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abolition-usa-digest      Wednesday, May 17 2000      Volume 01 : Number 304




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

Date: Tue, 16 May 2000 07:20:43 -0400
From: Ellen Thomas <[e-mail]>
Subject: (abolition-usa) NucNews 00/05/16 - Congress; Presidential Candidates

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Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable


May 16, 2000 Washington Times / Agence France Presse Daybook
http://www.washtimes.com/national/daybook-200051621308.htm

HOUSE COMMITTEES=20

     11 a.m. =97 House Rules Committee meets to formulate a rule on the=
 National
Defense Authorization Act for fiscal 2001. Location: Capitol, Room H-313.
Contact: 202/225-9191.=20

     Noon =97 House Commerce energy and power subcommittee holds a markup of
legislation to clarify that environmental protection, safety and health
provisions continue to apply to the functions of the national Nuclear=
 Security
Administration to the same those functions before transfer to the
administration. Location: 2123 Rayburn House Office Building. Contact:
202/225-2927.

    SENATE COMMITTEES=20

[Huh?  What a strange combination of issues! et]

    10 a.m. =97 Senate Governmental Affairs international security,=
 proliferation
and federal services subcommittee holds a hearing on legislation to provide
long-term care insurance for federal employees. Sen. Charles E. Grassley,=
 Iowa
Republican, and Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski, Maryland Democrat, participate.
Location: 342 Dirksen Senate Office Building. Contact: 202/224-4751.

     2 p.m. =97 Senate Judiciary criminal justice oversight subcommittee=
 holds a
hearing, "Threats to Federal Law Enforcement Officers." Location: 226=
 Dirksen
Senate Office Building. Contact: 202/224-5225.

VICE PRESIDENT AL GORE=20

     Travels to Nashville, Tenn., and to New York.
     1 p.m. =97 Hosts a round-table discussion on Social Security, James B.
McNally Amphitheater, Fordham Business School, 140 W. 62nd St., New York.
     7 p.m. =97 Addresses the Columbia Law School graduation commencement,=
 Avery
Fisher Hall, 132 W. 65th St., New York.

[INSERT from "mitzi" <[e-mail]> --

GOVERNOR BUSH

George W. Bush's Schedule: May 16, 2000
=20
11:45 a.m. - Governor George W. Bush will discuss personal retirement=
 accounts
in Portland, Oregon, Gunderson, Inc. Training Center, 4700 Northwest Front=
 Ave.
- - 503/972-5700
=20
5:05 p.m. - Governor departs Portland International Airport Flight Craft,=
 7505
Northeast Airport Way, Portland, OR 503/331-4200             =20
=20
5:55 p.m. - Governor Airport Arrival King County Airport, Boeing
Field,                                        Seattle, WA 206/296-7380
                                      =20
NOTE - Media credentials will be issued on-site to members of the media
 with official identification.

RALPH NADER

Ralph Nader will be in New Haven, CT on Wednesday May 17. He will meet=20
residents at the Yale Co-op Bookstore on the corner of Chapel and Temple=20
Streets opposite the New Haven Green. Mitzi Bowman [phone].]


     ___________________________________________________

       Today's Newspapers: http://prop1.org/nucnews/links.htm
           NucNews Archives: http://prop1.org/nucnews/briefslv.htm
     Subscribe to NucNews:  [e-mail] (NucNews-Subscribe)
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                    About NucNews: http://prop1.org/nucnews/nucnews.htm
        NucNews - E-Mailed: http://www.onelist.com/archive/NucNews

Excellent e-mail news resources:

DOE Watch - [e-mail] - http://members.aol.com/doewatch=20
Downwinders - [e-mail] - http://[e-mail]=20
EnviroNews - [e-mail] -=
 http://www.envirolink.org/environews=20
Planet Ark/Reuters - [e-mail] - http://www.planetark.org/news/
Radbull (Radiation Bulletin) [e-mail]=20

      Distributed without payment for research and educational=20
   purposes only, in accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107.



