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From: owner-abolition-usa-digest@lists.xmission.com (abolition-usa-digest) To: abolition-usa-digest@lists.xmission.com Subject: abolition-usa-digest V1 #257 Reply-To: abolition-usa-digest Sender: owner-abolition-usa-digest@lists.xmission.com Errors-To: owner-abolition-usa-digest@lists.xmission.com Precedence: bulk abolition-usa-digest Monday, February 14 2000 Volume 01 : Number 257 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 14 Feb 2000 15:14:52 -0800 From: Nuclear Age Peace Foundation <a2000@silcom.com> Subject: (abolition-usa) Abolition 2000 Grassroots Newsletter (Apologies for any duplicates received due to cross-overs on listservs) Abolition 2000 Grassroots Newsletter February 2000 Vol. II Number 2 ************************ In This Edition... ************************ I. Introduction II. New Organizations III. NEW! Prominent Individuals IV. Petition Update V. Articles VI. Abolition 2000 Organizations in the Year 2000 VII. Actions You Can Take VIII. Calendar Events IX. Resources X. Letter from the Editor ************************ ************************ ***************** Introduction ***************** With less than 69 days until the first day of the Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference, we still need to enroll 550 organizations to reach our goal of 2000 by the time of the NPT Rev Con. Currently, the Network is comprised of 1,450 organizations in 91 countries and 239 Municipalities have endorsed the Abolition 2000 Municipal Resolution. Please Help! We are seeking your assistance 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. Please make a commitment to enroll a new organization this week. Thank you for your continued support. ************************ New Organizations ************************ Anti-Nuclear Alliance of Western Australia, Western Australia Baltic Interfaith Association, Mensk/Belarus Bangladeshi Friends of USA, Chittagong/Bangladesh Beati I Costruttori di Pace (Blessed are the Peacemakers), Porcia/Italy Community Anti Nuclear Network, Leederville/Western Australia Ecopolis Pty Ltd, Adelaide/Australia Fremenatle Anti-Nuclear Group, Western Australia Global Peace Foundation Movement, Adissadel/Ghana Icelandic Women's Union for Culture and Peace, Iceland MAMA-86, Kiyiv/Ukraine Perth Anti-Nuclear Group, Perth/Australia PLAGE, Salzberg/Austria Rural Development & Youth Training Institute, Kota/Rajasthan/India Santa Barbara Earth First!, Santa Barbara/California Sutherland Shire Environmental Centre, Inc., Sutherland/Australia UW Madison Greens, Madison/Wisconsin YMCA, Pathanamthitta/Kerala State/India Youth Ecological Association, Sevastopol/Ukraine ************************** Prominent Individuals ************************** The prominent individuals below have recently expressed their support for Abolition 2000 and/or nuclear disarmament. Please help Abolition 2000 complete a list of 2000 prominent individuals who support nuclear abolition by sending their names to Carah Ong by email: A2000@silcom.com or by snail mail: PMB 121, 1187 Coast Village Rd., Suite 1, Santa Barbara, California 93108. To date, the list contains the names of 298 prominent individuals who have publicly professed their support for nuclear disarmament and/or Abolition 2000. Oscar Arias, former President of Costa Rica, Nobel Peace Prize Winner, San Juan/Costa Rica Jill Hall, Federal Member of Parliament, Shortland/Australia Ned Lopez, TV Show Host & Comedian, Costa Rica Dr. Caroline Lucas, Member of the European Parliament, Brussels/Belgium ************************** Petition Update ************************** Total: 269,240 Total including Japan: 13,285,808 Aotearoa/NZ 70,000 (Soka Gakkai) Argentina 162 Austria 12,000 (Soka Gakkai) Australia 9000 Belgium 1175 Canada 892 Costa Rica 1,300 Czech Republic 10 France 34,375 (Mouvement de la Paix) 17,000 (Soka Gakkai) 5,388 (Stop Essais) Germany 1220 Greece 17 India 260 Italy 55,819 (Soka Gakkai) 968 (in house) Japan 13,016,568 (Soka Gakkai) 3,815 (in house) Malaysia 80 Netherlands 17 Phillipines 10 Puerto Rico 146 Russia 10 Singapore 15 South Africa 70 Sweden 67 Switzerland 7,941 Ukraine 40 U.K. 940 U.S. 41,474 (in house) 10,000 (Maine) Misellaneous (online + conferences) 4,759 ************** Articles ************** St. Valentine's Day Protest Targets Heart of UK Nuclear Arsenal St. Valentine's Day meant more than chocolates and flowers for peace activists in Scottland this year. More than 400 protesters gathered on Monday, February 14th, to blockade Faslane Naval Base, home of the UK's Trident nuclear weapons submarines. Protestors successfully prevented workers from entering the base for almost two hours, between 7 am and 9 am. More than 185 peace activists were arrested during event. Among those arrested were: Member of Scottish Parliament, Tommy Sheridan; Member of the European Parliament, Caroline Lucas; and ten Scottish Church Ministers The blockade was organized by the Scottish Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND), the Brittish CND and Trident Ploughshares. Reportedly, actor Sean Connery supported the efforts of the campaigners to expose the threat of UK's unlawful nucler arsenal and wrote in a fax that although he could not attend the demonstration, he would be with the protestors