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abolition-usa-digest    Tuesday, February 29 2000    Volume 01 : Number 264




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

Date: Mon, 28 Feb 2000 11:54:20 -0800
From: Shundahai Network <[e-mail]>
Subject: (abolition-usa) NUCLEAR FOOLS NO MORE-- PARADE & STREET THEATER

PRESS ADVISORY                        CONTACT:  Susi Snyder

FEBRUARY 28, 2000                702-647-3095  or [e-mail]


WE ARE NUCLEAR FOOLS NO MORE!!


Who:      Shundahai Network, Citizen Alert, LaserVida Arts Collective, and l=
ocal Las Vegans.


What:     Fifth Annual Nuclear Fool=92s Day Parade and Street Theater=20

        performance.  Citizen Alert=92s Mock Nuclear Waste Cask, performers,=20

        speakers, puppets, music and original costumes. =20


When:    April 1, 2000, 2-5 pm.

        2 pm Rally at City Hall 400 Stewart Ave.

        3 pm Parade Starts Through Downtown

        4:30 pm Street Theater at Foley Federal Bldg. 300 S. Las Vegas Blvd.



(If people would like to get involved before the actual event, we will be=
 meeting weekly at Shundahai Network, call 702-647-3095 for times and dir=
ections.)



Why:        We are gathering in order to let the Department of Energy and the F=
ederal Government know that we are NUCLEAR FOOLS NO MORE!  We are using c=
reativity, puppetry and street theater to encourage citizen participation=
 in decisions which will effect all life for thousands of years.  We want=
 people to know that Nevada is a homeland, not a wasteland, and that we w=
ill not put up with human radiation experiments resulting from nuclear wa=
ste transportation and nuclear testing.  We are stopping the Yucca Mounta=
in Project, and we are putting and end to ongoing contamination from so c=
alled =93low-level=94 nuclear waste transportation through Las Vegas, and=
 ongoing nuclear testing at the Nevada Test Site.


=93It=92s time that the DOE recognizes that Nevada is not the place for n=
uclear waste, and that the people who live here will not put up with this=
 foolish waste of our tax dollars anymore!=94  Said Susi Snyder of the Sh=
undahai Network, an international anti-nuclear, environmental justice gro=
up based in Las Vegas.


- -30-

><<><< ><<><< ><<><< ><<><< ><<><< ><<><< ><<><< ><<><< ><<><< ><<><<
><<><< ><<><<


SHUNDAHAI NETWORK

"Peace and Harmony with all Creation"

<paraindent><param>out,out</param>5007 Elmhurst St., Las Vegas, NV
89108-1304 =20

Phone:[phone] (FAX) 647-9385 =20

</paraindent>Email: [e-mail]

<underline><color><param>0000,0000,fefe</param>http://www.shundahai.org


</color></underline>Shundahai Network is proud to be part of:

US Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons=20

Abolition 2000: A Global Network to Eliminate Nuclear Weapons


><< ><<><< ><<><< ><<><< ><<><< ><<><< ><<><< ><<><< ><<><< ><<><<
><<><<




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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: Mon, 28 Feb 2000 12:36:45 -0800
From: Nuclear Age Peace Foundation <[e-mail]>
Subject: (abolition-usa) Global Abolition Days

                    28 February 2000

Dear Friends and Activists,

    Your help to achieve a world free of nuclear weapons and the threat
they pose is needed NOW!  As you know, Abolition 2000 has designated
1st-8th March 2000* as Global Abolition Days.  Please use this week to
educate, advocate and lobby for the abolition of nuclear weapons in your
neighborhood, community, city, region and country. Please take the
following simple actions to spread the word about the imperative to
eliminate nuclear weapons and to further the work of the Global Network:

1.  Enroll an organization!  Our goal is to have at least 2000 endorsers by
the NPT Review Conference in April.

2. Write to your Head of Government 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.  For a sample letter, please
visit the Abolition 2000 website.

3. Circulate the Abolition 2000 International Petition. The Chairman of the
NPT Review Conference has agreed to receive our signed petitions this
spring at the United Nations in New York. Use the petition as a tool to
collect individual signatures in support of  The Abolition 2000
International Petition is a tool you or your organization can use to
collect individual signatures in support of the goals of Abolition 2000.
To date, more than 13,285,808 signatures have been collected on the
Abolition 2000 Petition.

