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From: owner-abolition-usa-digest@lists.xmission.com (abolition-usa-digest) To: abolition-usa-digest@lists.xmission.com Subject: abolition-usa-digest V1 #459 Reply-To: abolition-usa-digest Sender: owner-abolition-usa-digest@lists.xmission.com Errors-To: owner-abolition-usa-digest@lists.xmission.com Precedence: bulk abolition-usa-digest Friday, August 24 2001 Volume 01 : Number 459 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sun, 19 Aug 2001 19:56:31 -0500 From: "Boyle, Francis" <FBOYLE@LAW.UIUC.EDU> Subject: (abolition-usa) FW: DOD AWARDS ALASKA STAR WARS CONTRACT =20 - -----Original Message----- From: Boyle, Francis To: 'Global Network Against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space ' Sent: 8/19/2001 5:30 PM Subject: RE: DOD AWARDS ALASKA STAR WARS CONTRACT "We're looking to do possible silo construction and other stuff next April at Fort Greely," Lt. Col. Rick Lehner, spokesman for the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization in Washington D.C., told the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. =20 Most legal experts agree that once they start pouring concrete the ABM Treaty will be violated. so, if we are lucky, we have until the Spring thaw in Alaksa to head this off--assuming they are really telling the truth about what they are going to do between now and December. fab. - -----Original Message----- From: Global Network Against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space To: Undisclosed-Recipient:;@mindspring.com; Sent: 8/19/2001 4:34 PM Subject: DOD AWARDS ALASKA STAR WARS CONTRACT Government awards missile defense contract in Alaska http://www.nandotimes.com/politics/story/63883p-916101c.html <http://www.nandotimes.com/politics/story/63883p-916101c.html>=20 =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D + = =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D Politics: Government awards missile defense contract in Alaska=20 =20 The Associated Press=20 FAIRBANKS, Alaska (August 19, 2001 9:26 a.m. EDT) - In the government's latest move to build a missile defense shied, the Department of Defense awarded a contract worth nearly $5 million to a Point Hope Native corporation to prepare Fort Greely to become a national missile defense test site. The award is the most concrete step yet in transforming the shuttered base outside Delta Junction into the eventual core of the Pentagon's desired missile shield. The Army Corps of Engineers awarded the site preparation contract Friday to Aglaq Construction Enterprises, a subsidiary of Tikigaq Native Corp. Aglaq will subcontract with a Fairbanks firm, Brice Inc. The contract calls for the company to clear trees to allow for the future installation of interceptor missile silos, build a main access road, drill two water wells, and conduct other work, including soil excavation and grading. The Army Corps of Engineers plans to issue a formal notice of the contract next week and work could start immediately afterward. The contract calls for the site work to be completed by mid-December. The Pentagon hopes to subsequently construct up to five missile silos at Fort Greely as part of an expanded Pacific "test bed" for the proposed national missile defense system. Proposed funding for that work awaits congressional approval. "We're looking to do possible silo construction and other stuff next April at Fort Greely," Lt. Col. Rick Lehner, spokesman for the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization in Washington D.C., told the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. =20 =20 Copyright =A9 2001 Nando Media =20 Global Network Against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space PO Box 90083 Gainesville, FL 32607 (352) 337-9274 http://www.space4peace.org <http://www.space4peace.org>=20 globalnet@mindspring.com <mailto:globalnet@mindspring.com>=20 - - To unsubscribe to abolition-usa, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" with "unsubscribe abolition-usa" in the body of the message. For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send "help" to the same address. Do not use quotes in your message. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 21 Aug 2001 13:17:09 -0400 From: David Culp <david@fcnl.org> Subject: (abolition-usa) Helms to announce retirement Wednesday HELMS TO ANNOUNCE RETIREMENT WEDNESDAY The Hill, Tuesday, August 21 By Allison Stevens Sen. Jesse Helms (R-N.C.) will announce Wednesday that he will not seek reelection to a sixth term next year, The Hill has learned. The 79-year-old conservative icon will make the announcement tomorrow night on WRAL-TV, the Raleigh television station where he first gained a statewide following as a political commentator for 12 years before winning his Senate seat in 1972. Helms, who stepped down as chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee in June after Democrats took control of the Senate, has been plagued by health problems in recent years. Sources close to Helms said he had tentatively decided earlier this year against seeking reelection, but put the decision off because he felt pressured by fellow Republicans to step aside for a younger candidate. The sources said Helms was angered when Sen. Bill Frist (R-Tenn.), who heads the National