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abolition-usa-digest     Thursday, March 23 2000     Volume 01 : Number 275




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

Date: Wed, 22 Mar 2000 10:38:09 -0600
From: "Boyle, Francis" <[e-mail]>
Subject: (abolition-usa) Persecution: Plowshares Trial Continues

This Judge just ruled that he will not listen to anything i have to say in
court even on an offer of proof. Notice the basic unfairness of this
persecution/prosecution of the DU Plowshares. The Government gets to put on
its so-called "expert"  in order to convict them. But the DU Plowshares
cannot put me on to explain why DU is criminal under international law, thus
negating any malice on their part. Here in the United States of America:
WAR IS PEACE
FREEDOM IS SLAVERY
IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH
WE ALL LOVE BIG BROTHER

Francis A. Boyle
Professor of International Law
In the Nuclear Empire
- -----Original Message-----
From: Max Obuszewski [mailto:[e-mail]]
Sent: Tuesday, March 21, 2000 7:26 PM
To: Undisclosed Recipients
Subject: Plowshares Trial Continues



Jonah House, 1301 Moreland Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21216
Ph: 410-233-6238 or [e-mail] <mailto:[e-mail]>

PRESS RELEASE--IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 21, 2000

CONTACT: Max Obuszewski 410-323-7200 or 410-377-7987 or [e-mail]
Jonah House 410-233-6238 or [e-mail]

DEFENSE BEGINS CASE IN PLOWSHARES TRIAL IN MARYLAND

WHO: On Sun., Dec. 19, Philip Berrigan and Susan Crane of Baltimore's Jonah
House, the Rev. Stephen Kelly, SJ, from New York City, and Elizabeth Walz, a
Catholic Worker from Philadelphia, calling themselves the Plowshares Vs.
Depleted Uranium, disarmed two A-10 Warthog [Fairchild Thunderbolt II]
aircraft. The aircraft were located at the Warfield Air National Guard base
in Middle River, Mary. Following Isaiah's vision of a disarmed world, the
activists hammered and poured blood on A-10s, because the Warthog, used
against Iraq and Yugoslavia, has a Gatling gun which fires depleted uranium
[DU] ammunition.

Assistant State's Attorney Mickey Norman rested his case. Jonathan Katz,
representing Kelly, Ramsey Clark, representing Crane, and Berrigan and Walz,
acting pro se, asked Baltimore County Circuit Court Judge James T. Smith Jr.
to dismiss all charges: 1] malicious destruction of property--with a
property damage of more than $300-three years and/or $2,500 fine; 2]
conspiracy to maliciously destroy property--maximum three years); and 3]
trespass--a maximum 90 days in jail and/or a $500 fine. Susan Crane is also
facing a second-degree assault charge, which carries a maximum sentence of
ten years imprisonment.

WHAT: Judge Smith dismissed the trespass charge, after Katz pointed out that
no evidence was presented that the defendants entered private property.
However, the other charges would remain, including the assault charge
against Crane.

With the courtroom filled with Plowshares supporters, Walz, in her opening
statement, asked the jurors to hear the music [why disarmament is necessary]
and dance with [acquit] us. In Clark's opening statement, he explained there
is no dispute that the pacifists hammered on A-10s. However, he indicated
that they did so, after studying international law, in order to prevent the
use of depleted uranium, which has harmed civilians in Iraq and Kosovo and
U.S. soldiers in the Persian Gulf. The defense is now prepared to put
witnesses on the stand.

WHEN: Wednesday, March 22 at 9:15 AM

WHERE: Circuit Court, Room #2, 3d floor, 401 Bosley Ave., Towson, Maryland

WHY: The defendants readily admit turning the Warthogs into plowshares, but
argue they acted without malice and criminal intent. They intend to testify
that the use of DU is criminal, and therefore citizens must act to prevent
further harm. It is unclear how much of such testimony, Judge Smith will
permit.

Air National Guard security agents Thomas Piddington and Jonathan Garfield
testified today that they confronted Crane and Kelly while the activists
were hammering on one of the A-10s. They were responsible for charging Crane
with assault. In testimony, however, they admitted Rev. Kelly did the same
as Crane, but he was never charged with assault. Garfield initially denied
tackling Crane, but Katz produced a Dec. 19 statement in which he said he
tackled her. Clark, on Crane's behalf, made the argument there was
insufficient evidence for this charge to go to the jury. He added that it
was a case of overcharging. Unfortunately, Judge Smith would not dismiss the
charge.

The most provocative testimony came from Tactical Sergeant Christopher
Rivera, who described the A-10 as his specialty. An 18-year veteran with the
Air National Guard, he testified, "I am the mother, the aircraft is my
child." However, under oath, he claimed to know nothing about depleted
uranium.

