner, Public Interest Consultants, Swansea, Wales, U.K.,
Nigel Chamberlain, Cumbria and North Lancashire Peace Groups U.K.,
Paul Swann, National Coordinator, Y2K Community Action Network, U.K.,
Tom Roche, Just Forests, Ireland,

Jeanette Fitzsimmons, MP, NZ Greens,
Brian Donelly, MP,
Harry Duynhoven, MP, NZ Labour,
Lianna Dalziel, MP, NZ Labour,
Judy Keall, MP, NZ Labour,
Peter Dunne, MP, NZ Independent,
Sandra Lee, Deputy leader, Alliance,
Laila Harre, MP, Alliance, NZ.,
Matt Robson, MP, Alliance, NZ.,
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, Aotearoa/N=
Z.,
WILPF Aoteoroa,
Pat Duncan-Taylor, Waiheke Island Community Awareness of Pesticides,
Houraki Gulf, NZ.,
Hans Gruber, Green Society New Zealand,
Rev. Alan Leadley, Chartwell Parish, Hamilton, NZ.,
Jim Holdom, CORSO, Aotearoa/NZ.,

Richard N. Salvador, Pacific Islands Association of NGOs, Belau,
Tom Mbeke-Ekarem, Chair, Coalition of Petroleum-Producing States of Nigeria,
Maendeleo Ya Wanawake Organisation, Kenya,
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.,
Mitsuhiro Yamazaki, ASEED-Japan,
Kanechiyo Narumi, Secretary General, Country Life Association, Tokyo, Japan,
Masanao Tanaka, Human Survival Research Group, Tokyo, Japan,
Akinori Itoh, Founder, Chikyu-Oendan, (Earth-Assist), Tokyo, 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,
Thomas Matthew, Director, SEEDS-India,
Bunker Roy, Barefoot College, Tilonia, Rajasthan,
M.E. Deenadayalan, The Other Media,
M.E. Deenadayalan, Samarthan,
Ashish Kothari, Kalpavriksh Environmental Group, Pune, India,
Mr Tapan K. Bose, Pakistan/India Peoples Forum for Peace and Democracy,
Asif Rasheed Leghari, Awami Committee for Development, Multan, Pakistan,
Dr. M.A. Bari, Integrated Child Health Organisation, Bangladesh,
Nana Suhartana, Indonesian National Network Forum Anti-Nuclear Society,
Enry Soekoer, Architects Against Nuclear, Indonesia,
Arief Wickasono, KEMALA, Indonesia,
Denny Boy Mochran, PUTER, Indonesia,
Maricor V. Talaroc, SEED- Lugait, Baguio City, Phillipines.,
Bisan Singh, Sustainable Development Network, Malaysia,
Mohamad Lokman Mohd Nor, Students Environmental Protection Ambassadors
Scheme, Malaysia,
Pipob Udomittipong, Alternative Energy Project for Sustainability, Thailand,
Lorenzo Muelas, Movimiento Autoridades Indigenas de Colombia,
Paula Caballero, Andean Centre for Sustainable Development, Bogota, Colombia=
,
Prof Eduardo Voila, Dept. International Relations, University of Brasilia,
Brasil,
Sergio Dealetachi, Coordinator, Instituto Ecoar Para a Cidania, Brasil,
Antonio Ruiz, Fundacion Del Rio, Nicaragua,
Julie Noriega, Centro de Calidad Ambiental, ITESM, Monterrey, Mexico,
Carlos Romero, (Prof), Environmental Management, ITESM, Monterrey, Mexico,
Haim Ruttner, Israel Electric Corporation R&D, Israel,
Charles Lenchner, Green Action Israel, Tel-Aviv, Israel,
Yoram Getzler, Association for Jewish Renewal in Israel, Jerusalem, Israel,


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,
Konstantin Lebedev, Chair, Ecological Rights Centre, City of Tomsk, Russia,
Galina Orlova/Sergei Nikitin, Friends House Moscow,
Ludmila Ignatenko, 'Aleksam' Community, Kamchatka, Russia,