in spirit. Messages of support were also received from actress Emma Thompson and author Kurt Vonnegut. The protest received media attention from Brittish television stations such as BBC and ITV as well as reports from the Associated Press on the internet. A Trident Ploughshares spokesperson said: "Today's blockade shows that more and more people are grasping the urgency of the threat posed by Britain's unlawful nuclear arsenal. We are delighted that so many have been ready to take this significant step towards preventing nuclear crime." For more information, please contact: David Mackenzie or Jane Tallents Trident Ploughshares 2000, 42-46 Bethel Street, Norwich, Norfolk, NR2 1NR, UK Tel: + 44 (0) 1324 880744 Fax: + 44 (0) 1436 677529 Email : tp2000@gn.apc.org or visit: Trident Ploughshares: Http://www.gn.apc.org/tp2000/ Scottish CND: Http://www.cndscot.dial.pipex.com ><>< ><>< ><>< ><>< ><>< ><>< ><>< ><>< ><>< ><>< ><>< ><>< Subcritical Test Meets Controversy and Protest On February 3rd, Oboe 3, a subcritical nuclear weapons test was detonated at the Nevada Test Site. Oboe 3 is the ninth in a series of subcritical tests since 1997. The controversial subcritical tests are detonated underground using explosives and fissile material, but they are not considered a full nuclear weapons test because no nuclear chain reaction occurs. Subcritical testing allows the US to proceed with nuclear weapons development and improvement. Although not a full nuclear weapons test, subcritical testing violates the heart and spirit of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, which the US has signed but not yet ratified. Subcritical testing also violates the Non-Proliferation Treaty, as parties to the treaty agreed in Article 6 to pursue good faith negotiations leading to the elimination of nuclear weapons. Members of the Shundahai Network, Nevada Desert Experience and Black Mesa Indigenous Support gathered to protest Oboe 3, which was detonated on Western Shoshone ancestral lands known as Newe Sogobia. After a sunrise ceremony to pray for the land led by Western Shoshone spiritual leader, Corbin Harney, nine people linked arms and crossed the line in a non-violent protest. Later in the afternoon, members of the Las Vegas community gathered at Foley Federal Building and Fremont St. Experience to protest and pass out information. In solidarity with protesters in Nevada, activists in San Francisco, California donned white radiation suits and gas masks in a demonstration at Bechtel's Group International Headquarters, which has a contract to operate the Nevada Test Site for the Department of Energy. The protest at Bechtel's Group was jointly organized by Tri-Valley CAREs, Lawrence Livermore Conversion Project and Western States Legal Foundation. Future "Oboe" tests are scheduled for later this year. Additionally, the subcritical nuclear test, "Thoroughbred," is being prepared by Los Alamos National Laboratory and is scheduled for late February or early March. For more information, please contact: Shundahai Network 5007 Elmhurst St., Las Vegas, NV 89108-1304 Tel: +1 (702) 647-3095 Fax: +1 (702) 647-9385 Email: shundahai@shundahai.org Http://www.shundahai.org ><>< ><>< ><>< ><>< ><>< ><>< ><>< ><>< ><>< ><>< ><>< ><>< Activist Serves Sentence for Obeying Higher Law Jo Vallentine, a former Senator for the Green Party in Western Australia, was sentenced on 27th January 2000 to carry out a seven day sentence at Bandyup Women's Prison for refusing to pay a trespassing fine. The Mirrar people, the traditional owners of the sacred land, invited Jo Vallentine to join in a mass protest of the proposed Jabiluka uranium mining site at Kakadu National Park, in Australia. After refusing to pay the "trespassing" fine incurred in July 1998, Jo served the seven day sentence in gaol. "It is the mining company, Energy Resources of Australia (ERA), which is trespassing. Unfortunately that company has the backing of the Federal Government, but not the support of most Australians nor of the huge number of tourists who flock to Kakadu each year," Vallentine said. Jo Vallentine served the sentence in order to prove that uranium mining on sacred land is against the will of the traditional owners. "Along with one hundred and seventeen others that day, I was standing in solidarity with the Mirrar to defend their land against the ravages of uranium mining, which they claim will mean cultural genocide for their people. I am obeying a higher law, which compels me to act to help the Mirrar protect their country and to prevent more dangerous uranium mining from taking place. The risks of involvement in the nuclear industry are great - risks we don't have to take," Vallentine said. After her recent release, Jo Vallentine stated she was glad to have stood in solidarity with Yvonne Margarula, Senior Traditional Owner of the Mirrar clan at Jabiluka and reaffirmed her commitment to continue efforts with the Mirrar people to protect the sacred land and stop uranium mining in Kakadu. For more information, please contact: Jo Vallentine Email: jovall@perth.dialix.com.au or visit: Http://aucwa.iinet.net.au/ Http://www.mirrar.net/ Http://aucwa.iinet.net.au/internet/net-jabiluka ><>< ><>< ><>< ><>< ><>< ><>< ><>< ><>< ><>< ><>< ><>< ><>< TV Remake of Cold War Thriller Brings