4.  Host a town meeting to raise discussion on nuclear issues.  Invite a
speaker or show a video demonstrating the environmental, health and moral
imperatives to abolish nuclear weapons.

5.  Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper to raise
discussion in your town about nuclear issues.

6.  Donate to sustain the efforts of the International Network.  Your
contribution is needed to sustain the work of the Network.

    NOW is the time for ACTION and we cannot succeed without your help.
Please feel free to contact me if you would like to receive materials to
help with your local campaign.  Also, please take a moment to write and let
others know what action you are taking.  Please post a message a message to
the Abolition Global Caucus <mail to:  [e-mail]>.
Thank you for your continued support.  I look forward to hearing from you!

In Peace and Solidarity,

Carah Ong

*March 1 is Nuclear Free and Independent Pacific Day (the anniversary of
the US Bikini test); March 5 is the 30th anniversary of the NPT's
entry-into-force; March 8 is International Women'sÆ Day.


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

Phone [phone]  FAX[phone]
Email: [e-mail]
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 [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]



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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: Mon, 28 Feb 2000 18:51:43 PST
From: "Abolition2000 Pacific Region" <[e-mail]>
Subject: (abolition-usa) HIGH PROFILE U.S. LAW FIRM TO HELP NEGOTIATE KWAJALEIN MISSILE RANGE DEAL

Dear Abolitionists, fyi:

First, I want to thank Bruce Gagnon, Daniel Fine and others for commenting
earlier on the article in the Honolulu Advertiser from the ABM engineer in
Kwajelein. I think it was significant to educate peoples in Hawaii more than
just responding and fighting it over with the engineer, considering that the
Hawaii Congressional delegation wield much power in US defense spending and
do support them! Refutations of the engineers's claims about the
effectiveness of previous ballistic defense tests are needed to educate the
larger Hawaiian voting public about their congressional delegation's support
of more spending on a ballistic missile defense. Again, thanks very much.

This following concerns the struggles of the Kwajelein Atoll landowners and
their just compensation for US military use of the atoll. It has been nearly
impossible for them to negotiate the eviction of US Kwajelein Base as that
is too closely tied to Marshall Islands' Compact of Free Association with
the United States. Arguably, this economic/military treaty has served to
replicate/maintain ties similar to prior US Trusteeship (colonial)
arrangements and effectively retards the process of transforming the cycles
of economic dependency for this "former" Micronesian colony of America. In
an attempt several years ago by the landowners to occupy their ancestral
islands and atoll upon which the US Kwajelein Base sits, their movement was
derailed by US military police squads who effectively squashed their
occupation attempts!

What does this mean for disarmament in Marshall Islands? Not very hopeful.
Which is why we in the Pacific argue ceaselessly for bringing about true
decolonization of our nations as a step toward dealing with the
militarization of our islands. For us, it all seems like we are waging an
unwinnable struggle and that the best we can do is to negotiate "best deals"
for the US military to continue to pollute our islands at attractive prices!

Some American visitors to the Marshall Islands describe a brutal system of
apartheid where US military facilities occupy large portions of island lands
(complete with golf courses!) while creating "island ghettos" where Marshall
Islanders live in overcrowded conditions on Ebeye and nearby islands!
Military Colonialism is a hard thing to resist! Any thoughts?

R Salvador
Honolulu, Hawai`i



http://pidp.ewc.hawaii.edu/PIReport/2000/February/02_28_04.htm

PACIFIC ISLANDS REPORT

Monday, February 28, 2000

Pacific Islands Development Program/East_West Center
Center for Pacific Islands Studies/University of Hawai'i at Manoa


HIGH PROFILE U.S. LAW FIRM TO HELP NEGOTIATE KWAJALEIN MISSILE RANGE DEAL

MAJURO, Marshall Islands (February 25, 2000 - Radio Australia)___The
Marshall Islands government has hired a high_profile Mississippi law firm to
negotiate a "better deal" with the U.S. Defense Department for continued use
of Kwajalein as a missile test range.

The test range is central to Washington's plans for further development of
an intercontinental missile defense system, but Washington has so far
refused to discuss paying increased rent.