Elchin Sultanov, PhD, Chairman, Azerbaijan Ornithological Society,
Azerbaijan Academy of Sciences,
Rubina Stepanyan, Sustainable Development Organisation of Armenia,
Alla Shevchuck, Chairwoman, Social-Ecological Union, Ukraine,
Ilya Trombitsky MP, Parliament of Moldova, Chishinau, Moldova,
Cezara Haheu, Youth For Change, Moldova,
Piotr Gorbonenko, BIOTICA Ecological Society, Chishinau, Moldova,

George Razvan Marcu, Ecosens, Romania,
Cornel Radu-Loghin, AER-PUR, Romania,
Ivan Ivanov, Initiative for Sustainable Development, Kazanlak, Bulgaria,
Doncho Donchev, Ecoglasnost Kazanlak, Bulgaria,
Malla Kantola, Committee of 100, Helsinki, Finland,
Laura Lodenius, Peace Union of Finland, Helsinki, Finland,
Ulla Lehtinen, Chairperson, First Peoples, Finland,
Pepe Mardiste, Student Nature Protection Group, Tartu, Estonia,
Gunnar Westberg, MD., SLMK (IPPNW), Swedish Physicians Against Nuclear Weapo=
ns,
Jens Pettersson, Secretary General, Swedish Peace and Arbitration Society,
=46redrick S. Heffermehl, President, Norwegian Peace Alliance,
=46rederick S. Heffermehl, Norwegian Lawyers Against Nuclear Arms,
=46rederick S. Heffermehl, International Peace Bureau, Oslo,
Susan H=D8vik, International Peace Research Institute, Oslo, Norway,
Sven Gunnar Simonsen, International Peace Research Institute, Oslo, Norway,
Nancy Spinks, International Peace Research Institute, Oslo, Norway,
Prof. Kirsten Osen (Med) University of Oslo,
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,
Martin Schwander, Swiss Peace Movement, Switzerland,

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,
Dr. Herbert Richter-Peill, IPPNW Hamburg, Germany,
Reinhard Behrend, Rettett den Regenwald, Hamburg, 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,
Kamil Koster, Working Group Eurobomb, AMOK, Netherlands
Pieter Van Der Gaag, Deputy International Coordinator, ANPED, Northern
Alliance for Sustainability,
David Boerma, Both-ENDS, Amsterdam, Netherlands,
=46rank Van Schaik, Transport Coordinator, ASEED-Europe,
STROHALM, Utrecht, Netherlands,
Kaj Leers, Journalist, Netherlands,
David Boerma, Coordinator, Pacific Region, Centre for Indigenous Peoples,
Netherlands.,
Bessie Schadee, Global Action Plan For The Earth International, Neth.,

Giorgio Nebbia, Professor Emeritus, Faculty of Economics, University of
Bari, Italy,
Dr Joachim Lau, Italian Lawyers Against Nuclear Arms,
Toni Dell Olio, Pax Christi Italy,
Christopher Clark, Associao Amazonia, Italy,
Dr Roberto Romizi, International Society of Doctors for the Environment,
(ISDE) Arezzo, Italy,
Dr Josep Puig, Scientists and Technicians for a Non- Nuclear Future,
Barcelona, Catalonia,
Stefanos L. Kouniados, Irini Aggeloppoulos, Ecological Movement of
Kalamata, Greece,
Mariya Ilioska Kedioska, Manager, Macedonia Association for Information,
Training, and Sustainable Development,
Dusan Vasilevic, Green Table, Belgrade, Yugoslavia,

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,
Caroline Lucas MEP
Jean Lambert MEP
Ozan Keyhun, MEP, Germany,
Per Gahrton, MEP, Greens, Sweden.,
Inger Sch=F6rling, MEP,

