From: owner-abolition-usa-digest@lists.xmission.com (abolition-usa-digest) To: abolition-usa-digest@lists.xmission.com Subject: abolition-usa-digest V1 #304 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 Wednesday, May 17 2000 Volume 01 : Number 304 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 16 May 2000 07:20:43 -0400 From: Ellen Thomas Subject: (abolition-usa) NucNews 00/05/16 - Congress; Presidential Candidates - --=====================_41520438==_.ALT Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable May 16, 2000 Washington Times / Agence France Presse Daybook http://www.washtimes.com/national/daybook-200051621308.htm HOUSE COMMITTEES=20 11 a.m. =97 House Rules Committee meets to formulate a rule on the= National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal 2001. Location: Capitol, Room H-313. Contact: 202/225-9191.=20 Noon =97 House Commerce energy and power subcommittee holds a markup of legislation to clarify that environmental protection, safety and health provisions continue to apply to the functions of the national Nuclear= Security Administration to the same those functions before transfer to the administration. Location: 2123 Rayburn House Office Building. Contact: 202/225-2927. SENATE COMMITTEES=20 [Huh? What a strange combination of issues! et] 10 a.m. =97 Senate Governmental Affairs international security,= proliferation and federal services subcommittee holds a hearing on legislation to provide long-term care insurance for federal employees. Sen. Charles E. Grassley,= Iowa Republican, and Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski, Maryland Democrat, participate. Location: 342 Dirksen Senate Office Building. Contact: 202/224-4751. 2 p.m. =97 Senate Judiciary criminal justice oversight subcommittee= holds a hearing, "Threats to Federal Law Enforcement Officers." Location: 226= Dirksen Senate Office Building. Contact: 202/224-5225. VICE PRESIDENT AL GORE=20 Travels to Nashville, Tenn., and to New York. 1 p.m. =97 Hosts a round-table discussion on Social Security, James B. McNally Amphitheater, Fordham Business School, 140 W. 62nd St., New York. 7 p.m. =97 Addresses the Columbia Law School graduation commencement,= Avery Fisher Hall, 132 W. 65th St., New York. [INSERT from "mitzi" -- GOVERNOR BUSH George W. Bush's Schedule: May 16, 2000 =20 11:45 a.m. - Governor George W. Bush will discuss personal retirement= accounts in Portland, Oregon, Gunderson, Inc. Training Center, 4700 Northwest Front= Ave. - - 503/972-5700 =20 5:05 p.m. - Governor departs Portland International Airport Flight Craft,= 7505 Northeast Airport Way, Portland, OR 503/331-4200 =20 =20 5:55 p.m. - Governor Airport Arrival King County Airport, Boeing Field, Seattle, WA 206/296-7380 =20 NOTE - Media credentials will be issued on-site to members of the media with official identification. RALPH NADER Ralph Nader will be in New Haven, CT on Wednesday May 17. He will meet=20 residents at the Yale Co-op Bookstore on the corner of Chapel and Temple=20 Streets opposite the New Haven Green. Mitzi Bowman (203)389-2067.] ___________________________________________________ Today's Newspapers: http://prop1.org/nucnews/links.htm NucNews Archives: http://prop1.org/nucnews/briefslv.htm Subscribe to NucNews: prop1@prop1.org (NucNews-Subscribe) Submit URL/Article: prop1@prop1.org (NucNews-Editor) About NucNews: http://prop1.org/nucnews/nucnews.htm NucNews - E-Mailed: http://www.onelist.com/archive/NucNews Excellent e-mail news resources: DOE Watch - doewatch@onelist.com - http://members.aol.com/doewatch=20 Downwinders - downwinders@onelist.com - http://downwinders@onelist.com=20 EnviroNews - environews@envirolink.org -= http://www.envirolink.org/environews=20 Planet Ark/Reuters - anna@planetark.org - http://www.planetark.org/news/ Radbull (Radiation Bulletin) radbull@dax.energy-net.org=20 Distributed without payment for research and educational=20 purposes only, in accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107. - --=====================_41520438==_.ALT Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
May 16, 2000 Washington Times / Agence France Presse Daybook
http://www.washtimes.com/national/daybook-200051621308.htm=

HOUSE COMMITTEES

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

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

    SENATE COMMITTEES

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

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

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

VICE PRESIDENT AL GORE

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

[INSERT from "mitzi" <upthesun@cshore.com>=20 - --

GOVERNOR BUSH

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

RALPH NADER

Ralph Nader will be in New Haven, CT on Wednesday May 17. He will meet
residents at the Yale Co-op Bookstore on the corner of Chapel and Temple
Streets opposite the New Haven Green. Mitzi Bowman (203)389-2067.]


