From: owner-abolition-usa-digest@lists.xmission.com (abolition-usa-digest) To: abolition-usa-digest@lists.xmission.com Subject: abolition-usa-digest V1 #156 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 Monday, July 26 1999 Volume 01 : Number 156 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 22 Jul 1999 13:51:36 -0400 From: Peacework Subject: RE: (abolition-usa) Please Sign De-Alerting letter to Yeltsin, Cl inton Please sign me up: Patricia Watson, Peacework, AFSC, 2161 Mass, Ave., Cambridge, MA 02140 - - 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: Thu, 22 Jul 1999 17:33:29 -0400 From: ASlater Subject: (abolition-usa) Fwd: Re: URGENT ACTION ALERT - ------Begin forward message------------------------- Return-Path: Date: Thu, 22 Jul 1999 11:37:43 -0400 To: ewesselman@ucsusa.org, , From: Anna Aurilio Subject: Re: URGENT ACTION ALERT Precedence: bulk Hi, this is an important amendment, but we now expect a vote on this next week not today, so folks should use the extra time to generate more support for this pro-environment amendment. Anna At 06:05 PM 7/21/99 -0500, ewesselman@ucsusa.org wrote: >>***UNION OF CONCERNED SCIENTISTS ACTION ALERT*** >> >>US HOUSE APPROPRIATORS CUT FUNDING FOR >>CLEAN RENEWABLE ENERGY BY 30%!!! >> >>Update: >> >>Last month the US Senate passed the Energy and Water >>Appropriations bill with a 10% cut in federal >>funding for renewable energy. On July 20, in the House of >>Representatives, the Appropriations committee approved a bill >>that cuts funding for renewable energy 30% from the Clinton >>Administration's request. This is a 17% cut from the 1999 >>appropriation of $336 million. These deep cuts endanger the >>future of renewable energy programs and jeopardize years of >>hard work to make renewable energy funding a priority. >> >>While UCS thanks everyone who worked to stop the Senate >>from rolling back funding for these vital programs, it is >>vital that we stop these cuts from moving through the >>House. >> >>As the funding bill moves toward a vote by the full >>House, Representative Salmon (R-AZ) and Representative >>Udall (D-CO) are prepared to offer an amendment that will >>restore funding for renewable energy for fiscal year >>2000. The House is likely to vote on the amendment on July 22! >> >>ACTION: Call, fax, write, or email your Representative >>today and: >> >>1) Tell him/her you strongly oppose the deep cuts in >>renewable energy funding in the House Energy and >>Water Appropriations bill; and >> >>2) Urge him/her to support clean energy by >>voting for the Salmon - Udall amendment to increase >>funding for renewable energy research and development >>in the FY2000 Energy & Water Development >>Appropriations bill. >> >>CONTACT INFORMATION: >> >>You can reach your Representative's office by dialing the >>US Capitol Switchboard: (202) 224-3121. >> >>Letters can be mailed to: >> >>The Honorable [Your Representative] >>US House of Representatives >>Washington, DC 20515 >> >>For direct dialing and mailing information, fax >>numbers and email addresses see the US House web page: >>http://www.house.gov/ >> >>Please let us know if you contact your Representative; this >>allows us to monitor how well our >>action alerts are working. You can send a copy of >>your correspondence via mail or email >>to our Washington, DC office: >> >>Lisa Asplen >>Energy Intern >>Union of Concerned Scientists >>1616 P Street NW, Suite 310 >>Washington, DC 20036 >>energyintern@ucsusa.org >> >>Thank you for taking a moment to contact your >>Representative about these important issues! >> >>ADDITIONAL POINTS TO INCLUDE: >> >>* Renewable energy is a rapidly growing part of our >>economy through technological advances, domestic job >>creation and export markets. We currently lead the >>world in energy technologies and do not want to give >>that market away. >> >>* Development of renewable energy sources will reduce >>US dependence on imported oil (we are currently more >>than 50% dependent, much more than during the "oil >>crisis" of the 1970's.) >> >>* Electricity generation is our nation's largest >>source of air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions >>linked to global warming. Strong funding will enable >>the Department of Energy's Renewable Energy program to >>continue playing a vital role in reducing these >>emissions through technological innovations and >>voluntary actions. >> >>* While renewable energy technologies have become >>increasingly economical, the pace of their penetration >>into the market will be determined largely by >>government support for future research and development >>as well as by assistance in catalyzing public-private >>partnerships, leading to full commercialization. >> >> Anna Aurilio Staff Scientist U.S. PIRG 218 D St. SE Washington, DC 20003 (202)546-9707 x315 http://www.pirg.org - ------End forward message--------------------------- Alice Slater Global Resource Action Center for the Environment (GRACE) 15 East 26th Street, Room 915 New York, NY 10010 tel: (212) 726-9161 fax: (212) 726-9160 email: aslater@gracelinks.org GRACE is a member of Abolition 2000, a global