Congressman Edward J. Markey, (D-Mass), Capitol Hill, Washington, DC.
Congresswoman Cynthia Mc Kinney, (D-GA) 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.,
Kevin Sanders, Special Projects Director, War and Peace Foundation, N.Y., US=
A.,
Arjun Makhijani, Institute for Energy and Environmental Research, Tacoma
Park, Md, USA.
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,
Tom Goldtooth, Indigenous Environmental Network, USA,
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
USA.,
David Krieger, Nuclear Age Peace Foundation, Santa Barbara, Calif, USA.,
Robert W. Tiller, Physicians for Social Responsibility, USA.,
Bob Gould, Physicians for Social Responsibility, San Fran/Bay Area Chapter,
USA.,
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.,
Paula Palmer, Executive Director, Global Response, Boulder, Colo, USA.,
Bruce A, Drew, Prairie Island Coalition,

Diana Roose, Peace Education Director, American Friends Service Committee,
Patricia Watson, Peacework, American Friends Service Committee,
Mary H. Miller, Episcopal Peace Fellowship, Washington, US.,
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.,
Bill Kelly, Executive Director, Centre for Mission Education, Denver,
Colorado, USA.,
Bill Morton, Columban Mission, US/Mexico Border,

Jennifer Olaranna Viereck, Coordinator, Healing Global Wounds, Tecopa, CA,
USA.,
Karen Talbot, Director, International Centre for Peace and Justice, San
=46rancisco, California, US.,
Le Roy Moore, Rocky Mountain Peace and Justice Centre, USA.,
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.,
Patrick J. Mc Entegart, President, Fortview Foundation, Tarrytown, N.Y., USA=
=2E,
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, President, Centre for Energy Research, Salem, Oregon, USA.,
Harvey Wasserman, Citizens Protecting Ohio, USA.,
Sarah Ogdahl, Toledo Area Director, Ohio Citizen Action,
Vina Colley, Portsmouth/Piketon Residents for Environmental Safety and Sanit=
y,
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. Portzline, Three Mile Island Alert, Pennsylvania, U.S.,
Vivek Ananthan, Volunteers for International Solidarity, Philadelphia, US.,
Erik Van Lennepp, Arctic to Amazonia Alliance, Virginia, USA.,
Deb Katz, Citizens Awareness Network,
Tara Thornton, Military Toxics Project, USA.,
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,
Marc M. Blaise-Page, Nevada Desert Experience, USA,
Cindy Pile, Director, Nevada Desert Exprience, USA,
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.,
Esther Park, Peace Links, USA.,
Peg Ryglisyn & Michael Albrizio, Connecticut Opposed to Waste, Broad Brook,
Conn, USA.,
Jennifer Almquist, Silent Oceans Project, Litchfield, Connecticut,
Paige-Knight, Hanford-Watch, Portland, Oregon,
Oregon Peaceworks,
Howard Schapiro, Performing and Fine Artists for World Peace, Hawaii,
Gary Gumz, Appalacian Sustainable Agriculture Project,
Mary Beth Branagan, Nuclear Democracy Network, USA.,
Jane Grossman/Laurie Grossman, Bay Area Chapter, Y2K WASH Campaign, (World
Atomic Safety Holiday), USA/JAPAN,
Encore, Southeast Texas Y2K Preparedness Workgroup,