     ___________________________________________________

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     Subscribe to NucNews:  prop1@prop1.org (NucNews-Subscribe)
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          &= nbsp;         About NucNews: http://prop1.org/nucnews/nucnews.htm
        NucNews - E-Mailed: http://www.onelist.com/archive/NucNews

Excellent e-mail news resources:

DOE Watch - doewatch@onelist.com - http://members.aol.com/doewatch
Downwinders - downwinders@onelist.com= - http://downwinders@onelist.com
EnviroNews - environews@envirolink.org= - http://www.envirolink.org/environews=
Planet Ark/Reuters - anna@planetark.org - http://www.planetark.org/news/
Radbull (Radiation Bulletin) radbull@dax.energy-net.org

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


- --=====================_41520438==_.ALT-- - - 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, 16 May 2000 10:05:01 -0400 From: "Howard W. Hallman" Subject: (abolition-usa) Re: [abolition-caucus] Los Alamos lab buildings destroyed by fire.. At 01:35 PM 5/16/00 +0100, Janet Bloomfield wrote: >Forest fire razes bomb laboratories. Dear Friends, Is this not a parable? There is no such thing as a "controlled burn" with nuclear weapons. Once started they will consume us all. With best regards, Howard Hallman Howard W. Hallman, Chair Methodists United for Peace with Justice 1500 16th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036 Phone/fax: 301 896-0013; e-mail: mupj@igc.org Methodists United for Peace with Justice is a membership association of laity and clergy. It has no affiliation with any Methodist denomination. - - To unsubscribe to abolition-usa, send an email to "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, 16 May 2000 13:53:44 -0600 From: "bob kinsey" Subject: Re: (abolition-usa) Re: [abolition-caucus] Los Alamos lab buildings destroyed by fire.. Even better- the nuclear weapons and material are safe but not the houses of the people. I hope the people whose houses are burned notice that it was even the houses of those who built the weapons that were not safe. ************************************************* Bob Kinsey Peace and Justice Task Force Rocky Mountain Conference, United Church of Christ bkinsey@peacemission .org 6555 Ward Road, Arvada, Colorado, 80004 "Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called children of God" -- Jesus of Nazareth - ----- Original Message ----- From: Howard W. Hallman To: Janet Bloomfield ; abolition-caucus Cc: abolitionusa Sent: Tuesday, May 16, 2000 8:05 AM Subject: (abolition-usa) Re: [abolition-caucus] Los Alamos lab buildings destroyed by fire.. > At 01:35 PM 5/16/00 +0100, Janet Bloomfield wrote: > >Forest fire razes bomb laboratories. > > Dear Friends, > > Is this not a parable? There is no such thing as a "controlled burn" with > nuclear weapons. Once started they will consume us all. > > With best regards, > Howard Hallman > Howard W. Hallman, Chair > Methodists United for Peace with Justice > 1500 16th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036 > Phone/fax: 301 896-0013; e-mail: mupj@igc.org > > Methodists United for Peace with Justice is a membership association of > laity and clergy. It has no affiliation with any Methodist denomination. > > - > To unsubscribe to abolition-usa, send an email to "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. > - - 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, 17 May 2000 10:39:25 +1000 From: FoE Sydney - Nuclear Campaign Subject: (abolition-usa) ONLY THREE ORGANISATIONS NEEDED TO 2000 BY FRIDAY PLEASE REPLY TO Abolition2000@aol.com, A2000@silcom.com, NOT THIS ADDRESS 16 May 2000 Dear Friends and Activists, We are now in the final week of the Non-Proliferation Treaty Review and Extension Conference. As many of you know, early this year the Abolition 2000 Coordinating Committee initiated a "2000 by 2000" Campaign to have 2000 organizational and municipal endorsers of the Global Network to Eliminate Nuclear Weapons. We have almost reached our goal! 1997 organizations and municipalities have now endorsed the Abolition 2000 Statement. We only need 3 more organizations to reach our goal of 2000! We need your HELP! Please enroll an organization TODAY so we can make an announcement in a press conference on Friday that Abolition 2000 is 2000 endorsers strong and will continue its work to eliminate nuclear weapons and create a more just and secure world. Thank you for your ACTION to support the Global Network to Eliminate Nuclear Weapons. I look forward to continuing our vital work. In peace and solidarity, Carah - - To unsubscribe to abolition-usa, send an email to "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, 17 May 2000 10:39:21 +1000 From: FoE Sydney - Nuclear Campaign Subject: (abolition-usa) ONLY THREE ORGANISATIONS NEEDED TO 2000 BY FRIDAY PLEASE REPLY TO