From: owner-abolition-usa-digest@lists.xmission.com (abolition-usa-digest) To: abolition-usa-digest@lists.xmission.com Subject: abolition-usa-digest V1 #39 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 Tuesday, November 17 1998 Volume 01 : Number 039 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 12 Nov 1998 08:48:53 -0800 From: "Save Ward Valley" Subject: Re: (abolition-usa) My new GOP Congressman Doug Ose and military spending This message if for Timothy Breuning. What is Doug Ose's stand on the dumping of radioactive waste in the CA desert, i.e. Ward Valley? Molly Save Ward Valley 107 F Street Needles, CA 92363 ph. 760/326-6267 fax 760/326-6268 www.shundahai.org/SWVAction.html http://earthrunner.com/savewardvalley www.ctaz.com/~swv1 http://banwaste.envirolink.org www.alphacdc.com/ien/wardvly4.html www.greenaction.org - - 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, 12 Nov 1998 14:13:57 -0500 From: ASlater Subject: (abolition-usa) Fwd: Germany and NAC resolution >Date: Fri, 13 Nov 1998 07:58:03 -0500 >Subject: Germany and NAC resolution >To: peace@fps.ak.planet.co.nz, peace@mira.net, prior@wnmeds.ac.nz, > prior@netlink.co.nz >From: kate@chch.planet.org.nz (kate@chch.planet.org.nz) > >Dear Friends, > >After endless phone calls and fax messages, brilliant networking and great > >connections, we have at last managed to move the German position from a >no- >vote to an abstention. Please pass on this information to any contacts you > >have in countries where they are trying to do the same. > >Best wishes, > >Xanthe > >_________________________________________________________________________ > >Luckauer Str. 5, D-10969 Berlin, Tel: +49 (0)30 614 9208, Fax:(wk)693 8166 >__________________________________________________________________________ >## CrossPoint v3.11 R ## > > >************************************ >* Kate Dewes * >* Disarmament and Security Centre * >* P O Box 8390 * >* Christchurch * >* Aotearoa/New Zealand * >* Ph/Fax +64 3 348 1353 * >* kate@chch.planet.org.nz * >************************************ > 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, 12 Nov 1998 16:30:33 -0500 From: "David Culp" Subject: (abolition-usa) More Encouraging News Today on START II RADIO FREE EUROPE/RADIO LIBERTY NEWSLINE Nov. 12, 1998 START-II RATIFICATION ON FAST TRACK? A new draft law on ratification of the START-II treaty will be finalized in 10 days and a vote may be put on the State Duma's agenda in late November or early December, according to Duma deputy Shokhin. Duma chairman Gennadii Seleznev said that the new draft is "larger" and "spells out how to act, how to finance this program, and how to think about Russia's security," Interfax reported on 12 November. - --------------- MPs OPTIMISTIC ON START 2, SEE VOTE SOON MOSCOW, Nov. 12, 1998 -- (Reuters) Russian parliamentary leaders said on Thursday they were optimistic the lower house would ratify the long-stalled START 2 strategic arms treaty with the United States. Centrist Aleksander Shokhin said after a meeting of a council which manages the Duma, the lower chamber, that the vote on an amended version of the ratification law might take place as early as this month. "The ratification process is now getting to the final stage," said Shokhin, head of the Our Home Is Russia bloc's parliamentary group. "It is possible that by the end of November or early December the issue will be up for voting at a Duma plenary meeting." Shokhin said the old version of the draft law, which consisted of only one line, was inadequate and called for certain conditions and reservations to be included. He was backed by Gennady Seleznyov, the Duma's Communist speaker. "The old law does not suit us. A new draft law has been prepared which says how Russia should act -- how we should finance this program and how we should take care of Russia's security in the future," said Seleznyov. Shokhin said a new version of the draft law on ratification would be prepared in 10 days. He said the Foreign and Defense ministries approved of the conditions that the deputies wanted to include in the law, but did not say what they were. One condition is expected to be an immediate start to work on a START 3 treaty allowing further reductions in U.S. and Russian arsenals. Russia's government has repeatedly urged parliament to ratify the treaty, signed in 1993. In the latest plea this week, it said approval could help Russia win foreign credits to tackle the country's worst economic crisis since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. That has prompted a string of unusually optimistic comments on the chances of ratification by parliamentarians from a range of parties. START 2 slashes the two countries' Cold War nuclear arsenals by up to two thirds to no more than 3,500 warheads each by 2007. President Boris Yeltsin and U.S. President Bill Clinton have agreed to open negotiations on START 3 -- which would cut warheads by another third or half -- as soon as START 2 comes into force. The U.S. Senate has ratified START 2, but despite