- --=====================_41520438==_.ALT
Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

<html><div>May 16, 2000 Washington Times / Agence France Presse
Daybook</div>
<div><a href=3D"http://www.washtimes.com/national/daybook-200051621308.htm"=
 EUDORA=3DAUTOURL>http://www.washtimes.com/national/daybook-200051621308.htm=
</a></div>
<br>
<div>HOUSE COMMITTEES </div>
<br>
<div>     11 a.m. =97 House Rules Committee meets to
formulate a rule on the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal
2001. Location: Capitol, Room H-313. Contact: 202/225-9191. </div>
<br>
<div>     Noon =97 House Commerce energy and power
subcommittee holds a markup of legislation to clarify that environmental
protection, safety and health provisions continue to apply to the
functions of the national Nuclear Security Administration to the same
those functions before transfer to the administration. Location: 2123
Rayburn House Office Building. Contact: 202/225-2927.</div>
<br>
<div>    SENATE COMMITTEES </div>
<br>
<div>[Huh?  What a strange combination of issues! et]</div>
<br>
<div>    10 a.m. =97 Senate Governmental Affairs
international security, proliferation and federal services subcommittee
holds a hearing on legislation to provide long-term care insurance for
federal employees. Sen. Charles E. Grassley, Iowa Republican, and Sen.
Barbara A. Mikulski, Maryland Democrat, participate. Location: 342
Dirksen Senate Office Building. Contact: 202/224-4751.</div>
<br>
<div>     2 p.m. =97 Senate Judiciary criminal justice
oversight subcommittee holds a hearing, "Threats to Federal Law
Enforcement Officers." Location: 226 Dirksen Senate Office Building.
Contact: 202/224-5225.</div>
<br>
<div>VICE PRESIDENT AL GORE </div>
<br>
<div>     Travels to Nashville, Tenn., and to New
York.</div>
<div>     1 p.m. =97 Hosts a round-table discussion on
Social Security, James B. McNally Amphitheater, Fordham Business School,
140 W. 62nd St., New York.</div>
<div>     7 p.m. =97 Addresses the Columbia Law School
graduation commencement, Avery Fisher Hall, 132 W. 65th St., New
York.</div>
<br>
<div>[INSERT from "mitzi" <[e-mail]>=20
- --</div>
<br>
<div>GOVERNOR BUSH</div>
<br>
<div>George W. Bush's Schedule: May 16, 2000</div>
<div> </div>
<div>11:45 a.m. - Governor George W. Bush will discuss personal
retirement accounts in Portland, Oregon, Gunderson, Inc. Training Center,
4700 Northwest Front Ave. - 503/972-5700</div>
<div> </div>
<div>5:05 p.m. - Governor departs Portland International Airport Flight
Craft, 7505 Northeast Airport Way, Portland, OR
503/331-4200          &nbs=
p;
</div>
<div> </div>
<div>5:55 p.m. - Governor Airport Arrival King County Airport, Boeing
Field,           &nbs=
p;            &n=
bsp;            =

Seattle, WA 206/296-7380</div>
<div>            =
;            &nb=
sp;            &=
nbsp;
</div>
<div>NOTE - Media credentials will be issued on-site to members of the
media</div>
<div> with official identification.</div>
<br>
<div>RALPH NADER</div>
<br>
<div>Ralph Nader will be in New Haven, CT on Wednesday May 17. He will
meet </div>
<div>residents at the Yale Co-op Bookstore on the corner of Chapel and
Temple </div>
<div>Streets opposite the New Haven Green. Mitzi Bowman
[phone].]</div>
<br>
<br>


___________________________________________________<br>
<br>
       Today's Newspapers:
<a href=3D"http://prop1.org/nucnews/links.htm"=
 eudora=3D"autourl">http://prop1.org/nucnews/links.htm</a><br>
           NucNews
Archives:
<a href=3D"http://prop1.org/nucnews/briefslv.htm"=
 eudora=3D"autourl">http://prop1.org/nucnews/briefslv.htm</a><br>
     Subscribe to NucNews:  [e-mail]
(NucNews-Subscribe)<br>
           Submit
URL/Article: [e-mail] (NucNews-Editor)<br>
<font size=3D2>          &=
nbsp;
About NucNews:
</font><a href=3D"http://prop1.org/nucnews/nucnews.htm"=
 eudora=3D"autourl">http://prop1.org/nucnews/nucnews.htm</a><br>
        NucNews - E-Mailed:
<a href=3D"http://www.onelist.com/archive/NucNews"=
 eudora=3D"autourl">http://www.onelist.com/archive/NucNews</a><br>
<br>
Excellent e-mail news resources:<br>
<br>
DOE Watch - <font color=3D"#0000FF"><u>[e-mail]</font></u> -
<a href=3D"http://members.aol.com/doewatch" eudora=3D"autourl"><font color=
=3D"#0000FF"><u>http://members.aol.com/doewatch</a></font></u>
<br>
Downwinders - <font color=3D"#0000FF"><u>[e-mail]</font></u>=
 - <a href=3D"http://[e-mail]/" eudora=3D"autourl"><font=
 color=3D"#0000FF"><u>http://[e-mail]</a></font></u> <br>
EnviroNews - <font color=3D"#0000FF"><u>[e-mail]</font></u>=
 - <a href=3D"http://www.envirolink.org/environews" eudora=3D"autourl"><font=
 color=3D"#0000FF"><u>http://www.envirolink.org/environews</a></font></u>=
 <br>
Planet Ark/Reuters - [e-mail] - <a=
 href=3D"http://www.planetark.org/news/" eudora=3D"autourl"><font=
 color=3D"#0000FF"><u>http://www.planetark.org/news/</a><br>
</font></u>Radbull (Radiation Bulletin) <font=
 color=3D"#0000FF"><u>[e-mail]</font></u> <br>
<br>
      Distributed without payment for research and=
 educational <br>
   purposes only, in accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section=
 107.<br>
<br>
<br>
</html>