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,
Joan Russow, National Leader, Canadian Green Party,
David J. Parker, Alberta Green Party,
Gordon Edwards President, Canadian Coalition for Nuclear Responsibility,
Montreal, Canada,
Dr David Morgan, President, Veterans Against Nuclear Arms, Vancouver,
Canada,
Dr Barbara Birkett, President, Physicians for Global Survival, Ottawa, Canad=
a.,
Dr. Mary-Wynne-Ashford, IPPNW Canada,
Dr Ross Wilcock, Physicians for Global Survival, Canada,
Dave Greenfield, New Green Alliance, Saskatoon, Canada,
Patti Willis, Pacific Campaign for Disarmament and Security, B.C., Canada,
Prof Eric Fawcett, Physics Dept, University of Toronto, Canada,
Prof. L. Terrell Gardner, Science for Peace, University of Toronto, Canada.
Dr Jennifer Allen Simons, The Simons Foundation, Vancouver, B.C.,
Sally Hodges, Chair, Ploughshares, Calgary, Canada,
O.P.I.R.G., Peterborough, Canada,
Christa Rossner, No Nukes, Canada,
Genivieve Talbot, United Nations Association of Canada,
Snezana Vitorovich, Association of Serbian Women, Canada,
Priscilla Settee, Indigenous Womens Network, Canada/USA.,
Jacques Boucher, Volet Desarment et Paix, Centre de Ressources sur la
Non-Violence, Montreal Canada.
Jo Hayward-Haines, Victoria Peace Project, Ontario, Canada,
Joyce Lydiard, Secretary, WILPF British Columbia, Canada,
Dr. Geraldine Schwartz, Institute for Ethical Leadership, Vancouver, Canada,
Joyce A.Kovelmann, The Millenium Project, Chatsworth, Canada,

John Hallam
=46riends of the Earth Sydney,
17 Lord street, Newtown, NSW, Australia,
=46ax(61)(2)9517-3902 ph (61)(2)9517-3903
[e-mail]    http://homepages.tig.com.au/~foesyd
http://homepages.tig.com.au/~foesyd/nuclear/bbletter.htm




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

Date: Fri, 10 Dec 1999 17:53:24 +1000
From: FoE Sydney - Nuclear Campaign <[e-mail]>
Subject: (abolition-usa) PLEASE DISTRIBUTE WIDELY: Fax To Take Warheads Off Alert - 21 Days and counting

21 DAYS AND GOING DOWN: STILL 5,600 WARHEADS ON ALERT - PLEASE FAX FOR
DE-ALERTING TODAY

PLEASE SEND THIS EMAIL ON TO AS MANY OTHERS AS YOU CAN - Distribute far and
Wide.

Dear All who are concerned about the safety of our planet,

As December 31 draws closer you'll get more of these.  Time is getting short.

As we move toward the crucial date of Dec31/Jan1, 2000, some 5,600 nuclear
warheads controlled by the oldest and largest computer complexes in the
world are on hairtrigger alert.

We are asking people to write to US Defence Secretary Cohen, Clinton, and
Russian defence minister Sergeyev, asking them to take these weapons off
alert before Dec30.

In particular, if you live in the US, if it is at all possible you should
try to fax or ring the white house or defence secy Cohen at the Pantagon
TODAY (Dec 9th).
Cohen-Fax [phone],
Ph(Clinton) [phone] fax [phone].

If you live in Europe (esp eastern europe), please send a fax to Russian
defence minister Igor Sergeyev first, and then to US defence secy Cohen and
Clinton. ([phone]. Russian Govt General Fax)

PLEASE don't just delete or write back asking me to take you off the list -
this really is important and it really is something on which you can make a
difference.

If you have already sent a fax, then congratulations. You don't need to do
any more - unless you'd like to distribute this email to as many other
people as possible.  If you faxed to Cohen or Clinton however, you might
consider faxing Russian Defence Minister Igor Sergeyev.

There are indications that your faxes *may* be making an impact on the
Pentagon.  We need to keep the momentum up!

The Canberra Commission, the Tokyo Forum, four resolutions in the United
Nations General Assembly (two last year two this year), two motions in the
Australian Senate, and a resolution carried on Thursday 18th Nov by the
European Parliament have all called for nuclear weapons to be taken off
alert.

Please write to US defence secretary William Cohen, President Clinton, and
to Russian Defence Minister Igor Sergeyev, asking them to take nuclear
weapons off hairtrigger alert at least over the Y2K 'rollover' period.

Defence Secretary Cohen's fax number is [phone]
President Clintons fax number is [phone]
Yeltsin/Sergeyev's fax number is [phone].