Another legal skirmish occurred when Katz challenged the government's
witness, John Herzberger, chief of quality assurance, as an expert. This
matter was raised as the prosecution failed to provide the defense with
Herzberger's reports on damage assessment of the A-10s. The judge ruled he
could testify as an expert, even though Doug Rokke, a defense witness, was
excluded as an expert on depleted uranium.


Herzberger, on cross-examination, claimed a lack of knowledge of deleted
uranium. Eventually, though, he admitted the military does not use the term.
Instead, the radioactive ammunition is called Armor Piercing Incendiary
[API], an obvious euphemism. No prosecution witness admitted receiving any
training in the use of DU.

The trial should go to the jury on Thursday after the defense rests and
closing statements are made. If the jurors were attentive to the testimony,
they will probably acquit Susan Crane of assault. The question remains,
though, what the jury will make of the argument that the A-10s violated
international law and the laws of armed conflict.

There have been more than 70 Plowshares actions. The first took place on
Sept. 9, 1980, when Philip and Daniel Berrigan and six others hammered on
nuclear nose cones at a General Electric plant in King of Prussia, Penn.

Philip Berrigan, Crane and Kelly were members of the Prince of Peace
Plowshares, which disarmed an Aegis destroyer at the Bath [Maine] Iron Works
on Feb. 12, 1997. After Rev. Kelly served his sentence for the Maine action
and refused to cooperate with federal probation, federal marshals were
pursuing him.

"They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning
hooks. One nation shall not raise the sword against another, nor shall they
train for war again." Isaiah 2:4
************************



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

Date: Wed, 22 Mar 2000 14:01:54 EST
From: Charles F Hilfenhaus <[e-mail]>
Subject: (abolition-usa) Thoroughbred Subcritical Test

Mercury,  Nevada, U.S.A. 3-22-2000  11:00 a.m. PST

    The United States Department of Energy has just conducted the
subcritical nuclear test "Thoroughbred"  at the LYNER facility on the
Nevada Test Site.  This, following "Oboe 3" in February, is the second
subcritical nuclear test of 2000 by the United States.  The test "Oboe 4"
is currently being readied and should occur sometime in April.

    Seventeen people gathered at sunrise in protest this morning at
the Mercury entrance to the Nevada Test Site.  Under the banner of
Shundahai Network and lead by Western Shoshone spiritual leader Corbin
Harney they conducted a ceremony following which six individuals entered
onto the Test Site and were arrested.  They were subsequently cited for
trespass and released.

    Additional protests are planned this afternoon in Las Vegas at
the Department of Energy offices from 3-5p.m..

Charlie Hilfenhaus
Alliance of Atomic Veterans
Director, Atomic Workers Division
[e-mail]

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

Date: Wed, 22 Mar 2000 16:17:28 -0600
From: "Boyle, Francis" <[e-mail]>
Subject: (abolition-usa) Persecution of DU Plowshares Continues: Doug Rokke Press Conferen ce

Here in the United States of America--"..the land of the free, and the home
of the brave":
WAR IS PEACE
FREEDOM IS SLAVERY
IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH
WE ALL LOVE BIG BROTHER

Francis A. Boyle
Professor of International Law
In the Nuclear Empire
- -----Original Message-----
From: Max Obuszewski [mailto:[e-mail]]
Sent: Wednesday, March 22, 2000 4:05 PM
To: Undisclosed Recipients
Subject: Doug Rokke Press Conference



Jonah House, 1301 Moreland Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21216
Ph: 410-233-6238 or [e-mail]

PRESS RELEASE--IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 22, 2000

CONTACT: Max Obuszewski 410-323-7200 or 410-377-7987 or [e-mail]
Jonah House 410-233-6238 or [e-mail]


DEPLETED URANIUM EXPERT, NOT ALLOWED TO TESTIFY IN PLOWSHARES TRIAL, TO HOLD
PRESS CONFERENCE


WHO: On Sun., Dec. 19, Philip Berrigan and Susan Crane of Baltimore's Jonah
House, the Rev. Stephen Kelly, SJ, from New York City, and Elizabeth Walz, a
Catholic Worker from Philadelphia, calling themselves the Plowshares Vs.
Depleted Uranium, disarmed two A-10 Warthog [Fairchild Thunderbolt II]
aircraft. The aircraft were located at the Warfield Air National Guard base
in Middle River, Mary. Following Isaiah's vision of a disarmed world, the
activists hammered and poured blood on A-10s, because the Warthog, used
against Iraq and Yugoslavia, has a Gatling gun which fires depleted uranium
ammunition.

Today, Crane's testimony was repeatedly interrupted by the objections of
Assistant State's Attorney Mickey Norman. He also asked her to name who
drove the activists to the air base. She refused to implicate anyone.