Opportunity to Expose Current Nuclear Crisis On Sunday, April 9, "Fail Safe", a remake of the 1964 film by Sidney Lumet will air on CBS. George Clooney stars in this made-for-TV movie as a US bomber pilot of a B-58 squadron, accidentally ordered to drop nuclear bombs on Moscow. US activists are encouraged to organize and host a viewing party for their friends, neighbors and community on April 9 as a means to raise the question of nuclear responsibility to local citizens. A community event surrounding "Fail Safe" will be an opportunity to educate and activate individuals about the importance of eliminating nuclear weapons, particularly in preparation for the upcoming Review Conference of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Project Abolition is organizing a national media campaign that will feature high profile disarmament advocates and experts. If you would like to host a house party or community gathering, organizing kits are available from: Joan Wade Disarmament Clearing House Tel: +1 (202) 898-0150 ext. 232 Email diarmament@igc.org URL: Http://www.disarmament.org Kevin Martin Coordinator, Project Abolition Fourth Freedom Forum Tel: 1-800-233-6786 ext. 21 Email: kmartin@fourthfreedom.org URL: Http://www.fourthfreedom.org ****************************************************** Abolition 2000 Organizations in the Year 2000 ****************************************************** Western Australia Anti-Nuclear Alliance of Western Australia Jo Vallentine P.O. Box 582 Leederville, Western Australia 6903 Email: jovall@perth.dialix.com.au In Western Australia, the Anti-Nuclear Alliance of Western Australia is organizing a "Swim for Peace" on Bikini Day, Saturday, March 4th. Swimmers will gather sponsors and Dee Margetts, a former Senator and avid swimmer, will put out a press release to gain media attention for the event. The funds raised will be used to sustain lobbying efforts directed at the Australian Government. In preparation for the upcoming Non-Proliferation Treaty Review and Extension Conference, the Anti-Nuclear Alliance of Western Australia will host a rally on Palm Sunday, April 16th. The rally will link current Australian nuclear issues, such as uranium mining and the proposed PANGEA nuclear waste dump, to global nuclear issues. Additionally, nuclear campaigners will continue to enroll organizations in the Abolition 2000 Global Network to Eliminate Nuclear Weapons and gather signatures for the NPT sign-on letter to Heads of State, currently being circulated by John Hallam (Friends of Earth, Sydney). ><>< ><>< ><>< ><>< ><>< ><>< ><>< ><>< ><>< ><>< ><>< ><>< Pakistan Farooq Tariq, General Secretary Labour Party Pakistan 40 Abbot Road Lahore Pakistan Tel: 92 42 6315162 Fax: 92 42 6301685 Email: edu@found.edunet.sdnpk.undp.org The Labour Party Pakistan had organized two demonstration in Pakistan during 1999 against nuclear weapons. The demonstration on 27th May 1999 was held in Lahore. The government of former prime minister of Nawaz Sharif had announced that his government will have a national celebrations of the nuclear testing on 28th May 1999. Labour Party Pakistan declared the day as a black day and announced a protest demonstration on the main Mall Road Lahore. Few of the ministers and religious fundamentalist political parties gave death threats to LPP supporters and told them not to do so. On 25th May 99, the war between India and Pakistan started. So in this background, over 400 participated in the demonstration against nuclear weapons. Fortunately, there was no mishappenings. On 6th August, Labour Party Pakistan in collaboration with Joint Action Committee for Peoples Rights organized a demonstration in Lahore again to remember the Hiroshima Nagasaki day. Over 600 people participated in this demonstration. Regular articles have been produced in the Weekly Mazdoor Jeddojuhd (Workers Struggle) against the nuclear weapons. It has introduced the campaign Abolition 2000 in Pakistan. *************************** Action You Can Take *************************** Write a Letter to Your Head of State! Write a letter to your Head of State urging him/her to demonstrate a commitment to nuclear disarmament by attending the 2000 Non-Proliferation Treaty Review and Extension Conference. Abolition 2000 can use the unique setting of the NPT Rev Con to call upon the Nuclear Weapons States to pursue negotiations for a treaty to eliminate nuclear weapons. Please help Abolition 2000 make an impact at the upcoming conference by generating letters, telephone calls, visits and special contacts to all Heads of State. Background information on the upcoming NPT Review Conference and a sample letter is available at the Abolition 2000 website Http://www.abolition2000.org. Encourage others to do the same by sharing your actions and progress with Abolition Global Caucus listserv (send your message to: abolition-caucus@egroups.com). For more information about the Non-Proliferation Treaty history and the 2000 NPT Rev Con, please visit the Reaching Critical Will website, sponsored by Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, United Nations Office. URL: Http://www.reachingcriticalwill.org ************************ Calendar of Events ************************ February 24 The NGO Committee on Disarmament will host a planning meeting for the NPT Review Conference from 1-4pm at the Church Center for the United Nations in New York. For more information, please contact: Roger Smith, Network Coordinator NGO Committee on Disarmament 777 U.N. Plaza #3B, New York, NY 10017, USA Tel: + 1 (212) 687-5340 Fax +1 (212) 687-1643 Email: disarmtimes@igc.org URL: Http://www.peacenet.org/disarm ><>< ><>< ><>< ><>< ><>< ><>< ><>< ><>< ><>< ><>< ><>< ><>< March 1 Nuclear Free and Independent Pacific Day 1-8 Abolition Days sponsored by the Abolition 2000 Network to Eliminate Nuclear Weapons. 