repeated pleas by the Kremlin the Duma has held back, concerned by U.S. plans to develop missile defenses, by NATO expansion and by the cost of scrapping missiles eliminated by the pact. Some deputies in the State Duma have said there is as yet no majority in favor of ratifying the treaty. Opposition to ratifying START 2 has long centered on the opposition Communists, but Russian analysts said the situation had changed since a compromise government was formed by Prime Minister Yevgeny Primakov, who was appointed in September. Another point that may help is the government's call to build a number of new Topol-M missiles, known to NATO as the SS-27, to replace some of the aging rockets to be scrapped. (c) 1998 Reuters - --------------- RUSSIAN LAWMAKERS LOOK AT APPROVING NUCLEAR ARMS REDUCTION TREATY November 12, 1998 MOSCOW (AP) -- Russian parliamentary leaders agreed Thursday to revise a bill that could pave the way for ratification of the stalled START II treaty on sharply reducing Russian and U.S. nuclear arsenals. Gennady Seleznyov, speaker of the State Duma, the lower chamber of parliament, said a new version of the bill had been drawn up by several parliamentary committees and was ready for consideration by the chamber and the government. He said the bill could be acted upon in weeks if President Boris Yeltsin accepts its provisions. "If the president agrees (with our final version), we'll put it on the agenda for ratification," he said. START II would cut Russian and U.S. nuclear arsenals in half to 3,500 warheads each. START II was signed by both nations in 1993 and the U.S. Senate ratified it in 1996. The revised bill in the State Duma, parliament's lower house, contains unspecified stipulations and conditions on which lawmakers insist after two years of debate, Seleznyov said. In particular, the bill would specify how the agreement would be implemented and financed, he said. Lawmakers objected to Yeltsin's call to approve START II because it only gave lawmakers the option of ratifying the treaty without spelling out other details, he said. It was not clear if the United States would accept any changes or revisions raised as conditions for the Duma to approve the treaty. The Duma repeatedly delayed action on START II with Communist and nationalist deputies charging it would weaken Russia and be too expensive too implement. The government of Prime Minister Yevgeny Primakov, who took office in September, has made a major effort to get the treaty approved. Some Russian officials have indicated that the government hopes that quick ratification of the START II would improve Russia's prospects of receiving much-needed aid from the International Monetary Fund to tackle the country's economic crisis. Roman Popkovich, head of the Duma's Defense Committee, said Thursday that ratification of START II would enhance Russia's defense capability. The treaty would allow Russia to devote large sums of money to developing new weapons and reviving the cash-strapped military, he told the Interfax news agency. He said Duma deputies were concerned about such issues as the expansion of NATO and deployment of nuclear forces and NATO forces closer to the Russian border. But he claimed that possible revisions of the treaty would not alter the "essence" of the treaty. Copyright (c) 1998 The Associated Press. - - 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, 13 Nov 1998 12:51:58 -0500 From: "David Culp" Subject: (abolition-usa) More on START II Ratification from Moscow WOULD SPEEDY START TWO RATIFICATION BRING MORE AID MONEY? By Floriana Fossato Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty Moscow, 12 November 1998 (RFE/RL) -- What do Russia's mysterious anti-crisis plan and the START-Two arms reduction treaty have in common? Apparently a lot, according to the Russian government. At least that is what the Russian media are reporting today, following yesterday's State Duma session that was closed to the press. Cabinet members reportedly gave deputies an overview of the state of Russia's economy and of its prospects for the future. The cabinet, led by Prime Minister Yevgeny Primakov, won the deputies' partial support for an anti-crisis program and a draft budget for next year -- something that previous governments were never able to achieve without a fight. Government ministers also managed to produce some signs of activity on the long-stalled START-Two treaty with the United States. Primakov recently called on parliamentary leaders to finally ratify the treaty -- and his ministers yesterday repeated the call, reportedly adding new economic reasons to military ones. Deputies quoted by Russian news agencies said government ministers -- particularly First Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Maslyukov and Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov -- strongly lobbied for ratification of the treaty. Accounts of the closed session provided by Duma members indicated that Maslyukov hinted that a quick ratification of START Two would help Moscow's quest for Western