network working for a treaty to eliminate nuclear weapons. - - 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: Thu, 22 Jul 1999 22:10:57 EDT From: Mecta@aol.com Subject: Re: (abolition-usa) Please Sign De-Alerting letter to Yeltsin,Clinton David I sent you an e-mail on July the 21. Did you recieve it. this is the letter concerning NDE. Mike - - 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, 23 Jul 1999 16:03:27 +1000 From: FoE Sydney - Nuclear Campaign Subject: (abolition-usa) Y2K N-WEAPONS DE-ALERTING LETTER PLEASE SIGN John Hallam Friends of the Earth Sydney, 17 Lord street, Newtown, NSW, Australia, Fax(61)(2)9517-3902 ph (61)(2)9517-3903 nonukes@foesyd.org.au http://homepages.tig.com.au/~foesyd THIS LETTER IS SEEKING SIGNATURES FROM ORGANISATIONS NOW. IT WILL BE RELEASED TO MEDIA ON AUG 6TH Enclosed is a letter from over 160 environment groups, church groups, trade unions, and politicians from Australia, Europe, Canada, Russia, New Zealand, Japan, and elsewhere, which asks that Russia and the US take strategic nuclear weapons off alert at least ovr the Y2K 'rollover' period. It is based on research by BASIC which we believe, shows that there is an unaccpetable risk of accidental nuclear war due to false alerts over that period. De-Alerting, strongly reccommended by the Canberra Commission in 1996, would help reduce the risk of nuclear weapons catastrope over the Y2K rollover period. As such it is an essential and commonsense measure. FROM: FRIENDS OF THE EARTH INTERNATIONAL FRIENDS OF THE EARTH AUSTRALIA, FRIENDS OF THE EARTH EL SALVADOR, FRIENDS OF THE EARTH UKRAINE, FRIENDS OF THE EARTH FINLAND, FRIENDS OF THE EARTH FRANCE, FRIENDS OF THE EARTH CYPRUS, FRIENDS OF THE EARTH JAPAN SIBERIA PROGRAM AUSTRALIAN PEACE COMMITTEE, MEDICAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE PREVENTION OF WAR, PAX CHRISTI N.S.W., WAYSIDE CHAPEL, UNITING CHURCH IN AUSTRALIA, PITT STREET UNITING CHURCH, PITT ST, SYDNEY, CAMPAIGN FOR INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION AND DISARMAMENT (CICD) AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN ANTI-BASES CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE, PEOPLE FOR NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, N.S.W., WAR RESISTERS INTERNATIONAL AUSTRALIA, THE WILDERNESS SOCIETY, AUSTRALIAN CONSERVATION FOUNDATION, ENVIRONMENT CENTRE OF THE NORTHERN TERRITORY, ARID LANDS ENVIRONMENT CENTRE, BIG SCRUB ENVIRONMENT CENTRE, ENVIRONMENT CENTRE OF W.A., CENTRE FOR URBAN ECOLOGY, S.A., PEOPLE FOR NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT WESTERN AUSTRALIA, EVERYONE FOR A NUCLEAR-FREE FUTURE LISMORE, EVERYONE FOR A NUCLEAR-FREE FUTURE GOLD COAST, PACIFIC CONNECTIONS, TWO BILLION VOICES FOR PEACE PROJECT, UNITED TRADES AND LABOUR COUNCIL SA., UNITED FIREFIGHTERS UNION OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA, MEDIA AND ENTERTAINMENT AND ARTS ALLIANCE S.A., CFMEU, SOUTH AUSTRALIAN BRANCH, A.M.W.U., SA. OFFICE., SENATOR LYN ALLISON, VIC., SENATOR MEG LEES, LEADER, DEMOCRATS, VIC., SENATOR NATASHA STOTT-DESPOJA, DEPUTY LEADER AUSTRALIAN DEMOCRATS, SENATOR VICKY BOURNE, DEMOCRAT SENATOR FOR N.S.W., SENATOR ANDREW BARTLETT, DEMOCRAT SENATOR FOR QUEENSLAND, SENATOR DEE MARGETTS, GREENS, W.A., SENATOR BOB BROWN, GREENS, TAS, SENATOR GEORGE CAMPBELL, ALP, N.S.W., SENATOR MARGARET REYNOLDS, ANTHONY ALBANESE, ALP FEDERAL MP FOR GRAYNDLER, TANYA PLIBERSEK, ALP FEDERAL MP FOR SYDNEY, JANN MC FARLANE, ALP FEDERAL MP FOR STIRLING, W.A., JILL HALL M.P., MEMBER FOR SHORTLAND, IAN COHEN, GREEN MLC, NSW., LEE RHIANNON, GREEN MLC, NSW., SANDRA KANCK, DEMOCRAT MLC, S.A., IAN GILFILLAN, DEMOCRAT MLC, SA, ROBYN GERAGHTY, MP, STATE MEMBER FOR TORRENS, SA, FRANCES BEDFORD, MP, STATE MEMBER FOR FLOREY, SA., LOUISE CROSSLEY, NATIONAL CONVENOR, GREENS, WORLD COURT PROJECT UK, MAJ-BRITT THEORIN, MEP, PRESIDENT, IPB., SENATOR DOUGLAS ROCHE, CANADA, BRITISH-AMERICAN SECURITY INFORMATION CENTRE, US/UK, GREENPEACE INTERNATIONAL, JAPAN CONGRESS AGAINST A AND H-BOMBS (GENSUIKYO) INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF LAWYERS AGAINST NUCLEAR ARMS (IALANA), WOMENS INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE FOR PEACE AND FREEDOM (Geneva/NY), CAMPAIGN FOR NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT U.K., SAFFRON WALDEN GROUP AGAINST NUCLEAR WEAPONS, YOUTH AND STUDENT CAMPAIGN FOR NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, WEST MIDLANDS CAMPAIGN FOR NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, YORKSHIRE CAMPAIGN FOR NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, MEDACT (IPPNW UK), TRIDENT PLOUGHSHARES 2000 NORFOLK UK., NETWORK INFORMATION PROJECT, SOUTHAMPTON,UK, ., CAMPAIGN FOR ACCOUNTABILITY OF U.S., BASES, DISARMAMENT AND SECURITY CENTRE, NZ, *AOTEOROA/NEW ZEALAND PEACE FOUNDATION, AUCKLAND, NZ.,* ENGINEERS FOR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, N.Z., NEW ZEALAND GREENS, NATIONAL CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE ON DISARMAMENT, N.Z., PEACE ACTION DUNEDIN, N.Z., PEACE COUNCIL OF NEW ZEALAND, ABOLITION-2000 NEW ZEALAND, IPPNW NEW ZEALAND, VETERANS