Republican Senatorial Committee, urged him to step aside earlier this year after showing him a poll that indicated he would be vulnerable. Frist reportedly suggested that Elizabeth Dole would be a stronger candidate. Dole, a North Carolina native and former Cabinet member who ran for the Republican presidential nomination last year, has indicated a strong interest in running, and would be regarded as the top candidate for the GOP nomination. However, at least three other candidates are also eyeing Helms' Senate seat, including Reps. Richard Burr and Robin Hayes; former Sen. Lauch Faircloth, who was defeated in 2000 by Democrat John Edwards; former Charlotte Richard Vinroot and trial attorney Jim Snyder. At least two Democrats have said they plan to run, including Secretary of State Elaine Marshall and state Rep. Dan Blue. Rep. Bob Etheridge is also said to be mulling a bid. State Sen. Eric Reeves, however, withdrew his name from consideration last week. ### - - To unsubscribe to abolition-usa, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" with "unsubscribe abolition-usa" in the body of the message. For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send "help" to the same address. Do not use quotes in your message. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 22 Aug 2001 09:51:53 -0600 From: Carah Lynn Ong <admin@abolition2000.org> Subject: (abolition-usa) Respond to lori@bullfrogfilms.com Hello, I represent an educational film distributor with a new film about the history of nuclear proliferation. I have several questions which members of the list may be able to answer. 1 Are there any up-coming conferences or symposia on anti-nuclear issues that might be interested in screening the film during their program? 2 We are seeking established historians, anti-nuclear activists and scientists based in the US or Canada to write a usable review. This would consist of a couple of sentences to a paragraph of sparkling prose aimed at fellow professors, discussing the merits of the film as well as any valid criticism. These comments would be used in our catalog & postcard review copy and would be credited to by whatever designation seems most appropriate (such as "author of ____" "Director of _____" etc.) Anyone interested can contact me by emailing lori@bullfrogfilms.com. In addition, free previews for purchase evaluation are available to funded media buyers at organizations and institutions. Contact us for details. Here is a description of the film: NUCLEAR DYNAMITE In the 1950s Edward Teller, the co-inventor of the H-bomb proposed using "the great and violent power" of the atom bomb for peaceful purposes. NUCLEAR DYNAMITE explores the Soviet-American race to develop nuclear explosives for gigantic megaprojects. Scientists planned to harness the power of the bomb to launch huge spaceships, dig an instant harbor in Alaska, blast out oil and gas deposits, cut through mountain ranges, and dig a new Panama canal with 300 explosions. More than 150 nuclear blasts were carried out between 1958 and 1988 before this bizarre and extraordinary atomic dream was destroyed by the emergence of the environmental movements in both countries. For more information about this film go to: www.bullfrogfilms.com/catalog/nd.html Thank you for your time and I hope to hear from you soon. All the best, Lori Kata Bullfrog Films - - To unsubscribe to abolition-usa, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" with "unsubscribe abolition-usa" in the body of the message. For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send "help" to the same address. Do not use quotes in your message. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 22 Aug 2001 13:01:49 -0600 From: Carah Lynn Ong <admin@abolition2000.org> Subject: (abolition-usa) Urgent Action on Yucca Mountain - --============_-1213615581==_ma============ Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" ; format="flowed" Your action is needed now. The Department of Energy (DoE) is taking the next step to make Yucca Mountain, Nevada, a permanent high-level radioactive waste repository. The site is situated on sacred Western Shoshone land. The DoE has just released a new report entitled "The Yucca Mountain Preliminary Site Suitability Evaluation" (YMP PSSE). You can visit http://www.ymp.gov to request a copy of the full report. Citizens can write in comments about the report and the Yucca Mountain project or attend public hearings on the issue before the Secretary of Energy makes his recommendation to the President George W. Bush. This email contains the announcement from the Office of Civilian Radioactive Management on the release of the YMP PSSE and the scheduled public hearing dates and times. For more background information on the YMP, visit http://www.shundahai.org and http://www.ymp.gov. Even if you can't attend the public hearings, you have the opportunity to write in your comments on the project before the comment period closure. Written comments must be received by September 20, 2001. Carah Ong [Federal Register: August 21, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 162)] [Notices] [Page 43850-43851] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr21au01-54] ======================================================================= - ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management Site Recommendation Consideration Hearings and End of Public Comment Period; Yucca Mountain Preliminary Site Suitability Evaluation AGENCY: Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management, Department of Energy. ACTION: Notice of public hearings and public comment period closure; document availability. - ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Department of Energy (the Department) announces the scheduling of public hearings on the possible recommendation by the Secretary of Energy to the President of the Yucca Mountain Site in Nevada for development as a spent nuclear fuel and high-level nuclear waste geologic repository, pursuant to Section 114(a)(1) of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 (NWPA), as amended. The Department also announces the availability of the Yucca Mountain Preliminary Site Suitability Evaluation (PSSE) for the Yucca Mountain site in Nevada and the date for the closure of the public comment period on the Secretary's consideration of a possible site recommendation. DATES: Public Hearings are scheduled for the following dates, locations and times: September 5, 2001: Suncoast Hotel and Casino, 9090 Alta Drive, Las Vegas, Nevada, 89144, 5:00 pm--9:00 pm-- [[Page 43851]] Poster Session; 6:00 pm--9:00 pm--Hearing. September 12, 2001: Longstreet Inn and Casino, Highway 373, Armagosa Valley, Nevada 89020; 5:00 pm--9:00 pm--Poster Session; 6:00 pm--9:00 pm--Hearing. September 13, 2001: Bob Ruud Community Center, 150 Highway North #160, Pahrump, Nevada 89048, 5:00 pm-9:00 pm--Poster Session; 6:00 pm- 9:00 pm--Hearing. The public also may submit written comments on the Secretary's consideration of Yucca Mountain for a potential site recommendation to the President. Written comments will be accepted for consideration if received by September 20, 2001. Comments received after September 20, 2001, will be considered to the extent practicable. ADDRESSES: Written comments should be addressed to Carol Hanlon, U.S. Department of Energy, Yucca Mountain Site Characterization Office, (M/S #025), P.O. Box 30307, North Las Vegas, Nevada 89036-0307, or provided by electronic mail to <mailto:YMP_SR@ymp.gov>YMP_SR@ymp.gov. Written comments should be identified on the outside of the envelope, and on the comments themselves, with the designation: ``Possible Site Recommendation for Yucca Mountain.'' Comments can also be submitted by facsimile to 1-800- 967-0739. Copies of any written comments, and documents referenced in this notice may be inspected and photocopied in the Department's Freedom of Information Act Reading Room located at the Yucca Mountain Science Center, 4101B Meadows Lane, Las Vegas, Nevada, (702) 295-1312, between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, except for Federal holidays. Documents referenced in this notice may also be found on the Internet at <http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=leavingFR.html&log=linklog&to=http://www.ymp.gov>http:// www.ymp.gov and at <http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=leavingFR.html&log=linklog&to=http://www.rw.doe.gov>http://www.rw.doe.gov. For more information concerning public participation, please refer to the Opportunity for Public Comment section of this notice. Copies of the PSSE and other supporting technical documents may be requested by telephone (1-800-967-3477) or over the Internet via the Yucca Mountain Project website using the document ordering form at <http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=leavingFR.html&log=linklog&to=http://www.ymp.gov>http://www.ymp.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management, Yucca Mountain Site Characterization Office, (M/S #025), P.O. Box 30307, North Las Vegas, Nevada 89036-0307, 1-800-967-3477. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Background On May 7, 2001, the Department announced in the Federal Register (66 FR 23013-23016) the initiation of a public comment period on the Secretary's consideration of the Yucca Mountain site for recommendation as a spent nuclear fuel and high-level waste repository. In conjunction with the initiation of the comment period, the Department issued a report, the Yucca Mountain Science and Engineering Report (YMS&ER), summarizing the scientific and technical information compiled by the Department to date outlining the preliminary design and performance attributes of a potential geologic repository at the Yucca Mountain site. This report was provided to inform the public and facilitate public comment and review on the technical and scientific information and analyses forming the basis for the Department's consideration of a possible site recommendation. With this notice, the Department announces the issuance of another report, the PSSE, that also is intended to inform the public and facilitate public review and comment on a possible site recommendation. The PSSE contains a preliminary evaluation of the suitability of the Yucca Mountain site for development as a geologic repository based on the Department's proposed site suitability regulations, to be codified as 10 CFR part 963. The preliminary evaluation described in the PSSE is based on information contained in the YMS&ER, supplemented by the most recent available technical