Senator Ataji Balos said Kwajalein landowners have hired the law firm of
Richard F. Scruggs, which won a one billion dollar settlement from the U.S.
tobacco industry in the mid_1990s.

He said the law firm will seek a better financial deal for Kwajalein's use
during talks this year over renewal of some sections of the U.S.-Marshall
Islands Compact of Free Association.

For additional reports from Radio Australia, go to PACIFIC ISLANDS REPORT
News/Information Links: Radio/TV
News/Radio Australia.


______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com


- -
 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, 29 Feb 2000 16:37:00 +1000
From: FoE Sydney - Nuclear Campaign <[e-mail]>
Subject: (abolition-usa) HAS YOUR ORGANISATION SIGNED HEADS OF STATE NPT REVIEW LETTER ?

(Sorry for duplicate copies caused by double- posting.)

PLEASE WRITE TO YOUR GOVERNMENT RE NUCLEAR NONPROLIFERATION TREATY REVIEW

SAMPLE LETTER FOR EVERYONE TO SEND TO PRESIDENTS/PRIME MINISTERS/FOREIGN
MINISTERS

(This is not a sign - on letter. This is for you or your organisation to
send to your foreign minister, and president or prime minister)

(Please email these 2 sample letters to everyone you know)

Dear All who get these two sample letters,

On 24 April-19May this year, the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) will
go before its first review conference after being indefinitely extended in
1995.

As the Nuclear Nonproliferation treaty covers every nation in the world
with the exception of Israel, India and Pakistan (all of whom have nuclear
weapons), the NPT Review Conference, which will be held at the UN in New
York will be one of the most important diplomatic events (if not THE most
important diplomatic event) of the year.

It has implications for the safety of the whole planet.

Article VI of the NPT which has been in force since 1970, obliges the
nuclear weapons states to negotiate away their nuclear arsenals yesterday.

The international Court of Justice in 1996, in a unanimous advisory
opinion, said that there exists an obligation, under article VI, to
negotiate away the nuclear arsenals of the nuclear weapons powers.

However, the opposite is what is happening.

As the Nuclear Nonproiferation treaty is in effect a deal whereby the nuke
weapons states agree to eliminate their nuclear arsenals in return for the
non- nuclear weapons states agreeing not to attempt to obtain nuclear
weapons, the failure of the nuclear weapons states to honour their part of
the deal means that the non-nuclear weapons states may start to withdraw
from their part of the deal as india, Israel and Pakistan in effect already
have done.

You are therefore strongly urged to write to your foreign minister, and
Prime Minister and/or Head of State, (whoever is the relevant decision-
maker) urging them to press the nuclear weapons states to keep their side
of the NPT 'Bargain' and fulfil the requirements of Article VI, or if you
live in a nuclear weapons state, ask them to fulfil their Article VI NPT
obligations immediately.

These two letters, one to all heads of state/prime ministers/foreign
ministers and one specifically to Russian President Putin, foreign Minister
Igor Ivanov, and copied to Clinton, are to give you an idea what to write.
Please don't follow them slavishly.

If you are an individual, I'd urge you to write HANDWRITTEN. Copied letters
get thrown away. Handwritten gets read.

If you are an organisation, please put this on your own letterhead and
CUSTOMISE IT.

These letters are deliberately too long. You may want to shorten them.

If you are in a non- english speaking country do please translate it and
make any changes you feel necessary when you translate it.

The NPT Review Conference is literally an event of global signficance, so
ask your head of state/foreign minister/prime minister to attend the NPT
Review in person.

Do please write. The fate of the world as a whole will quite literally
depend on the deliberations of the diplomats, foreign ministers, and heads
of state in the review conference in New York.

A shorter letter (very short) is available on:

Http://www.abolition2000.org.  Fax numbers of heads of state, foreign
ministers, and UN Missions  are also available on that URL.

Another URL that has the fax numbers of heads of state, foreign ministers
and UN missions and also has lots of information on the NPT Review is:
Http://www.reachingcriticalwill.org


TEXT OF GENERAL SAMPLE LETTER AND SAMPLE LETTER TO PUTIN AND IVANOV FOLLOWS

RE: NUCLEAR NONPROLIFERATION TREATY REVIEW CONFERENCE APRIL 24-MAY 19 2000
- - GETTING RID OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS

TO: PRESIDENT, PRIME MINISTER AND FOREIGN MINISTER,


Your Excellency,
[0r]
Dear President, Prime Minister and Foreign Minister,

I am writing  to urge [your/our]  government to take a strong position at
the upcoming  Review Conference of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty in
New York April 24 to May 19, 2000, and to urge [your/our] head of state or
of government to attend this  meeting.