Abolition2000@aol.com, A2000@silcom.com, NOT THIS ADDRESS 16 May 2000 Dear Friends and Activists, We are now in the final week of the Non-Proliferation Treaty Review and Extension Conference. As many of you know, early this year the Abolition 2000 Coordinating Committee initiated a "2000 by 2000" Campaign to have 2000 organizational and municipal endorsers of the Global Network to Eliminate Nuclear Weapons. We have almost reached our goal! 1997 organizations and municipalities have now endorsed the Abolition 2000 Statement. We only need 3 more organizations to reach our goal of 2000! We need your HELP! Please enroll an organization TODAY so we can make an announcement in a press conference on Friday that Abolition 2000 is 2000 endorsers strong and will continue its work to eliminate nuclear weapons and create a more just and secure world. Thank you for your ACTION to support the Global Network to Eliminate Nuclear Weapons. I look forward to continuing our vital work. In peace and solidarity, Carah - - To unsubscribe to abolition-usa, send an email to "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, 17 May 2000 19:16:14 +1000 From: FoE Sydney - Nuclear Campaign Subject: (abolition-usa) NPT APPEAL - THREE DAYS LEFT PLEASE PASS THIS EMAIL ON TO EVERYONE WHO MIGHT USE IT John Hallam =46riends of the Earth Sydney, 17 Lord Street, Newtown, NSW, Australia, 2042 =46ax (61)(2)9517-3902 ph (61)(2)9517-3903 nonukes@foesyd.org.au http://homepages.tig.com.au/~foesyd Dear All, There's only three days to go till the end of the NPT review. You need to write to your government now and urge them to support the total and unequivocal elimination of the nuclear arsenals of the nuclear weapons states. The fax numbers of foreign ministers worldwide are available on: Http://www.reachingcriticalwill.org The most important numbers are also at the end of this appeal. As things have moved very fast, I am re- issuing a sample letter and alert from last week that gives a general call to support the language in the New Agenda Working paper, esp paragraph 1. This language has now gone through a variety of different working papers under different paragraph numbers. The bottom line is however, the same. Please use your networks to spread this message around to anyone, especially parliamentarians, that might use it to influence your governments. The Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty Review Conference will go until the 19th of this month. It is now the 17th. There's 3 days to go. The New Agenda Coalition, a group of nations led by New Zealand, Ireland, Sweden, South Africa, Mexico, Brazil and Egypt, has put forward a 'working paper' which provides a moderate, reasonable, and practical step- by - step way forward to the elimination of nuclear weapons as reqired by Article VI of the nuclear nonproliferation treaty. Especially critical is support for 'Operative paragraph 1' of the New Agenda working paper, which asks the Nuclear Weapons states to committ to an unequivocal and total elimination of nuclear weapons and to commence that process over the 2000-2005 review period. This is in contrast to the committment they have made to the 'ultimate' elimination of nuclear weapons - - maybe a hundred years from now! (The wording in this working paper, especially Paragraph 1, has now gone into a variety of other working papers now under condiferation, line- by line) The next 3 days of the NPT Review Conference are utterly crucial as delicate negotiations take place between the nuclear weapons states and the New Agenda Coalition who have the support of the overwhelming majority. THERE'S JUST THREE DAYS - PLEASE CONTACT YOUR GOVERNMENT NOW AND ASK THEM TO SUPPORT THE NEW AGENDA LANGUAGE *A clear message from the public direct to your country's foreign minister, secretary of state, president, or UN mission will make a big difference at this point.* If you live in a nuclear weapons state or a NATO country: Please write to your foreign minister or UN mission immediately to ask them to to committ to the unequivocal and total elimination of nuclear weapons starting in the 2000-2005 review period. If you are living in a country that is part of or supports the New Agenda Coalition, let them know they are doing the right thing and that (no matter what other faults they may have) on this issue at least they have your support. If you are not sure of the position of your country, ask them to support the New Agenda Coalition position anyway. A sample letter is below. After the letter is a list of fax numbers and an appeal to support the NAC from Felicity Hill of WILPF which you are encouraged to read before you write and fax. There is also an appeal to parliamentarians which you can use. You are encouraged to use as much of the sample letter and these appeals as you find useful and to make whatever changes or improvements you feel appropriate. It is better not to use it word for