information. II. Opportunity for Public Comment A. Participation in Comment Process Interested persons are invited to participate in the comment process by submitting written data, views, or comments with respect to the possible recommendation of the Yucca Mountain site. The Department encourages the maximum level of public participation possible in this process. Individuals, coalitions, states or other government entities, and others are urged to submit written comments on technical, policy or other issues related to the possible recommendation of the Yucca Mountain site. B. Written Comment Procedures The Department invites the public to comment on a possible recommendation for the Yucca Mountain site. Written comments should be identified on the outside of the envelope, and on the comments themselves, with the designation: ``Possible Site Recommendation for Yucca Mountain.'' In the event any person wishing to submit written comments cannot provide them directly, alternative arrangements can be made by calling 1-800-967-3477. All comments postmarked by the closing date of the public comment period will be considered by the Department before a decision is made on the potential site recommendation. Comments postmarked after the closing date will be considered to the extent practicable. All comments submitted will be available for examination at the Yucca Mountain Science Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. Pursuant to the provisions of 10 CFR 1004.11, any person submitting information or data that is believed to be confidential, and which may be exempt by law from public disclosure, should submit one complete copy, as well as two copies from which the information considered confidential has been deleted. The Department of Energy will make its own determination of any such claim and treat it accordingly. C. Public Hearings At the beginning of this notice, the Department has indicated where and when there will be public hearings for the site consideration process. As required by the NWPA, the Department will hold these hearings in the vicinity of Yucca Mountain to inform and receive comments from those in the vicinity of the site. These hearings will not be trial-type evidentiary hearings that require a lawyer. They will be informal, and the Department intends to use a facilitator in an effort to ensure they are fair and productive. Issued in Washington, DC on August 16, 2001. Lake Barrett, Acting Director, Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management. [FR Doc. 01-21088 Filed 8-20-01; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6450-01-P - --============_-1213615581==_ma============ Content-Type: text/html; charset="us-ascii" <!doctype html public "-//W3C//DTD W3 HTML//EN"> <html><head><style type="text/css"></style><title>Urgent Action on Yucca Mountain</title></head><body> <div>Your action is needed now. The Department of Energy (DoE) is taking the next step to make Yucca Mountain, Nevada, a permanent high-level radioactive waste repository. The site is situated on sacred Western Shoshone land. The DoE has just released a new report entitled "The Yucca Mountain Preliminary Site Suitability Evaluation" (YMP PSSE). You can visit http://www.ymp.gov to request a copy of the full report. Citizens can write in comments about the report and the Yucca Mountain project or attend public hearings on the issue before the Secretary of Energy makes his recommendation to the President George W. Bush. </div> <div> </div> <div>This email contains the announcement from the Office of Civilian Radioactive Management on the release of the YMP PSSE and the scheduled public hearing dates and times. For more background information on the YMP, visit http://www.shundahai.org and http://www.ymp.gov.</div> <div> </div> <div>Even if you can't attend the public hearings, you have the opportunity to write in your comments on the project before the comment period closure. Written comments must be received by September 20, 2001.</div> <div> </div> <div>Carah Ong</div> <div><tt> </tt></div> <div><tt> </tt></div> <div><tt> </tt></div> <div><tt>[Federal Register: August 21, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 162)] [Notices] [Page 43850-43851] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr21au01-54] ======================================================================= - ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management Site Recommendation Consideration Hearings and End of Public Comment Period; Yucca Mountain Preliminary Site Suitability Evaluation AGENCY: Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management, Department of Energy. ACTION: Notice of public hearings and public comment period closure; document availability. - ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Department of Energy (the Department) announces the scheduling of public hearings on the possible recommendation by the Secretary of Energy to the President of the Yucca Mountain Site in Nevada for development as a spent nuclear fuel and high-level nuclear waste geologic repository, pursuant to Section 114(a)(1) of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 (NWPA), as amended. The Department also announces the availability of the Yucca Mountain Preliminary Site Suitability Evaluation (PSSE) for