It is vital that the governments of all nations   do their utmost to
pressure  the nuclear weapons states, especially the US and Russia, to do
more  to fulfill their obligations under Article VI of the NPT,  and
negotiate their nuclear weapons stockpiles down to zero.

The International Court of Justice reaffirmed in 1996, in a unanimous
advisory opinion that this is indeed a legal obligation.

The nuclear weapons states are currently making very little movement toward
fulfilling  this obligation.  Instead there have been many developments in
the opposite direction.

The US Senate has failed to ratify the CTBT,(Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty)
and the US is contemplating the deployment of a Ballistic Missile Defence
System in violation of the 1972 ABM (Anti-Ballistic Missile) treaty.

Talks between the US and Russia to make cuts in nuclear weapons are
stalled, as is implementation of  START II. Russia has changed its previous
policy of 'no first use' of nuclear weapons to one that mirrors those of
the western states, and its Duma has refused to ratify START-II.

Both the US and Russia continue to conduct 'subcritical' nuclear tests.
China is modernizing its nuclear arsenal, and India and Pakistan have
openly tested nuclear weapons. Israel,  in spite of a recent debate in the
Knessett, refuses to acknowledge its nuclear capabilities but may have as
many as 400 weapons.

On the other hand, the non nuclear weapons states with a few notable
exceptions, have adhered to their side of the bargain, while the NPT has
become nearly universal.

A successful outcome at the coming NPT Review Conference,  would explicitly
commit parties under Article VI to the elimination of nuclear weapons at an
early date,  and a global regime banning nuclear weapons, and would outline
the process for that to occur.

It is important that your government and every government, use its position
to push the nuclear weapon states and particularly the US and Russia, to
fulfill Article VI during the coming review conference.

A key preliminary step in this direction that would reduce the danger of
purely accidental war,  and improve the climate for further steps, would be
the abandonment of 'launch on warning' postures. This should be followed by
reduction of alert status of warheads, and the verifiable physical removal
of
warheads from delivery vehicles.

It is especially vital that [your/our] [head of government/head of state]
be present at the proceedings of this review conference. The decisions
taken at the coming NPT Review conference will literally determine the fate
of the world. Only by the authority lent by the presence of heads of State
or of Government can decisions be taken that will have the end result of
ridding the world of nuclear weapons and fulfilling the mandate of the
nuclear nonproliferation treaty over the last thirty years.

Signed...etc.



SAMPLE LETTER FOR EVERYONE TO SEND TO PRESIDENT PUTIN
AND
=46OREIGN MINISTER IGOR IVANOV.

RE: NUCLEAR NONPROLIFERATION TREATY REVIEW CONFERENCE APRIL 24-MAY 19 2000
- - GETTING RID OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS

TO: PRESIDENT PUTIN [phone],
=46OREIGN MINISTER IVANOV [phone], [phone]
RUSSIAS UNITED NATIONS AMBASSADOR + 1 212 628 0252
cc
PRESIDENT CLINTON [phone]

Dear President Putin and Foreign Minister Ivanov,

I am writing  to urge Russia's government to fulfill its obligations under
Article VI of the nuclear nonproliferation treaty.

It is vital that we negotiate their nuclear weapons stockpiles down to zero
sooner rather than later.

The International Court of Justice reaffirmed in 1996, in a unanimous
judgment, that this is indeed a legal obligation.

It is now vital that the Russia and the US fulfill their clear obligations
under Article VI of the nonproliferation treaty. While arms reductions have
occurred since the 1980s, this process of reduction has now stalled and may
be going into reverse.