word, and its best to handwrite. It does not need to be very long. Do please do it and get as many others as you can to do it, this is an action that really has the potential to help rid the world of nuclear weapons. THIS IS A SAMPLE LETTER TO BE SENT TO FOREIGN MINISTERS AND UN MISSIONS. YOU WILL NEED TO ALTER IT TO FIT YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES. SAMPLE LETTER TO ALL NPT SIGNATORY FOREIGN MINISTERS AND NPT REVIEW CONFERENCE REPRESENTATIVES (Address and fax number of foreign minister) (Address and fax number of UN mission/NPT Review Conference Representative) Dear Foreign Minister, UN Mission, or NPT Review Conference Representative, I am writing to you to persuade your government to support the working paper of the New Agenda Coalition at the Review Conference of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) in New York at the United Nations Headquarters, in particular the wording in Paragraph 1, now in various other NPT review conference documents. On 24April, the New Agenda Coalition group of nations, led by New Zealand, Ireland, Sweden, Brazil, Mexico, South Africa and Egypt, presented a working paper to the NPT review Conference. This working paper provides a realistic, moderate, practical, and reasonable program of action for nuclear nonproliferation and disarmament that should serve as the basis for the final decision of the Conference. That program includes the following elements: - --An unequivocal undertaking by the five nuclear weapons states to eliminate their nuclear arsenals, not as an 'ultimate' aim to be accomplished at some remote date, but as an immediate obligation. For the five nuclear weapons states to engage in an accelerated process of negotiation, taking steps leading to nuclear disarmament in the coming 2000-2005 period. - --Implementation of START-II and commencement of negotiations on START-III - --The integration of all five nuclear weapon states into a process leading to the total elimination of nuclear weapons. - --Adaptation of policies and postures to preclude the use of nuclear weapons - --Taking strategic nuclear weapons off hairtrigger alert. It is requested that your government support Operative Paragraph 1 of the New Agenda working paper, which reads: "The five nuclear weapon states make an unequivocal undertaking to accomplish the total elimination of their nuclear arsenals and, in the course of the forthcoming review period 2000-2005, to engage in an accelerated process of negotiations and to take steps leading to nuclear disarmament to which states parties are committed under Article VI." This is pariticularly important because the nuclear weapons states have themselves issued a joint statement on 1 May, which included the following sentence: "We reiterate our unequivocal commitment to the ultimate goals of a complete elimination of nuclear weapons and a treaty on general and complete disarmament under strict and effective international control". However, the use of the world 'ultimate' in this context, as well as the linkage to general and complete disarmament, means that the objective of the elimination of nuclear weapons is in fact being postponed to a distant future. The original language of the NPT itself (in force since 1970) refers to the need to achieve results by an early date. The 1996 advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice unanimously emphasizes the obligation to actually achieve the goal of elimination of nuclear weapons. I//(My organization) therefore urges you, Foreign Minister, to support especially Operative Paragraph 1 of the New Agenda Working Paper, as offering a series of practical steps to move towards the fulfillment of what are in any case the clear legal obligations of the nuclear weapons states, to eliminate their nuclear weapons arsenals at an early date. We urge you to give your full support to the measures outlined by the New Agenda Coalition in their working paper, especially if your government has not seen fit to do so before now. These measures offer a realistic way out of the nuclear quagmire which the P5 statement does not. (Signed) BELOW IS HOW TO FAX, FAX NUMBERS. (NEXT THE ORIGINAL APPEAL.) =46AX NUMBERS OF SOME FOREIGN MINISTERS A URL where the fax numbers of every head of state and foreign minister in the world is listed plus lots of information is this: Http://www.abolition2000.org. (Another URL that has the fax numbers of heads of state, foreign ministers and UN missions and also has lots of information on the NPT Review is: Http://www.reachingcriticalwill.org ) Some of the relevant fax numbers are listed below. If your country is not on this list, you can find your foreign minister or head of state on one of the two URLs above. (The + in front stands for whatever your countrys ISD access code may be. You only really need it if you are faxing some other country. I hope however, that people may like