- --=====================_41520438==_.ALT--


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 with "unsubscribe abolition-usa" in the body of the message.
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 "help" to the same address.  Do not use quotes in your message.

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

Date: Tue, 16 May 2000 10:05:01 -0400
From: "Howard W. Hallman" <[e-mail]>
Subject: (abolition-usa) Re: [abolition-caucus] Los Alamos lab buildings destroyed by fire..

At 01:35 PM 5/16/00 +0100, Janet Bloomfield wrote:
>Forest fire razes bomb laboratories.

Dear Friends,

Is this not a parable?  There is no such thing as a "controlled burn" with
nuclear weapons.  Once started they will consume us all.

With best regards,
Howard Hallman
Howard W. Hallman, Chair
Methodists United for Peace with Justice
1500 16th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036
Phone/fax: [phone]; e-mail: [e-mail]

Methodists United for Peace with Justice is a membership association of
laity and clergy.  It has no affiliation with any Methodist denomination.

- -
 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, 16 May 2000 13:53:44 -0600
From: "bob kinsey" <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: (abolition-usa) Re: [abolition-caucus] Los Alamos lab buildings destroyed by fire..

Even better-  the nuclear weapons and material are safe but not the houses
of the people.  I hope the people whose houses are burned notice that it was
even the houses of those who built the weapons that were not safe.
*************************************************
Bob Kinsey
Peace and Justice Task Force
Rocky Mountain Conference, United Church of Christ
bkinsey@peacemission .org
6555 Ward Road, Arvada, Colorado, 80004
"Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called children of God" --
Jesus of Nazareth
- ----- Original Message -----
From: Howard W. Hallman <[e-mail]>
To: Janet Bloomfield <[e-mail]>; abolition-caucus
<[e-mail]>
Cc: abolitionusa <[e-mail]>
Sent: Tuesday, May 16, 2000 8:05 AM
Subject: (abolition-usa) Re: [abolition-caucus] Los Alamos lab buildings
destroyed by fire..


> At 01:35 PM 5/16/00 +0100, Janet Bloomfield wrote:
> >Forest fire razes bomb laboratories.
>
> Dear Friends,
>
> Is this not a parable?  There is no such thing as a "controlled burn" with
> nuclear weapons.  Once started they will consume us all.
>
> With best regards,
> Howard Hallman
> Howard W. Hallman, Chair
> Methodists United for Peace with Justice
> 1500 16th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036
> Phone/fax: [phone]; e-mail: [e-mail]
>
> Methodists United for Peace with Justice is a membership association of
> laity and clergy.  It has no affiliation with any Methodist denomination.
>
> -
>  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.
>


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

Date: Wed, 17 May 2000 10:39:25 +1000
From: FoE Sydney - Nuclear Campaign <[e-mail]>
Subject: (abolition-usa) ONLY THREE ORGANISATIONS NEEDED TO 2000 BY FRIDAY

PLEASE REPLY TO
[e-mail], [e-mail],
NOT THIS ADDRESS


16 May 2000

Dear Friends and Activists,

We are now in the final week of the Non-Proliferation Treaty Review and
Extension Conference.  As many of you know, early this year the Abolition
2000 Coordinating Committee initiated a "2000 by 2000" Campaign to have 2000
organizational and municipal endorsers of the Global Network to Eliminate
Nuclear Weapons.  We have almost reached our goal!  1997 organizations and
municipalities have now endorsed the Abolition 2000 Statement.  We only need
3 more organizations to reach our goal of 2000!  We need your HELP!  Please
enroll an organization TODAY so we can make an announcement in a press
conference on Friday that Abolition 2000 is 2000 endorsers strong and will
continue its work to eliminate nuclear weapons and create a more just and
secure world.

