From: owner-abolition-usa-digest@lists.xmission.com (abolition-usa-digest) To: abolition-usa-digest@lists.xmission.com Subject: abolition-usa-digest V1 #449 Reply-To: abolition-usa-digest Sender: owner-abolition-usa-digest@lists.xmission.com Errors-To: owner-abolition-usa-digest@lists.xmission.com Precedence: bulk abolition-usa-digest Friday, June 15 2001 Volume 01 : Number 449 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 08 Jun 2001 16:52:22 -0500 From: Lisa Ledwidge / IEER Subject: (abolition-usa) some missile defense resources from IEER - --=====================_20363810==_.ALT Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed To those of you participating in the June 11-12 Star Wars congressional education days, I wish you success. One argument against BMD that I don't see mentioned often in news articles is: BMD can be used by the US as a key part of a first-strike strategy. "Nuclear Defense and Offense: An Analysis of US Policy," at http://www.ieer.org/sdafiles/vol_8/8-2/defoff.html , presents this argument. While it was published in February 2000, it is still relevant today, perhaps even more so. I hope it will be useful to you in your efforts. Here are two other IEER resources relevant to missile defense/ABM issues that may also be of use: Nuclear Weapons and the Rule of Law (Science for Democratic Action Volume 8, Number 2, February 2000): http://www.ieer.org/sdafiles/vol_8/8-2/index.html Law and the Nuclear Establishment (Science for Democratic Action Volume 9, Number 3, May 2001): http://www.ieer.org/sdafiles/vol_9/9-3/index.html _______________________________________________________________ Lisa Ledwidge Outreach Coordinator and Editor, Science for Democratic Action Institute for Energy and Environmental Research (IEER) 2104 Stevens Ave. South | Minneapolis, MN 55404 USA phone: (612) 879-7517 | fax: (612) 879-7518 ieer@ieer.org | http://www.ieer.org - --=====================_20363810==_.ALT Content-Type: text/html; charset="us-ascii" To those of you participating in the June 11-12 Star Wars congressional education days, I wish you success.

One argument against BMD that I don't see mentioned often in news articles is: BMD can be used by the US as a key part of a first-strike strategy.  "Nuclear Defense and Offense: An Analysis of US Policy," at http://www.ieer.org/sdafiles/vol_8/8-2/defoff.html , presents this argument.  While it was published in February 2000, it is still relevant today, perhaps even more so.  I hope it will be useful to you in your efforts.

Here are two other IEER resources relevant to missile defense/ABM issues that may also be of use:
Nuclear Weapons and the Rule of Law (Science for Democratic Action Volume 8, Number 2, February 2000):
http://www.ieer.org/sdafiles/vol_8/8-2/index.html

Law and the Nuclear Establishment  (Science for Democratic Action Volume 9, Number 3, May 2001):
http://www.ieer.org/sdafiles/vol_9/9-3/index.html

_______________________________________________________________
Lisa Ledwidge
Outreach Coordinator and Editor, Science for Democratic Action
Institute for Energy and Environmental Research (IEER)
2104 Stevens Ave. South |  Minneapolis, MN 55404  USA
phone:  (612) 879-7517  |  fax:  (612) 879-7518
ieer@ieer.org  |  http://www.ieer.org - --=====================_20363810==_.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: Fri, 08 Jun 2001 23:14:40 -0400 From: Thomas Subject: (abolition-usa) NucNews Briefs - 01/04/25 NucNews archives are posted through June 3, 2001 at http://prop1.org/nucnews/briefslv.htm. We're short-handed, so we're collecting but not posting stories for the next week or so. Meanwhile, here are some items of interest that won't wait: 1) Energy Dept seeks public input on research programs (June 12-26) 2) Some missile defense resources from IEER (June 10-12) 3) June 10 rally to Stop Star Wars - Speakers - -- 1) Energy Dept seeks public input on research programs USA: June 8, 2001 http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm?newsid=3D11112 WASHINGTON - The U.S. Energy Department said yesterday it will kick off next week a series of townhall-style meetings around the country to hear from the public, elected officials and energy experts on federal research programs= that promote energy efficiency and more use of renewable fuels.