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abolition-usa-digest      Tuesday, July 18 2000      Volume 01 : Number 343




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

Date: Tue, 18 Jul 2000 15:47:17 +1000
From: FoE Sydney - Nuclear Campaign <[e-mail]>
Subject: (abolition-usa) G 8 HEADS OF STATE MEETING  FRI 21-23, FAX THEM NOW RE STAR WARS/NMD

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


PLEASE PASS THIS EMAIL ON TO ANYONE WHO MIGHT TAKE ACTION ON IT.
SPREAD AS WIDELY AS POSSIBLE BUT DON'T SPAM.
(Apologies for multiple postings - Just delete the excess copies)

G 8 HEADS OF STATE MEETING IN OKINAWA FRIDAY - ASK THEM TO SAY 'NO' TO
NMD/STAR WARS

Dear All who get these emails,

The heads of state of the US, Russia,  Canada, The UK, France, Germany,
Italy and Japan will be meeting in Okinawa from 21-23 July.

Amongst other things, they will be discussing the US scheme to deploy a
'National Missile Defence' scheme, which would violate the ABM treaty.

Last Thursday, the G 8 foreign ministers met, and expressed strong concern
over US plans to deploy a National Missile Defence (NMD) system.

They need to have your support for having done this, and the non- US  G8
Heads of State need to hear from their people that you support their
expressions of concern over NMD and want them to do more.


IF YOU LIVE IN A G 8 COUNTRY OTHER THAN THE US
(UK, Canada, Germany, France, Italy, Japan),
- --Let your government know that you share their concern over NMD
- --Let them know you support the stand they took last thursday (esp if you
are in Canada, France or Germany)
- --Let your government know that you want them to do more.
(Esp if you are in Japan, which hasn't done much).


IF YOU LIVE IN THE US:
Let President Clinton and Defence secretary Cohen, as well as presidential
candidates Bush and Gore know that you think NMD is indefensible, that it
will not make the US safer and that it will derail efforts to eliminate
nuclear weapons to which the nuclear weapons powers and every other nation
are legally bound, and may lead to another arms- race.
Clintons fax number is 1-202-456-2461. Secy of Defence Cohen's is
1-703-695-1149.
Vice- President Gore 1-202-456-2461, Candidate George W Bush: 1-512-637-8800.

Sample letters are below, also at:  Http://www.abolition2000.org
A global list of foreign ministers fax numbers is also there.

You should also visit the 'Dont Blow it' website at
 http://DontBlowit.org.
from which you can send the president a free e-postcard.


IF YOU ARE IN A COUNTRY OTHER THAN A G 8 COUNTRY
(ie, anywhere in the rest of the world,  where the majority of people
actually live), let your government know that you would like them to ask
the US not to proceed with NMD, and that you do not want joint facilities
(such as those that exist at Pine Gap in Australia) to be used for NMD.


WHEREVER YOU LIVE:
Greenpeace has established a website  http://www.stopstarwars.org
that will allow people from around the world to record their concern about
the US proceeding with  this program, which could re-open the nuclear arms
race.


HERE ARE SOME USEFUL FAX NUMBERS AND URLS

 (OR USE THE ONES ON THE TOPS OF THE LETTERS)

FAX 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]

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)

If you are in France, your foreign ministers fax number is [phone],
Jacques Chirac's fax number is [phone].

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]
Foreign Minister Joschka Fischers number is any of these: [phone],
[phone],
[phone], [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].
If you are in Japan, you need to fax [phone]
If you are in Italy please fax [phone], or [phone] or
[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]
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]

SAMPLE LETTERS BELOW - PLEASE CUSTOMISE AND BE CREATIVE

(These letters are also on Http://www.abolition2000.org and a global list
of fax numbers of foreign ministers can be found there also)

1)Letter to Clinton, Cohen, Albright, Gore, Bush
2)Letter to French Government
3)Letter to German Government
4)Letter to British Government
5)Letter to Japanese Government

(Fax Nos above or use the numbers on the letters)


1)SAMPLE LETTER FOR  US FOLKS ESPECIALLY,  TO SEND TO BILL CLINTON, WILLIAM
S. COHEN, MADELEINE ALBRIGHT, BUSH, GORE, AND RELEVANT CONGRESSIONAL
SUBCOMMITTEES.

PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON, 1-202-456-2461,

SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT 1-202-647-6047

SECRETARY FOR DEFENCE, WILLIAM S. COHEN 1-703-695-1149
cc
George Bush
Al Gore

Dear President Clinton, William Cohen, Madeleine Albright, and Presidential
candidates,

I am writing to urge you not to proceed with proposals for a national
ballistic missile defence system.  Missile defence schemes respond to a
nonexistent or exaggerated threat,  are not the solution to real threats,
make the rest of the US's security environment less safe, sabotage nuclear
disarmament efforts to which the US is legally committed along with the
rest of the world, and show contempt for the opinions of US allies and the
rest of the world.

At the recent NPT Review Conference, the US together with 187 other
countries, signed a final declaration that commits it to an unequivocal
undertaking to accomplish the total elimination of its nuclear arsenal.
Plans to deploy a missile defence system threaten that vital goal, to which
the US is legally committed.

At the very same conference, the UN Secretary General, and representatives
of Russia, China, the UK, France, Sweden, the European community, the New
Agenda Coalition and the Non- aligned movement have all expressed strongly
that they believe the ABM treaty is the cornerstone of global strategic
stability. They do not think it should be modified to allow a missile
defence system,  still less abrogated unilaterally.  On your recent
European trip, leaders of Europe and Russia have made the same point.
America simply cannot ignore the strongly repeated opinion of the whole
world, that the ABM treaty should not be modified to permit BMD.

Furthermore:

1)The threat that the national missile defence system is supposed to
address, namely that of missile - equipped  so- called  'rogue states' is
in all likelihood, nonexistent.

2) A  state that really wished to inflict serious damage on the US would
probaby rather smuggle a nuclear explosive device into a US city by means
that are more reliable and more difficult to trace than missiles.

3)There are serious doubts as to whether this system can work at all, or as
to whether any missile defence system can ever work.  The problems posed
even by relatively simple decoys are probably technically insoluble.

4)National (and theatre) missile defence schemes are unsustainably costly,
and cost estimates are likely to rise without limit.

Instead of pursuing missile defence, it is vital that the US  focus on real
solutions to global  strategic security.  The highest priorities have to be
the elimination of as many warheads as possible under any START-III
agreement with Russia, and  the removal of  strategic missile forces from
high alert status as advocated by the Canberra Commission, subsequent UN
resolutions and the final NPT declaration.

In this respect, the commitment of Candidate Bush to deep cuts in warhead
numbers and to reductions in alert status are worthy of support.
Commitments to costly and dangerous missile defence schemes are worthy only
of opposition.

Yours Sincerely,
Signed
....


2)LETTER TO FRENCH GOVERNMENT

PRESIDENT JACQUES CHIRAC [phone]
PRIME MINISTER LIONEL JOSPIN [phone]
MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS [phone]-45-51-60-12

Dear President Chirac, Prime Minister Jospin, and Minister for Foreign
Affairs Hubert Vedrine,

I am writing to you to urge you at the coming G8 meeting in Okinawa, to
express strongly your support for the 1972 ABM treaty, and your opposition
to the US proposal to deploy a ballistic missile defence scheme.

I am happy to see that at the recent nuclear nonproliferation treaty review
conference, France expressed strongly its support for the ABM treaty and
opposition to ballistic missile defence, and that France has continued to
forcefully express its opposition to this ill-considered scheme since that
time.

I urge you to continue doing this.

A ballistic missile defence scheme would:

(a)Attempt to defend the US (but not Europe) against a threat that either
does not exist or that if it did exist, would strike in ways that missile
defence cannot prevent.
(ie using means of delivery other than missiles)

(b) Is likely not to work at all because of the problem posed by relatively
simple decoys that can easily be deployed even by a relatively
unsophisticated attacker.

(c) Will be seen as potentially threatening by Russia and China, and will
therefore prompt those countries to expand their nuclear arsenals,
threatening to re-commence the nuclear arms race, just after the US has
together with France, the UK, Russia and China, signed a final declaration
at the recent NPT Review, committing them to the total and unequivocal
elimination of their nuclear arsenals.