Jonathan Katz, representing Kelly, and Ramsey Clark, representing Crane,
argued that Doug Rokke, a Department of Defense expert on depleted uranium,
should be allowed to testify. Otherwise, the defendants could present no
defense as to the poisonous nature of depleted uranium. As Clark argued, the
jury would have nothing to base a decision on regarding the defendants'
study of DU. They could just as easy, Clark noted, express a belief that
they went to the air base to prevent an attack by extra-terrestrials. It
makes no sense to a jury to hear a defendant say what s/he believes, and
then not be allowed to present an expert witness to provide context.

WHAT: Baltimore County Circuit Court Judge James T. Smith Jr. reluctantly
allowed Rokke on the stand, but sustained the prosecutor's objections to
each question asked of the witness. It became clear to the defendants that
they would not be permitted to raise a defense. So they refused to continue.
Supporters in the courtroom began speaking out, and eventually the room was
cleared when singing broke out.

Because of the importance of Rokke's testimony, he will be appearing at a
press conference to explain what he would said about the hazardous nature of
depleted uranium. A number of the Plowshares supporters will also attend.


WHEN: Wednesday, March 22 at 6:00 PM

WHERE: 4806 York Road, AFSC-Baltimore headquarters


WHY: The defendants readily admit turning the Warthogs into plowshares, but
argue they acted without malice and criminal intent. Since they were not
permitted to present evidence as to their intent, they saw no reason to
continue.

On December 26, 1999, CBS 60 Minutes, the first large media outlet,
discussed the dangers of depleted uranium. Doug Rokke was a prominent part
of the show, as he actually produced for the Pentagon training films on the
handling of depleted uranium. The films were never used, and Persian Gulf
veterans told 60 Minutes that they were not trained in the handling of DU.
In fact, some of them believe their illnesses were caused by DU.

Rokke has documents indicating the Department of War was aware of the
dangers of this ammunition as far back as 1943. He will also indicate that
he went to the White House before NATO's air war against Yugoslavia to
advocate that depleted uranium should not be used. His advice was
disregarded, and NATO planes shot DU ammunition in Yugoslavia.

The jury is expected to start deliberations tomorrow on the following
charges:malicious destruction of property--with a property damage of more
than $300-three years and/or $2,500 fine and conspiracy to maliciously
destroy property--maximum three years. Susan Crane is also facing a
second-degree assault charge, which carries a maximum sentence of ten years
imprisonment. Court will resume on Thursday, March 23, at 9:15 AM.

There have been more than 70 Plowshares actions. The first took place on
Sept. 9, 1980, when Philip and Daniel Berrigan and six others hammered on
nuclear nose cones at a General Electric plant in King of Prussia, Penn.

Philip Berrigan, Crane and Kelly were members of the Prince of Peace
Plowshares, which disarmed an Aegis destroyer at the Bath [Maine] Iron Works
on Feb. 12, 1997. After Rev. Kelly served his sentence for the Maine action
and refused to cooperate with federal probation, federal marshals were
pursuing him.

"They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning
hooks. One nation shall not raise the sword against another, nor shall they
train for war again." Isaiah 2:4


************************


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 To unsubscribe to abolition-usa, send an email to "[e-mail]"
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------------------------------

Date: Wed, 22 Mar 2000 16:32:09 +0000
From: Sally light <[e-mail]>
Subject: (abolition-usa) Report on San Francisco protest of "Thoroughbred" subcritical nuclear test

At noon today, March 22, 2000, a protest took place in San Francisco
against the US subcritical nuclear test, =93Thoroughbred,=94 that was
detonated at 11 am this morning at the Nevada Test Site.

About 15 anti-nuclear protesters gathered in front of the international
headquarters of the Bechtel Group, the corporation that operates the
Nevada Test Site pursuant to a contract with the US Department of
Energy.

A =93chalk action=94 style demonstration resulted in about 1 block of
sidewalk being covered with names of many of the 1,000-plus US nuclear
tests conducted since 1945. Protesters also passed out information and
spoke over bullhorns so that the passersby and Bechtel employees could
learn about why the =93chalk action=94 was going on.

Organizations represented included Tri-Valley CAREs (Communities Against
A Radioactive Environment), Western States Legal Foundation, California
Peace Action and the Livermore Conversion Project.

Several Bechtel employees expressed their personal support of the
protesters.

There were no arrests.