5 30th Anniversary of the NPT entry into force 8 International Women's Day 15 Application Deadline for the Herbert Scoville, Jr Peace Fellowship. To learn more about the program, contact: Herbert Scoville Jr. Peace Fellowship 110 Maryland Avenue, NE, Suite 409 Washington, D.C. 20002 Tel: +1 (202) 543-4100 Email: scoville@clw.org URL: Http://www.scoville.org ><>< ><>< ><>< ><>< ><>< ><>< ><>< ><>< ><>< ><>< ><>< ><>< April 6-19 Fast 2000, a juice only fast to close the School of Americas. Organize a local fast in your community or join the White House Rally and Capitol Steps Vigin in Washington, D.C. on April 2 and 3. For more information, contact: SOA Watch P.O. Box 4566 Washington, D.C. 20017 Tel: +1 (202) 234-3440 URL: Http://www.soaw.org 13 The UK and Irish Local Authorities announce the third annual conference on nuclear hazards. Themes for the conference include: - - "Getting to Zero: Implementation of the OSPAR agreement to cut radioactive discharges from nuclear plants to the marine environment" - - "Polluter or Remediator?: Can the Sellafield nuclear complex convert to clean up?" - - "Protecting the Public: Controlling the circulation of radioactive scrap and preventing its incorporation into consumer goods." - - "Managing Nuclear Waste: Review of progress with the rundown of highly active liquid wastes at Sellafield and the outlook for UK policy." For detailed information about the conference, please contact the Nuclear Free Local Authorities Secretariat at: Town Hall Manchester, M60 2LA, UK Email: nfznsc@gn.apc.org URL: Http://www.gn.apc.org/nfzns/ 16 Demonstration against the Laser Megajoule and tests in labs at Le Barp, near Bordeaux France at 12 noon. The event will be hosted by the French Peace Movement and other Abolition groups. For more information, please contact: Lysiane Alezard Le Mouvement de la Paix 139 BD VICTOR HUGO - F-93400 SAINT-OUEN Email: mvtpaix@globenet.org URL: Http://www.asi.fr/~ddurand/ 14-17 Keep Space for Peace! Join activists from around the world in Washington, D.C for four days of protesting plans to weaponize space. For more information please contact: Global Network Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space P.O. Box 90083 Gainsville, Florida 32607 Tel: +1 (352) 337-9274 Email: Globalnet@mindspring.com URL: www.globenet.free-online.co.uk 22 Earth Day 2000 events and activities will take place around the world. 26 Chernobyl Day (Chernobyl nuclear reactor accident, 1986) 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 +64 09 443 9716 Email: W.J.Tie@massey.ac.nz 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 1-15 International Call-In-Days to White House & Congress on Star Wars No BMD! These two weeks will be a crucial time for activists around the world to help create massive pressure on Clinton and Congress to back away from dangerous, costly, and destabilizing plans to allow "early deployment" of the Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) system. 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 (775) 964-2210 11 and 28 Proliferation Days (India and Pakistan conduct nuclear tests, 1998) 22-26 The Millennium Forum at the UN will be an important opportunity for Abolition 2000 organizations to interact with the rest of the NGO community. The Millennium Forum is part of the preparations for the Millennium Summit of the UN General Assembly that will take place in September 2000. For more information, visit: Http://www.millenniumforum.org or www.un.org/millennium 22-27 "Visions of Peace" International Conference in Dublin, Ireland is now accepting proposals for papers and presentations as part of the UNESCO's International Year for a Culture of Peace. The Conference is sponsored by the Free University of Ireland. Contact: Sean English 55 Prussia Street, Dublin 7, Ireland Tel: 353-1-8683368 Email: senglish@iol.ie ><>< ><>< ><>< ><>< ><>< ><>< ><>< ><>< ><>< ><>< ><>< ><>< June 1 Sunflower Celebration Day (U.S. Russian and Ukrainian defense ministers plant sunflowers to celebrate Ukraine becoming nuclear weapons free) 11 Action and demonstration at Crozon near Ile Longue (French nuclear submarine base) : "for a nuclear weapon free Brittany and world" at 12 noon. For more information, please contact: Lysiane Alezard Le Mouvement de la Paix 139 BD VICTOR HUGO - F-93400 SAINT-OUEN Email: mvtpaix@globenet.org URL: Http://www.asi.fr/~ddurand/ 14-18 International Network of Engineers and Scientists (INES) announces an International Conference entitled "Challenges for Science and Engineering in the 21st Century" in Stockholm, Sweden. For more information, contact the INES 2000 Conference Secretariat at: Gutenbergstr. 