(d) Missile defence as proposed by the US administration, in no way helps
the position of US allies or Europe.

I urge you at the coming G8 summit to make the most vigorous
representations to the US not to decrease global security by proceeding
with plans for missile defence, or weakening the ABM treaty. I ask you to
instead urge the US to increase global security by accepting the lowest of
the warhead totals on offer by Russia in START-III negotiations, and by
standing down nuclear missiles from 'launch on warning' status.

(Signed)


3)SAMPLE LETTER TO GERHARD SCHROEDER, JOSCHKA FISCHER,

ATTN
GERMAN CHANCELLOR GERHARD SCHROEDER
[phone], [phone].

GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER JOSCHKA FISCHER,
[phone], [phone], [phone], [phone],

RE: BALLISTIC MISSILE DEFENCE AND THE ABM TREATY

Dear Chancellor Schroeder and Foreign Minister Fischer,

I am writing to express  my support of the position you have taken with
respect to US plans to deploy a ballistic missile defence system and to
modify, or possibly to abrogate,  the ABM treaty in order to allow the
deployment of this system.

I note that you have already made clear to US President Clinton your strong
disapproval of any such moves.  I urge you to continue in your opposition
to this highly destabilizing scheme.

I am urging you to put this position strongly to the US at the coming G8
summit in Okinawa.

Ballistic missile defence in the form in which the US now seeks to deploy
it, (either national missile defence or theater missile defence),

a) Seeks to defend against a threat that either does not exist or which if
it exists, will strike in ways that missile defence systems cannot affect.

b)Is likely   to be wholly ineffective because of the problem posed by
relatively simple decoys,  and at the same time will be seen as threatening
by those with whom the US is legally obliged to negotiate for the
elimination of nuclear arsenals. Missile defence therefore acts to sabotage
vital arms control efforts.

c) National missile defence as currently proposed by the US administration,
in no way helps the security position of US allies, who are thus likely to
be exposed to whatever threat NMD seeks to counter - if that threat is
real.

(d) These proposals make more difficult, and may reverse, nuclear
disarmament efforts, decreasing the security of the whole world while
violating US obligations under the NPT.

I urge you to make the most vigorous representations to the US government,
particularly at the G8 summit,  not to decrease global security by
proceeding with plans for NMD/BMD or TMD,or weakening  the ABM treaty, but
rather to increase global security by  accepting the lowest of the warhead
totals on offer by Russia in START-III negotiations, and by standing down
nuclear missiles from 'launch on warning' status.

(Signed)

etc


4)DRAFT SAMPLE LETTER TO TONY BLAIR, ROBIN COOK

TO:
PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR  [phone]
FOREIGN MINISTER ROBIN COOK [phone]  [phone]

Dear Prime Minister Tony Blair and Foreign Minister Robin Cook,

I am writing to you to urge your government to take a strong stand against
US plans to build a ballistic missile defence system, and to urge it to
maintain and strengthen the ABM treaty.

I urge you to put this very strongly to the US at the coming G8 summit in
Okinawa.

At the recent Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty Review Conference in New
York, the UN secretary general, the governments of Russia, China, France,
and the UK, the Non-Aligned movement, the New Agenda Coalition, and the
European Union all expressed strong support for the maintenance and
strengthening of the ABM treaty.
This cannot be interpreted to mean modifying it to allow a ballistic
missile defence system.

The missile defence systems currently under discussion in the US seek to
protect the US (but not Europe) against  a threat that either does not
exist at all, or for which missile defence is a completely inappropriate
response.   In addition the options proposed in the US may in fact not work
at all, while causing those countries with whom the US is legally obliged
under the final declaration of the NPT Review Conference to seek to
negotiate the elimination of its nuclear arsenal, to abandon arms control
measures altogether.

The very discussion by the US of missile defence options is itself
destabilizing and puts progress toward the global goals of elimination of
nuclear arsenals in doubt.

We/I urge you to put to the US government in the very strongest terms that
it should no longer contemplate missile defence options, and to make it
clear that the UK will not in any way cooperate with such options.

Your government has said it wants to maintain and strengthen the ABM
treaty. It must follow on from this good beginning by making it clear that
it is absolutely opposed to BMD.