Sally Light
Nuclear Weapons Program Analyst
Tri-Valley CAREs (Communities Against A Radioactive Environment)



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 To unsubscribe to abolition-usa, send an email to "[e-mail]"
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------------------------------

Date: Wed, 22 Mar 2000 19:42:01 -0800
From: "David Crockett Williams" <[e-mail]>
Subject: (abolition-usa) l--GPW Clean-Energy Overture for EarthDay2000 promotions

Wednesday, March 22, 2000,  4:20PM  "30-Days 'til Earth Day 2000"

For Immediate Release:   Contact -- Baseline Mansion  602-305-7988


Global Peace Walk 2000 is carrying new Clean-Energy information to support
the EarthDay2000 "Clean Energy Now!" campaign which is globally poised
to engage some 500 million participants drawn from nearly every nation on
Earth to April 22nd gatherings such as the annual Global Peace Walk
celebration of "Global Peace Now!" in Taos, New Mexico, on the way to
which this spiritual walk is conducting ceremonies and celebrations now in
Arizona.

"Supporting the work of the Global Peace Walk 2000 and its Earth Day
celebration is vitally important.  I strongly encourage your organization to
actively participate in planning and funding activities associated with this
educational, action-oriented effort", says Earth Day Network National
Coordinator Christopher J. Curtis in his support letter received today.
http://www.egroups.com/group/global-peace-walk/307.html

Global Peace Walk 2000 from San Francisco to the United Nations will be in
Phoenix for five days of local events starting at 9AM outside Senator John
McCain's district office building with the local PeaceWalk to Phoenix City
Hall to thank the mayor for his proclamation of yesterday designating
Phoenix as a Global Peace Zone to help inspire a worldwide Global Peace Zone
2000.  Mayor Rimsza's proclamation also recognizes the Baseline Mansion's
Phoenix CoHousing Project which is hosting these events for creating a local
culture of peace,  including this weekend's musical celebration.

Global Peace Walk 2000 maintains that the most important message for all
21st Century leaders to understand is that "Spirituality is the Highest Form
of Politics".

Phoenix area resident Joseph Newman, who for some time has been conducting
an unofficial Write-In Candidacy for US President, has also been invited to
take part in these five days of events, finishing with his scheduled main
presentation to the walkers, on the March 28th Three Mile Island Nuclear
Power Plant Accident's 21st Anniversary, about his new energy technology
designed to replace all nuclear and fossil fuel power systems.

The many survival issue messages, letters, and proclamations of support
that Global Peace Walk 2000 is carrying to Washington DC, and to the
United Nations for its 55th anniversary October 24th to help inaugurate this
UN Year and Decade of Creating a Culture of Peace for the 21st Century (and
to mark the midpoint of the UN's International Decade of the World's
Indigenous Peoples 1995-2004), include those from from Newman and those from
American Indian Movement spiritual leader and, according to Amnesty
International, US political prisoner Leonard Peltier whose message of
support says of the Walk's central theme, "Global Peace Now is critical to
the survival of the human race.  Global Peace Now is not just an invitation,
it is a great cry for us to open our eyes and ears, to use our heads and
hands and create the kinds of change that will save the planet
and all who live and breathe upon Her."

Scheduled for March 28th as a final Global Peace Walk 2000 event in Phoenix
is a presentation and demonstration by local Energy Machine Inventor
Joseph Newman of his non-polluting Revolutionary Energy Technology designed
to replace all nuclear and fossil fuel power systems.  In the past Newman
has had the support of the Republican Congressional Caucus and eleven
Congresspeople who unsuccessfully introduced bills to grant him a US patent
by Congressional Act because the US Patent Office has continuously refused
to do so.  Reportedly now protected by NAFTA and a Mexican patent, Newman
says he is finally ready to manufature this fuel-less electric power
generator invention after over thirty years of offering his life's work
for the benefit of all humanity.   In a recent internet auction, the first
unit of this motor/generator was purchased on a top bid up from $2,000 to
$3,600 by an electrical engineer at a power plant in Indonesia who is coming
all the way to Phoenix for Mr. Newman to present it to him on this occasion.

Newman's Press Release of March 14, 2000, says
"The March for World Peace on March 28, 2000 in the Phoenix Area
coincides with Joseph Newman's belief's and lifework and represents the
'WILL OF GOD'.  All good and caring people should attend the March for World
Peace."