FOR PEACE NZ., ARCHITECTS AGAINST NUCLEAR WAR, NZ., C.N.D., VETERANS NEW ZEALAND, CENTRE FOR PEACE STUDIES, UNIV. OF AUCKLAND, NZ, PACIFIC ISLANDS ASSOCIATION OF NGOS, BELAU., MALAYSIAN PHYSICIANS FOR THE PREVENTION OF NUCLEAR WAR, GREEN ACTION KYOTO, WORLD ATOMIC SAFETY HOLIDAY, SENDAI, JAPAN, SOUTH ASIAN COMMUNITY CENTRE FOR EDUCATION AND RESEARCH, NAGERCOIL, INDIA, INDONESIAN NATIONAL NETWORK FORUM ANTI-NUCLEAR SOCIETY, ECODEFENSE KOENIGSBERG/MOSCOW, WISE-KALININGRAD, ANTINUCLEAR CAMPAIGN OF SOCIAL-ECOLOGICAL UNION MOSCOW, PLATAN YOUTH GROUP, KALININGRAD, EDUCATIONAL COMITTEE KALININGRAD REGIONAL DUMA, COMMITTEE OF 100, FINLAND, PEACE UNION OF FINLAND, NORWEGIAN PHYSICIANS AGAINST NUCLEAR WAR (IPPNW) PEACE MOVEMENT OF ESBJERG, DENMARK, WOMENS INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE FOR PEACE AND FREEDOM (FRANCE), MOUVEMENT DE LA PAIX, FRANCE, GLOBAL INITIATIVE FOR IMMEDIATE DISARMAMENT, SWITZERLAND, DARMSTAEDTER FRIEDENSFORUM, GERMANY, NUCLEAR-FREE AWARD, GERMANY, ELIZABETH SCHROEDTER, MEP, CENTRE FOR ENCOUNTER AND ACTIVE NON-VIOLENCE, BAD ISCHL, AUSTRIA, IPPNW AUSTRIA, ANTI-ATOM INTERNATIONAL, AUSTRIA, COORDINATION OFFICE OF AUSTRIAN ENVIRONMENT GROUPS, INDEPENDENT SALZBURG PLATFORM AGAINST NUCLEAR DANGERS, FOR MOTHER EARTH INTERNATIONAL, GHENT, BELGIUM, MDB ENERGY PROJECT, NETHERLANDS, FOR MOTHER EARTH NETHERLANDS, CENTRE FOR INDIGENOUS PEOPLES, NETHERLANDS, ITALIAN LAWYERS AGAINST NUCLEAR ARMS, GLOBAL RESOURCE ACTION CENTRE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT (GRACE) N.Y U.S., NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL COALITION OF NATIVE AMERICANS, NUCLEAR-FREE NEW YORK, TRI-VALLEY CARES, LIVERMORE, CALIF, U.S., SAVE WARD VALLEY, CALIF, U.S., METRO-BOSTON COMMITTEE TO DE-ALERT NUCLEAR WEAPONS, NUCLEAR AGE PEACE FOUNDATION, CALIFORNIA, U.S., PHYSICIANS FOR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, U.S.A, LIVERMORE CONVERSION PROJECT, OAKLAND, CALIF., ACTION SITE TO STOP CASSINI FLYBY, PROPOSITION-1 COMMITTEE, WASHINGTON DC, US., HEALING GLOBAL WOUNDS, TECOPA, CALIF, U.S., UNITING CHURCH OF CHRIST ROCKY MOUNTAIN CONFERENCE, PEACE AND JUSTICE TASK FORCE, METHODISTS UNITED FOR PEACE WITH JUSTICE, USA., INTERNATIONAL CENTRE FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE, SAN FRANCISCO, US, WAR RESISTERS LEAGUE, NY, USA., PEACE RESOURCE CENTRE OF SAN DIEGO, CALIF, U.S., GRANDMOTHERS AND MOTHERS ALLIANCE FOR THE FUTURE, WOMENS ACTION FOR NEW DIRECTIONS, CENTRE FOR ENERGY RESEARCH, OREGON, USA, CITIZENS PROTECTING OHIO, CONCERNED CITIZENS FOR NUCLEAR SAFETY NEW MEXICO, PEACE ACTION USA., METRO NEW YORK PEACE ACTION COUNCIL, USA., PAX CHRISTI U.S.A., PAX CHRISTI NEW YORK, PAX CHRISTI, MORRIS COUNTY, NJ, USA., PAX CHRISTI TEXAS, PAX CHRISTI ST AUGUSTINE FLORIDA, FELLOWSHIP OF RECONCILIATION TASK FORCE ON LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARRIBEAN, ENVIRONMENTAL COALITION ON NUCLEAR POWER, CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA CITIZENS FOR SURVIVAL, ATOMIC MIRROR, CALIF, U.S., NATIONAL CAMPAIGN FOR A PEACE TAX FUND, BILL BLAIKIE MP, HOUSE LEADER, NEW DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF CANADA, SVEND ROBINSON MP, HOUSE OF REPS, CANADA, VETERANS AGAINST NUCLEAR ARMS, CANADA, PHYSICIANS FOR GLOBAL SURVIVAL, CANADA, NEW GREEN ALLIANCE, CANADA, PACIFIC CAMPAIGN FOR DISARMAMENT AND SECURITY, BC, CANADA., THE SIMONS FOUNDATION, VANCOUVER, B.C., PLOUGHSHARES, CALGARY, CANADA, PRESIDENT BORIS YELTSIN, OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT, KRASNOPRESENSKAYA-2, MOSCOW, RUSSIA, +7-095-205-4219, +7-095-206-5173 +7-095-205-4330, PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON, WHITE HOUSE, WASHINGTON, US, +1-202-456-2461, +1-202-456-2883. WILLIAM COHEN, US SECRETARY OF DEFENCE, +1-703-695-1149, BILL RICHARDSON, US SECRETARY OF ENERGY, +1-202-586-9987. IGOR SERGEYEV, DEFENCE MINISTER OF RUSSIA, Znamenka-19, 103160, Moscow, Russia, +7-095-293-33-13, 247-2795, 247-2722, 293-3323. FOREIGN MINISTER OF RUSSIA, +7-095-244-3276, +7-095-244-2203, CC ALL HEADS OF STATE (BY EMAIL) ALL UN MISSIONS (BY EMAIL) Dear Presidents Yeltsin and Clinton, Defence Ministers and Defence Secretaries, Heads of State and UN Missions, The organisations above, representing millions of people worldwide, are writing to convey their extreme concern over the possibility that Year 2000 (Y2K)-related computer failures in nuclear weapons systems may lead to an unacceptable risk of nuclear war by accident or miscalculation. In the current political situation this is most especially the case. According to Alexandr Arbatov, of the Defence Committee of the Russian State Duma, US-Russian relations are at 'the worst, most acute, most dangerous juncture since the US-Soviet Berlin and Cuban missile crises.' The danger during the Y2K rollover lies primarily in the possibility that spurious data may induce commanders, even at the highest levels, to mistakenly authorise the launches of nuclear weapons. Events similar to this have already occurred. For example: In the US in 1980, a malfunctioning computer chip sent spurious alert signals; In 1983 in Russia, satellites