The US government should instead be strongly urged to accept the very
lowest warhead numbers on offer from Russia and to stand down its nuclear
weapons systems from 'launch on warning' status.

Signed.....etc.


5)LETTER TO JAPANESE GOVERNMENT

THE PRIME MINISTER OF JAPAN
THE FOREIGN MINISTER OF JAPAN, 81-3-3581-9675, 81-3-3591-3613

Dear Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Japan,

I am writing to you to urge you at the coming G8 summit in Okinawa on July
21-23, to make strong representations to the United States concerning the
Anti-Ballistic Missile treaty and its plans for a ballistic missile defence
system.

At the recent Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty Review Conference, the UN
Secretary General, the New Agenda Coalition, the Non-Aligned Movement,
France, Russia, China, and the European Community all expressed opposition
to the deployment of a missile defence system and support for the ABM
treaty as the cornerstone of strategic stability.

A number of European nations have subsequently expressed strong opposition
to  Ballistic missile defence.

Ballistic missile defence
(a) Seeks to guard against a problem that does not exist, or which if it
does exist, is not best answered by costly and high tech systems such as
BMD.

(b)Is likely to be ineffective against missile attack because of the
problem posed by relatively simple decoys.

(c) is likely to be seen as threatening by those with whom the US is
legally obliged to negotiate toward the unequivocal and total elimination
of its nuclear arsenals, thereby sabotaging a process to which the US has
only recently reaffirmed its commitment.

(d) In no way helps, and may harm, the security position of US allies such
as Japan and Europe who are likely to be exposed to whatever threat is
sought to be countered by missile defence - if that threat is real.

(e) By encouraging arms- racing again, is likely to degrade the security
position of the world as a whole.

Accordingly I urge your government to make the most vigorous
representations to the US at the coming G8 summit, and to urge the US
instead, to consider the lowest START-III warhead numbers offered by Russia
and to take strategic warheads off launch-on-warning status.

Yours Sincerely,
(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, 18 Jul 2000 07:31:58 -0400
From: Ellen Thomas <[e-mail]>
Subject: (abolition-usa) NucNews 00/07/18 - Daybook; Presidential Candidates' Schedules; Gore on BMD and Yucca Mountain

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1) Washington Daybook, by FIND/AFP and The Washington Times. - July 18, 2000
http://www.washtimes.com/national/daybook-2000718213557.htm

    10:30 a.m. =97 Senate Foreign Relations Committee holds a hearing on the
national security implications of granting permanent normal trade relations
status to China. Location: 419 Dirksen Senate Office Building. Contact:
202/224-4651.

     2 p.m. =97 House Science's space and aeronautics subcommittee holds a
hearing on "Financing Commercial Space Ventures." Location: 2318 Rayburn=
 House
Office Building. Contact: 202/225-6371.

2) Presidential Candidates

    Nader speech today - Washington DC, 12:30 p.m.=20
Ralph Nader, Green Party candidate for president, addresses a National Press
Club Newsmaker luncheon program, discussing third-party presidential=
 candidacy
and the importance of third-party access to the presidential debates.=
 Location:
National Press Club, 14th and F streets NW. Contact: 202/662-7468

   Bush Schedule today - Milwaukee WI and Chicago IL
         8:35 a.m. - Leadership Forum on Fatherhood, FaithWorks Milwaukee,
Hadley Terrace Bldg., The Hadley Commons Room, 3515 West Hadley St,=
 Milwaukee,
WI, 414/449-0459
        12:50 p.m. - National Council of State Legislatures, Navy Pier
Convention Center, Grand Ballroom, 600 East Grand Avenue, Chicago, IL,
312/595-5355

OnPolitics Live: Vice President Gore
Monday, July 10, 2000 Washington Post Online
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/liveonline/00/politics/freemedia071000_
gore.htm
       =20
Free Media:=20
Good afternoon, Vice President Gore, and welcome.  Given the failed test=
 this
weekend of the missile defense system, many of our readers have written in=
 to
ask you about it.  This first question is from--

Bloomington, Ind.: What effect have the results of the recent test of the
proposed National Missile Defense system had on your opinion of the=
 short-term
necessity of its deployment? Your opponent, Gov. Bush, seems to favor a very
robust system, despite technological and diplomatic odds, which leads me to
hope your position will remain more open, and based on the true need and
viability, not domestic political sentiment.