In his email "To the People of the World" dated Tuesday, February 22, 2000
12:47 PM, Newman says, "I believe in the Goal of the Global Peace Walk,  and
I warmly ask people to not only give their physical presence to the event,
but most  importantly  to give their HONEST THOUGHTS in its support.  God
has stated that  WE ARE ALL TO  LOVE  ONE ANOTHER, and that most definitely
includes the 7 Major Religions of the
World."
                                                                -30-

Joseph Newman info http://www.josephnewman.com

Leonard Peltier info http://www.freepeltier
GPW support letter http://www.angelfire.com/on/GEAR2000/peltier.html

Below is the text of the March 21, 2000, Mayoral Proclamation for Global
Peace Walk 2000.   A signed faxed copy can be read/printed from
http://www.egroups.com/group/global-peace-walk/305.html


- -----------------------text of Phoenix Mayoral Proclamation:

City of Phoenix
Office of the Mayor
A Proclamation

Global Peace Zone 2000

Whereas, the Global Peace Walk Project began in 1995 to promote the original
purpose of the United Nations Charter to end wars and violence and to
promote global peace; and

Whereas, today's world is still rife with wars and violence, suggesting
humanity itself must learn a Peaceful Way of Life; and

Whereas, Global Peace Walk 2000 is being conducted across America to mark
the 55th anniversary of the United Nations and to help inaugurate the UN
Year and Decade of Creating a Culture of Peace for the 21st Century; and

Whereas, the Year 2000 marks the midpoint of the UN Decade of the World's
Indigenous Peoples, 1995-2004; and

Whereas, Global Peace Walk 2000 seeks to unite all of humanity in the firm
resolve of "Global Peace Now!" for a worldwide Global Peace Zone; and

Whereas, the Global Peace Walk 2000 activities in Phoenix, March 24-28,
2000, are being hosted by the Baseline Mansion's Phoenix CoHousing Project
to promote a local culture of peace;


NOW, THEREFORE, I, SKIP RIMSZA, MAYOR of the City of Phoenix, Arizona, do
hereby proclaim the City of Phoenix as a GLOBAL PEACE ZONE, and urge all
citizens to work for the creation of a culture of peace for the 21st
Century.


Given under my hand in these free United States in the City of Phoenix, on
the twenty-first of March, two thousand; and to which I have caused the Seal
of the City of Phoenix to be affixed and have made this proclamation public.


[signed]  Skip Rimsza
- ------------------------------------------
Mayor

[Phoenix City Seal]
Attest:
[signed]  Vicky Miel
- ------------------------------------------
City Clerk
====================end proclamation text



Below is text for basic flyer/schedule for
Phoenix, Arizona, Global Peace Walk 2000 events taking place
March 24-28, 2000.


=======Phoenix flyer text:

United Nations 55th Anniversary
Future Generations Prayer
We are concerned about our future and our human life.

Phoenix, Arizona
Global Peace Walk 2000
Develop Spiritual United Nations
and a Culture of Peace for the 21st Century
Bring Your Banners & Your Message

Friday, March 24th
9AM Senator John McCain's Office Building
(2400 East Arizona Biltmore Circle)

9mile walk to 1PM, Phoenix City Hall
(200 West Washington)

Saturday, March 25th
Afternoon-Eve Benefit Gathering/Music
Baseline Mansion CoHousing Community Project
(2501 East Baseline Road, 602-305-7988)

Monday, March 27, 11AM City Hall to Capitol, 1mile

Tuesday, March 28, 11AM, 21st Anniversary of Three Mile Island accident
Presentation and Demonstration by Energy Machine Inventor
Joseph Newman of a non-polluting Revolutionary Energy Technology
designed to replace all nuclear and fossil fuel power systems.
(at Baseline Mansion Project Stage)
Information on Newman Energy Machine <http://www.josephnewman.com>

Uniting Survival Issue Messages in "Global Peace Now!"
universal human resolve
Spiritual Walk for a Global Peace Zone 2000
San Francisco Jan15th,
St. Louis August 6th,
Washington DC October 9th,
New York City - U.N. October 24, 2000

Voicemail 415-863-2084 -- PO Box 170245, San Francisco, CA 94117-0245
[e-mail]
Recorded walk location/route update info and voicemail 415-267-1877
http://www.globalpeacenow.org

LOCAL CONTACT:  Brian Kruger, Baseline Mansion Project, 602-305-7988

=============end Phoenix flyer text

Printable typeset flyer may be downloaded in WordPad
http://www.egroups.com/group/global-peace-walk/295.html
or in case you cannot use wordpad, less clear efax format
http://www.egroups.com/group/global-peace-walk/297.html


CLEAN-ENERGY  CAMPAIGN  2000
David Crockett Williams  [e-mail]
GLOBAL  EMERGENCY  ALERT  RESPONSE
http://www.angelfire.com/on/GEAR2000
Clean-Energy links http://www.angelfire.com/on/GEAR2000/10.html

Global Peace Walk 2000
http://www.globalpeacenow.org
http://www.angelfire.com/on/GEAR2000/gpw.html
Updates 415-267-1877 -- Voicemail 415-863-2084
http://www.angelfire.com/on/GEAR2000/schedule.html SCHEDULE & contacts

USCampaign:  Presidential Candidacies Influence Project
http://www.egroups.com/group/williams-peltier/3.html