financial help, especially in talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Maslyukov has so far failed to win the release of a much-needed $4.3 billion tranche of an IMF-led $22.6 billion package of loans. The IMF approved the package in the summer, but froze it when it appeared clear that Russia would not be able to meet obligations under the deal. IMF officials are waiting for Russia's draft 1999 budget to measure its commitment to stick to a tight economic policy. Alexander Shokhin, leader of the centrist "Our Home Is Russia" faction said "there was no direct link" between the debate on the draft budget and START Two. But he added that "many lawmakers made exactly that conclusion from the way it was presented." Russian newspapers came to the same conclusion. The daily "Segodnya" wrote today that good news on the progress of the ratification process would help Primakov's case for more financial aid in a coming meeting with U.S. President Bill Clinton. Primakov is scheduled to meet Clinton during an Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum meeting in Kuala Lumpur next week. START Two was signed in 1993, and the U.S. Senate ratified the treaty in 1996. However, on the Russian side, Communists and nationalists dominating the Duma have so far resisted ratification. They claim that trimming strategic weapons would harm Russia's security, particularly as NATO is expanding. They also argue that Russia cannot afford the costs of dismantling its arsenal. START Two slashes the two countries' Cold War nuclear arsenals by up to two-thirds to no more than 3,500 warheads each by 2007. The daily "Kommersant" quoted Maslyukov, who is seen as close to industries in Russia's military-industrial complex, as telling deputies that Russia's nuclear shield would remain in place, if Russia goes ahead with building a new Topol-M missile. This missile, known to NATO as the SS-27 and not included in START II, would replace some of the aging rockets to be scrapped under the treaty. Duma speaker Gennady Seleznyov said after yesterday's session that "these were essentially the last parliamentary hearings" on the issue. He told journalists ratification of the treaty is no longer a strategic question, but a purely economic one. Seleznyov said a vote on the issue would be scheduled as soon as the cash-strapped Primakov government provides concrete figures on how much the treaty would cost Russia. Some deputies in the State Duma say there is as yet no majority in favor of ratifying the treaty. Seleznyov's deputy, Vladimir Ryzhkov, agreed, but added that "there is essential progress on this question". He said that four parliamentary committees would prepare all necessary documentation on START Two over the next 10 days, together with proposals for further action. Today, Shokhin of the "Our Home Is Russia" faction said the Duma may vote on an amended version of the START Two ratification law as early as this month. - -------- - - 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, 14 Nov 1998 23:28:09 EST From: DavidMcR@aol.com Subject: (abolition-usa) Demos opposed to Iraq attack by US In a message dated 11/13/98 4:35:44 PM Eastern Standard Time, can@drizzle.com writes: << Subj: Demos opposed to Iraq attack by US Date: 11/13/98 4:35:44 PM Eastern Standard Time From: can@drizzle.com (John Reese) Sender: owner-wrll@scn.org To: can@drizzle.com (JR) PLEASE PASS THIS ON PLEASE SEND ANY CHANGES, UPDATES, ADDITIONS TO: can@drizzle.com INTERNATIONAL: OSLO, NORWAY, Day after attack, 4:30 pm if attack occurs on a weekday or Sunday, 2 pm if Saturday at the U.S. Embassy, Called by Arnljot Ask (Coalition of 28 organizations) IN US: ANN ARBOR, MI, Demonstrate the "day after" a military attack, at 5 pm, at the Liberty and 5th Federal Building, if the "day after" is a weekday, or at 12 noon, if the "day after" is a weekend. AUSTIN, TEXAS, Day of attack if by 5:00 or day after attack otherwise, State Capitol building, Also: Saturday November 14 at the State Capitol. George Bush will be there promoting his new book BALTIMORE, MD, emergency demonstration at Charles & Centre Streets, 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM on the day of aggression. If the aggression occurs after 5:30 PM, gather the following day. Bring appropriate signs and banners that speak out against U.S. terrorism. Call 410-323-7200 or 410-243-2077 for information. BERN's next meeting is scheduled for Monday, Dec. 7 at 7:30 PM at 327 East 25th Street, Baltimore, Maryland. Baltimore Emergency Response Network BOSTON, Day after attack, 4:30 pm, at Park Street T-Stop, The Campaign for the Iraqi People BURLINGTON, VERMONT, Day AFTER attack, 12 noon, Federal Bldg (Pearl St & Elmwood), Instant Anti-War Coalition, If you live near UVM, meet at the Royall Tyler steps at 11:15 to walk to Fed Bldg. CHICAGO, Day of attack, 4:30 pm, Federal Bldg, Adams & Dearborn, 312-641-5151, 8th Day Center for Justice CONCORD, NEW HAMPSHIRE, Day of/Day after attack, 6 PM, at State House Plaza (weekly vigils against the sanctions at same