Thank you for your ACTION to support the Global Network to Eliminate Nuclear
Weapons.  I look forward to continuing our vital work.

In peace and solidarity,

Carah



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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.
 For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send
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------------------------------

Date: Wed, 17 May 2000 10:39:21 +1000
From: FoE Sydney - Nuclear Campaign <[e-mail]>
Subject: (abolition-usa) ONLY THREE ORGANISATIONS NEEDED TO 2000 BY FRIDAY

PLEASE REPLY TO
[e-mail], [e-mail],
NOT THIS ADDRESS


16 May 2000

Dear Friends and Activists,

We are now in the final week of the Non-Proliferation Treaty Review and
Extension Conference.  As many of you know, early this year the Abolition
2000 Coordinating Committee initiated a "2000 by 2000" Campaign to have 2000
organizational and municipal endorsers of the Global Network to Eliminate
Nuclear Weapons.  We have almost reached our goal!  1997 organizations and
municipalities have now endorsed the Abolition 2000 Statement.  We only need
3 more organizations to reach our goal of 2000!  We need your HELP!  Please
enroll an organization TODAY so we can make an announcement in a press
conference on Friday that Abolition 2000 is 2000 endorsers strong and will
continue its work to eliminate nuclear weapons and create a more just and
secure world.

Thank you for your ACTION to support the Global Network to Eliminate Nuclear
Weapons.  I look forward to continuing our vital work.

In peace and solidarity,

Carah



- -
 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: Wed, 17 May 2000 19:16:14 +1000
From: FoE Sydney - Nuclear Campaign <[e-mail]>
Subject: (abolition-usa) NPT APPEAL - THREE DAYS LEFT

PLEASE PASS THIS EMAIL ON TO EVERYONE WHO MIGHT USE IT

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

Dear All,

There's only three days to go till the end of the NPT review.  You need to
write to your government now and urge them to support the total and
unequivocal elimination of the nuclear arsenals of the nuclear weapons
states. The fax numbers of foreign ministers worldwide are available on:
Http://www.reachingcriticalwill.org

The most important numbers are also at the end of this appeal.

As things have moved very fast, I am re- issuing a sample letter and alert
from last week that gives a general call to support the language in the New
Agenda Working paper, esp paragraph 1.

This language has now gone through a variety of different working papers
under different paragraph numbers.  The bottom line is however, the same.

Please use your networks to spread this message around to anyone,
especially parliamentarians, that might use it to influence your
governments.

The Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty Review Conference will go until the
19th of this month. It is now the 17th.  There's 3 days to go.

The New Agenda Coalition, a group of nations led by New Zealand, Ireland,
Sweden, South Africa, Mexico, Brazil and Egypt, has put forward a 'working
paper' which provides a moderate, reasonable, and practical step- by - step
way forward to the elimination of nuclear weapons as reqired by Article VI
of the nuclear nonproliferation treaty.

Especially critical is support for 'Operative paragraph 1' of the New
Agenda working paper, which asks the Nuclear Weapons states to committ to
an unequivocal and total elimination of nuclear weapons and to commence
that process over the 2000-2005 review period.  This is in contrast to the
committment they have made to the 'ultimate' elimination of nuclear weapons
- - maybe a hundred years from now!
(The wording in this working paper, especially Paragraph 1, has now gone
into a variety of other working papers now under condiferation, line- by
line)

The next 3 days of the NPT Review Conference are utterly crucial as
delicate negotiations take place between the nuclear weapons states and the
New Agenda Coalition who have the support of the overwhelming majority.

THERE'S JUST THREE DAYS - PLEASE CONTACT YOUR GOVERNMENT NOW AND ASK THEM
TO SUPPORT THE NEW AGENDA LANGUAGE

*A clear message from the public direct to your country's foreign minister,
secretary of state, president, or UN mission will make a big difference at
this point.*

If you live in a nuclear weapons state or a NATO country:
Please write to your foreign minister or UN mission immediately to ask them
to to committ to the unequivocal and total elimination of nuclear weapons
starting in the 2000-2005 review period.