The Vision of Paradise on Earth
http://www.angelfire.com/on/GEAR2000/vision.html

Please Support HR 2545:
Nuclear Disarmament & Economic Conversion Act of 1999
Details & Email:  http://prop1.org/prop1/letter.htm
Sign letter to Senators which can be found at
http://prop1.org/prop1/letter.htm#senate
Send letter to Representatives supporting HR-2545
http://prop1.org/prop1/letter.htm#letter

Easy indexed site to email Congresspeople & Media
http://congress.nw.dc.us/wnd
(copy & paste email letters to media and Congress)

An Agenda for Peace
http://www.angelfire.com/on/GEAR2000/agenda.html










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 To unsubscribe to abolition-usa, send an email to "[e-mail]"
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------------------------------

Date: Thu, 23 Mar 2000 01:48:34 EST
From: Charles F Hilfenhaus <[e-mail]>
Subject: (abolition-usa) Thoroughbred follow up

    I did not include this with my announcement of the test because
it is a personal opinion not a factual report of the action, however:
    One can only wonder at the magnitude of hippocracy of the United
States to conduct this test at the same time President Clinton is
lecturing India and Pakistan about their nuclear weapons programs.
    I wish, instead, he would listen and learn from Pope John Paul II
and apologize to the world for the role of the United States in
developing, using and perpetuating the evil of nuclear weapons.

Charlie Hilfenhaus
Alliance of Atomic Veterans
Director, Atomic Workers Division
[e-mail]

________________________________________________________________
YOU'RE PAYING TOO MUCH FOR THE INTERNET!
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Try it today - there's no risk!  For your FREE software, visit:
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------------------------------

Date: Thu, 23 Mar 2000 05:11:43 -0600
From: "Boyle, Francis" <[e-mail]>
Subject: (abolition-usa) Persecution of DU Plowshares:Putting Mark of Cain on Smith

This pathetic excuse for a Judge named Smith had better start thinking long
and hard about what he is doing to Phil Berrigan here! Phil is THE MORAL
CONSCIENCE of our generation. Quite obviously, Smith fully intends to send
Phil to prison after this sham of a kangaroo court proceeding. Phil will
probably die in prison. Phil's death in prison will be on the hands of Smith
for the rest of eternity. Phil's death in prison will be the Mark of Cain on
the forehead of Smith forever. We all know where Phil will be going after
his death. Smith had better start thinking about where he will be going
after his death!
Francis A. Boyle
Professor of International Law


- -----Original Message-----
From: Boyle, Francis
To: '[e-mail]'; '[e-mail]';
'[e-mail]'; '[e-mail]';
'[e-mail]'; '[e-mail]'; 'TP2000';
'Scottish CND'; '[e-mail]'; 'AALS Section on
Minority Grps. mailing list'
Sent: 3/22/00 4:17 PM
Subject: Persecution of DU Plowshares Continues: Doug Rokke Press Conference

Here in the United States of America--"..the land of the free, and the
home of the brave":
WAR IS PEACE
FREEDOM IS SLAVERY
IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH
WE ALL LOVE BIG BROTHER

Francis A. Boyle
Professor of International Law
In the Nuclear Empire
- -----Original Message-----
From: Max Obuszewski [mailto:[e-mail]]
Sent: Wednesday, March 22, 2000 4:05 PM
To: Undisclosed Recipients
Subject: Doug Rokke Press Conference



Jonah House, 1301 Moreland Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21216
Ph: 410-233-6238 or [e-mail]

PRESS RELEASE--IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 22, 2000

CONTACT: Max Obuszewski 410-323-7200 or 410-377-7987 or
[e-mail]
Jonah House 410-233-6238 or [e-mail]


DEPLETED URANIUM EXPERT, NOT ALLOWED TO TESTIFY IN PLOWSHARES TRIAL, TO
HOLD PRESS CONFERENCE


WHO: On Sun., Dec. 19, Philip Berrigan and Susan Crane of Baltimore's
Jonah House, the Rev. Stephen Kelly, SJ, from New York City, and
Elizabeth Walz, a Catholic Worker from Philadelphia, calling themselves
the Plowshares Vs. Depleted Uranium, disarmed two A-10 Warthog
[Fairchild Thunderbolt II] aircraft. The aircraft were located at the
Warfield Air National Guard base in Middle River, Mary. Following
Isaiah's vision of a disarmed world, the
activists hammered and poured blood on A-10s, because the Warthog, used
against Iraq and Yugoslavia, has a Gatling gun which fires depleted
uranium ammunition.

Today, Crane's testimony was repeatedly interrupted by the objections of
Assistant State's Attorney Mickey Norman. He also asked her to name who
drove the activists to the air base. She refused to implicate anyone.