mistook glare off the tops of clouds for a US missile launch, (and disaster was averted by the refusal of the local commander to believe the warnings were real); In 1995, a Norwegian research rocket prompted a full-scale Russian alert. If Y2K breakdowns produce inaccurate early warning data, or if communications and command channels are compromised, the combination of hair-trigger force postures and Y2K failures could be disastrous. There should therefore be a 'safety first ' approach to Y2K and nuclear arsenals. Because none of the nuclear weapons states can guarantee that their nuclear- related computer systems are Y2K compliant, the only responsible solution is for them all to stand down nuclear operations. This approach should include taking nuclear weapons off alert status and decoupling nuclear warheads from delivery vehicles. The stakes involved in any nuclear exchange between Russia and the US are such that they dwarf any other considerations. The future of life itself on earth could be in doubt. In light of this, we strongly urge that you remove all strategic and tactical nuclear weapons from 'hair trigger' alert, and place them in a status in which at least hours and preferably days would be required to launch them. The Canberra Commission in August 1996, noted that terminating nuclear alert status would: - --Reduce dramatically the chances of accidental or unauthorised nuclear missile launch. - --Help set the stage for intensified cooperation on a more far- reaching disarmament agenda - --Have a very positive influence on the political climate between nuclear weapon states. This last is especially relevant in the current tension between Russia and NATO, which has prompted Russia to withdraw from cooperation with the US on Y2K problems. According to the Canberra Commission, "Taking nuclear forces off alert could be verified by national technical means and nuclear weapon state inspection arrangements. in the first instance, reduction in alert status could be adopted by the nuclear weapon states unilaterally" If both sides are verifiably de-alerted, it will not be possible for either to launch a disarming first strike. The immediate stakes are so high, and the potential for global catastrophe so clear, that mutually verified de-alerting in the face of the Y2K computer problem must take precedence over all other considerations of politics and national security. Signed Kevin Dunion, Chairperson, Friends of the Earth International, John Hallam, Nuclear Campaigner, Friends of the Earth Australia, Ricardo Navarro, Friends of the Earth El Salvador, Viktor Khazan, Friends of the Earth Ukraine, Kiev, Ukraine, Jan Kunnas, Friends of the Earth Finland, Amis de la Terre, Paris, France, Loukia Pavlidou, President, Friends of the Earth Cyprus, Oleg Svistunov, Friends of the Earth Japan Siberia Program, Denis Doherty, Secretary, Pax Christi NSW, Rev. Ray Richmond, Wayside Chapel, Uniting Church in Australia, Julie Marlow, Australian Anti-Bases Campaign Committee, Irene Gale, Australian Peace Committee, SA Branch, Babs Fuller-Quinn, Australian Peace Committee, National Committee, Susan Wareham, President, Medical Association for the Prevention of War, IPPNW Regional Vice-President, Aust., Pauline Mitchell, Campaign for International Cooperation and Disarmament, Peter Jones, War Resisters International, Australia., Peter Garrrett, President, Australian Conservation Foundation, Alec Marr, National Campaign Director, The Wilderness Society, Mark Wakeham, Environment Centre of the Northern Territory, Ian Dixon, Big Scrub Environment Centre, Lismore, Deborah Matters, Arid Lands Environment Centre, Alice Springs, NT., Rowena Skinner, Environment Centre of W.A., Cherie Hoyle, Centre for Urban Ecology, SA., Isabelle Whyte, Everyone for a Nuclear-free Future, Lismore, Robin Taubenfeld, Everyone for a Nuclear-Free Future, Gold Coast, Chris White, Secretary, United Trades and Labour Council, SA, Paul Martinella, State Secretary, CFMEU, SA, Trevor Smith, National Secretary, CFMEU, Forests and Forests products Division, SA, Stephen Smith, Secretary, CFMEU, Furnishing trade Division, SA, Helen Caldicott, MD, Mick Doyle, United Firefighters Union of SA, Paul Noak, Secy, A.M.W.U. SA Office. Martin O' Malley, Secy, CFMEU, SA Branch. Stephen Spence, Secretary, Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance, SA., Senator Lyn Allison, Democrat Senator for Victoria, Senator Meg Lees, Democrat Senator for South Australia, Leader of the Australian Democrats, Senator Vicky Bourne, Democrat Senator for NSW., Senator Natasha Stott-Despoja, Deputy Leader, Australian Democrats, Senator Andrew Bartlett, Democrat Senator for Queensland, Senator Bob Brown, Green Senator for Tasmania, Senator Dee Margetts, Green Senator for Western Australia, Senator George Campbell, ALP Senator for NSW., Senator Margaret Reynolds, ALP, Anthony Albanese. ALP, Federal member for Grayndler, Tanya Plibersek, ALP, Federal member for Sydney, Jann Mc Farlane, Federal member for Stirling, W.A., Jill Hall, M.P., Federal member for Shortland, NSW, Cheryl Davenport MLC., W.A., Ian