31,44139 Dortmund, Germany Tel: +49 231 575218, Fax: +49 231 575210, E-mail: INES2000@t-online.de URL: Http://www.ines2000.org ><>< ><>< ><>< ><>< ><>< ><>< ><>< ><>< ><>< ><>< ><>< ><>< July 1-9 August The People's Campaign for Nonviolence will lead peace and justice groups from around the United States in prayerful vigil and peaceful protest at either the Pentagon, White House, or the Capitol Building. Each day, a different group from around the country will maintain this call for peace and justice. For more information, please contact the Fellowship of Reconciliation at: Tel: +1 (914) 358-4601. Email: for@forusa.org INFO: http://www.nonviolence.org/for/114.htm 6-9 The "International Conference on War Tax Issues" will be held in Washington, D.C. The conference will be sponsored by the National Campaign for a Peace Tax Fund. For more information, contact the Peace Tax Fund at: Tel: +1 (202) 483-3751 Email: peacetaxfund@igc.org URL: Http://www.nonviolence.org 8 International Court of Justice Opinion Day (International Court of Justice rules nuclear weapons generally illegal and there exists an obligation for complete nuclear disarmament) 8-13 The Sixth World Congress of Educators for Peace will be held in Paris, France. For more information, contact: IAEP 13 Allee M. Robespierre 92290 Chatenay-Malabrie, France Tel: +33 1 4630 6126 Email: iaep@lshs.univ-paris13.fr ><>< ><>< ><>< ><>< ><>< ><>< ><>< ><>< ><>< ><>< ><>< ><>< August 6 Abolition and Peace Rally for Hiroshima Day in Britany, France will include a peace walk on the Menez Hom, a small mountain near the nuclear submarine base of Ile Longue. For more information, please contact: Lysiane Alezard Le Mouvement de la Paix 139 BD VICTOR HUGO - F-93400 SAINT-OUEN Email: mvtpaix@globenet.org URL: Http://www.asi.fr/~ddurand/ ><>< ><>< ><>< ><>< ><>< ><>< ><>< ><>< ><>< ><>< ><>< ><>< October 7 International Day of Protest to Stop the Militarization of Space 9 Nuremberg Day (Leaders held to account for crimes against peace, war crimes and crimes against humanity, 1946) 19 Indigenous Peoples' Day (Indigenous peoples have suffered disproportionate effects of nuclear mining and testing) 24 Disarmament Week 24 United Nations Day ************************ Resources ************************ Books "Time for Peace" is an illustrated peace book for children by Jane Ganguli. The price is ú5.50. To obtain more information or order a copy, please contact: Small World Publications 31 Caxton End, Bourn Cambridge CB3 7SS UK ><>< ><>< ><>< ><>< ><>< ><>< ><>< ><>< ><>< ><>< ><>< ><>< "Everyone's Guide to Achieving Change: A Step by Step Approach to Dialogue with Decision-Makers" is a handbook designed to enable you to quickly understand a successful method of dialogue with decision-makers. The principle idea is that groups of citizens engage directly, by letter or face to face, with behind-the-scenes decision-makers and policy advisers using a non-confrontational approach. The Handbook outlines Ten Steps outlined in this Handbook including examples used with nuclear weapons decision-making. Each Action step is balanced by a subsequent Reflection step. By the time you reach end of this handbook, you will be familiar with: * The basics of the dialogue with decision-makers approach to change * Why it works * How decision-makers can be identified * How they can most fruitfully be approached * What may be expected from this dialogue * How your skills and the skills of colleagues in your field can most effectively be used. You are already a powerful agent of change, read this booklet on and increase your own power. To order this Handbook for ú3.00/$5.00 contact: Oxford Research Group 51 Plantation Road Oxford OX2 6JE United Kingdom Tel: +44 1865 242819 Fax: +44 1865 794652 e-mail: org@oxfrg.demon.co.uk http://www.oxfrg.demon.co.uk **************************** Letter from the Editor **************************** February 15, 2000 "Ma mangu me whero e oti ai te mahi e." ( A Maori saying) Translation: "Cooperation is the key to achieving our goals." Dear Friends and Activists, Thank you for your continued support of Abolition 2000 Global Network to Eliminate Nuclear Weapons. As you know, 2000 is a critical year for the Global Network and we will not be able to succeed in our efforts to achieve a world free of nuclear weapons and the human suffering and environmental degradation caused by their testing and production without your support. The upcoming Review and Extension Conference of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) is critical to the outcome of negotiations leading to the verifiable elimination of nuclear weapons. As you may know, the NPT Review Conference only happens once every five years and brings a four-week opportunity to raise discussion on nuclear as well as general and complete disarmament. The decision of the International Court of Justice made Article VI central to disarmament efforts. Article VI of the NPT will provide the means to obtain a Nuclear Weapons Convention (NWC). Today, the NPT represents the key to engaging in a Global Nuclear Disarmament Regime. In light of the importance of the NPT to our efforts I encourage you to get involved with actions surrounding the NPT, particularly during March 1-8, which the Network has designated as Global Abolition Days. Please write and tell me what activities you or your organization have planned during this week of education, lobbying and advocacy. Some ideas for action include: 1. Help Abolition 2000 grow! Our goal is to enroll at least 2000 organizations by the NPT Review Conference in April. 