If you are living in a country that is part of or supports the New Agenda
Coalition,  let them know they are doing the right thing and that (no
matter what other faults they may have) on this issue at least they have
your support.

If you are not sure of the position of your country, ask them to support
the New Agenda Coalition position anyway.

A sample letter is below.  After the letter is a list of fax numbers and an
appeal  to support the NAC from Felicity Hill of WILPF which you are
encouraged to read before you write and fax.

There is also an appeal to parliamentarians which you can use.

You are encouraged to use as much of the sample letter and these appeals as
you find useful and to make whatever changes or improvements you feel
appropriate.

It is better not to use it word for word, and its best to handwrite.

It does not need to be very long.

Do please do it and get as many others as you can to do it, this is an
action that really has the potential to help rid the world of nuclear
weapons.


THIS IS A SAMPLE LETTER TO BE SENT TO FOREIGN MINISTERS AND UN MISSIONS.
YOU WILL NEED TO ALTER IT TO FIT YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES.

SAMPLE LETTER TO ALL NPT SIGNATORY FOREIGN MINISTERS AND NPT REVIEW
CONFERENCE REPRESENTATIVES

(Address and fax number of foreign minister)
(Address and fax number of UN mission/NPT Review Conference Representative)

Dear Foreign Minister, UN Mission, or NPT Review Conference Representative,

I am writing to you to persuade your government to support the working
paper of the New Agenda Coalition at the Review Conference of the Nuclear
Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) in New York at the United Nations
Headquarters, in particular the wording in Paragraph 1, now in various
other NPT review conference documents.

On 24April, the New Agenda Coalition group of nations, led by New Zealand,
Ireland, Sweden, Brazil, Mexico, South Africa and Egypt, presented a
working paper to the NPT review Conference. This working paper provides a
realistic, moderate, practical, and reasonable program of action for
nuclear nonproliferation and disarmament that should serve as the basis for
the final decision of the Conference.

That program includes the following elements:
- --An unequivocal undertaking by the five nuclear weapons states to
eliminate their nuclear arsenals, not as an 'ultimate' aim to be
accomplished at some remote date, but as an immediate obligation. For the
five nuclear weapons states to engage in an accelerated process of
negotiation, taking steps leading to nuclear disarmament in the coming
2000-2005 period.

- --Implementation of START-II and commencement of negotiations on START-III

- --The integration of all five nuclear weapon states into a process leading
to the total elimination of nuclear weapons.

- --Adaptation of policies and postures to preclude the use of nuclear weapons
- --Taking strategic nuclear weapons off hairtrigger alert.

It is requested that your government  support Operative Paragraph 1 of the
New Agenda working paper, which reads:
"The five nuclear weapon states make an unequivocal undertaking to
accomplish the total elimination of their nuclear arsenals and, in the
course of the forthcoming review period 2000-2005, to engage in an
accelerated process of negotiations and to take steps leading  to nuclear
disarmament to which states parties are committed under Article VI."

This is pariticularly important  because the nuclear weapons states have
themselves issued a joint statement on 1 May, which included the following
sentence:
 "We reiterate our unequivocal commitment to the ultimate goals of a
complete elimination of nuclear weapons and a treaty on general and
complete disarmament under strict and effective international control".

However, the use of the world 'ultimate' in this context,   as well as the
linkage to general and complete disarmament, means that the objective of
the elimination of nuclear weapons is in fact being postponed to a distant
future. The original language of the NPT itself (in force since 1970)
refers to the need to achieve results by an early date. The  1996 advisory
opinion of the International Court of Justice unanimously emphasizes the
obligation to actually achieve the goal of elimination of nuclear weapons.

I//(My organization) therefore urges you, Foreign Minister, to support
especially Operative Paragraph 1 of the New Agenda Working Paper, as
offering a series of practical steps to move towards the fulfillment of
what are in any case the clear legal obligations of the nuclear weapons
states, to eliminate their nuclear weapons arsenals at an early date.

We urge you to give your full support to the measures outlined by the New
Agenda Coalition in their working paper, especially if your government has
not seen fit to do so before now. These measures offer a realistic way out
of the nuclear quagmire which the P5 statement does not.

(Signed)

BELOW IS HOW TO FAX, FAX NUMBERS.

(NEXT THE ORIGINAL APPEAL.)