the Yucca Mountain site in Nevada and the date for the closure of the public comment period on the Secretary's consideration of a possible site recommendation. DATES: Public Hearings are scheduled for the following dates, locations and times: September 5, 2001: Suncoast Hotel and Casino, 9090 Alta Drive, Las Vegas, Nevada, 89144, 5:00 pm--9:00 pm-- [[Page 43851]] Poster Session; 6:00 pm--9:00 pm--Hearing. September 12, 2001: Longstreet Inn and Casino, Highway 373, Armagosa Valley, Nevada 89020; 5:00 pm--9:00 pm--Poster Session; 6:00 pm--9:00 pm--Hearing. September 13, 2001: Bob Ruud Community Center, 150 Highway North #160, Pahrump, Nevada 89048, 5:00 pm-9:00 pm--Poster Session; 6:00 pm- 9:00 pm--Hearing. The public also may submit written comments on the Secretary's consideration of Yucca Mountain for a potential site recommendation to the President. Written comments will be accepted for consideration if received by September 20, 2001. Comments received after September 20, 2001, will be considered to the extent practicable. ADDRESSES: Written comments should be addressed to Carol Hanlon, U.S. Department of Energy, Yucca Mountain Site Characterization Office, (M/S #025), P.O. Box 30307, North Las Vegas, Nevada 89036-0307, or provided by electronic mail to</tt> <a href="mailto:YMP_SR@ymp.gov"><tt>YMP_SR@ymp.gov</tt></a><tt>. Written comments should be identified on the outside of the envelope, and on the comments themselves, with the designation: ``Possible Site Recommendation for</tt></div> <div><tt>Yucca Mountain.'' Comments can also be submitted by facsimile to 1-800- 967-0739. Copies of any written comments, and documents referenced in this notice may be inspected and photocopied in the Department's Freedom of Information Act Reading Room located at the Yucca Mountain Science Center, 4101B Meadows Lane, Las Vegas, Nevada, (702) 295-1312, between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, except for Federal holidays. Documents referenced in this notice may also be found on the Internet at</tt> <a href= "http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=leavingFR.html&log=linklog&to=http://www.ymp.gov"><tt>http:// www.ymp.gov</tt></a><tt> and at</tt> <a href= "http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=leavingFR.html&log=linklog&to=http://www.rw.doe.gov"><tt>http://www.rw.doe.gov</tt></a><tt>. For more information concerning public participation, please refer to the Opportunity for Public Comment section of this notice. Copies of the PSSE and other supporting technical documents may be requested by telephone (1-800-967-3477) or over the Internet via the Yucca Mountain Project website using the document ordering form at</tt></div> <div><a href= "http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=leavingFR.html&log=linklog&to=http://www.ymp.gov"><tt>http://www.ymp.gov</tt></a><tt>. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management, Yucca Mountain Site Characterization Office, (M/S #025), P.O. Box 30307, North Las Vegas, Nevada 89036-0307, 1-800-967-3477. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Background On May 7, 2001, the Department announced in the Federal Register (66 FR 23013-23016) the initiation of a public comment period on the Secretary's consideration of the Yucca Mountain site for recommendation as a spent nuclear fuel and high-level waste repository. In conjunction with the initiation of the comment period, the Department issued a report, the Yucca Mountain Science and Engineering Report (YMS&ER), summarizing the scientific and technical information compiled by the Department to date outlining the preliminary design and performance attributes of a potential geologic repository at the Yucca Mountain site. This report was provided to inform the public and facilitate public comment and review on the technical and scientific information and analyses forming the basis for the Department's consideration of a possible site recommendation. With this notice, the Department announces the issuance of another report, the PSSE, that also is intended to inform the public and facilitate public review and comment on a possible site recommendation. The PSSE contains a preliminary evaluation of the suitability of the Yucca Mountain site for development as a geologic repository based on the Department's proposed site suitability regulations, to be codified as 10 CFR part 963. The preliminary evaluation described in the PSSE is based on information contained in the YMS&ER, supplemented by the most recent available technical information. II. Opportunity for Public Comment A. Participation in Comment Process Interested persons are invited to participate in the comment process by submitting written data, views, or comments with respect to the possible recommendation of the Yucca Mountain site. The Department encourages the maximum level of public participation possible in this process. Individuals, coalitions, states or other government entities, and others are urged to submit written comments on technical, policy or other issues related to the possible recommendation of the Yucca Mountain site. B. Written Comment Procedures The Department invites the public to comment on a possible recommendation for the Yucca Mountain site. Written comments should be identified on the outside