Vice President Gore: OK. Here we go. I favor an effort to develop a limited
missile defense system -- and not a massive "star wars" system (for reasons
I'll briefly describe) -- because our country will probably face a new=
 threat
later in this decade  from a small arsenal of relatively unsophisticated=
 ICBMs
in the hands of a so-called rogue state.  The failure of the test last=
 Friday
night doesn't mean that such a system is impossible to build, although the
specific lessons from the failure will have to await a more thorough=
 analysis.=20
The much larger, space-based star wars approach that Gov. Bush is committed=
 to
is far more difficult to design and build, far more expensive to purchase,=
 less
likely to work, and is calculated to destroy existing arms control=
 arrangements
with the Russians which have calmed down the old arms race for the last 28
years, ever since the ABM Treaty was signed....

Fort Bragg, N.C.:=20
I am a soldier in the 82nd Airborne Division and I am  curious as to how you
would react to the situation in the Middle East if the peace talks fail. It
seems that they are already faltering and I am worried that I might be=
 deployed
to participate in a war that does not directly concern this country in any=
 way.

Vice President Gore: My hope and prayer is that these talks will succeed.=
 Bear
in mind that Israel has never asked for help from American soldiers. Israel=
 is
our closest ally in the region and the only true democracy, and we will=
 always
support her.....

New  York, N.Y.:=20
If Fidel Castro were to live another 25 years, which is possible, can you
conceive of  the possibility of your =20
opening up to Cuba since he no longer  has  the  threat  of the cold  war
Soviet Union backing him up?

Vice President Gore: I favor only openings to the Cuban people -- not to the
Castro government.  Incidentally, you can find more detail on virtually all=
 of
these exchanges on my campaign Web site algore2000.com webster.  Also, you=
 can
register to vote online at=20
http://www.algore2000.com/briefingroom/releases/pr_0710_nat_1.html....

Manhattan, Kan.:=20
With current scientific knowledge of the Yucca Mountain Permananent Waste
Repository, will you recommend that the site be built if elected as=
 president?

Vice President Gore: We don't have the results of the full scientific=
 analysis
yet.  The decision should be based strictly on the science and not on=
 politics.


Portland, Ore.:=20
Why do you support capital punishment?

Vice President Gore: I support it for particularly heinous crimes because I
believe there are some offenses for which it is just. I know that many feel=
 it
does not really have a deterrent effect, but I think it probably does.  I=
 want
to add, though, that I strongly support the use of the new DNA techniques=
 that
can make our criminal justice system fairer and more accurate.... I deeply
respect those who are opposed to the death penalty on moral grounds, but I=
 do
support it.

Free Media:=20
How did Vice President Gore do? What questions do you wish he had answered?=
=20
What's your opinion?  http://www.delphi.com/wppolitics/messages?msg=3D802.1
Send a copy to mailto:[e-mail]



     ___________________________________________________

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Quick Route to U.S. Congress:
http://www.senate.gov/senators/index.cfm (Senators' Websites)
http://www.house.gov/house/MemberWWW.html (Representatives' Websites)
http://thomas.loc.gov/ (Pending Legislation - Search)

Presidential Candidates' Websites (a-z):
George W. Bush - http://www.georgewbush.com/
Pat Buchanan - http://www.gopatgo2000.com/default.htm
Al Gore - http://www.algore2000.com/
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(Please send other sites of qualified candidates.)