Cohen, MLC, Greens, NSW, Lee Rhiannon, MLC, Greens, NSW, Sandra Kanck, MLC,Democrats, S.A., Ian Gilfillan, MLC, Democrats, SA, Robyn Geraghty MP, Member for Torrens, SA., Frances Bedford, ALP State MP for Florey, S.A., Dr Louise Crossley, National Convenor, Greens, Australia, Graham Daniell, People for Nuclear Disarmament, Western Australia., Zohl D' Ishtar, Pacific Connections, Richard Goode, 2 Billion Voices for Peace Project, Commander Robert Green RN (Ret'd), Chair, World Court Project UK, Maj-Britt Theorin, MEP, Sweden, Martin Butcher, British-American Security Information Centre, US/UK, Stephanie Mills, Greenpeace International Nuclear and Disarmament Campaign, Bernice Boermans, Executive Director, International Association of Lawyers Against Nuclear Arms, (IALANA), The Hague, Neth., Dave Knight, Chair, Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, U.K., Janet Bloomfield, Former Chair CND, Abolition UK, Saffron Walden Group Against Nuclear Weapons, Bruce Kent, Vice-President, CND, Jenny Maxwell, West Midlands CND, Birmingham, UK, Tigger Mc Gregor, Youth and Student CND, U.K., Dave Webb, Yorkshire CND., UK., Anni Rainbow and Lindis Percy, Campaign for Accountability of US Bases, UK., Gillian Reeve, Director, MEDACT (IPPNW UK), Jane Tallents, Trident-Ploughshares 2000, Norwich, Norfolk, UK., Di Mc Donald, Network Information Project, Southampton, UK, Dr Kate Dewes, Disarmament and Security Centre, *Marion Hancock, Aoteoroa/NZ Peace Foundation, Auckland, NZ.,* Gerry Coates, Engineers for Social Responsibility, NZ, Keith Locke, Foreign Affairs Spokesperson, NZ Greens, Llelwyn Richards, National Consultative Committee on Disarmament, NZ, Barbara Frame, Peace Action Dunedin, NZ., John Urlich, Peace Council of New Zealand, Rev. John Murray/Dame Laurie Salas/Robin Halliday, Abolition-2000, New Zealand, Ian Prior, IPPNW New Zealand, Richard S. Salvador, Pacific Islands Association of NGOs, Belau, Chris King, Veterans for Peace New Zealand, Derek Wilson, Architects Against Nuclear War, NZ, Robert E. White, Director, Centre for Peace Studies, University of Auckland, NZ., Ron Mc Coy, Malaysian Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia, Aileen Mioko Smith, Director, Green Action Kyoto, Japan., Hiroshi Taka, Assistant Secretary, Japan Council Against A and H-Bombs (Gensuikyo), S.P. Udayakumar, South Asian Community Centre for Education and Research, Nagercoil, Tamil Nadu, South India, Nana Suhartana, Indonesian National Network Forum Anti-Nuclear Society, Vladimir Sliviak, Ecodefense, Russia, Galina Raghouzhina, World Information Service on Energy (WISE) Kaliningrad, Alexandra Koroleva, Educational Committee, Kaliningrad Regional Duma, Mikhail Trofimov, Ecodefence! International, Kaliningrad, Alisa Nikoulina, Antinuclear Campaign of Social-Ecological Union, Moscow, Pavel Malyshev, Platan Youth Group, Kaliningrad, Malla Kantola, Committee of 100, Helsinki, Finland, Laura Lodenius, Peace Union of Finland, Helsinki, Finland, Bjorn Hilt, Chair, Norwegian Physicians Against Nuclear War, (IPPNW) Poul Eck Sorensen, Peace Movement of Esbjerg, Denmark, Felicity Hill, Womens International League for Peace and Freedom, Geneva/NY Daniel Durand, Secretary, Mouvement de La Paix, France, Solange Fernex, Womens International League for Peace and Freedom, France. Dr Roland Schutzbach, Global Initiative for Immediate Disarmament, Switzerland, Xanthe Hall, Assistant Director, IPPNW Germany, Berlin, Regina Hagen, Darmstaedter Friedensforum, Germany, Claus Biegert, Nuclear-Free Award, Germany, Elizabeth Schroedter, MEP, Germany. Matthias Reichl, Centre for Encounters and Active Non-Violence, Bad Ischl, Austria, Dr Klaus Renoldner, President, IPPNW Austria, Claudia and Margit, Anti-Atom International, Claudia and Margit, Coordination Office of Austrian Environment Organisations, Heinz Stockinger, Independent Salzburg Platform Against Nuclear Dangers,(PLAGE), Salzburg, Austria, Pol D'Huyvetter, For Mother Earth International, Ghent, Belgium, Ophelia Cowell, MDB Energy Project, Netherlands, Marjan Willemsen, For Mother Earth Netherlands, David Boerma, Coordinator, Pacific Region, Centre for Indigenous Peoples, Netherlands., Giorgio Nebbia, Professor Emeritus, Faculty of Economics, University of Bari, Italy, Dr Joachim Lau, Italian Lawyers Against Nuclear Arms, Alice Slater, Global Resource Action Centre for the Environment, NY., USA., Grace Thorpe, National Environmental Coalition of Native Americans, Bill Smirnow, Nuclear-Free New York, US, Marylia Kelley, Tri-Valley CARES, Livermore, California, US. Molly Johnson, Coordinator, Save Ward Valley, Calif, USA., William F. Santelmann, Metro-Boston Committee to De-Alert Nuclear Weapons David Krieger, Nuclear Age Peace Foundation, Santa Barbara, Calif, US. Dr Robert W. Tiller, Physicians for Social Responsibility, U.S.A., Dr Lachlan Forrow, Past Chair, IPPNW, Jonathan Mark, Action Site to Stop Cassini Flyby, Sherry Larsen-Beville, Livermore Conversion Project, Oakland, Calif, USA. Ellen Thomas, Proposition-1 Committee, Washington DC, US., Robert Kinsey, Peace and Justice Task Force, Uniting Church of Christ, Rocky Mountains