of the envelope, and on the comments themselves, with the designation: ``Possible Site Recommendation for Yucca Mountain.'' In the event any person wishing to submit written comments cannot provide them directly, alternative arrangements can be made by calling 1-800-967-3477. All comments postmarked by the closing</tt></div> <div><tt>date of the public comment period will be considered by the Department before a decision is made on the potential site recommendation. Comments postmarked after the closing date will be considered to the extent practicable. All comments submitted will be available for examination at the Yucca Mountain Science Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. Pursuant to the provisions of 10 CFR 1004.11, any person submitting information or data that is believed to be confidential, and which may be exempt by law from public disclosure, should submit one complete copy, as well as two copies from which the information considered confidential has been deleted. The Department of Energy will make its own determination of any such claim and treat it accordingly. C. Public Hearings At the beginning of this notice, the Department has indicated where and when there will be public hearings for the site consideration process. As required by the NWPA, the Department will hold these hearings in the vicinity of Yucca Mountain to inform and receive comments from those in the vicinity of the site. These hearings will not be trial-type evidentiary hearings that require a lawyer. They will be informal, and the Department intends to use a facilitator in an effort to ensure they are fair and productive. Issued in Washington, DC on August 16, 2001. Lake Barrett, Acting Director, Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management. [FR Doc. 01-21088 Filed 8-20-01; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6450-01-P</tt></div> </body> </html> - --============_-1213615581==_ma============-- - - To unsubscribe to abolition-usa, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" with "unsubscribe abolition-usa" in the body of the message. For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send "help" to the same address. Do not use quotes in your message. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 24 Aug 2001 13:56:02 -0400 From: ASlater <aslater@gracelinks.org> Subject: (abolition-usa) Fwd: Bad news: RI Peace Action's meeting w/ Sen. Jack Reed >Date: Fri, 24 Aug 2001 11:57:19 -0400 >Subject: Bad news: RI Peace Action's meeting w/ Sen. Jack Reed >To: palist@peace-action.org >From: "slynch@peace-action.org" <slynch@peace-action.org> > > >Subject: a wake up call on NMD > > >Dear all, > >I had a very disheartening meeting with Senator Reed this morning here >in Rhode Island. There is virtually no fight in him against Bush's Star >Wars and the demise of the ABM Treaty. This is not exactly a surprise, >but he was worse than I thought, and as he is the Senate Democrats' main >man on Star Wars (he is currently drafting the provision on Star Wars >for the 2002 Senate Defense Authorization Bill) I believe his responses >are very instructive for Project Abolition's work, so read on if >interested... > >Meeting with Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) on Star Wars missile defense >Thursday, August 23, 2001 >Cranston district office, Rhode Island > >Notes by Karina Wood, Fourth Freedom Forum and Rhode Island Peace Action > >Rhode Island Peace Action (RIPA) arranged this meeting with Senator >Reed, in person, to discuss Star Wars missile defense. > >Attendees: >Karina Wood, RIPA >Ned Hastings, RIPA >Sue Hastings, RIPA >Rev. Sharon Key, Interim Executive Minister, Rhode Island State Council >of Churches >Diana Burdett, Chair, Department of Advocacy/Justice and Service, Rhode >Island State Council of Churches > > Karina opened the meeting with a general statement emphasizing our >organizations' strong political and moral opposition to Star Wars, and >referred to Under Secretary of Defense Bolton's reckless November >deadline ultimatum to Russia on the ABM Treaty as raising the issue to a >new crisis level which demands urgent action. > >We urged Reed and Senate Democrats to: >=B7 call Senate hearings on the imminently threatened US withdrawal from >ABM Treaty; >=B7 advocate deep cuts in the 2002 defense budget for Star Wars; >=B7 go on the offensive against the Administration's proposals and >articulate an alternative security model to Star Wars based on >international cooperation, negotiating agreements with so-called rogue >states banning testing, development and sale of ballistic missiles, and >nuclear disarmament; >=B7 mount a high-profile public relations campaign against the >Administration's proposals, with hard-hitting TV and billboard ads that >call attention to the Bush tax cut that has squandered the budget >surplus, how we cannot afford to spend money we do not have on a system >that does not work to meet a threat that does not exist, the rigged >missile tests, and how breaking the ABM Treaty is a reckless and >dangerous approach, etc, etc. > > Reed's responses were depressing. He did not express interest in >pursuing any of the above recommendations. He shot them all down. > He talked about the ABM Treaty almost in the past tense, as if he= has >resigned himself to