The US and Russia are both signed on to a treaty, article VI of which
demands that you negotiate to eliminate your nuclear arsenals. The binding
nature of Article VI was  reaffirmed by the 1996 unanimous advisory opinion
of the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

Russia and the US together, as well as China, the UK and France cannot
forever refuse to fulfill their clear legal obligations under the NPT while
expecting that other countries will continue to fulfill theirs. The
credibility of the NPT will disappear if the nuclear weapon states -
yourselves - do not fulfill your obligations. The eventual result of that
is likely to be much wider acquisition of nuclear weapons, with a vastly
increased likelihood of nuclear war.

While Russia may have been given reasons to distrust US and NATO
intentions, the stakes in getting rid of nuclear weapons are literally
ultimate. No political goal no matter how central it may seem to the
interests of either Russia or the US can justify the possible destruction
of human civilisation and life worldwide.

Public opinion in both your countries is strongly in favor of negotiating
to eliminate nuclear weapons. Global public opinion is overwhelmingly in
favor of this and indeed demands it, as do the overwhelming majority of
governments.

A successful outcome at the coming NPT Review Conference,  would explicitly
commit parties under Article VI to the elimination of nuclear weapons at an
early date,  and a global regime banning nuclear weapons, and would outline
the process for that to occur.

In this context, it is especially vital that the Russian and US Presidents
be present at the proceedings of the NPT  Review Conference, and be ready
to negotiate to eliminate your nuclear arsenals as you are obliged to do
under Article VI. The decisions taken at the coming NPT Review conference
will literally determine the fate of the world. Only by the authority lent
by the presence of heads of State or of Government can decisions be taken
that will have the end result of ridding the world of nuclear weapons and
fulfilling the mandate of the nuclear nonproliferation treaty over the last
thirty years.

Signed...etc.

John Hallam
=46riends of the Earth Sydney,
17 Lord Street, Newtown, NSW, Australia, 2042
=46ax (61)(2)9517-3902  ph (61)(2)9517-3903
[e-mail]
http://homepages.tig.com.au/~foesyd





- -
 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, 29 Feb 2000 16:37:00 +1000
From: FoE Sydney - Nuclear Campaign <[e-mail]>
Subject: (abolition-usa) HAS YOUR ORGANISATION SIGNED HEADS OF STATE NPT REVIEW LETTER ?

(Sorry for duplicate copies caused by double- posting.)

PLEASE WRITE TO YOUR GOVERNMENT RE NUCLEAR NONPROLIFERATION TREATY REVIEW

SAMPLE LETTER FOR EVERYONE TO SEND TO PRESIDENTS/PRIME MINISTERS/FOREIGN
MINISTERS

(This is not a sign - on letter. This is for you or your organisation to
send to your foreign minister, and president or prime minister)

(Please email these 2 sample letters to everyone you know)

Dear All who get these two sample letters,

On 24 April-19May this year, the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) will
go before its first review conference after being indefinitely extended in
1995.

As the Nuclear Nonproliferation treaty covers every nation in the world
with the exception of Israel, India and Pakistan (all of whom have nuclear
weapons), the NPT Review Conference, which will be held at the UN in New
York will be one of the most important diplomatic events (if not THE most
important diplomatic event) of the year.

It has implications for the safety of the whole planet.

Article VI of the NPT which has been in force since 1970, obliges the
nuclear weapons states to negotiate away their nuclear arsenals yesterday.

The international Court of Justice in 1996, in a unanimous advisory
opinion, said that there exists an obligation, under article VI, to
negotiate away the nuclear arsenals of the nuclear weapons powers.

However, the opposite is what is happening.

As the Nuclear Nonproiferation treaty is in effect a deal whereby the nuke
weapons states agree to eliminate their nuclear arsenals in return for the
non- nuclear weapons states agreeing not to attempt to obtain nuclear
weapons, the failure of the nuclear weapons states to honour their part of
the deal means that the non-nuclear weapons states may start to withdraw
from their part of the deal as india, Israel and Pakistan in effect already
have done.

You are therefore strongly urged to write to your foreign minister, and
Prime Minister and/or Head of State, (whoever is the relevant decision-
maker) urging them to press the nuclear weapons states to keep their side
of the NPT 'Bargain' and fulfil the requirements of Article VI, or if you
live in a nuclear weapons state, ask them to fulfil their Article VI NPT
obligations immediately.

These two letters, one to all heads of state/prime ministers/foreign
ministers and one specifically to Russian President Putin, foreign Minister
Igor Ivanov, and copied to Clinton, are to give you an idea what to write.
Please don't follow them slavishly.