=20 "The public's input at these meetings will help us identify opportunities= for future research and investment while assessing our past effectiveness in= these areas," said Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham. The meetings are part of a comprehensive review of the department's multibillion-dollar research programs as called for in the Bush administration's new national energy plan. Environmental and consumers groups have opposed the administration's= proposed budget cuts in the research programs. The first two public meetings will take place on June 12 in Atlanta and Chicago, followed by June 19 meetings in Boston and Seattle, June 21= meetings in Denver and Philadelphia and a June 26 meeting in Washington. Each meeting will last from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. local time.=20 REUTERS=20 - ---- 2) Some missile defense resources from IEER From: Lisa Ledwidge / IEER =20 To those of you participating in the June 11-12 Star Wars congressional education days, I wish you success. One argument against BMD that I don't see mentioned often in news articles= is: BMD can be used by the US as a key part of a first-strike strategy. "Nuclear Defense and Offense: An Analysis of US Policy," at http://www.ieer.org/sdafiles/vol_8/8-2/defoff.html , presents this argument. While it was published in February 2000, it is still relevant today, perhaps even more so. I hope it will be useful to you in your efforts. Here are two other IEER resources relevant to missile defense/ABM issues= that may also be of use: Nuclear Weapons and the Rule of Law (Science for Democratic Action Volume 8, Number 2, February 2000): http://www.ieer.org/sdafiles/vol_8/8-2/index.html Law and the Nuclear Establishment (Science for Democratic Action Volume 9, Number 3, May 2001): http://www.ieer.org/sdafiles/vol_9/9-3/index.html - --- 3) June 10 rally to Stop Star Wars - Speakers Speakers Schedule for June 10 rally=20 1:30 - 2:00 Israel - music=20 2:00 - 2:05 Susan and Ira intro=20 2:06 - 2:11 Tracy Moavero, Peace Action=20 2:12 - 2:17 Rev. John Dear, formerly of FOR=20 2:18 - 2:33 Barry Crimmins, political satirist/humorist=20 2:34 - 2:39 Gordon Clark, Greenpeace=20 2:40 - 2:50 Luci Murphy - singer=20 2:51 - 2:56 Jackie Cabasso, U.S. Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons= speaker=20 2:57 - 3:02 Jonathan Schell, The Nation Institute=20 3:03 - 3:08 Ibrahim Abdil-Mui=EDid Ramey, FOR=20 3:09 - 3:11 Kathleen Sullivan, Educators for Social Responsibility, singing her=20 satirical Star Wars song=20 3:12 - 3:17 Students from SANITY, New York youth group that works with Educators for=20 Social Responsibility=20 3:18 - 3:23 Bruce Gagnon, Global Network against Weapons and Nuclear Power= in Space=20 3:24 - 3:34 Ira Shorr Comedy Revue=20 3:35 - 3:40 Gwen Dubois, PSR=20 3:41 - 3:44 Laura Kriv, Don=EDt Blow It.org banner with emails=20 3:45 - 3:50 Young women from STAND, Student Action for New Directions,= singing=20 3:51 - 3:56 Robert Bowman, Institute for Space and Security Studies=20 3:57 - 4:02 Bill Hartung, World Policy Institute=20 4:03 - 4:06 Present award to William Thomas, Peace Park Vigil, 20 years!!!!!= =20 4:07 - 4:12 Colman McCarthy=20 end with Israel -- music=20 ___________________________________________________ Today's News and Archives: http://prop1.org/nucnews/briefslv.htm Submit URL/Article: mailto:NucNews@onelist.com OneList Archives: http://www.onelist.com/archive/NucNews (subscribe online) Other Excellent News-Collecting Sites - DOE Watch - http://www.egroups.com/group/doewatch Downwinders - http://www.egroups.com/group/downwinders Quick Route to U.S. Congress: http://www.senate.gov/senators/index.cfm (Senators' Websites) http://www.house.gov/house/MemberWWW.html (Representatives' Websites) http://thomas.loc.gov/ (Pending Legislation - Search) Online Petition to Abolish Nuclear Weapons - http://www.PetitionOnline.com/prop1/petition.html Subscribe to NucNews Briefs: mailto:prop1@prop1.org Distributed without payment for research and educational=20 purposes only, in accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107. - - 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, 10 Jun 2001 02:07:41 GMT From: Subject: Re: (abolition-usa) nuclear review - letter to Rumsfeld Dear John, thanks for organizing the planning meeting tomorrow afternoon. some thoughts: 1) The Greens are natural allies of the peace movement. We should not allow the prejudice against Nader on The Hill to stop us from uniting with them. 2) Congressional Democrats need to understand that support for a limited missile shield is a recipe for disaster for the Democratic party. It's leaky, provocative and a cowardly kowtow to fear of appearing antidefense. It would be much better to take a firm stand against missile defense NOW, and become the party of international peace and cooperation. 