Conference, Howard W. Hallman, Methodists United for Peace with Justice, Washington, USA., Jennifer Olaranna Viereck, Coordinator, Healing Global Wounds, Tecopa, CA, USA., Karen Talbot, Director, International Centre for Peace and Justice, San Francisco, California, US., Chris Ney, War Resisters League, NY, USA., Jasmina Arsova, War Resisters League,, NY. USA., Carol Jahnkow, Peace Resource Centre of San Diego, Calif, US., Susan Lee Solar and Maria Mendez, Grandmothers and Mothers Alliance for the Future, Susan Shaer, Executive Director, Womens Action for New Directions, Peter Bergel, Centre for Energy Research, Salem, Oregon, USA., Harvey Wasserman, Citizens Protecting Ohio, USA., Jay Coghlan, Concerned Citizens For Nuclear Safety, New Mexico, USA., Gordon S. Clark, Executive Director, Peace Action USA., Sonya Ostrom, Metro New York Peace Action Council, Rachel Keeler, Executive Director, Pax Christi, New York, Nancy Small, National Coordinator, Pax Christi, USA, Frank Dworak, Pax Christi, Morris County, NJ, USA., Adam Eidinger, Pax Christi Washington Action Group, USA., Joyce Hall, Pax Christi Texas, Paul Villavisanis, Pax Christi, St Augustine, Fl, Phil Mc Manus, Chair, Fellowship of Reconciliation Task Force on Latin America and the Carribean, Judith H. Johnsrud, Environmental Coalition on Nuclear Power, Pennsylvania, US, Judith H. Johnsrud, Central Pennsylvania Citizens for Survival, Pamela Meidell, Atomic Mirror, Calif, USA., Tom Keirans, National Campaign for a Peace Tax Fund, Senator Doug Roche, Canadian Parliament, Bill Blaikie MP, House Leader, New Democratic Party of Canada, Svend Robinson MP, House of Representatives,Canada, Dr David Morgan, President, Veterans Against Nuclear Arms, Vancouver, Canada, Dr Barbara Birkett, President, Physicians for Global Survival, Ottawa, Canada., Dr Ross Wilcock, Physicians for Global Survival, Canada, Dave Greenfield, New Green Alliance, Saskatoon, Canada, Patti Willis, Pacific Campaign for Disarmament and Security, B.C., Canada, Prof Eric Fawcett, Physics Dept, University of Toronto, Canada, Dr Jennifer Allen Simons, The Simons Foundation, Vancouver, B.C., Sally Hodges, Chair, Ploughshares, Calgary, Canada, - - 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, 23 Jul 1999 13:00:08 EDT From: JTLOWE@aol.com Subject: Re: (abolition-usa) Y2K N-WEAPONS DE-ALERTING LETTER PLEASE SIGN Hi, Someone please tell me why nonukes @foe( I forget the rest of the address) has so many of the same posts every day. If the post is going to abolition list why do I get it 3 or four times? Thanks Colby Lowe - - 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, 23 Jul 1999 17:49:24 -0400 From: "Ross Wilcock" Subject: RE: (abolition-usa) Y2K N-WEAPONS DE-ALERTING LETTER PLEASE SIGN I think the sender sends it to multiple lists. I think we all have the same problem. This must be quite a communications burden. I think the recommendation for petitions is for someone to be the official recipient and to add them to the list That is most efficient way. What we are getting is multiple bombardment by various versions of the text. The topic is certainly important but that doesn't justify bad practice. Ross Wilcock rwilcock@pgs.ca - -----Original Message----- From: owner-abolition-usa@lists.xmission.com [mailto:owner-abolition-usa@lists.xmission.com] On Behalf Of JTLOWE@aol.com Sent: July 23, 1999 1:00 PM To: abolition-usa@lists.xmission.com Subject: Re: (abolition-usa) Y2K N-WEAPONS DE-ALERTING LETTER PLEASE SIGN Hi, Someone please tell me why nonukes @foe( I forget the rest of the address) has so many of the same posts every day. If the post is going to abolition list why do I get it 3 or four times? Thanks Colby Lowe - - 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: Sat, 24 Jul 1999 23:25:41 -0700 (PDT) From: Timothy Bruening Subject: (abolition-usa) Cleaning My Mouse Pad How do you clean a mouse pad? - - 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: Sun, 25 Jul 1999 12:26:10 -0700 From: "David Crockett Williams" Subject: (abolition-usa) Prop1 for Nuclear Disarmament and Economic Conversion This is the lastest resurrection of the global movement for a multilateral treaty to abolish all nuclear weapons and to reallocate their funding towards addressing human needs instead, ie, "Proposition One". Please be inspired to support Prop1 in your area. dcw From: Peace through Reason To: Activists Subject: At last! Norton Press Conference Friday, July 30, 1999, 10 a.m., Rm HC-9, US Capitol Building Basement Date: Sunday, July 25, 1999 12:17 PM At last! Please let us know that you can be there? Bring People?!!!! Thanks! Ellen Thomas, Proposition One Committee - prop1@prop1.org - 202-462-0757 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ WHAT: PRESS CONFERENCE / Community Advisory WHEN: Friday, July 30, 1999, 10:00 a.m. WHERE: Capitol Building Room HC-9 WHO: Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes (and Expert Speakers) WHY: To introduce HR-2545, the "Nuclear Disarmament and Economic Conversion Act of 1999" (NDECA). For Immediate Release Contact: Sean Gralton July 16, 1999 (202) 225-8050 Web