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<html>
<b>1) Washington Daybook</b>, by FIND/AFP and The Washington Times. -
July 18, 2000<br>
<a href=3D"http://www.washtimes.com/national/daybook-2000718213557.htm"=
 eudora=3D"autourl">http://www.washtimes.com/national/daybook-2000718213557.=
htm</a><br>
<br>
    10:30 a.m. =97 Senate Foreign Relations Committee holds
a hearing on the national security implications of granting permanent
normal trade relations status to China. Location: 419 Dirksen Senate
Office Building. Contact: 202/224-4651.<br>
<br>
     2 p.m. =97 House Science's space and aeronautics
subcommittee holds a hearing on "Financing Commercial Space
Ventures." Location: 2318 Rayburn House Office Building. Contact:
202/225-6371.<br>
<br>
<b>2) Presidential Candidates<br>
<br>
</b>    <b>Nader speech today - Washington DC, 12:30
p.m.</b> <br>
Ralph Nader, Green Party candidate for president, addresses a National
Press Club Newsmaker luncheon program, discussing third-party
presidential candidacy and the importance of third-party access to the
presidential debates. Location: National Press Club, 14th and F streets
NW. Contact: 202/662-7468<br>
<br>
   <b>Bush Schedule today - Milwaukee WI and Chicago IL<br>
</b><x-tab>        </x-tab> 8:35
a.m. - Leadership Forum on Fatherhood, FaithWorks Milwaukee, Hadley
Terrace Bldg., The Hadley Commons Room, 3515 West Hadley St, Milwaukee,
WI, 414/449-0459<br>
<x-tab>        </x-tab>12:50 p.m.
- - National Council of State Legislatures, Navy Pier Convention Center,
Grand Ballroom, 600 East Grand Avenue, Chicago, IL, 312/595-5355<br>
<br>
<b>OnPolitics Live: Vice President Gore<br>
</b>Monday, July 10, 2000 Washington Post Online<br>
<a=
 href=3D"http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/liveonline/00/politics/freemed=
ia071000_gore.htm"=
 eudora=3D"autourl">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/liveonline/00/polit=
ics/freemedia071000_gore.htm</a><br>
<x-tab>        </x-tab><br>
Free Media: <br>
Good afternoon, Vice President Gore, and welcome.  Given the failed
test this weekend of the missile defense system, many of our readers have
written in to ask you about it.  This first question is from--<br>
<br>
Bloomington, Ind.: What effect have the results of the recent test of the
proposed National Missile Defense system had on your opinion of the
short-term necessity of its deployment? Your opponent, Gov. Bush, seems
to favor a very robust system, despite technological and diplomatic odds,
which leads me to hope your position will remain more open, and based on
the true need and viability, not domestic political sentiment.<br>
<br>
Vice President Gore: OK. Here we go. I favor an effort to develop a
limited missile defense system -- and not a massive "star wars"
system (for reasons I'll briefly describe) -- because our country will
probably face a new threat later in this decade  from a small
arsenal of relatively unsophisticated ICBMs in the hands of a so-called
rogue state.  The failure of the test last Friday night doesn't mean
that such a system is impossible to build, although the specific lessons
from the failure will have to await a more thorough analysis.  The
much larger, space-based star wars approach that Gov. Bush is committed
to is far more difficult to design and build, far more expensive to
purchase, less likely to work, and is calculated to destroy existing arms
control arrangements with the Russians which have calmed down the old
arms race for the last 28 years, ever since the ABM Treaty was
signed....<br>
<br>
Fort Bragg, N.C.: <br>
I am a soldier in the 82nd Airborne Division and I am  curious as to
how you would react to the situation in the Middle East if the peace
talks fail. It seems that they are already faltering and I am worried
that I might be deployed to participate in a war that does not directly
concern this country in any way.<br>
<br>
Vice President Gore: My hope and prayer is that these talks will succeed.
Bear in mind that Israel has never asked for help from American soldiers.
Israel is our closest ally in the region and the only true democracy, and
we will always support her.....<br>
<br>
New  York, N.Y.: <br>
If Fidel Castro were to live another 25 years, which is possible, can you
conceive of  the possibility of your  <br>
opening up to Cuba since he no longer  has  the
threat  of the cold  war Soviet Union backing him up?<br>
<br>
Vice President Gore: I favor only openings to the Cuban people -- not to
the Castro government.  Incidentally, you can find more detail on
virtually all of these exchanges on my campaign Web site algore2000.com
webster.  Also, you can register to vote online at
<a href=3D"http://www.algore2000.com/briefingroom/releases/pr_0710_nat_1.htm=
l"=
 eudora=3D"autourl">http://www.algore2000.com/briefingroom/releases/pr_0710_=
nat_1.html</a>....<br>
<br>
Manhattan, Kan.: <br>
With current scientific knowledge of the Yucca Mountain Permananent Waste
Repository, will you recommend that the site be built if elected as
president?<br>
<br>
Vice President Gore: We don't have the results of the full scientific
analysis yet.  The decision should be based strictly on the science
and not on politics. <br>
<br>
Portland, Ore.: <br>
Why do you support capital punishment?<br>
<br>
Vice President Gore: I support it for particularly heinous crimes because
I believe there are some offenses for which it is just. I know that many
feel it does not really have a deterrent effect, but I think it probably
does.  I want to add, though, that I strongly support the use of the
new DNA techniques that can make our criminal justice system fairer and
more accurate.... I deeply respect those who are opposed to the death
penalty on moral grounds, but I do support it.<br>
<br>
Free Media: <br>
How did Vice President Gore do? What questions do you wish he had
answered?  What's your opinion?
<a href=3D"http://www.delphi.com/wppolitics/messages?msg=3D802.1"=
 eudora=3D"autourl">http://www.delphi.com/wppolitics/messages?msg=3D802.1</a=
><br>
Send a copy to
<a href=3D"mailto:[e-mail]"=
 eudora=3D"autourl">mailto:[e-mail]</a><br>
<br>
<br>
<br>