2) Write to your Head of State and Foreign Minister and urge them to make the NPT Review Conference a top priority and personally attend. Ask that they open all sessions of the Conference to Civil Society. 3) Gather Signatures on the Abolition 2000 International Petition! 4) Donate to sustain the efforts of the International Network! Once again, I thank you for your efforts to help sustain this critical movement to rid the world of the nuclear legacy which has caused so much human suffering and environmental degradation. Please continue to be inspired and active in supporting our important work to create a more secure and just world. In Peace and Solidarity, Carah Carah Lynn Ong Coordinator, Abolition 2000 1187 Coast Village Road PMB 121, Suite 1 Santa Barbara CA 93108 Phone (805) 965 3443 FAX(805) 568 0466 Email: A2000@silcom.com Website http://www.abolition2000.org 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 A2000@silcom.com 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: abolition-caucus-subscribe@egroups.com (leave the subject line and body of the message blank). To post a message to the Abolition Global Caucus, send your message to: abolition-caucus@egroups.com To subscribe to the Abolition-USA listerve, send a message (with no subject) to: abolition-usa-request@lists.xmission.com 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: abolition-usa@lists.xmission.com - - To unsubscribe to abolition-usa, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" with "unsubscribe abolition-usa" in the body of the message. For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send "help" to the same address. Do not use quotes in your message. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 14 Feb 2000 15:58:35 -0800 From: Jackie Cabasso <wslf@earthlink.net> Subject: (abolition-usa) SCIENTIST QUITS LIVERMORE LAB, CONDEMNS NUCLEAR WEAPONS - --=====================_22500807==_.ALT Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable X-MIME-Autoconverted: from 8bit to quoted-printable by gull.prod.itd.earthlink.net id QAA11541 Dear friends, If you have any media contacts you think would be intereste= d, please pass this along to them. Thanks. -- Jackie =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: FEBRUARY 14, 2000 P. 1 of=20 2 CONTACT: Jackie Cabasso, Western States Legal Foundation (510)839 - 5877 SCIENTIST QUITS LIVERMORE LAB,=20 CONDEMNS NUCLEAR WEAPONS CITES MISLEADING HIRING PRACTICES; CALLS FOR INFORMED CONSENT; APPEALS T= O OTHERS TO REFUSE WEAPONS WORK PRESS CONFERENCE WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2000; 10:00 AM SAN FRANCISCO PRESS CLUB 155 SANSOME STREET, SAN FRANCISCO *****a light breakfast will be provided***** =20 SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- At a 10 a.m. press conference Wednesday, February 16= , 2000 at the San Francisco Press Club, Dr. Andreas Toupadakis will announce his resignation from the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL). Dr. Toupadakis, a chemist originally from Greece, resigned from a classified position in the nuclear weapons program at LLNL as of January 31, 2000. = He worked most recently in the Lab=92s Stockpile Stewardship program on nucl= ear weapons maintenance and refurbishment. At Wednesday=92s press conference= , Dr. Toupadakis will release an Open Letter to the Director of Lawrence Liverm= ore National Laboratory, which describes in detail the reasons for his resignation.=20 The open letter will also be circulated internationally as =93an appeal t= o every secretary, technician, custodian, scientist, engineer, and any other pers= on whose participation supports the world war machine to withhold their skil= ls from weapons work and from activities that support or enable weapons work= .=94 Dr. Toupadakis took a job at LLNL in August 1998 after leaving an environmental position at the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexic= o, where he witnessed a number of dangerous plutonium mishandling incidents.= =93When I was hired by LLNL, I was not adequately informed about the specifics of= my job responsibilities. I came to do environmental work, believing that wea= pons were being dismantled and help was needed to bury their deadly byproducts= .=20 Instead I found myself being expected to work on the maintenance of nucle= ar weapons. I believe that I am not alone in having this experience. When I refused to work on weapons, I found myself looking for a job on environme= ntal or nonproliferation projects, but I soon realized that such a thing is an illusion. I came to realize that I was fooling myself, that all work at = LLNL is directly or indirectly related to weapons. My conscience simply does = not allow me to work for the development or maintenance of nuclear weapons.=94= He concludes: =93We have a moral obligation and duty to think, speak, and ac= t first as citizens for a peaceful world, and next as scientists. The higher our education is, the higher our responsibilities are for a humane world. Th= at is why I have resigned from my position as a scientist in the nuclear weapon= s program at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.