Site: http://www.house.gov/norton NORTON INTRODUCES NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT BILL SAYS NECESSARY FOR DOMESTIC NEEDS AND TO CONTAIN NUCLEAR PROLIFERATION Washington, D.C. Today, on the 54th anniversary of the first nuclear test at Alamagordo, New Mexico, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (DDC) introduced the Nuclear Disarmament and Economic Conversion Act of 1999 (NDECA). NDECA will require the United States to disable and dismantle its nuclear weapons when all other nations possessing nuclear weapons enact laws to do the same. NDECA further provides that when our nuclear weapons are dismantled, the resources used to support nuclear weapons programs will be diverted to our growing human and infrastructure needs, such as housing, health care, Social Security and the environment. Norton introduced this bill following a referendum in the District in 1992, requesting that the D.C. Delegate to Congress prepare a constitutional amendment to bring about nuclear disarmament and economic conversion. In addition to the economic cost of nuclear weapons, Norton said that the weapons continue to be "a horrifically destabilizing force in world affairs," specifically noting the burgeoning arms race between India and Pakistan. "Recent events on the Indian subcontinent demonstrate the urgent need for passage of my bill," she said. "The United States and the world community clearly must redouble their efforts to obtain commitments from India and Pakistan to refrain from actual deployment of nuclear weapons." She said that the U.S. would be able to dissuade other nations who aspire to become nuclear powers if "we ourselves have been willing to take the initiative in dismantling our own nuclear weapons program." Norton said that with 40 million people still without health care, and the same poverty rate as existed in the minority community 25 years ago, the time has come to begin the transfer of nuclear weapons funds to urgent domestic needs. In the 56year period between 1940 to 1996, nuclear weapons spending exceeded the combined total federal spending for education; training, employment, and social services; agriculture, natural resources and the environment; general science, space, and technology; community and regional development (including disaster relief); law enforcement; and energy production and regulation. On average, the United States has spent $98 billion a year on nuclear weapons over that time. Norton said, "Surely the time has come to significantly bring down the average annual spending on nuclear weapons from $98 billion a year." 106th CONGRESS CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H.R. 2545 ___________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Ms. NORTON introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Armed Services and International Relations Committees on July 16, 1999 A BILL To provide for nuclear disarmament and economic conversion in accordance with District of Columbia Initiative Measure Number 37 of 1993 1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 4 This Act may be cited as the "Nuclear Disarmament 5 and Economic Conversion Act of 1999". 6 SEC 2. REQUIREMENT FOR NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT AND 7 ECONOMIC CONVERSION. 8 The United States Government shall---- 1 (1) disable and dismantle all its nuclear weap- 2 ons and refrain from replacing them at any time 3 with any weapons of! mass destruction; 4 (2) redirect resources that are currently being 5 used for nuclear weapons programs to use 6 (A) in converting all nuclear weapons in 7 dustry employees, processes, plants, and pro- 8 grams smoothly to constructive, ecologically 9 beneficial peacetime activities during the 3 10 years following the effective date of this Act, 11 and 12 (B) in addressing human and infrastruc- 13 ture needs such as housing, health care, edu- 14 cation, agriculture, and enviromnental restora- 15 tion; 16 (3) undertake vigorous good faith efforts to 17 eliminate war, armed conflict, and all military oper- 18 ations; and 19 (4) actively promote policies to induce all other 20 countries to join in these commitments for world 21 peace and security. 22 SEC. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE. 23 This Act shall take effect when the President certifies 24 to the Congress that all foreign countries possessing nu- 25 clear weapons have established legal requirements com- 1 parable to those set forth in section 2 and those require- 2 ments have taken effect. ______________________________________________________________________ If you have any questions about the bill or event, please contact Ellen Thomas, PROPOSITION ONE COMMITTEE PO BOX 27217, WASHINGTON, DC 20038 USA 202-462-0757-- (voice) | 202-265-5389 -- (fax) prop1@prop1.org -- (e-mail) | http://prop1.org -- (World-Wide-Web) - - 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: Mon, 26 Jul 1999 10:48:26 -0400 From: ASlater Subject: (abolition-usa) Y2k and Russia Oakland California, Tribune, 7-23-99 Nuclear Weapons Computers Y2K Ready By Robert Burns AP Military Writer Thursday, July 