Faxing a single A4 page should not cost you more than a dollar.

You can fax for free on  http://www.fax4free.com

(But the best fax is HANDWRITTEN).

*If you are an organisation* and want to sign a large sign- on letter,
please sign the letter to Presidents Yeltsin and Clinton that is being
periodicaly faxed to them on
 http://homepages.tig.com.au/~foesyd/nuclear/bbletter.html

Sample letters to Cohen/Clinton and to Sergeyev are below. Do please
customise and abbreviate.

And have fun while saving the planet from (possibly) the apocalypse!



1)SAMPLE LETTER TO COHEN/CLINTON

(This is for individuals to sent to Us Secretary for Defence Cohen and
President Clinton. You can also post it to The White House, 1600
Pennsylvania Ave, Washington DC.)


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

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


Dear President Clinton and Secretary for Defence Cohen,
I am writing  to urge your administration to take US nuclear forces off
'hairtrigger alert' even if only during the Y2K rollover period.

As you will be aware, the European Parliament recently voted to ask you and
President Yeltsin to do as the UK has already done, and de-alert nuclear
weapons.

It is particularly disturbing that Secretary Cohen has been reported as
having stated in Moscow some time ago that de-alerting of nuclear forces is
'off the table' as a stability building measure. You have also been quoted
as saying  that 'The better course is reduction, limiting the number of
weapons, and establishing shared early warning centers'.

The recent Europarliament vote clearly puts de- alerting back on the table.
De-alerting of nuclear forces was strongly recommended by the Canberra
Commission in 1996 and then by the Tokyo Forum,  as a way to develop
strategic stability and build trust between the US and Russia. It has also
been incorporated into last year's  and  this years text of the New Agenda
Resolution in the UN General Assembly. It has also been reccommended by a
resolution specifically on the subject passed by last years General
Assembly and by this years First Committee on Reduction of Nuclear Dangers.
In addition it has been the subject of two resolutions passed by the
Australian Senate on 12 August and 20September, and finally it has been
clearly requested by the European Parliament. It is also the subject of
congressional resolution H.Con Res177 put by Edward Markey, and most
recently, the City of Berkley has asked for it.

These measures are not in competition with each other. All of them -
reductions in the number of weapons, the establishment of shared early
warning centers and de-alerting - are  vital to the reduction of tension
and the establishment of strategic stability.

This is particularly the case in view of the uncertainties posed by the
millennium date change (Y2K).

As you are well aware, the largest and oldest computer system complexes in
the world are those that control nuclear weapons systems.

The very nature of the Y2K problem makes it impossible to be sure
everything has been fixed until well into the new year.

Russia has, until recently, made little effort to even  acknowledge the Y2K
problem, let alone fix it. It is therefore quite possible that Russian
computerized control systems are not Y2K compliant and that they will
experience widespread failures during the Y2K rollover period.

Even more disquieting is the fact that that the Russians have constructed
the system known as 'Perimeter', or the 'dead hand'. This system seems to
include additional ways in which Y2K failure might lead to an accidental
launch.

The establishment of a Y2K strategic stability center in Colorado is
certainly an advantageous move and an absolutely essential one.

However, it does not entirely remove the danger of an accidental launch of
nuclear weapons.

The fact that the Center is scheduled, as far as we the public are aware,
to come into operation only on December 27th, four days prior to the
rollover, is far from reassuring. A four day delay will render it useless.

Similarly, the center itself will depend on the availability of
ultra-reliable hotlines between it and Moscow. The  Y2K vulnerabilities
recently discovered in six of the seven hotlines  on which US/Russian
communications depends, are also cause for deep concern.

If nuclear weapons are removed from a status in which they can be launched
within minutes, and placed in one which would require at least days to
launch, the risk of an accidental missile launch induced by Y2K or other
errors in command and control systems will be virtually eliminated.

This  has been done by the UK, which has moved the 'notice to fire' for its
missile forces from minutes to days.