If you are an individual, I'd urge you to write HANDWRITTEN. Copied letters
get thrown away. Handwritten gets read.

If you are an organisation, please put this on your own letterhead and
CUSTOMISE IT.

These letters are deliberately too long. You may want to shorten them.

If you are in a non- english speaking country do please translate it and
make any changes you feel necessary when you translate it.

The NPT Review Conference is literally an event of global signficance, so
ask your head of state/foreign minister/prime minister to attend the NPT
Review in person.

Do please write. The fate of the world as a whole will quite literally
depend on the deliberations of the diplomats, foreign ministers, and heads
of state in the review conference in New York.

A shorter letter (very short) is available on:

Http://www.abolition2000.org.  Fax numbers of heads of state, foreign
ministers, and UN Missions  are also available on that URL.

Another URL that has the fax numbers of heads of state, foreign ministers
and UN missions and also has lots of information on the NPT Review is:
Http://www.reachingcriticalwill.org


TEXT OF GENERAL SAMPLE LETTER AND SAMPLE LETTER TO PUTIN AND IVANOV FOLLOWS

RE: NUCLEAR NONPROLIFERATION TREATY REVIEW CONFERENCE APRIL 24-MAY 19 2000
- - GETTING RID OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS

TO: PRESIDENT, PRIME MINISTER AND FOREIGN MINISTER,


Your Excellency,
[0r]
Dear President, Prime Minister and Foreign Minister,

I am writing  to urge [your/our]  government to take a strong position at
the upcoming  Review Conference of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty in
New York April 24 to May 19, 2000, and to urge [your/our] head of state or
of government to attend this  meeting.

It is vital that the governments of all nations   do their utmost to
pressure  the nuclear weapons states, especially the US and Russia, to do
more  to fulfill their obligations under Article VI of the NPT,  and
negotiate their nuclear weapons stockpiles down to zero.

The International Court of Justice reaffirmed in 1996, in a unanimous
advisory opinion that this is indeed a legal obligation.

The nuclear weapons states are currently making very little movement toward
fulfilling  this obligation.  Instead there have been many developments in
the opposite direction.

The US Senate has failed to ratify the CTBT,(Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty)
and the US is contemplating the deployment of a Ballistic Missile Defence
System in violation of the 1972 ABM (Anti-Ballistic Missile) treaty.

Talks between the US and Russia to make cuts in nuclear weapons are
stalled, as is implementation of  START II. Russia has changed its previous
policy of 'no first use' of nuclear weapons to one that mirrors those of
the western states, and its Duma has refused to ratify START-II.

Both the US and Russia continue to conduct 'subcritical' nuclear tests.
China is modernizing its nuclear arsenal, and India and Pakistan have
openly tested nuclear weapons. Israel,  in spite of a recent debate in the
Knessett, refuses to acknowledge its nuclear capabilities but may have as
many as 400 weapons.

On the other hand, the non nuclear weapons states with a few notable
exceptions, have adhered to their side of the bargain, while the NPT has
become nearly universal.

A successful outcome at the coming NPT Review Conference,  would explicitly
commit parties under Article VI to the elimination of nuclear weapons at an
early date,  and a global regime banning nuclear weapons, and would outline
the process for that to occur.

It is important that your government and every government, use its position
to push the nuclear weapon states and particularly the US and Russia, to
fulfill Article VI during the coming review conference.

A key preliminary step in this direction that would reduce the danger of
purely accidental war,  and improve the climate for further steps, would be
the abandonment of 'launch on warning' postures. This should be followed by
reduction of alert status of warheads, and the verifiable physical removal
of
warheads from delivery vehicles.

It is especially vital that [your/our] [head of government/head of state]
be present at the proceedings of this review conference. The decisions
taken at the coming NPT Review conference will literally determine the fate
of the world. Only by the authority lent by the presence of heads of State
or of Government can decisions be taken that will have the end result of
ridding the world of nuclear weapons and fulfilling the mandate of the
nuclear nonproliferation treaty over the last thirty years.

Signed...etc.



SAMPLE LETTER FOR EVERYONE TO SEND TO PRESIDENT PUTIN
AND
FOREIGN MINISTER IGOR IVANOV.