=94 (continued on next page) FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: FEBRUARY 14, 2000 P. 2 of=20 2 CONTACT: Jackie Cabasso (510) 839 - 5877 (continued from previous page) Dr. Toupadakis is also deeply concerned that the Department of E= nergy (DOE) is luring civilian establishments to participate in the development= of a new generation nuclear arsenal and is seeking to incorporate the nation=92= s leading universities into an effort to attract and train another generati= on of nuclear weapons designers. =93I consider the most inexcusable DOE practic= e to be the luring of high school students into the world of weapons. Innocent an= d naive young people are invited every summer into the national nuclear wea= pons laboratories. They are taught the myth of keeping the world safe by build= ing and maintaining thousands of constantly improved nuclear warheads. But t= hey are not told that nuclear weapons are designed to slaughter men, women an= d children by thousands, by millions, to tear them to pieces.=94 Dr. Toupadakis concludes: =93We urgently need an international campaign to help scientists and engineers see that they must withhold their skills fr= om war-science. I hope that my letter of appeal will start this campaign.=94= In his letter, Dr. Toupadakis calls on concerned scientists and engineers worldwide to immediately start working on the following issues: Establish informed consent hiring practices at national weapons laboratories and all other scientific/military establishments.=20 Stop bringing high school and college students into the weapons l= abs.=20 Encourage and help scientists to withhold their skills from weapo= ns work. The Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, near San Francisco, operated by the DOE and managed by the University of California, is one of the nat= ion=92s two primary nuclear weapons research and development centers. According to Jackie Cabasso, Executive Director of the Oakland-ba= sed Western States Legal Foundation, a long-time LLNL watchdog and critic: =93= It is highly unusual for a scientist working in nuclear weapons program at a government lab to forsake a high paying permanent job in the prime of his career and to wholeheartedly embrace the peace movement. We are happy to= offer Dr. Toupadakis our full support.=94 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------= - --- - ---------------------------------------------- Copies of Dr. Toupadakis=92 Open Letter to the Director of Lawrence Liver= more National Laboratory will be available at the press conference. Please co= ntact Western States Legal Foundation at (510) 839-5877 to arrange interviews w= ith Dr. Toupadakis after Wednesday. # # # ****************************************************** Jacqueline Cabasso, Executive Director WESTERN STATES LEGAL FOUNDATION 1440 Broadway, Suite 500 Oakland, California USA 94612 Tel: +(510)839-5877 Fax: +(510)839-5397 E-mail: wslf@earthlink.net ****************************************************** Western States Legal Foundation is part of ABOLITION 2000 A GLOBAL NETWORK TO ELIMINATE NUCLEAR WEAPONS - --=====================_22500807==_.ALT Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable <html> Dear friends, If you have any media contacts you think would be interested, please pass this along to them. Thanks. -- Jackie =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D= =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: FEBRUARY 14, 2000<x-tab> </x-tab><x-ta= b> </x-tab><x-tab> = ; </x-tab><x-tab> = </x-tab>P. 1 of 2 CONTACT: Jackie Cabasso, Western States Legal Foundation (510)839 - - 5877 <div align=3D"center"> SCIENTIST QUITS LIVERMORE LAB, CONDEMNS NUCLEAR WEAPONS CITES MISLEADING HIRING PRACTICES; CALLS FOR INFORMED CONSENT; APPEALS TO OTHERS TO REFUSE WEAPONS WORK PRESS CONFERENCE WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2000; 10:00 AM SAN FRANCISCO PRESS CLUB 155 SANSOME STREET, SAN FRANCISCO *****a light breakfast will be provided***** </div> <x-tab> </x-tab><x-tab> = </x-tab> SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- At a 10 a.m. press conference Wednesday, February 16, 2000 at the San Francisco Press Club, Dr. Andreas Toupadakis will announce his resignation from the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL). Dr. Toupadakis, a chemist originally from Greece, resigned from a classified position in the nuclear weapons program at LLNL as of January 31, 2000. He worked most recently in the Lab=92s Stockpile Stewardship program on nuclear weapons maintenance and refurbishment. At Wednesday=92s press conference, Dr. Toupadakis will release an Open Letter to the Director of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, which describes in detail the reasons for his resignation. The open letter will also be circulated internationally as =93an appeal to every secretary, technician, custodian, scientist, engineer, and any other person whose participation supports the world war machine to withhold their skills from weapons work and from activities that support or enable weapons work.