=46AX NUMBERS OF SOME FOREIGN MINISTERS

A URL where the fax numbers of every head of state and foreign minister in
the world is listed plus lots of information is this:
Http://www.abolition2000.org.

(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 )

Some of the relevant fax numbers are listed below. If your country is not
on this list, you can find your foreign minister or head of state on one of
the two URLs above.
(The + in front stands for whatever your countrys ISD access code may be.
You only really need it if you are faxing some other country. I hope
however, that  people may like not only to fax their own foreign minister
but also those of Russia and the US.)

Some of these numbers may have changed. If any of them don't work, let me
know at <[e-mail]>  and check the number on the URL or with
your own telephone system.

If you are in the US,
Secy of State Madeleine Allbrights fax number is: [phone]
President Clintons fax number is [phone]
The US United Nations mission is on  Fax. [phone]

If you are in Russia, Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov's fax number is
[phone] or [phone]. (You need to be persistent with these
numbers)
The general Kremlin fax number is [phone]. (This is the slowest fax
in the universe)
Russia's UN mission is on [phone]

If you are in France, your foreign ministers fax number is [phone]=
,
Jacques Chirac's fax number is [phone].
=46rance's UN mission is at: Fax. + 1 212 421 6889

If you are in the UK, Tony Blairs fax number is [phone].
The Foreign Minister, Robin Cook's fax number is:  [phone]
The United Nations mission is on Fax. [phone]

If you are in Germany, the Chancellors fax number is: [phone],  or
[phone]
=46oreign Minister Joschka Fischers number is any of these: [phone]=
,
[phone],
[phone], [phone]
The German UN mission is on: Fax [phone]

Here are the fax numbers of some foreign ministers and UN missions:
If you are in Canada, your foreign ministers fax number is: [phone].
Canada, UN Mission -Fax. [phone]
If you are in Japan, you need to fax [phone] UN Mission -  Fax. +1
212 751 1966
If you are in Italy please fax [phone], or [phone] or
[phone]
Italy UN Mission - Fax. [phone]
If you are in Hungary, please fax your foreign minister on [phone]
If you are in Korea, try  your minister of foreign affairs on
[phone], [phone]
If you are in Brazil, your foreign ministers fax should be [phone]
Brazil UN Mission - Fax. [phone] or [phone]
If you are in Mexico, try [phone]
If you are in Greece try [phone] (or 0095)
If you are in Thailand, try [phone], or [phone]


NPT URGENT ACTION 2

from
=46elicity Hill, WILPF
Sharon Riggle, CESD
Merav Datan, IPPNW

The 2000 Review Conference of the Non-Proliferation Treaty brings together
187 governments to discuss the most widely supported disarmament treaty
ever, the Non-Proliferation Treaty, or NPT, which became international law
in 1970.

The five Nuclear Weapon States have signed the NPT and in doing so, they
committed to getting rid of their nuclear weapon under Article 6.  "Each of
the Parties to the Treaty undertakes to pursue negotiations in good faith
on effective measures relating to cessation of the nuclear arms race at an
early date and to nuclear disarmament, and on a treaty on general and
complete disarmament under strict and effective international control."

The Main Committee devoted to non-proliferation, disarmament and
international peace and security concluded its work at the NPT Review
Conference today.  Three draft texts were discussed at the last meeting of
Main Committee I.

There are still six working days of the conference in which there is
opportunity for NGOs to have an impact on the final outcome.   NGOs all
around the world can reinforce the efforts of NGOs at the UN by:

1.  Writing to and visiting your foreign ministry in your capital city.

2.  Writing to and visiting your parliamentary representatives, urging them
to contact the foreign ministry.

3.  Faxing and calling your delegation here in New York.  (For the contact
details in many capitals and all New York Missions, see
www.reachingcriticalwill.org  Click on the Governmental Disarmament
Contacts button).