Jonathan Katz, representing Kelly, and Ramsey Clark, representing Crane,
argued that Doug Rokke, a Department of Defense expert on depleted
uranium, should be allowed to testify. Otherwise, the defendants could
present no defense as to the poisonous nature of depleted uranium. As
Clark argued, the jury would have nothing to base a decision on
regarding the defendants' study of DU. They could just as easy, Clark
noted, express a belief that they went to the air base to prevent an
attack by extra-terrestrials. It makes no sense to a jury to hear a
defendant say what s/he believes, and then not be allowed to present an
expert witness to provide context.

WHAT: Baltimore County Circuit Court Judge James T. Smith Jr.
reluctantly allowed Rokke on the stand, but sustained the prosecutor's
objections to each question asked of the witness. It became clear to the
defendants that they would not be permitted to raise a defense. So they
refused to continue. Supporters in the courtroom began speaking out, and
eventually the room was cleared when singing broke out.

Because of the importance of Rokke's testimony, he will be appearing at
a press conference to explain what he would said about the hazardous
nature of depleted uranium. A number of the Plowshares supporters will
also attend.


WHEN: Wednesday, March 22 at 6:00 PM

WHERE: 4806 York Road, AFSC-Baltimore headquarters


WHY: The defendants readily admit turning the Warthogs into plowshares,
but argue they acted without malice and criminal intent. Since they were
not permitted to present evidence as to their intent, they saw no reason
to continue.

On December 26, 1999, CBS 60 Minutes, the first large media outlet,
discussed the dangers of depleted uranium. Doug Rokke was a prominent
part of the show, as he actually produced for the Pentagon training
films on the handling of depleted uranium. The films were never used,
and Persian Gulf veterans told 60 Minutes that they were not trained in
the handling of DU. In fact, some of them believe their illnesses were
caused by DU.

Rokke has documents indicating the Department of War was aware of the
dangers of this ammunition as far back as 1943. He will also indicate
that he went to the White House before NATO's air war against Yugoslavia
to advocate that depleted uranium should not be used. His advice was
disregarded, and NATO planes shot DU ammunition in Yugoslavia.

The jury is expected to start deliberations tomorrow on the following
charges:malicious destruction of property--with a property damage of
more than $300-three years and/or $2,500 fine and conspiracy to
maliciously destroy property--maximum three years. Susan Crane is also
facing a second-degree assault charge, which carries a maximum sentence
of ten years imprisonment. Court will resume on Thursday, March 23, at
9:15 AM.

There have been more than 70 Plowshares actions. The first took place on
Sept. 9, 1980, when Philip and Daniel Berrigan and six others hammered
on nuclear nose cones at a General Electric plant in King of Prussia,
Penn.

Philip Berrigan, Crane and Kelly were members of the Prince of Peace
Plowshares, which disarmed an Aegis destroyer at the Bath [Maine] Iron
Works on Feb. 12, 1997. After Rev. Kelly served his sentence for the
Maine action and refused to cooperate with federal probation, federal
marshals were pursuing him.

"They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into
pruning
hooks. One nation shall not raise the sword against another, nor shall
they
train for war again." Isaiah 2:4


************************


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

Date: Thu, 23 Mar 2000 16:38:02 -0600
From: "Boyle, Francis" <[e-mail]>
Subject: (abolition-usa) Humanity v MOX/Parallex

Nuclear Information & Resource Service

1424 16th St. NW Suite 404 Washington, DC 20036

Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League

P.O. Box 88 Glendale Springs, NC 28629

Physicians for Social Responsibility

Atlanta Chapter 421 Clifton Road Atlanta, GA 30307

March 22, 2000

For Immediate Release

Contact: Mary Olson, NIRS Southeast 706-722-8968

Janet Zeller, BREDL 336-982-2691

Kevin Kamps, NIRS National Office 202-328-0002

Ed Arnold, PSR/Atlanta 404-378-9078

Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League, Physicians for Social
Responsibility and Nuclear Information and Resource Service Join Legal
Challenge to U.S. Nuclear Proliferation-Prone Plutonium Plan

Citing grave concerns about the potential spread of plutonium for bombmaking
throughout the world, three organizations, two national and one regional
have joined the plaintiffs who have sued to stop a U.S.-Russian-Canadian
plan to use nuclear weapons plutonium as fuel in nuclear power reactors.

The internationally-known Nuclear Information and Resource Service (NIRS),
with nearly 6000 members, including more than 1000 U.S. grassroots groups
nationwide, the Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League, Inc. (BREDL),
headquartered in North Carolina with 30 chapters in five southern states,
and the internationally known Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR),
the U.S. affiliate of International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear
War, recipient of the 1985 Nobel Peace Prize for educating about the dangers
of nuclear weapons, are the latest public interest advocates to formally
enter a federal lawsuit in Kalamazoo, Michigan which was brought by an array
of Canadian and U.S. First Nations tribes and other nuclear power and
weapons critics.