22, 1999; 3:30 p.m. EDT WASHINGTON (AP) -- Nearly all U.S. defense computers linked to nuclear weapons have been verified through testing as ready for the Year 2000 computer glitch, senior Pentagon officials said today. ``There is no risk of accidental launch'' or of losing the ability to fire U.S. weapons if necessary, Adm. Richard Mies, commander of U.S. Strategic Command, told a news conference. His command at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., is in charge of all U.S. nuclear weapons. Cooperation with Russia on Y2K issues has suffered as a result of Moscow's anger about the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia, Mies and other Pentagon officials said, but efforts are under way to restore a dialogue. Mies said there is no reason to believe nuclear powers Britain, Russia and China are failing to fix their computer systems; he did not comment directly on the other known nuclear powers -- France, India and Pakistan. Mies also cautioned that he is not certain about the vulnerability of defense computers used by nuclear powers other than Russia and Britain. ``Certainly I have concerns, but to some degree we've tried to reassure ourselves and we've tried to gain assurances from those countries that they are addressing the Y2K problem, and so to a certain degree our confidence is limited by the amount of assurances we have gotten,'' Mies said. Defense Secretary William Cohen, appearing with Mies at the Pentagon, said he is not worried that Russia will allow the Y2K problem to jeopardize command or control of its nuclear weapons. ``The Russians, I assume, will do whatever is necessary to protect their self interest,'' Cohen said. ``It is not in Russia's interest to have any kind of failure that would create a catastrophe.'' As for China, which has only a handful of long-range nuclear weapons, Cohen said ``we assume they are also proceeding with as much alacrity as possible to deal'' with potential computer problems. Mies said there is very little concern about Britain's preparations, in part because the British Navy uses the same Trident nuclear missile system as the U.S. Navy uses. At home, Mies said, there is no basis to fear a Y2K glitch would affect control of U.S. nuclear weapons. ``Procedures for launching our nation's nuclear weapons involve multiple levels of safeguards such as code verifications and human interactions to verify and authenticate an order from the president,'' Mies said. ``Computers by themselves cannot launch nuclear weapons.'' Similarly, Mies said fears that a Y2K computer bug will shut down the U.S. nuclear arsenal are unfounded, based on extensive tests that included simulations of launches of every type of nuclear weapon. Cohen said he had been ``deeply concerned'' a year ago that the Defense Department was moving too slowly to prepare for Y2K. Since then, he said, the department has gone all out to test and validate its computers. ``I am reassured and confident that we will defeat the Y2K attack when it comes on Jan. 1, 2000,'' Cohen said. U.S. nuclear weapons include bombs carried by Air Force planes, strategic missiles carried aboard Navy submarines and intercontinental ballistic missiles in underground silos at Air Force bases. Of the 2,107 computers systems deemed critical to the Defense Department's missions, 92 percent have been fully verified as ready for Y2K, Cohen said, and there will be 100 percent compliance by Dec. 31. Also, of the 198 computers considered critical to nuclear missions, all but two have been fully verified, Mies said. Those two are scheduled to be ready by October, he said. One is a new ``bomber planning'' system, and the other is a command center console at Strategic Command headquarters. The Pentagon has invited Moscow to send representatives to the new Y2K Center for Strategic Stability, in Colorado Springs, Colo., but the Russians have not responded, Cohen aides said. The facility is meant to avoid any misunderstandings about missile launches on Dec. 31 or thereafter as a result of computer glitches, by sharing U.S. missile launch warning data with the Russians. Cohen said he had hoped to meet with his Russian counterpart, Igor Sergeyev, in Moscow in early August to discuss Y2K and other issues, but the session was postponed by the Russians. In the Y2K problem, some older computers were designed to recognize dates in a two-digit format, such as ``99'' for 1999. There is concern computers not updated may malfunction on New Year's Eve, when 1999 turns to 2000 -- which some computers may misconstrue as 1900 instead of the start of the new century. ******************************************************************* Alice Slater Global Resource Action Center for the Environment (GRACE) 15 East 26th Street, Room 915 New York, NY 10010 tel: (212) 726-9161 fax: (212) 726-9160 email: aslater@gracelinks.org GRACE is a member of Abolition 2000, a global network working for a treaty to eliminate nuclear weapons. - - 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 #156 *********************************** - 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.