4.  Writing to your newspapers (either articles, letters to the editor, or
particular journalists who might take up the issue)

This Urgent Action relates in particular to the most contentious language
in the FORWARD LOOKING DOCUMENT for ACTION OVER THE COMING 5 YEAR PERIOD,
developed in a Working Paper of Subsidiary Body I (a subcommittee of Main
Committee I) under the Chairmanship of Clive Pearson of New Zealand.  The
full document, (NPT/CONF.2000/MC.1/SB/1/CRP.7) can be found at:
http://www.basicint.org

We think it would be useful to concentrate on five paragraphs in particular
which relate to

1.  Unequivocal undertaking to the total elimination of arsenals (para 17)
2.  The ABM treaty (para 5)
3.  Annual reporting by nuclear weapon states (para 11)
4.  Dealerting, Deactivating (para 13)
5.  A diminished role for nuclear weapons in security policies  (para 14) &
the use of "Strategic stability" throughout the document

1.  Unequivocal undertaking to the total elimination of arsenals (para 17)

Para 17.  An unequivocal undertaking by the nuclear-weapon States to
accomplish the total elimination of their nuclear arsenals and, in the
forthcoming NPT review period 2000-2005, to engage in an accelerated
process of negotiations and to take steps leading to nuclear disarmament to
which all States parties are committed under Article VI.

Currently the last paragraph in the document, NGOs believe that this
"unequivocal undertaking" is in fact one of the most important elements of
the working paper.  This language reflects Operative Paragraph 1 from the
New Agenda Coalition's Working Document on Nuclear Disarmament, tabled on
the first day of the Conference.  (The New Agenda Coalition is made up of
Brazil, Egypt, Ireland, Mexico, New Zealand, South Africa and Sweden.)   An
"unequivocal undertaking" is the language proposed to replace the "ultimate
goal" language of the 5 Nuclear Weapon States. "Ultimate" means: last or
last possible, final. This explains why many states and all NGOs are fairly
suspicious of the word ultimate.  An undertaking is an action, not a
promise, which would then translate into a faster process than we have seen
in the past 30 years of the existence of the NPT.   Once there is a
demonstrated commitment to the TOTAL elimination of nuclear weapons, the
consequences will be an accelerated programme of action.

2.  The ABM Treaty

Para 5.  The early entry into force and full implementation of START II and
the conclusion of START III as soon as possible while preserving and
strengthening the ABM Treaty as a cornerstone of strategic stability and as
a basis for further reductions of strategic offensive weapons, in
accordance with its provisions.

The majority of this language is taken directly from the joint statement of
the five nuclear weapon states.  The consensus nature of this document was
only possible because of differing interpretations of the word
"strengthening".  Strengthening cannot necessarily mean modify but that is
how the US is interpreting this language. An unfortunate consequence of the
5 agreeing to common language has been the rest of the states parties being
reticent to comment on the danger of US plans for a national missile
defense which could spark a new arms race.   The essence of the ABM was a
recognition that reduction of offensive weapons requires a limit on
defensive capabilities.  The US government talking points leaked 2 weeks
ago (available on www.thebulletin.org) indicate that the US "comforted" the
Russians that they should maintain between 1,000 and 2,000 nuclear weapons
to have "the certain ability to carry out an annihilating counterattack=8A"

 3.  Annual reporting by nuclear weapon states (para 11)

Para 11.  Annual reports within the framework of the NPT review process by
all States parties on the implementation of Article VI and paragraph 4 (c)
of the 1995 Principles and Objectives for Nuclear Non-Proliferation and
Disarmament.

NGOs support an annual reporting mechanism and propose that there be a
standardised format or structure to the annual reports to streamline the
information provided and to avoid the proliferation of glossy propaganda
and self-serving or selective reporting.  The reports should cover the
number of weapons dismantled, in storage and deployed. The reports should
also detail nuclear doctrines and policy changes that relate to, facilitate
or obstruct nuclear disarmament.

4.  Dealerting, de-activating, removal of warheads from delivery vehicles
(para 13)

Para 13.  Measures to de-alert and de-activate nuclear weapon systems, the
removal of nuclear warheads from delivery vehicles and the withdrawal of
nuclear forces from active deployment for the maintenance and promotion of
strategic stability.

Even though dealerting was identified as the first step towards disarmament
in the Canberra Commission, it is still being resisted.  For persuasive
arguments and facts on dealerting go to www.dealert.org

5.  A diminished role for nuclear weapons in security policies  (para 14) &
the use of "Strategic stability" throughout the document

Para 14.  A diminishing role for nuclear weapons in security policies to
minimise the risk that these weapon ever be used, to facilitate the process
of elimination, to enhance strategic stability and to contribute to
international confidence and security.