location every Wed at noon), 603-228-0559 DALLAS TEXAS, Anti-War Rally, Monday, November 16, 1998, 2-3 P.M. Federal Building Downtown, 1100 Commerce, Dallas Peace Center and other Dallas peace and justice organizations, The Dallas Peace Center, 4301 Bryan Street, Suite #202, Dallas, Texas 75204, (214) 823-7793 - phone, (214) 823-8356 - fax, mapa@igc.apc.org DAYTON, OHIO, Federal Building In Dayton 5 PM, Same day if attack is before noon, Next day if attack is after noon, Monday if attack is on weekend, Dayton Peace Action And Dayton Pledge Of Resistance, 937-233-3425, 937-277-7102 Demonstration at 4:30, at Newest Federal Building (corner of 4th & 3rd streets) GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA, Day of Attack, 4:30 pm, at 13th & University, bring signs & black arm bands HARRISONBURG, VA, 16 students at James Madison U are now in day two of a 7 day fast in solidarity with the Iraqi people who have been suffering from U.S.-led United Nations sanctions since August 1990. Our fast is also in protest of the possibility of bombing Iraq. We are asking students around the country to wear a tourqious ribbon in solidarity with the sixteen fasters at JMU and their message that neither war nor inhumane sanctions are the answer to the problem with Iraq. HARTORD, CONNECTICUT, The day after attack, 11:30-12:30 at the Federal Building, 457 Main Street, Hartford HONOLULU, HAWAII, Day after attack OR Monday if bombing occurs on a Friday or the weekend, 4 PM, Federal Bldg--on the Nimitz side, Called by Vietnam Veterans Against the War Anti-Imperialist, Honolulu Chapter LOS ANGELES, CA, Day of attack, 5pm, Westwood Federal Bldg, 213-487-2368, International Action Center MEMPHIS, TN, On going acitons for info 901.458.9907, de Cleyre cooperative MINNEAPOLIS, Demonstration against war threats on Iraq, Thursday, November 19th, in front of the newest Federal Building (corner of 4th and 3rd streets in downtown Minneapolis), Iraqi Peace Action Coalition--a combined group of Peace and Justice groups in the Twin Cities including the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, Women Against Military Madness, Progressive Student Organization, Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salvador and MANY others (over 40 groups have endorsed previous actions). MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, Day of attack if it occurs before 4:30pm, or, Day after attack if it occurs after 4:30pm NEW YORK CITY, Protest U.S. Threats To Bomb Iraq, demonstrating on Tuesday, November 17 at 4:30 p.m. in Grand Central Station, AND, immediate response demonstration within 24 hours in Times Square should the U.S. bomb Iraq before November 17th, The International Action Center, AND, Day after attack, 4:30-6 pm, at Times Square, Called by International Action Center AND, organizing meeting, Nov 16, 6:30 pm, at A.J. Muste Institute, 339 Lafayette, 3rd Floor (East Village at Bleeker & Lafayette) ORLANDO, FLORIDA, emergency response meetings, every Wed at 10 pm, front lawn of Rollins College (1000 Holt Ave), 407-987-6943 PHILADELPHIA, PA, Day after attack, noon--nonviolence vigil, Philadelphia City Hall (west side, 15th & Market), 610-544-1818, Brandywine Peace Community PORTLAND, OREGON, Demonstrate 4:00 pm-6:00 pm on the day of the attack (the next day if bombing begins after 4:00 p.m.), Federal Building, SW 3rd and Jefferson, Contact: Peace and Justice Works, (503) 236-3065, (503) 236-3065 (Office), pjw@agora.rdrop.com, http://www.rdrop.com/~pjw/Iraq.html SACRAMENTO, CA, Sacramento, California, "Don't Bomb Iraq" Rally, Friday, Nov. 13, 4:30 PM, at 16th and J streets in Sacramento, info, Sacramento-Yolo Peace Action at (916) 448-7157 SAN FRANCISCO, CA, Day after attack, 5pm, at Market & Powell, 415-821-6545, International Action Center SAN JOSE, CA, Day after attack, 5pm, Federal Bldg (San Carlos & 2nd St), Coalition to Lift Iraq Sanctions, 408-297-2299, 650-493-9044, 408-428-7379 SEATTLE, Day AFTER any U.S. attack on any country (this is to have a meeting about what to do but if enough people show up for a rally of somekind there will probably be that also), 5 PM, Federal Bldg (2nd & Marion), Citizens Concerned for the People of Iraq, Communities Against U.S. Military Aggression, 206-789-5565, 206-547-0952, ALSO: ===Town Hall Meeting===, Friday Nov. 20, 6:30 (UW Main Campus -- Room TBA), The Education for Peace in Iraq Center (EPIC), Student Action Network, and others present a Town Hall Meeting with Jerry Haines (member of the 16th Voices in the Wilderness, delegation to Iraq), veteran Jeff Gustafson (cofounder of EPIC), Ruth Wilson (author of "10 lies about Iraq") and others to be annouced. A march will follow, Call for room or to help organize. 