3) Congress will only respond to grass roots pressure. Our Nuclear Peace Action Group in Mendocino, CA concentrates on local consciousness raising. We table at fairs, march in parades, appear on radio talk shows, conduct teachins, and send a steady stream of editorials and letters to our local papers. Our group meets every two weeks for indepth analysis of current events and planning our activities. There needs to be groups like this in every town in America. How do we make it happen? I look forward to seeing you tomorrow. Peace, Carol > In anticipation of the June 11-12 congressional education days, I am posting > FYI a letter the Lawyers' Committee on Nuclear Policy sent to Rumsfeld > regarding the review of nuclear posture. The review reportedly will now not > be done until "late fall", so there is still time to attempt to affect the > review, or more plausibly, congressional reception of the review. > > May 10, 2001 > Donald H. Rumsfeld > Secretary of Defense > 1000 Defense Pentagon > Washington, DC 20301-1000 > > Re: Nuclear posture review > > Dear Secretary Rumsfeld: > > We write concerning the present review of United States nuclear weapons > policy ordered by President Bush, as well as the congressionally mandated > nuclear posture review. We also request a meeting with you or persons > responsible for these reviews. Indeed, the Lawyers’ Committee on Nuclear > Policy believes that civil society groups should have a formal role in this > process, which after all deals with issues essential to the future of this > country and the world. > > The Lawyers' Committee on Nuclear Policy is a non-profit group based in New > York which for twenty years has engaged in research and education concerning > the international law framework for nuclear weapons policy as well as > security more generally. > > Enclosed is an article we authored in the spring 2001 World Policy Journal > which sets out a range of factors that must be considered in reviewing U.S. > nuclear policy. Foremost among them are commitments made by the United > States at the 2000 Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference, > including: > > · “An unequivocal undertaking by the nuclear-weapon States to accomplish > the > total elimination of their nuclear arsenals leading to nuclear disarmament > to which all States parties are committed under Article VI” > > · “A diminishing role for nuclear weapons in security policies to > minimize > > the risk that the weapons ever be used and to facilitate the process of > their total elimination” > > · “Concrete agreed measures to further reduce the operational status of > nuclear weapons systems” > > · “Further efforts by the nuclear-weapon States to reduce their nuclear > arsenals unilaterally” > > · “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 further reduction of non-strategic nuclear weapons, based on > unilateral initiatives and as an integral part of the nuclear arms reduction > and disarmament process" > > · “The necessity of establishing in the Conference on Disarmament an > appropriate subsidiary body with a mandate to deal with nuclear disarmament” > > For further discussion of these and other commitments, we refer you to the > enclosed article. Here we wish to focus on unilateral reductions and > missile defense. > > Unilateral reductions in US deployed or deployable strategic warheads would > be welcome as a means of overcoming the current disarmament logjam. > However, they and parallel Russian reductions should be accompanied by > transparency, accounting, and verification measures, which are subsequently > codified by treaty. Nothing less is called for by the principle of > irreversibility set forth in the 2000 NPT Review Conference agenda ("The > principle of irreversibility to apply to nuclear disarmament, nuclear and > other related arms control and reduction measures."), as well as the > expectation that reductions would be implemented through the START process. > > Regarding missile defense, from a narrowly “strategic” point of view, it > defies comprehension how increasing U.S. “freedom of action” with respect to > North Korea, Iraq, etc. by deploying anti-missile systems (assuming they are > ever workable) could outweigh the negative consequences of such deployment. > These include impeding further Russian arms reductions; stimulating or > reinforcing a Chinese buildup of its arsenal, with attendant ripple effects > on India and Pakistan and perhaps even Japan; and at a minimum making > dealerting much more difficult to implement. > > >From a broader policy and legal perspective, the above highly foreseeable > consequences would cause at least