RE: NUCLEAR NONPROLIFERATION TREATY REVIEW CONFERENCE APRIL 24-MAY 19 2000
- - GETTING RID OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS

TO: PRESIDENT PUTIN [phone],
FOREIGN MINISTER IVANOV [phone], [phone]
RUSSIAS UNITED NATIONS AMBASSADOR + 1 212 628 0252
cc
PRESIDENT CLINTON [phone]

Dear President Putin and Foreign Minister Ivanov,

I am writing  to urge Russia's government to fulfill its obligations under
Article VI of the nuclear nonproliferation treaty.

It is vital that we negotiate their nuclear weapons stockpiles down to zero
sooner rather than later.

The International Court of Justice reaffirmed in 1996, in a unanimous
judgment, that this is indeed a legal obligation.

It is now vital that the Russia and the US fulfill their clear obligations
under Article VI of the nonproliferation treaty. While arms reductions have
occurred since the 1980s, this process of reduction has now stalled and may
be going into reverse.

The US and Russia are both signed on to a treaty, article VI of which
demands that you negotiate to eliminate your nuclear arsenals. The binding
nature of Article VI was  reaffirmed by the 1996 unanimous advisory opinion
of the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

Russia and the US together, as well as China, the UK and France cannot
forever refuse to fulfill their clear legal obligations under the NPT while
expecting that other countries will continue to fulfill theirs. The
credibility of the NPT will disappear if the nuclear weapon states -
yourselves - do not fulfill your obligations. The eventual result of that
is likely to be much wider acquisition of nuclear weapons, with a vastly
increased likelihood of nuclear war.

While Russia may have been given reasons to distrust US and NATO
intentions, the stakes in getting rid of nuclear weapons are literally
ultimate. No political goal no matter how central it may seem to the
interests of either Russia or the US can justify the possible destruction
of human civilisation and life worldwide.

Public opinion in both your countries is strongly in favor of negotiating
to eliminate nuclear weapons. Global public opinion is overwhelmingly in
favor of this and indeed demands it, as do the overwhelming majority of
governments.

A successful outcome at the coming NPT Review Conference,  would explicitly
commit parties under Article VI to the elimination of nuclear weapons at an
early date,  and a global regime banning nuclear weapons, and would outline
the process for that to occur.

In this context, it is especially vital that the Russian and US Presidents
be present at the proceedings of the NPT  Review Conference, and be ready
to negotiate to eliminate your nuclear arsenals as you are obliged to do
under Article VI. The decisions taken at the coming NPT Review conference
will literally determine the fate of the world. Only by the authority lent
by the presence of heads of State or of Government can decisions be taken
that will have the end result of ridding the world of nuclear weapons and
fulfilling the mandate of the nuclear nonproliferation treaty over the last
thirty years.

Signed...etc.

John Hallam
Friends of the Earth Sydney,
17 Lord Street, Newtown, NSW, Australia, 2042
Fax [phone]  ph (61)(2)9517-3903
[e-mail]
http://homepages.tig.com.au/~foesyd





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

Date: Tue, 29 Feb 2000 12:18:31 -0500
From: "Joan Wade" <[e-mail]>
Subject: (abolition-usa) New Petition On-Line and More!

This is a multi-part message in MIME format.

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    charset="iso-8859-1"
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Dear Abolition Advocates,

The Disarmament Clearinghouse has three new resources for disarmament =
activism.  I hope you'll find them useful and that you'll pass this =
message on to your members and friends.  Please feel free to contact me =
with any questions or to update the Clearinghouse on your activist =
efforts.  As always, the Clearinghouse is happy to post information on =
your upcoming actions and demonstrations on the www.disarmament.org web =
site.

1) New On-Line Missile Defense Petition on OneDemocracy.com:  This new =
petition on the web calls on Members of Congress to support legislation =
opposing national missile defense and to contact President Clinton to =
urge him to decide against NMD.  Sign on today at: =
http://www.onedemocracy.com/1d/GuestPetitionDisplayServlet?_ID=3D441

2) Fail-Safe House Party Kits:  On April 9th at 9pm George Clooney will =
produce and star in a live CBS television remake of the 1964 nuke war =
thriller Fail-Safe.  The Disarmament Clearinghouse has produced house =
party organizing kits designed for the show.  Kits include sample =
actions, tips on how to get CBS to your event, a discussion guide, =
background materials, a bumper sticker and more.  Order yours today by =
contacting the Clearinghouse at the numbers at the bottom of this =
message. You can order up to five for free.  For more information visit =
http://www.disarmament.org/george_clooney.htm.