The lawsuit seeks to halt a test shipment of mixed oxide plutonium fuel, or
MOX, from being transported to a test nuclear reactor in Chalk River,
Ontario from the Russian Federation, as part of a bigger scheme to use MOX
as reactor fuel in light water reactors in the Southeastern United States,
Canada and Russia. Billed as a peaceful means of reusing nuclear weapons,
the plan would legitimize the commercialization and exportation of plutonium
and may allow many nations and even independent groups to develop nuclear
bomb capability.

The Chalk River test, named "Parallex," was first challenged in court last
December when plaintiffs sued the U.S. Department of Energy to halt shipment
of the U.S. MOX fuel from being trucked across Michigan to Canada until
there was a formal, public decision making process over the environmental
and nuclear weapons proliferation impacts of the program. Judge Richard Alan
Enslen ruled that while the Energy Department had acted in bad faith to
hasten the test of MOX, courts could not stop the Executive Branch from
conducting foreign policy. The plaintiffs are asking the judge to reconsider
that decision, and NIRS, PSR and BREDL are adding their weight to that
request.

"The Department of Energy has already begun to disregard the law and trample
our rights," said Janet Zeller, BREDL's Executive Director. "People from
across the country must join together to block this reckless and secretive
program and insure that the DOE obeys national and international law." BREDL
is campaigning against the planned use of MOX fuel in six Southeastern U.S.
reactors: Duke Power's Catawba 1&2 near Rock Hill, South Carolina; McGuire
1&2, near Charlotte, North Carolina; and Virginia Power's North Anna 1&2
reactors near Charlottesville, Virginia.

Physicians for Social Responsibility has actively opposed the MOX plan since
its inception, primarily on the grounds that it promotes nuclear
proliferation, rather than delivering the goal of making the plutonium from
dismantled nuclear weapons unavailable for further destructive purposes. The
Atlanta chapter of the national organization has led professionals in the
region in their action to oppose the commercialization of plutonium.

"Citizens everywhere want nuclear weapons abolished," said Ed Arnold,
Executive Director of PSR/Atlanta. "We don't accomplish that by
recirculating nuclear weapons material. And we don't abolish nuclear weapons
by shipping bomb-grade plutonium all over the planet. This MOX program
encourages nuclear proliferation and we must stop it."

NIRS, which launched a "NIX MOX" campaign in 1998, recently opened a
Southeastern office to assist BREDL and other grassroots groups opposing MOX
fuel usage and the spending of hundreds of millions in public funds to
subsidize MOX fabrication, utility acceptance and reprocessing.

"Nuclear power is the most expensive form of energy and under utility
deregulation is going to be subject to tough competition. The MOX program
provides direct tax dollars to underwrite more dirty, dangerous nuclear
waste production," said Kevin Kamps, nuclear specialist with NIRS. "This is
an unfair subsidy that will disadvantage safer and cheaper power sources
that have less hazardous byproducts. This is another reason that we are
committed to stopping the MOX mistake."

"The people in the Southeast have gotten the picture loud and clear from the
first shipment of MOX fuel to Canada that the US DOE will lie, cover their
actions, take a cloak of secrecy and act above not only the law of the land,
but also international treaty in order to accomplish their goals" affirmed
Mary Olson, Director of NIRS Southeast Office. She continued, "This is the
old National Security mythology applied to a so-called commercial
enterprise, but in the end it is taxpayer dollars that are funding this
program, so we are proud to support citizens in taking action to stop this
charade." The first MOX shipment to Canada included transport within Canada
by helicopter, despite DOE's acknowledgement that the MOX casks were not
certified for air transport and the agency's assurances that no air travel
would be involved

"The use of MOX creates more bomb possibilities around the world, not
fewer," said Terry Lodge, an attorney for the plaintiffs. "Instead of
rolling plutonium up in two-ton glass logs and disposing of it under heavy
guard, our government instead wants to show the world how to fuel
low-security civilian nuclear plants with it. There will be lots of scary
new members to the 'Nuclear Club' if we do this."

Trial activity will resume on April 7 on the issues of whether the Russian
shipment must be stopped because of claimed violations of federal
environmental law and violation of the international Nuclear
Non-Proliferation Treaty.

- -NIRS/BREDL/PSR-


Francis A. Boyle
Law Building
504 E. Pennsylvania Avenue
Champaign, Ill. 61820
217-333-7954 (voice)
217-244-1478 (fax)
[e-mail] <mailto:[e-mail]>


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