its dissolution. He said he thought it was fairly >likely (he mentioned a 30% chance) that Russia would agree to amend the >ABM Treaty or agree to work out an alternative security arrangement with >the US, and spoke as if this was not necessarily a bad thing. > He does not believe that continued testing of Star Wars and withdrawal >from the ABM Treaty will spark an arms race; he said that China will >likely upgrade their nuclear arsenal regardless of Star Wars, and he >doesn't believe Russia will follow through on their rhetoric about >bolstering their nuclear arsenal if we pursue Star Wars. > He buys into the Bush Administration's premise of a real and= looming >missile threat. He favors a "robust testing" program, and will advocate >funding more tests next year, saying that it would be "irresponsible" of >Democrats to oppose testing of a system that might be proven to work one >day and which the US might need to deploy in the future to protect us >from the "very real" missile threats that are being developed. > He seeks to distinguish Star Wars funding for testing from funding for >deployment, and wants to cut the deployment funds. When we asked him how >much he will advocate cutting from next year's $8.3 billion, he waffled >quite a bit and when pressed, he said probably somewhere between $1 - 3 >billion. > When pressed about why the Democrats weren't doing more to oppose= the >President's plan, he said that (and this is pretty much verbatim) when a >president, who is the Commander in Chief, has set his mind to a policy >in such a determined way as President Bush has set his mind on Star >Wars, then there is very little the Senate can do to stop him. (can you >believe this statement?!) He reminded us that the Democrats have only a >one vote majority in the Senate and that there is little they can do >beyond what they are doing already. He reminded us that speeches have >been made and hearings have been held. > He kept emphasizing what a "technologically complicated" issue this is, >and how it is difficult to convey to and convince the American public >that we shouldn't build a missile shield. He stated that the American >public wants a missile defense. (We argued this assumption, of course, >pointing out that the Democrats haven't given the public a strongly >argued, convincing alternative, and that polls show support dropping for >Star Wars when people are told of the huge costs, the fact that the >technology doesn't work, the arms race danger etc.). > He called the most recent missile test "a success", and when we argued >that the test was rigged, and was even admitted to as such by the >Pentagon, he said "that is an argument that has been made." He's not >even willing to criticize the Administration's blatant test rigging! > > So, basically, if Reed is representative of Senate Democrats who >present themselves as critical of Bush's Star Wars - and I believe he is >- then we are in more trouble than I thought. We should not characterize >the Democrats in Congress as our "allies" or "supporters" in the >campaign against Star Wars. The vast majority are spineless apologists, >unwilling to mount a real fight, wary of being called "weak on defense" >if they challenge the testing program, content to counter with a >Clintonesque "Star Wars Lite," they will huff and puff a little and >sound off righteously about the ABM Treaty's imminent demise, but we >cannot count on them to actually do anything to seriously damage or halt >the program. > > We need to continue to develop and intensify our grassroots= campaign >against Star Wars, and exert serious political pressure (through >grassroots lobbying and a targeted media campaign) upon Democrats who, >like Reed, Levin, Daschle and co, have made some promising public >statements against Star Wars, but who are not committed to following >through with action. > >-- >=D0=CF=E0=A1=B1 > =20 - - To unsubscribe to abolition-usa, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" with "unsubscribe abolition-usa" in the body of the message. For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send "help" to the same address. Do not use quotes in your message. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 24 Aug 2001 18:48:20 +0100 From: Sally Light <sallight1@earthlink.net> Subject: (abolition-usa) Nevada Desert Experience Media Advisory - For Immediate Release NEVADA DESERT EXPERIENCE AUGUST 24, 2001 - MEDIA ADVISORY =96 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Sally Light, Executive Director, Nevada Desert Experience, (510) 527-2057 PEACE ACTIVIST ARRESTED AT NEVADA TEST SITE. AUTHORITIES PROSECUTE THIS TYPE OF =93TREPASS=94 FOR THE FIRST TIME IN ABOUT TEN YEARS. Erik Thompson, 44, of Las Vegas, NV, was arrested for trespass within 5 feet of the perimeter fence of the US Department of Energy=92s Nevada Tes= t Site early on the morning of August 6. He is facing a trial date of Oct. 4, the first time in about ten years that the authorities have decided to prosecute such a charge rather than to dismiss it. Thompson and a small number of other citizens had gathered there to commemorate the 56th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima in WWII and to call attention to US Government activities at the Test Site which could result in similar nuclear destruction. At least 250,000 people (more than 4 times greater than all American deaths in Vietnam) were killed as the result of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and, three days later, of Nagasaki, in 1945. Since then, more than 1,000 nuclear weapons have been detonated at the Test Site, most of which were 100=92s or 1,000=92s of times more powerful than either of those two bombs. Currently, =93subcritical=94 nuclear tests are still being done at the Te= st Site. Thompson was asked by Nye County Sheriffs Office personnel to cross back through the fence to =93legal=94 territory, but he refused. =93Erik, are we going to play this game?