not only to fax their own foreign minister but also those of Russia and the US.) Some of these numbers may have changed. If any of them don't work, let me know at 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: +1 202 647 6047 President Clintons fax number is +1-202-456-2461 The US United Nations mission is on Fax. +1 212 415 4443 If you are in Russia, Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov's fax number is +7-095-244-3276 or +7-095-244-2203. (You need to be persistent with these numbers) The general Kremlin fax number is +7-095-205-4330. (This is the slowest fax in the universe) Russia's UN mission is on +1-212-628-0252 If you are in France, your foreign ministers fax number is +33-1-45-51-60-12= , Jacques Chirac's fax number is +33-1-47-42-24-65. =46rance's UN mission is at: Fax. + 1 212 421 6889 If you are in the UK, Tony Blairs fax number is +44-171-925-0918. The Foreign Minister, Robin Cook's fax number is: +44-171-270-2144 The United Nations mission is on Fax. +1 212 745 9316 If you are in Germany, the Chancellors fax number is: +49-228-56-2357, or +49-30-4000-2357 =46oreign Minister Joschka Fischers number is any of these: +49-228-168-6662= , +49-30-20186-252, +49-228-1734-02, +49-30-201-8619-24 The German UN mission is on: Fax +1 212 940 0402 Here are the fax numbers of some foreign ministers and UN missions: If you are in Canada, your foreign ministers fax number is: +1-613-996-3546. Canada, UN Mission -Fax. +1 212 848 1195 If you are in Japan, you need to fax +81-3-3581-9675 UN Mission - Fax. +1 212 751 1966 If you are in Italy please fax +39-6-628-6210, or +39-6-3222-850 or +39-6-3222-734 Italy UN Mission - Fax. +1 212 486 1036 If you are in Hungary, please fax your foreign minister on +36-1-356-3801 If you are in Korea, try your minister of foreign affairs on +82-2-724-8291, +82-2-739-5370 If you are in Brazil, your foreign ministers fax should be +55-61-226-1762 Brazil UN Mission - Fax. +1 212 371 5716 or +1 212 758 9242 If you are in Mexico, try +52-6-782-4109 If you are in Greece try +30-1-645-0094 (or 0095) If you are in Thailand, try +66-2-225-6155, or +66-2-226-1374 NPT URGENT ACTION 2 from =46elicity Hill, WILPF Sharon Riggle, CESD Merav Datan, IPPNW The 2000 Review Conference of the Non-Proliferation Treaty brings together 187 governments to discuss the most widely supported disarmament treaty ever, the Non-Proliferation Treaty, or NPT, which became international law in 1970. The five Nuclear Weapon States have signed the NPT and in doing so, they committed to getting rid of their nuclear weapon under Article 6. "Each of the Parties to the Treaty undertakes to pursue negotiations in good faith on effective measures relating to cessation of the nuclear arms race at an early date and to nuclear disarmament, and on a treaty on general and complete disarmament under strict and effective international control." The Main Committee devoted to non-proliferation, disarmament and international peace and security concluded its work at the NPT Review Conference today. Three draft texts were discussed at the last meeting of Main Committee I. There are still six working days of the conference in which there is opportunity for NGOs to have an impact on the final outcome. NGOs all around the world can reinforce the efforts of NGOs at the UN by: 1. Writing to and visiting your foreign ministry in your capital city. 2. Writing to and visiting your parliamentary representatives, urging them to contact the foreign ministry. 3. Faxing and calling your delegation here in New York. (For the contact details in many capitals and all New York Missions, see www.reachingcriticalwill.org Click on the Governmental Disarmament Contacts button). 4. Writing to your newspapers (either articles, letters to the editor, or particular journalists who might take up the issue) This Urgent Action relates in particular to the most contentious language in the FORWARD LOOKING DOCUMENT for ACTION OVER THE COMING 5 YEAR PERIOD, developed in a Working Paper of Subsidiary Body I (a subcommittee of Main Committee I) under the Chairmanship of Clive Pearson of New Zealand. The full document, (NPT/CONF.2000/MC.1/SB/1/CRP.7) can be found at: http://www.basicint.org We think it would be useful to concentrate on five paragraphs in particular which relate to 1. Unequivocal undertaking to the total elimination of arsenals (para 17) 2. The ABM treaty (para 5) 3. Annual reporting by nuclear weapon states (para 11) 4. Dealerting, Deactivating (para 13) 5. A diminished role for nuclear weapons in security policies (para 14) & the use of "Strategic stability" throughout the document 1. Unequivocal undertaking to the total elimination of arsenals (para 17) Para 17. An unequivocal undertaking by the nuclear-weapon States to accomplish the total elimination of their nuclear arsenals and, in the forthcoming NPT review period 2000-2005, to engage in an