=94 <x-tab> </x-tab>Dr. Toupadakis took a job at LLNL in August 1998 after leaving an environmental position at the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico, where he witnessed a number of dangerous plutonium mishandling incidents. =93When I was hired by LLNL, I was not adequately informed about the specifics of my job responsibilities. I came to do environmental work, believing that weapons were being dismantled and help was needed to bury their deadly byproducts. Instead I found myself being expected to work on the maintenance of nuclear weapons. I believe that I am not alone in having this experience. When I refused to work on weapons, I found myself looking for a job on environmental or nonproliferation projects, but I soon realized that such a thing is an illusion. I came to realize that I was fooling myself, that all work at LLNL is directly or indirectly related to weapons. My conscience simply does not allow me to work for the development or maintenance of nuclear weapons.=94 He concludes: =93We have a moral obligation and duty to think, speak, and act first as citizens for a peaceful world, and next as scientists. The higher our education is, the higher our responsibilities are for a humane world. That is why I have resigned from my position as a scientist in the nuclear weapons program at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.=94 <div align=3D"center"> (continued on next page) </div> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: FEBRUARY 14, 2000<x-tab> </x-tab><x-ta= b> </x-tab><x-tab> = ; </x-tab><x-tab> = </x-tab>P. 2 of 2 CONTACT: Jackie Cabasso (510) 839 - 5877 <div align=3D"center"> (continued from previous page) </div> <x-tab> </x-tab>Dr. Toupadakis is also deeply concerned that the Department of Energy (DOE) is luring civilian establishments to participate in the development of a new generation nuclear arsenal and is seeking to incorporate the nation=92s leading universities into an effort to attract and train another generation of nuclear weapons designers. =93I consider the most inexcusable DOE practice to be the luring of high school students into the world of weapons. Innocent and naive young people are invited every summer into the national nuclear weapons laboratories. They are taught the myth of keeping the world safe by building and maintaining thousands of constantly improved nuclear warheads. But they are not told that nuclear weapons are designed to slaughter men, women and children by thousands, by millions, to tear them to pieces.=94 <x-tab> &nbs= p; </x-tab>Dr. Toupadakis concludes: =93We urgently need an international campaign to help scientists and engineers see that they must withhold their skills from war-science. I hope that my letter of appeal will start this campaign.=94 In his letter, Dr. Toupadakis calls on concerned scientists and engineers worldwide to immediately start working on the following issues: <dl> <dd> <x-tab> </x-tab>Establish informed consent hiring practices at national weapons laboratories and all other scientific/military establishments. <dd> <x-tab> </x-tab>Stop bringing high school and college students into the weapons labs. <dd> <x-tab> </x-tab>Encourage and help scientists to withhold their skills from weapons work. </dl><x-tab> </x-tab>The Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, near San Francisco, operated by the DOE and managed by the University of California, is one of the nation=92s two primary nuclear weapons research and development centers. <x-tab> </x-tab>According to Jackie Cabasso, Executive Director of the Oakland-based Western States Legal Foundation, a long-time LLNL watchdog and critic: =93It is highly unusual for a scientist working in nuclear weapons program at a government lab to forsake a high paying permanent job in the prime of his career and to wholeheartedly embrace the peace movement. We are happy to offer Dr. Toupadakis our full support.=94 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------= - ---------------------------------------------- Copies of Dr. Toupadakis=92 Open Letter to the Director of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory will be available at the press conference. Please contact Western States Legal Foundation at (510) 839-5877 to arrange interviews with Dr. Toupadakis after Wednesday. <div align=3D"center"> # # # <div align=3D"center"> ****************************************************** Jacqueline Cabasso, Executive Director WESTERN STATES LEGAL FOUNDATION 1440 Broadway, Suite 500 Oakland, California USA 94612 Tel: +(510)839-5877 Fax: +(510)839-5397 E-mail: wslf@earthlink.net ****************************************************** Western States Legal Foundation is part of ABOLITION 2000 A GLOBAL NETWORK TO ELIMINATE NUCLEAR WEAPONS</html> - --=====================_22500807==_.ALT-- - - To unsubscribe to abolition-usa, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" with "unsubscribe abolition-usa" in the body of the message. For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send "help" to the same address. Do not use quotes in your message. ------------------------------ End of abolition-usa-digest V1 #257 *********************************** - To unsubscribe to $LIST, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" with "unsubscribe $LIST" in the body of the message. For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send "help" to the same address. Do not use quotes in your message.