This paragraph was originally targeted at NATO's renewed nuclear posture,
but has since been broadened to include any state that is explicitly
increasing reliance on these weapons.  On face value this paragraph might
appear positive but it contains contradictions.  The diminishing role of
nuclear weapons in security policies is necessary for disarmament, however,
the addition of "to enhance strategic stability" cannot be supported by
NGOs because this language reinforces a minimum level of possession of
nuclear weapons.  In other words, strategic stability and the abolition of
nuclear weapons are mutually exclusive notions.  The irony is that the
concept of elimination is right next to the concept of strategic stability.


*******       *******       *******       *******
=46elicity Hill, Director
Women's International League for Peace and Freedom
United Nations Office
777 UN Plaza, New York, NY 10017, USA

Ph:  1 212 682 1265
=46ax: 1 212 286 8211
email: [e-mail]
web: www.wilpf.int.ch  www.reachingcriticalwill.org

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


A CALL TO PARLIAMENTARIANS TO STRENGTHEN THE NON-PROLIFERATION TREATY BY
SUPPORTING THE NEW AGENDA COALITION

   3 May 2000

States Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons
(NPT) are meeting in New York until May 19 to review the Treaty and its
implementation including the obligations of the nuclear weapon states to
negotiate for complete nuclear disarmament.

On 24 April, the seven nations of the New Agenda Coalition submitted a
working paper to the NPT Review Conference outlining a realistic program of
action for nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament that can serve as the
basis for the Conference's final decision. For the vitality of the treaty
and to strengthen the international security regime, the NPT must produce a
credible plan of action for the next five years, leading up to the next
Review Conference in 2005.

Paragraph One of the working paper states that, in order to fulfill the
disarmament requirements of the NPT:

"The five nuclear-weapon states make an unequivocal undertaking to
accomplish the total elimination of their nuclear arsenals and, in the
course of the
forthcoming review period 2000-2005, to engage in an accelerated process of
negotiations and to take steps leading to the nuclear disarmament to which
all states parties are committed under Article VI of the Treaty on the
Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons."


Such an undertaking from the nuclear weapon states is necessary to
demonstrate good faith intentions from the nuclear weapon states to
implementing their disarmament obligations. A wide range of States at the
NPT Review Conference have expressed a lack of confidence in such
intentions,
citing the continued policies and programs of the nuclear weapon states and
their unwillingness to make an unequivocal commitment to achieving nuclear
disarmament.

There is considerable support from delegations for the inclusion of the
above paragraph, and other elements from the New Agenda working paper, in
the
Review Conference final document, which will most likely require consensus
to be adopted.

On May 1 China, France, Russia, the UK and the US released a statement which
included the following:

"We reiterate our unequivocal commitment to the ultimate goals of a complete
elimination of nuclear weapons and a treaty on general and complete
disarmament under strict and effective international control."

The release of this statement, including the use of the New Agenda Coalition
language  "unequivocal commitment", indicates that the nuclear weapon states
are aware of the need to respond to the strong and urgent call for them to
commit themselves to nuclear disarmament.

However, the rest of the language indicates that they are choosing to
obfuscate rather than make any real commitment. They continue to use the
word ultimate  with respect to the goal of nuclear disarmament, meaning that
they
are not committing themselves to pursue complete nuclear disarmament at an
early date. The statement makes no mention of the obligation to achieve the
goal, as opposed to merely pursuing it, an obvious rejection to the 1996
International Court of Justice opinion on nuclear weapons which emphasised
the obligation to achieve the goal.
In addition, they link the goal of general and complete disarmament with
that of nuclear disarmament, a linkage which would prevent any earlier
achievement of nuclear disarmament.

=46inally, the statement of the nuclear weapons states ignores important
aspects of the New Agenda Coalition statement including:
The call for an accelerated process of negotiations, which changes the
impetus of nuclear disarmament negotiations from some undetermined time in
the future to today.
The importance of making some progress before the next NPT Review
Conference in 2005. There is no expectation that negotiations for complete
nuclear disarmament will be completed by 2005, but that such negotiations
would be underway and some interim steps would be achieved.

Therefore we, as NGOs specializing in disarmament and arms control,
respectfully request your assistance in promoting the NAC proposal - in
particular Paragraph One - in your parliaments,  to your governments and to
your delegations to the NPT Review Conference.


Contacts:
Middle Powers Initiative
727 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
Tel: [phone]
UN Coordinator, Jim Wurst telephone: [phone]

Lisa von Trapp
Coordinator
Parliamentarians Network for Nuclear Disarmament
Parliamentarians for Global Action
211 ast 43rd Street, 16th floor
New York, NY 10017, USA
Tel: [phone] x104






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