the United States, Russia, and China to be > in a state of apparently permanent breach of their Article VI disarmament > obligation under the NPT. This in turn would seriously erode the > nonproliferation regime. > > We also think the withdrawal provision in the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty > deserves serious attention. It provides for withdrawal upon six months > notice to the other party of “extraordinary events” that the withdrawing > state “regards as having jeopardizing its supreme national interests”. There > are no such extraordinary events. For example, especially against the > background of the risks faced by the United States during the nuclear age, a > speculative future threat from North Korea comes nowhere close to making the > grade. Should the United States nonetheless invoke this provision, it would > act in a contemptuous manner towards obligations it solemnly assumed, and > set a precedent for itself and other states to cite parallel provisions in > other important security treaties, among them the NPT, the Biological > Weapons Convention, the Chemical Weapons Convention, and (should it enter > into force) the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. Nobody likes the condition > of mutual vulnerability to annihilation assumed by the ABM Treaty. The way > to get beyond this condition is not to withdraw from the treaty, but rather > to proceed expeditiously with reduction, dealerting, and elimination of > nuclear forces. > Very truly yours, > John Burroughs > Executive Director > Jim Wurst > Program Director > > cc: Colin L. Powell, Secretary of State > Condoleeza Rice, National Security Advisor > Paul D. Wolfowitz, Deputy Secretary of Defense > Richard Armitage, Deputy Secretary of State > John Bolton, Undersecretary of State for International Security and > Arms > > Control > Stephen Cambone, nominee, Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Policy > Daniel J. Dell'Orto, Acting General Counsel, Department of Defense > > Avis T. Bohlen, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Arms Control, > Department of State > Robert J. Einhorn, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Nonproliferation, > Department of State > William Taft, Legal Advisor, Secretary of State > Stephen J. Hadley, Deputy National Security Advisor > Robert Joseph, staff member for nuclear weapons and arms control, > National Security Council > Senator Charles Schumer > Senator Hillary Clinton > > > John Burroughs, Executive Director > Lawyers' Committee on Nuclear Policy > 211 E. 43d St., Suite 1204 > New York, New York 10017 USA > tel: +1 212 818 1861 fax: 818 1857 > e-mail: johnburroughs@lcnp.org > website: www.lcnp.org > Part of the Abolition 2000 Global > Network 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. > - - 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, 13 Jun 2001 13:38:47 -0400 From: Ellen Thomas Subject: (abolition-usa) Urgent-Invitation to share info. booth at Barbecue Battle 6/23-24, DC Hi! An invitation to you, personally, here. Proposition One Committee has been donated the use of a 10' by 10' tented pavilion / information booth at Barbecue Battle on Saturday and Sunday, June 23rd and 24th, on the Mall in Washington DC, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday, 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Sunday (usually costs $l,500). This event draws many thousands of people, a good opportunity to educate. Would you like to table with us? Compatible issues: Free D.C./No Taxation Without Representation; facts and pending legislation or actions regarding missile defense/Star Wars, depleted uranium, and radiation victims; lobbying pointers. Please e-mail back and call us if you wish to participate, either with your own table, or helping us with ours (202-462-0757). Ellen Thomas PROPOSITION ONE COMMITTEE P.O. Box 27217, Washington, DC 20038 USA 202-462-0757 (phone) | 202-265-5389 (fax) http://prop1.org | prop1@prop1.org *** BAN ALL RADIOACTIVE BOMBS * depleted uranium, fission, neutron * Online Petition! - http://www.PetitionOnline.com/prop1/petition.html Write Letter to Congress - http://prop1.org/prop1/letter.htm Depleted uranium keeps on killing! - http://prop1@prop1.org/2000/du/dulv.htm NucNews - http://prop1.org/nucnews/briefslv.htm - - 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, 13 Jun 2001 13:05:58 +0100 From: Sally Light Subject: Re: (abolition-usa) Urgent-Invitation to share info. booth at Barbecue Battle 6/23-24, DC Ellen - Can't make it, but best wishes for a great event. Sally. p.s. Did I send my congrats