425-747-7673 ST. LOUIS, Vigil at 8 pm beginning at the Robert A. Young Federal Building (Spruce and Tucker in downtown St. Louis), evening of any US air strike against Iraq, St. Louis Forum for a Just Peace, 314-862-5773 Tim Craine, Committee to Oppose Gulf War II, tcraine@hotmail.com TUCSON, ARIZONA, Day of attack (Day after if news breaks after 12 noon), 4:30 pm, Tucson Federal Bldg, (also weekly vigils to end the sanctions every Thurs 4:30-5:30 at Fed Bldg), 520-323-8697, Nuclear Resister WASHINGTON DC, Day of/Day after attack, first 5pm after U.S. attack, at the White House (16th St & Pennsylvania Ave NW--on the sidewalk), International Action Center, 202-588-1205 WORCESTER, MASS, Demonstration on Day of (or day after) Attack at 5 PM, Lincoln Square, Contact: St. Francis and Therese Catholic Worker (508) 757-3588 >> - - 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, 15 Nov 1998 01:03:03 EST From: DavidMcR@aol.com Subject: (abolition-usa) Re: Peace CENTRE/USA-- Please call your radio stations... In a message dated 11/14/98 10:07:17 PM Eastern Standard Time, kkelly@igc.apc.org writes: << Subj: Peace CENTRE/USA-- Please call your radio stations... Date: 11/14/98 10:07:17 PM Eastern Standard Time From: kkelly@igc.apc.org (Kathy Kelly) To: peace@islandnet.com Dear Friends, Deep, heart-felt thanks to all of you for sending us good wishes -- whether in writing or in your thoughts -- for Kathy and others who are traveling (so far, Bert Sacks, Ken Hannaford-Ricardi, and Anne Montgomery). The preparation is going smoothly -- we even have plane tickets! And we, those remaining behind at the office, will keep you posted. In the mean time -- to keep this short and to the point -- we would like to ask you to contact radio stations in your area and find out whether they would be interested in getting a phone call from Baghdad and broadcasting a first-hand report of what is going on. From our experience in the past, calling in to radio stations is an effective way of reaching the public. We have a fairly good list, but it is far from being comprehensive. We know we can reach many people, as we have in the past, this way. Real stories from Baghdad help dismantle many myths that the media and our government would have us believe in: Saddam Hussein is the only person living in Iraq; it's in Iraqis' hands to overthrow their own government (while scrounging for food and drinkable water); it's merely a hardship the Iraqis are experiencing; Iraq is the only country with a capacity for mass destruction,and therefore, needs to be feared; the lives of hundreds of thousand children are a price worth paying for...well, I haven't figured that one out yet. Please call us at the number below and let us know if any radio stations would be interested in hearing from Kathy and company. (Please don't let us stop you from contacting other forms of media, such as TV, if you can. We'd greatly appreciate any help you can give us.) The information we need is: names of people to ask for a phone number with a real person behind it when is the best time to call? (FYI - There is an eight-hour time difference between Baghdad and the East Coast, that is, if it's 12pm in NY, it's 8pm in Baghdad; 10pm Seattle, then 9am in Baghdad. The delegation anticipates being able to call between 8am and 10pm Baghdad time. In short, East Coast -- 12am (midnight) until 2pm Central -- 11pm until 1pm West Coast -- 9pm until 11am Apologies for these excruciating details, it's mostly for me to get it straight. Many thanks as always. We couldn't do this without you. Praying for peace, Soyun Kim for Voices in the Wilderness Voices in the Wilderness A Campaign to End the US/UN Economic Sanctions Against the People of Iraq 1460 West Carmen Ave. Chicago, IL 60640 ph:773-784-8065; fax: 773-784-8837 email: kkelly@igc.apc.org website: http://www.nonviolence.org/vitw >> - - 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, 15 Nov 1998 05:59:04 -0500 From: Peace through Reason Subject: (abolition-usa) IRAQ: MOBILIZE NOW! (FWD from Washington Peace Center) Please join the following actions organized by the D.C. Coalition to Stop the U.S. War on Iraq. Sunday, November 15 9:30a.m.-11 a.m. Zap Action! Protest outside ABC's This Week with David Brinkley. At ABC News on DeSalles St., next to the Mayflower Hotel Tuesday, November 17 4 p.m.-6 p.m. Demonstration at the White House! Bring signs and join us while we picket on the White House sidewalk. Wednesday, November 18 7 p.m. Organizing Meeting of the D.C. Coalition to Stop the U.S. War on Iraq. All welcome. At 1640 Hobart St., 1 block west of Mt. Pleasant St. (Take the 42, S2, S4, or H2 buses) Saturday, November 21 March and Rally 11 a.m. Gather at Dupont Circle for a March to the White House followed by a rally. Town Hall Meeting 2 p.m. details will be announced soon, watch your email! Please send this email to all who may be interested! Stop the bombing! End the Sanctions! Stop the U.S. War on Iraq! Come to these actions and stop the bombing before it starts, so that we don't have to activate the following contingency plan: 5 p.m. following a U.S. attack on Iraq, gather at the White House for a demonstration. For more information, respond to this email or call the Washington Peace Center at 202-234-2000. _______________________________________________________________________ * Peace Through Reason - http://prop1.org - Convert the War Machines! * _______________________________________________________________________ - - 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, 15 Nov 1998 15:14:07 EST From: DavidMcR@aol.com Subject: (abolition-usa) Re: Demos opposed to Iraq attack by US For a complete list of demos (though with the crisis seemingly past, it is doubtful we will have them) has been put out by one of the WRL folks in Seattle. Note the address in the cc box. << Subj: Re: Demos opposed to Iraq attack by US Date: 11/15/98 3:27:33 AM Eastern Standard Time From: sliguori@gac.edu (Steve Liguori) To: DavidMcR@aol.com, COC-L@CMSA.BERKELEY.EDU, RedYouth@lefty.techsi.com, SocialistsUnmoderated@lefty.techsi.com, abolition-caucus@igc.apc.org, abolition-usa@lists.xmission.com Where do I find info on these? >> - - 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, 16 Nov 1998 01:33:10 EST From: DavidMcR@aol.com Subject: (abolition-usa) Re: OVER 3,000 PEACE/ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS AVAILABLE I want to second Bill's friendly SPAM - and am sending it also to the US list. Housman's Peace Diary is really essential to international workers - and has a nice intro on Abolition 2000. Peace, David McReynolds << Subj: OVER 3,000 PEACE/ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS AVAILABLE Date: 11/15/98 11:30:06 PM Eastern Standard Time From: smirnowb@ix.netcom.com (Robert Smirnow) Sender: owner-abolition-caucus@igc.org To: odiejoe@aol.com ---- From: Housmans Peace Resource Project Sender: worldpeace@mail.gn.apc.org To: smirnowb@ix.netcom.com (Robert Smirnow), bellona@bellona.no Date: Sat, 14 Nov 1998 20:06:28 Subject: Re: ANTI-NUCLEAR CONTACTS, GREENPEACE OUTLETS, MORE Reply-to: worldpeace@gn.apc.org Anyone interested Contact: worldpeace@gn.apc.org Thank you. Phone, Fax #s listed below. FROM: Housmans Peace Resource Project, 5 Caledonian Road, Kings Cross, London N1, UK (tel +44-171-278 4474; fax +44-171-278 0444; e-mail worldpeace@gn.apc.org). Dear friends Please note that if you need a source of reference giving postal addresses, phone numbers, fax numbers, e-mail addresses, etc, not only of Greenpeace International offices around the world but also of over 3000 other peace, environmental and related organisations, you can find all this in the World Peace Database published by this project. Please e-mail me if you want more details. Best wishes Albert Beale (Editor, World Peace Database and Directory) > Date sent: Tue, 10 Nov 1998 13:49:36 -0600 (CST) > From: smirnowb@ix.netcom.com (Robert Smirnow) > Subject: ANTI-NUCLEAR CONTACTS, GREENPEACE OUTLETS, MORE > To: bellona@bellona.no > Friends, > I hope you find the following useful for future > postings.If interested, there are between 30-35 international > Greenpeace branches available through their international Headquarters > in Amsterdam.I store all of them in my address book & post or forward > at will.All international access codes for faxes starting with 011 are > FROM the United States out. > > ........................... ............................. > > No-Nukes, > Bill Smirnow > >> - - 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, 17 Nov 1998 05:02:26 EST From: DavidMcR@aol.com Subject: (abolition-usa) Re: MCC delegation to Iraq sees first-hand sanctions' devastating impact Another post from the Mennonites. The reality behind the human lives so casually dealt with by the empty heartless talking heads of the TV panels. David McReynolds << Subj: MCC delegation to Iraq sees first-hand sanctions' devastating impact Date: 11/12/98 3:46:22 PM Eastern Standard Time From: jon.harder@MennoLink.org (Jon Harder, Minneapolis, MN) Sender: err.processor@MennoLink.org BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Strict economic sanctions imposed on Iraq in 1990 prior to the Persian Gulf War have created widespread suffering in this once prominent Middle Eastern country. A seven-member Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) delegation saw this first-hand during an October 27 to November 5 visit to Iraq. The group, composed of MCC staff, a U.S. journalist and a Canadian hospital administrator, toured hospitals and a school and met with government and church leaders. The Iraqi Red Crescent Society, similar to the Red Cross, hosted the MCC delegation. MCC's only MCC worker in Iraq, Wanda Kraybill, organized the delegation's schedule. Kraybill is from Lancaster, Pa. Eight years of sanctions: Snapshots of an unfolding disaster * Bob Herr of MCC's Peace Office noticed especially the devastated state of Iraqi children's heath. "It's becoming quite evident that the impact of years of war, and now sanctions, are taking a toll, and that impact is landing with brutal force on innocent children. Rates of child malnutrition and disease are all up sharply in recent years," he noted. Many of Iraq's water filtration systems remain in disrepair and even the most basic medicines are scarce. * Pearl Sensenig of MCC's Communications department recalled visiting a hospital in the southern city of Basra. There