In taking De-alerting 'off the table', the United States is making a
serious error. Failure to take nuclear forces off hairtrigger alert over
the Y2K 'rollover' period is an error that has the potential of causing
unthinkable consequences.

The probability of this may be low,  but it  will never be zero as long as
nuclear forces remain on hair-trigger alert.

In a previous administration, President Bush took strategic bomber forces
off alert. We urge you to do this with all US nuclear forces.

(SIGNED)
etc.

2)SAMPLE LETTER TO YELTSIN/DEFENCE MINISTER SERGEYEV

THIS SAMPLE LETTER IS FOR YOU PERSONALLY TO FAX, CUSTOMIZED AS YOU FEEL
BEST, TO YELTSIN AND DEFENCE MINISTER SERGEYEV. PLEASE DO FAX IT AND SEND
IT NOW.

You can also post it to Boris Yeltsin, C/O The Kremlin, Moscow - but its
really too slow. A single A4 page fax will cost you about a dollar.

PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN,
IGOR SERGEYEV,  RUSSIAN DEFENCE MINISTER,
[phone],

'Dear Defence Minister Sergeyev and President Yeltsin,

I am writing to convey my deep concern that Y2K-related computer failures
in the command and control systems for nuclear weapons may lead to an
accidental nuclear war.

I am aware that both Russia and the US have taken this problem seriously
enough to establish a joint strategic stability center in Colorado.
However, I am very much concerned that this facility will come into
operation only by 27th December 1999, so that a delay of just four days
will make it useless.

I am also very much concerned that Y2K problems have been found recently in
six out of seven of the 'hotlines' that would be used if a crisis of any
sort arose over the Y2K rollover period.

I am aware that there have been a number of occasions when either the US or
Russia have mistakenly believed that the other nation was in the process of
launching a nuclear attack.

With 3,600 Russian warheads on 700 missiles and 2,000 US warheads on 500
missiles, with each side capable to launch within roughly 20 minutes, this
must never be allowed to happen, either over the Y2K 'rollover', or at any
other time.

The use of 5,600 warheads would certainly mean the end of what we call
civilization, would likely mean the end of the human race and could
possibly mean the end of all life.

I therefore urge both you and the United States, to place all your nuclear
forces in a status in which at least days not minutes, would be required to
launch . The United Kingdom has, I understand, already done this.

The European Parliament has recently called on both the US and Russia to
de-alert nuclear weapons and to place them in a state similar to that in
which the UK has placed its weapons. The recent Europarliament vote clearly
puts de- alerting back on the table. De-alerting of nuclear forces was
strongly recommended by the Canberra Commission in 1996 and then by the
Tokyo Forum,  as a way to develop strategic stability and build trust
between the US and Russia. It has also been incorporated into last year's
and  this years text of the New Agenda Resolution in the UN General
Assembly. It has also been reccommended by a resolution specifically on the
subject passed by last years General Assembly and by this years First
Committee on Reduction of Nuclear Dangers. In addition it has been the
subject of two resolutions passed by the Australian Senate on 12 August and
20September, and finally it has been clearly requested by the European
Parliament. It is also the subject of congressional resolution H.Con Res177
put by Edward Markey, and most recently, the City of Berkley has asked for
it.

The immediate stakes are so high and the potential for global catastrophe
is so great, that mutually verified de-alerting of nuclear forces in the
face of the Y2K computer problem must take precedence over all other
considerations of political and national security.'
(Signed)
etc.

John Hallam
Friends of the Earth Sydney,
17 Lord street, Newtown, NSW, Australia,
Fax[phone]  ph (61)(2)9517-3903
[e-mail]
http://homepages.tig.com.au/~foesyd
http://homepages.tig.com.au/~foesyd/nuclear/bbletter.html





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 with "unsubscribe abolition-usa" in the body of the message.
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------------------------------

End of abolition-usa-digest V1 #231
***********************************

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