accelerated process of negotiations and to take steps leading to nuclear disarmament to which all States parties are committed under Article VI. Currently the last paragraph in the document, NGOs believe that this "unequivocal undertaking" is in fact one of the most important elements of the working paper. This language reflects Operative Paragraph 1 from the New Agenda Coalition's Working Document on Nuclear Disarmament, tabled on the first day of the Conference. (The New Agenda Coalition is made up of Brazil, Egypt, Ireland, Mexico, New Zealand, South Africa and Sweden.) An "unequivocal undertaking" is the language proposed to replace the "ultimate goal" language of the 5 Nuclear Weapon States. "Ultimate" means: last or last possible, final. This explains why many states and all NGOs are fairly suspicious of the word ultimate. An undertaking is an action, not a promise, which would then translate into a faster process than we have seen in the past 30 years of the existence of the NPT. Once there is a demonstrated commitment to the TOTAL elimination of nuclear weapons, the consequences will be an accelerated programme of action. 2. The ABM Treaty Para 5. The early entry into force and full implementation of START II and the conclusion of START III as soon as possible while preserving and strengthening the ABM Treaty as a cornerstone of strategic stability and as a basis for further reductions of strategic offensive weapons, in accordance with its provisions. The majority of this language is taken directly from the joint statement of the five nuclear weapon states. The consensus nature of this document was only possible because of differing interpretations of the word "strengthening". Strengthening cannot necessarily mean modify but that is how the US is interpreting this language. An unfortunate consequence of the 5 agreeing to common language has been the rest of the states parties being reticent to comment on the danger of US plans for a national missile defense which could spark a new arms race. The essence of the ABM was a recognition that reduction of offensive weapons requires a limit on defensive capabilities. The US government talking points leaked 2 weeks ago (available on www.thebulletin.org) indicate that the US "comforted" the Russians that they should maintain between 1,000 and 2,000 nuclear weapons to have "the certain ability to carry out an annihilating counterattack=8A" 3. Annual reporting by nuclear weapon states (para 11) Para 11. Annual reports within the framework of the NPT review process by all States parties on the implementation of Article VI and paragraph 4 (c) of the 1995 Principles and Objectives for Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament. NGOs support an annual reporting mechanism and propose that there be a standardised format or structure to the annual reports to streamline the information provided and to avoid the proliferation of glossy propaganda and self-serving or selective reporting. The reports should cover the number of weapons dismantled, in storage and deployed. The reports should also detail nuclear doctrines and policy changes that relate to, facilitate or obstruct nuclear disarmament. 4. Dealerting, de-activating, removal of warheads from delivery vehicles (para 13) Para 13. Measures to de-alert and de-activate nuclear weapon systems, the removal of nuclear warheads from delivery vehicles and the withdrawal of nuclear forces from active deployment for the maintenance and promotion of strategic stability. Even though dealerting was identified as the first step towards disarmament in the Canberra Commission, it is still being resisted. For persuasive arguments and facts on dealerting go to www.dealert.org 5. A diminished role for nuclear weapons in security policies (para 14) & the use of "Strategic stability" throughout the document Para 14. A diminishing role for nuclear weapons in security policies to minimise the risk that these weapon ever be used, to facilitate the process of elimination, to enhance strategic stability and to contribute to international confidence and security. This paragraph was originally targeted at NATO's renewed nuclear posture, but has since been broadened to include any state that is explicitly increasing reliance on these weapons. On face value this paragraph might appear positive but it contains contradictions. The diminishing role of nuclear weapons in security policies is necessary for disarmament, however, the addition of "to enhance strategic stability" cannot be supported by NGOs because this language reinforces a minimum level of possession of nuclear weapons. In other words, strategic stability and the abolition of nuclear weapons are mutually exclusive notions. The irony is that the concept of elimination is right next to the concept of strategic stability. ******* ******* ******* ******* =46elicity Hill, Director Women's International