a 52-year old school superintendent lay in a fly-infested ward, facing a hysterectomy, knowing that no painkillers were available. The head doctor said the anesthesiologist would have to do his job with "his hand on his heart," knowing that he'll have to rely on guesswork rather than proper medical supplies to put the woman to sleep for the operation, and then wake her again. * Peter Peters of White City, Sask., reflected on the young beggars and shoe-shine boys who crowded around him. "Every kind of emotion" from annoyance to frustration to anger to horror -- welled up in me. The ongoing, all-encompassing sanctions place children -- who should be society's greatest treasure -- into the streets." Iraqis too expressed horror at the growing phenomenon of street children, which they say was formerly unheard of. With huge increases in food prices and the collapse of the Iraqi currency, many families need every bit of income they can gather. * Daryl Byler, director of MCC's Washington office, reflected, "Everywhere tired eyes told the story of millions for whom life has become a daily struggle for survival. In hospitals poorly paid doctors are squeezing the last drops of healing from out-dated medical equipment and scarce supplies. We met and heard about doctors, engineers and lawyers working as taxi drivers to supplement their meager incomes." * Tim Wichert of MCC's Ontario office remarked on both the frustration and the hope he noticed among Iraqis. "At the pediatric hospital we met kids with their mothers, unsure where enough medication would be available for their treatment. That evening we watched as more than 100 newlyweds, accompanied by their extended families and hired musicians, checked into our hotel, obviously hopeful for a brighter future." Others on the delegation included Elizabeth Cummings, editor of the Central Penn Business Journal in Harrisburg, Pa., and Paul Pereverzoff, former MCC Jordan program director. The MCC Peace Office organized this delegation in response to a call from MCC workers in the Middle East for greater attention to the impact of U.N. sanctions on Iraq. MCC staff at the United Nations in New York and in the Washington office will continue discussions with officials. Another delegation is scheduled to visit Iraq in January 1999, further focusing attention on the impact of sanctions on Iraqi people, especially on children. -30- pls13november1998 MCC photos available: 1) At Al Monsour Pediatric Hospital in Baghdad, Iraq, Canadian hospital administrator Peter Peters delights Stalone, 7, with a packet of toys and candy. Stalone, who suffers from leukemia, is one of the lucky few. In December his mother plans to take him to Italy for a bone marrow transplant. Most parents with sick children struggle to afford even basic medicines, often selling off refrigerators, TVs and other household items. Peters of White City, Sask., was in Iraq from October 27 to November 5 as part of an MCC delegation. Currently Peters is executive director of the Saskatchewan Cancer Foundation in Regina, Sask., and is a member of Regina Peace Mennonite Church. (MCC photo by Pearl Sensenig) 2) At the Red Crescent center in Basra, Iraq, a woman implores MCC worker Wanda Kraybill (right) for insulin for her diabetic child. Due to strict economic sanctions, Iraq imports only a portion of the medicines it did prior to the Persian Gulf War. Those Iraqis with chronic illness are especially affected because they need a continuous, steady supply of medicines to remain well. Kraybill is from Lancaster, Pa., where she is a member of East Chestnut Street Mennonite Church. (MCC photo by Pearl Sensenig) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Reprinting this article is encouraged. Please send clippings to MCC Communications P.O. Box 500 Akron, PA 17501-0500 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- >> - - 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, 17 Nov 1998 16:18:05 -0500 From: ASlater Subject: (abolition-usa) ACTION ALERT-UN NAC resolution Dear Friends, As you may have read on this list, the vote on the UN resolution for a New Agenda for rapid nuclear disarmament was the first breach in the NATO coldwar wall. While the US lobbied furiously in all the NATO capitals, Canada (in a replay of its landmines role) lobbied against the US and all of the NATO nations (except for Turkey, UK and France) abstained on the vote instead of voting NO as the US requested! (Canada. Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Greece, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Luxembourg, Iceland, Irtaly, Denmark) Also abstaining were Japan and Australia. The final vote was 97 yes, 19 no, and 32 abstentions. The Resolution was voted on in the UN's First Committee which deals with disarmament issues and will be voted on by the full General Assembly, probably the first week in December. Listed below is the disgraceful US speech explaining its vote against the resolution. WRITE A LETTER TO PRESIDENT CLINTON ASKING HIM TO CHANGE THE US VOTE FROM NO TO YES! TELL HIM THAT NUCLEAR ABOLITION'S TIME HAS COME AND WE CAN NO LONGER HOLD ON TO OUR OLD COLDWAR POLICIES AND EXPECT THAT OTHER COUNTRIES WILL NOT ALSO WANT TO JOIN THE NUCLEAR CLUB If you have international contacts ask them to write their governments: in the countries which abstained, to change their vote to YES; in the countries which voted YES, to thank them; in countries which were absent, to vote YES in the General Assembly vote. (the full voting list will be posted later) Explanation of Vote on L.48 BEFORE THE VOTE Towards a Nuclear-Weapon-Free World: The Need for a New Agenda Mr. Chairman, Since the United States has already spoken at some length on the reasons for its opposition to L.48, I will be brief. We have two major concerns: - --first, this resolution calls into question a fundamental doctrine of our defense and that of our allies and - --second, far from advancing the nuclear disarmament agenda, it will in all probability delay it. Mr. Chairman, As to the first point, the representative of one of the original sponsors could not have been clearer when, in response to the statement of our British colleague, he said that the resolution was intended to call into question the doctrine of deterrence. This doctrine has stood in the United Statesand indeed, the world in good stead for the past half century. It has kept the peace and ended the Cold War. Along with our allies we reviewed it recently and concluded that it should remain the basis for our defense. Article 51 of the Charter gives us all the right to take measures for individual and collective self defense. My country will continue to exercise that right. Beyond this, the sponsors of this resolution seem to believe that the doctrine of deterrence is a major obstacle to more rapid progress on nuclear disarmament and conversely that if only it were abandoned, the nuclear powers would disarm speedily. We disagree. Nuclear weapons and nuclear disarmament do not exist in a vacuum. The nuclear disarmament process can take place only in the context of national security interests; the dramatic progress we have made to date has been possible because of changes in the international security climate, even as it has contributed to the increased stability that make further progress possible. The United States intends to continue to move towards greater security and stability at lower levels of weapons in a step-by-step process towards the ultimate elimination of nuclear weapons. But the security and stability would be empty concepts without nuclear deterrence. Let me be clear: you will not make nuclear disarmament occur faster by suggesting that a fundamental basis of our national security for more than fifty years is illegitimate. Mr. Chairman, As to the second point, we have already noted that far from a new agenda this resolution contains a mix of items already on the arms control/disarmament agenda; proposals of which de-alerting is one we have already considered and rejected; and suggestions such as the call for a nuclear disarmament conference that will lead nowhere. Indeed, if the purpose of this resolution is to speed the nuclear disarmament process, it can only be counter-productive. - --By lecturing the nuclear weapons states about their inadequacies, while neglecting to criticize the actions of states that have conducted recent nuclear weapons tests and have thereby damaged the global non-proliferation regime, the resolution will hardly encourage the entry into force of the CTBT or START II. Instead, it will only give aid and comfort to those who are skeptical about multilateral arms control and disarmament. - --By seeming to require a new commitment to nuclear disarmament as a prerequisite to further steps to reduce nuclear weapons, it will only provide an excuse for delay. - --Finally, by proclaiming the need for a new agenda and for still another conference on nuclear disarmament, it calls into question the agendas on which the international community already agrees, such as the “Principles and Objectives for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation” and tends to undermine existing forums, such as the CD, the enhanced NPT review process, and the First Committee and other UN disarmament machinery, including a possible SSOD-IV. We do not understand how this would promote speedier progress on disarmament. Mr. Chairman, This resolution is still another example of “feel good” arms control. The proponents may believe they will accomplish something, but the resolution destroys no weapons, prevents no proliferation and makes the world no safer. My delegation hopes that many of our friends and allies decide they can not support this unnecessary and potentially harmful resolution. The United States for its part will continue to pursue meaningful measures to reduce and eliminate weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems, as well as preventing the proliferation of such weapons. 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. 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