___________________________________________________<br>
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------------------------------

Date: Tue, 18 Jul 2000 14:01:07 EDT
From: [e-mail]
Subject: (abolition-usa) Actions on missile control regime

Hi Karina - A paper on the need for a missile control regime, with a flight
test ban as the first step, is being prepared by an Abolition 2000 informal
working group. A simple program that could be promoted should be possible to
formulate based on that paper.

Canada in general terms has supported working towards missile control, also
Russia as mentioned in my letter. (Statements of governments at NPT Rev Conf
re BMD are collected at www.basicint.org) China in seeking a committee on
prevention of an arms race in outer space at the Conference on Disarmament in
Geneva probably would be supportive. Of course, governments like Russia,
China, and US would be very wary in any missile control talks of control
being exercised over their missiles. In fact, Russia's proposal is for
missile non-proliferation, with no Article VI equivalent!

Once we have a paper/program, I think it would be worthwhile to push it with
governments. It's not something that New Agenda Coalition or Middle Powers
Initiative has taken up at the moment, but they certainly are good candidate.

This of course is something that has been proposed before, for example by
Federation of American Scientists in early 1990s and International Network of
Engineers and Scientists Against Proliferation in the mid 1990s. But given
the salience of missile "defense" now, it's a good time to revive the idea. -
John

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

Date: Tue, 18 Jul 2000 14:09:28 -0400
From: ASlater <[e-mail]>
Subject: (abolition-usa) Fwd: GAP on Hanford fire emissions