League for Peace and Freedom United Nations Office 777 UN Plaza, New York, NY 10017, USA Ph: 1 212 682 1265 =46ax: 1 212 286 8211 email: flick@igc.apc.org web: www.wilpf.int.ch www.reachingcriticalwill.org ******* ******* ******* ******* A CALL TO PARLIAMENTARIANS TO STRENGTHEN THE NON-PROLIFERATION TREATY BY SUPPORTING THE NEW AGENDA COALITION 3 May 2000 States Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) are meeting in New York until May 19 to review the Treaty and its implementation including the obligations of the nuclear weapon states to negotiate for complete nuclear disarmament. On 24 April, the seven nations of the New Agenda Coalition submitted a working paper to the NPT Review Conference outlining a realistic program of action for nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament that can serve as the basis for the Conference's final decision. For the vitality of the treaty and to strengthen the international security regime, the NPT must produce a credible plan of action for the next five years, leading up to the next Review Conference in 2005. Paragraph One of the working paper states that, in order to fulfill the disarmament requirements of the NPT: "The five nuclear-weapon states make an unequivocal undertaking to accomplish the total elimination of their nuclear arsenals and, in the course of the forthcoming review period 2000-2005, to engage in an accelerated process of negotiations and to take steps leading to the nuclear disarmament to which all states parties are committed under Article VI of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons." Such an undertaking from the nuclear weapon states is necessary to demonstrate good faith intentions from the nuclear weapon states to implementing their disarmament obligations. A wide range of States at the NPT Review Conference have expressed a lack of confidence in such intentions, citing the continued policies and programs of the nuclear weapon states and their unwillingness to make an unequivocal commitment to achieving nuclear disarmament. There is considerable support from delegations for the inclusion of the above paragraph, and other elements from the New Agenda working paper, in the Review Conference final document, which will most likely require consensus to be adopted. On May 1 China, France, Russia, the UK and the US released a statement which included the following: "We reiterate our unequivocal commitment to the ultimate goals of a complete elimination of nuclear weapons and a treaty on general and complete disarmament under strict and effective international control." The release of this statement, including the use of the New Agenda Coalition language "unequivocal commitment", indicates that the nuclear weapon states are aware of the need to respond to the strong and urgent call for them to commit themselves to nuclear disarmament. However, the rest of the language indicates that they are choosing to obfuscate rather than make any real commitment. They continue to use the word ultimate with respect to the goal of nuclear disarmament, meaning that they are not committing themselves to pursue complete nuclear disarmament at an early date. The statement makes no mention of the obligation to achieve the goal, as opposed to merely pursuing it, an obvious rejection to the 1996 International Court of Justice opinion on nuclear weapons which emphasised the obligation to achieve the goal. In addition, they link the goal of general and complete disarmament with that of nuclear disarmament, a linkage which would prevent any earlier achievement of nuclear disarmament. =46inally, the statement of the nuclear weapons states ignores important aspects of the New Agenda Coalition statement including: The call for an accelerated process of negotiations, which changes the impetus of nuclear disarmament negotiations from some undetermined time in the future to today. The importance of making some progress before the next NPT Review Conference in 2005. There is no expectation that negotiations for complete nuclear disarmament will be completed by 2005, but that such negotiations would be underway and some interim steps would be achieved. Therefore we, as NGOs specializing in disarmament and arms control, respectfully request your assistance in promoting the NAC proposal - in particular Paragraph One - in your parliaments, to your governments and to your delegations to the NPT Review Conference. Contacts: Middle Powers Initiative 727 Massachusetts Avenue Cambridge, MA 02139, USA Tel: (617) 492 9189 UN Coordinator, Jim Wurst telephone: (212) 818 1861 Lisa von Trapp Coordinator Parliamentarians Network for Nuclear Disarmament Parliamentarians for Global Action 211 ast 43rd Street, 16th floor New York, NY 10017, USA Tel: 212 687 7755 x104 - - 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. 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