3) "Stop the Star Wars Revival" Resource and Action Kits:  Develop =
skills to fight the biggest arms control battle of the year with this =
updated resource.  Kits include tips on meeting with editorial boards, =
sample letters to elected officials, recent press, and lots more.  =
Contact the Clearinghouse to order up to five kits for free.  For more =
information on missile defense visit: =
http://www.disarmament.org/take_action_to_stop_star_wars.htm
__________________________
Joan L. Wade, Coordinator
Disarmament Clearinghouse=20
1101 14th Street, NW, Suite 700
Washington, DC 20005
ph: [phone] x232
fax: [phone]
e-mail: [e-mail]
web: www.disarmament.org

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    charset="iso-8859-1"
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<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<HTML><HEAD>
<META content=3D"text/html; charset=3Diso-8859-1" =
http-equiv=3DContent-Type>
<META content=3D"MSHTML 5.00.2614.3500" name=3DGENERATOR>
<STYLE></STYLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY bgColor=3D#ffffff>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Dear Abolition Advocates,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>The Disarmament Clearinghouse has three =
new=20
resources for disarmament activism.  I hope you'll find them useful =
and=20
that you'll pass this message on to your members and friends.  =
Please feel=20
free to contact me with any questions or to update the Clearinghouse on =
your=20
activist efforts.  As always, the Clearinghouse is happy to post=20
information on your upcoming actions and demonstrations on the <A=20
href=3D"http://www.disarmament.org">www.disarmament.org</A> web =
site.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>1) New On-Line Missile Defense Petition =
on=20
OneDemocracy.com:  This new petition on the web calls on Members of =

Congress to support legislation opposing national missile defense and to =
contact=20
President Clinton to urge him to decide against NMD.  Sign on today =
at: <A=20
href=3D"http://www.onedemocracy.com/1d/GuestPetitionDisplayServlet?_ID=3D=
441">http://www.onedemocracy.com/1d/GuestPetitionDisplayServlet?_ID=3D441=
</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>2) Fail-Safe House Party Kits:  On =
April=20
9th at 9pm George Clooney will produce and star in a live CBS =
television=20
remake of the 1964 nuke war thriller Fail-Safe.  The Disarmament=20
Clearinghouse has produced house party organizing kits designed for the=20
show.  Kits include sample actions, tips on how to get CBS to your =
event, a=20
discussion guide, background materials, a bumper sticker and more.  =
Order=20
yours today by contacting the Clearinghouse at the numbers at the bottom =
of this=20
message. You can order up to five for free.  For more =
information=20
visit <A=20
href=3D"http://www.disarmament.org/george_clooney.htm">http://www.disarma=
ment.org/george_clooney.htm</A>.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>3) "Stop the Star Wars Revival" =
Resource and Action=20
Kits:  Develop skills to fight the biggest arms control battle of =
the year=20
with this updated resource.  Kits include tips on meeting with =
editorial=20
boards, sample letters to elected officials, recent press, and lots =
more. =20
Contact the Clearinghouse to order up to five kits for free.  For =
more=20
information on missile defense visit: <A=20
href=3D"http://www.disarmament.org/take_action_to_stop_star_wars.htm">htt=
p://www.disarmament.org/take_action_to_stop_star_wars.htm</A></FONT></DIV=
>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>__________________________<BR>Joan L. =
Wade,=20
Coordinator<BR>Disarmament Clearinghouse <BR>1101 14th Street, NW, Suite =

700<BR>Washington, DC 20005<BR>ph: [phone] x232<BR>fax: (202)=20
898-0172<BR>e-mail: <A=20
href=3D"mailto:[e-mail]">[e-mail]</A><BR>web: <A=20
href=3D"http://www.disarmament.org">www.disarmament.org</A></FONT></DIV><=
/BODY></HTML>

- ------=_NextPart_000_0078_01BF82AF.17751520--


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

End of abolition-usa-digest V1 #264
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