>
>Government Accountability Project
>http://www.whistleblower.org/www/hanfire.htm
>
>
>
>GAP QUESTIONS GOVERNMENT ASSURANCES ON HANFORD FIRE
>
>Seattle, WA: A non-profit watchdog organization today
>criticized continued government assurances claiming that
>radioactive releases, including plutonium, from the range
>fire at the Hanford Nuclear Site did not pose a health
>threat.
>
>Started by a fatal car collision in highway 240 on June 28,
>the Hanford wildfire scorched 190,000 acres of land,
>including portions of the Hanford Nuclear Reservation. The
>fire necessitated the closing of Highway 240, evacuation of
>Benton City and West Richland, skeleton work crews at
>Hanford and the declaration of a state of emergency by
>Governor Gary Locke. Fire fighters from around the state
>came to assist in putting out the Hanford wildfire. The fire
>came within a half mile of 350 barrels of waste containing
>uranium chips and powder along with toxic and hazardous
>waste constituents well above legal limits.
>
>Officials have admitted that radioactive waste sites were
>among the areas that were burned by the fire, including the
>highly-contaminated B/C Cribs in the 200 West Area, that
>contain large quantities of high and low-level waste
>disposed of in years past directly to the soil in liquid
>form. Recent results show that plutonium was detected in air
>monitors around the facility, although Washington Department
>of Health's spokeswoman Debrah McBaugh was quoted as saying,
>"I'm confident there's not going to be a health risk
>problem."
>
>The government has performed studies in the past calculating
>the amount of radiation that might be released from a range
>fire at the Hanford Site. A 1975 environmental report
>estimated that 32 curies of strontium-90 and 8 curies of
>cesium-137 are held in the vegetation, organic debris,
>sagebrush and soil in the B-C Crib Controlled Area. The
>report estimated that as much as 3.2 curies of strontium-90
>and .8 curies of cesium-137 would be released by a fire, but
>significantly, also postulated that wind dispersal following
>a fire would release as much as 12 curies of strontium and
>3.2 curies of cesium. Significant biological doses of these
>substances occur at levels measured at billionths of a
>curie.
>
>Uncontrolled fires on nuclear sites raise the specter of
>safety systems disrupted, loss of power, the destruction of
>critical instrumentation and a risk of an uncontrolled
>release with the potential for human health consequences.
>
>For instance, in the 300 Area, (300-FF-1 - Operable Unit
>618-4 Burial Ground Drummed Waste) some 350 drums of
>uranium-bearing materials, mixed with hazardous materials
>such as trichloroethylene, benzene and PCB's, as well as
>heavy metal constituents, sit unprotected in the open air.
>An eight-foot wall of flame came within a half mile from
>these drums, which have been characterized as potentially
>hazardous. One internal memo described that a single drum,
>once it ignites, would send flames as high as 20 to 30 feet
>into the air, obviously volatilizing the chemical and
>radioactive constituents inside the drums. The drums are not
>RCRA-compliant, according to an internal analysis by Bechtel
>Hanford.
>
>On Tuesday, July 11, 2000, the Department of Energy granted
>the request of the Government Accountability Project to
>access the Hanford Site and observe the fire damage, as well
>as to take samples from several areas impacted by the fire.
>GAP attorney Tom Carpenter and scientist Norm Buske,
>accompanied by representatives of the Department and the
>some news media reporters, went to various sites, including
>the B-C Cribs, and acquired several samples. Those samples
>were slightly elevated in radioactivity, according to field
>instruments, and will be analyzed in laboratories in the
>next few weeks.
>
>The admission by the DOE that plutonium was detected in
>ambient air samplers worried some scientists and doctors.
>Plutonium "is extremely toxic," Dr. Tim Takaro a professor
>in the University of Washington's occupational and
>environmental medicine program told the Seattle Post
>Intelligencer. "If you get plutonium in the wrong place in
>the lung, that can cause cancer."
>
>Tom Carpenter, the Director of the West Coast Office of GAP,
>stated, "We appreciate the open attitude of the Department
>in allowing us to access the Hanford Site and to take
>samples - - the first sampling of its kind by a public
>interest group at Hanford, and perhaps within the entire DOE
>nuclear complex. The access was a significant step for the
>public interest, and Keith Klein (Manager of the DOE's
>Hanford office) deserves credit for his actions."
>
>The fires at the Los Alamos and Hanford sites raise some
>important systemic questions and spotlight certain issues
>requiring attention for the future. These include - -
>
>The necessity for DOE to develop a wildfire protection
>policy at Hanford and throughout the nationwide complex;
>The necessity for DOE to assure adequate emergency response
>capability to meet wildfire scenarios;
>The necessity of treating firefighters as radiation workers,
>with the attendant protections and monitoring for potential
>radiation exposure;
>The necessity of having aircraft available to sample smoke
>clouds for all types of radioactivity;
>
>GAP has requested that DOE-RL identify dangerous areas
>vulnerable to fire, and take immediate steps to mitigate the
>consequences of such a fire in the future. Further, we have
>requested that DOE undertake a site-wide vulnerability
>assessment and develop a corrective action plan that would
>presumably include built-in firebreaks, the reduction of
>fire loads, the mitigation of encroachment capability, and
>development of a reliable fire-worthy ambient monitoring
>system. Finally, we have asked DOE and EPA to work out a
>plan to immediately remove the drums containing radioactive
>and toxic materials in the 300 Area to a safe storage
>location, and not exposed to the elements.
>
>This page will be updated as the story develops.
>
>**************************************
>Susan Gordon, Director
>Alliance for Nuclear Accountability
>www.ananuclear.org
>1914 N 34th, Suite #407, Seattle, WA 98103
>ph 206-547-3175  fax [phone]
>ANA is a national alliance of organizations working to address
>issues of nuclear weapons production and waste clean-up.
>

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

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