=94 asked Capt. Mike Bordner. =93= It is not a game,=94 responded Thompson, who has been detained at the Test Site on numerous occasions. The authorities offered to drag him off the Test Site, but Thompson offered to accompany a Wackenhut security officer on a walk to =93the cage=94, a 100 foot by 300 foot enclosure built near the entrance to the Test Site for the specific purpose of holding protestors. A short while later, Bordner returned to cite and release the activist. =93First you want me in, and then you want me out,=94 countered Thompson, who frequently refuses to leave detention. Bordner agreed to allow Thompson to remain in custody. Thompson subsequently refused two more offers of release. On the fourth attempt by authorities to release Thompson, Bordner was accompanied by four Wackenhut officers. =93We will give you the same choice as always. You can walk out or we will drag you out,=94 said Bordner. =93I don=92t think I can walk off the Test Site today [the anniversary of Hiroshima],=94 said Thompson, =93but if you want to transp= ort me, I will walk to your vehicle.=94 =93If we transport you, it will be t= o (the jail in) Beatty,=94 replied the officer. Thompson indicated that an= y of the options presented were acceptable, and Bordner decided to have him taken to the jail in Beatty, about one hour north of the Test Site. At Beatty, Thompson refused to post bail and continued to refuse to provide personal information needed to appear before a judge. Thompson has frequently expressed outrage that authorities are able to detain people at the Test Site, but detainees are never allowed to appear in court. Other protestors have gone so far as to call this being =93kidnapped=94 by the authorities. On one occasion a few years ago, Thompson locked himself in the portable toilet in the cage and demanded that a magistrate be brought to him. Authorities eventually forced the door open and drove Thompson to nearby Indian Springs. This time, however, after almost a day and a half in custody, Thompson was brought before a judge. The judge indicated that, since Thompson was not represented by an attorney, he would not impose jail time for a guilty plea at that hearing. It was unclear whether the judge was aware that the over 100 =93arrests=94 for simple trespass at the Test Site in t= his year alone are not likely to be prosecuted by the Nye Country District Attorney. Thompson knew that if he had allowed the officers to drag him from the cage, he would not likely have faced any prosecution. However, for years he has been trying to have a court revisit the issues that the citizen protestors are trying to raise, i.e., that nuclear weapons are illegal and that the US must comply with international law and end its nuclear weapons development program, of which the Test Site is a part. This citizens=92 effort has intensified since the 1996 opinion of the International Court of Justice which stated that nuclear weapons are essentially illegal under Article VI of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, to which the US is a party state. After entering a not guilty plea, Thompson was given a September 20th court date and released on his own recognizance. The date has now been pushed back to October 4th. Sally Light, Executive Director of Nevada Desert Experience, the faith-based organization that organized the August 6 protest at the Test Site, said, =93We view this prosecution as significant, perhaps reflectin= g a sharp change of policy in how authorities plan to treat peaceful protestors at Department of Energy sites, now that the US under Bush is pursuing a much more aggressive direction re: nuclear weapons development, so-called missile defense and =93Star Wars.=94 We condemn t= he US=92 illegally pursuing nuclear weapons development & =93Star Wars=94 in= this so-called =93post cold war era.=94 We condemn the prosecution of a peaceful, faith-based demonstrator attempting to right this wrong.=94 For more information, please call Sally Light at (510) 527-2057. - -30- - - To unsubscribe to abolition-usa, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" with "unsubscribe abolition-usa" in the body of the message. For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send "help" to the same address. Do not use quotes in your message. ------------------------------ End of abolition-usa-digest V1 #459 *********************************** - To unsubscribe to $LIST, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" with "unsubscribe $LIST" in the body of the message. For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send "help" to the same address. Do not use quotes in your message.