earlier on your big anniversary? Sally Light Executive Director Nevada Desert Experience Ellen Thomas wrote: > Hi! An invitation to you, personally, here. > > Proposition One Committee has been donated the use of a 10' by 10' tented > pavilion / information booth at Barbecue Battle on Saturday and Sunday, > June 23rd and 24th, on the Mall in Washington DC, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. > on Saturday, 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Sunday (usually costs $l,500). This > event draws many thousands of people, a good opportunity to educate. Would > you like to table with us? Compatible issues: Free D.C./No Taxation > Without Representation; facts and pending legislation or actions regarding > missile defense/Star Wars, depleted uranium, and radiation victims; > lobbying pointers. Please e-mail back and call us if you wish to > participate, either with your own table, or helping us with ours > (202-462-0757). > > Ellen Thomas > > PROPOSITION ONE COMMITTEE > P.O. Box 27217, Washington, DC 20038 USA > 202-462-0757 (phone) | 202-265-5389 (fax) > http://prop1.org | prop1@prop1.org > > *** > > BAN ALL RADIOACTIVE BOMBS > * depleted uranium, fission, neutron * > > Online Petition! - http://www.PetitionOnline.com/prop1/petition.html > Write Letter to Congress - http://prop1.org/prop1/letter.htm > Depleted uranium keeps on killing! - http://prop1@prop1.org/2000/du/dulv.htm > NucNews - > http://prop1.org/nucnews/briefslv.htm > > - > 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, 13 Jun 2001 13:06:19 +0100 From: Sally Light Subject: Re: (abolition-usa) Urgent-Invitation to share info. booth at Barbecue Battle 6/23-24, DC Ellen - Can't make it, but best wishes for a great event. Sally. p.s. Did I send my congrats earlier on your vigil's anniversary? Sally Light Executive Director Nevada Desert Experience Ellen Thomas wrote: > Hi! An invitation to you, personally, here. > > Proposition One Committee has been donated the use of a 10' by 10' tented > pavilion / information booth at Barbecue Battle on Saturday and Sunday, > June 23rd and 24th, on the Mall in Washington DC, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. > on Saturday, 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Sunday (usually costs $l,500). This > event draws many thousands of people, a good opportunity to educate. Would > you like to table with us? Compatible issues: Free D.C./No Taxation > Without Representation; facts and pending legislation or actions regarding > missile defense/Star Wars, depleted uranium, and radiation victims; > lobbying pointers. Please e-mail back and call us if you wish to > participate, either with your own table, or helping us with ours > (202-462-0757). > > Ellen Thomas > > PROPOSITION ONE COMMITTEE > P.O. Box 27217, Washington, DC 20038 USA > 202-462-0757 (phone) | 202-265-5389 (fax) > http://prop1.org | prop1@prop1.org > > *** > > BAN ALL RADIOACTIVE BOMBS > * depleted uranium, fission, neutron * > > Online Petition! - http://www.PetitionOnline.com/prop1/petition.html > Write Letter to Congress - http://prop1.org/prop1/letter.htm > Depleted uranium keeps on killing! - http://prop1@prop1.org/2000/du/dulv.htm > NucNews - > http://prop1.org/nucnews/briefslv.htm > > - > 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, 13 Jun 2001 18:12:38 -0400 From: fdpeace@earthlink.net Subject: Re: (abolition-usa) Urgent-Invitation to share info. booth at Barbecue Battle6/23-24, DC Ellen, Thanks for the invitation. I just spent 3 days in DC this weekend opposing nuclear arms, missile defense, and weapons in space, and I am unable to return so soon. I'll try to pass your note to Pax Christi people in DC. - ---Frank Dworak, PCUSA Ellen Thomas wrote: > > Hi! An invitation to you, personally, here. > > Proposition One Committee has been donated the use of a 10' by 10' tented > pavilion / information booth at Barbecue Battle on Saturday and Sunday, > June 23rd and 24th, on the Mall in Washington DC, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. > on Saturday, 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Sunday (usually costs $l,500). This > event draws many thousands of people, a good opportunity to educate. Would > you like to table with us? Compatible issues: Free D.C./No Taxation > Without Representation; facts and pending legislation or actions regarding > missile defense/Star Wars, depleted uranium, and radiation victims; > lobbying pointers. Please e-mail back and call us if you wish to > participate, either with your own table, or helping us with ours > (202-462-0757). > > Ellen Thomas > > PROPOSITION ONE COMMITTEE > P.O. Box 27217, Washington, DC 20038 USA > 202-462-0757 (phone) | 202-265-5389 (fax) > http://prop1.org | prop1@prop1.org > > *** > > BAN ALL RADIOACTIVE BOMBS > * depleted uranium, fission, neutron * > > Online Petition! - http://www.PetitionOnline.com/prop1/petition.html > Write Letter to Congress - http://prop1.org/prop1/letter.htm > Depleted uranium keeps on killing! - http://prop1@prop1.org/2000/du/dulv.htm > NucNews - > http://prop1.org/nucnews/briefslv.htm > > - > 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, 13 Jun 2001 18:49:20 -0400 From: ASlater Subject: (abolition-usa) Fwd: (radfood and stopirradiation-lists) URGENT ACTION ALERT!! CONGRESSMAN CUNNINGHAM >Date: Tue, 12 Jun 2001 18:10:45 -0400 >Subject: (radfood and stopirradiation-lists) URGENT ACTION ALERT!! CONGRESSMAN CUNNINGHAM=20 >X-FC-MachineGenerated: true >From: "npetrie@citizen.org" > >Please post widely! > >Apologies for cross posting. > >URGENT ALERT!!! >CONGRESSMAN CUNNINGHAM TO OFFER AMENDMENT TO KILL IRRADIATION STUDY > >We have just learned that Congressman Randy "Duke" Cunningham (R-CA) is >planning to offer an amendment to kill the study that will focus on the >harmful health effects of food irradiation that Public Citizen was >successful in adding to the 2002 Agriculture-Food and Drug Administration >Appropriations Bill. Cunningham is from San Diego, the home of the Titan >Corporation, one of the major promoters of food irradiation. The full >Appropriations Committee will be meeting on June 13, 2001 to consider this >bill. > >IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE GET AS MANY PHONE CALLS AS POSSIBLE TO THE MEMBERS >OF THE HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE TO KILL THE CUNNINGHAM AMENDMENT. =20 >CALL (202) 225-5131 AND ASK TO SPEAK TO THE OFFICES OF THE FOLLOWING >MEMBERS OF CONGRESS TO URGE THEM TO KILL THE CUNNINGHAM AMENDMENT AND >LEAVE THE FOOD IRRADIATION STUDY IN THE BILL. Sample phone script below. > >C.W. Bill Young, Florida, Chairman > >Ralph Regula, Ohio > >David R. Obey, Wisconsin > >Jerry Lewis, California > >John P. Murtha, Pennsylvania > >Harold Rogers, Kentucky > >Norman D. Dicks, Washington > >Joe Skeen, New Mexico > >Martin Olav Sabo, Minnesota > >Frank R. Wolf, Virginia > >Steny H. Hoyer, Maryland > >Tom DeLay, Texas > >Alan B. Mollohan, West Virginia > >Jim Kolbe, Arizona > >Marcy Kaptur, Ohio > >Sonny Callahan, Alabama > >Nancy Pelosi, California > >James Walsh, New York > >Peter J. Visclosky, Indiana > >Charles H. Taylor, North Carolina > >Nita M. Lowey, New York > >David L. Hobson, Ohio > >Jos=E9 E. Serrano, New York > >Ernest J. Istook, Jr., Oklahoma > >Rosa L. DeLauro, Connecticut > >Henry Bonilla, Texas > >James P. Moran, Virginia > >Joe Knollenberg, Michigan > >John W. Olver, Massachusetts > >Dan Miller, Florida > >Ed Pastor, Arizona > >Jack Kingston, Georgia > >Carrie P. Meek, Florida > >Rodney P. Frelinghuysen, New Jersey > >David E. Price, North Carolina > >Roger F. Wicker, Mississippi > >Chet Edwards, Texas > >George R. Nethercutt, Jr., Washington > >Robert E. "Bud" Cramer, Jr., Alabama > >Randy "Duke" Cunningham, California > >Patrick J. Kennedy, Rhode Island > >Todd Tiahrt, Kansas > >James E. Clyburn, South Carolina > >Zach Wamp, Tennessee > >Maurice D. Hinchey, New York > >Tom Latham, Iowa > >Lucille Roybal-Allard, California > >Anne Northup, Kentucky > >Sam Farr, California > >Robert Aderholt, Alabama > >Jesse L. Jackson, Jr., Illinois > >Jo Ann Emerson, Missouri > >Carolyn C. Kilpatrick, Michigan > >John E. Sununu, New Hampshire > >Allen Boyd, Florida > >Kay Granger, Texas > >Chaka Fattah, Pennsylvania > >John E. Peterson, Pennsylvania > >Steven R. Rothman, New Jersey > >Virgil Goode, Virginia > >John Doolittle, California > >Ray LaHood, Illinois > >John Sweeney, New York > >David Vitter, Louisiana > >Don Sherwood, Pennsylvania > > >Sample phone script: > >Hello, my name is _______________________. I am calling about a section >of the Agriculture-Food and Drug Administration Appropriations Bill that >is being considered today by the House Appropriations Committee. At the >present time, the bill contains a provision that calls for a study to test >the safety of consuming irradiated foods. I have heard that there will be >an attempt to remove that study from the bill. I urge the >Congressman/Congresswoman to oppose the effort to remove the study from >the bill and to leave the funding for that study in tact. > =20 - - To unsubscribe to abolition-usa, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" with "unsubscribe abolition-usa" in the body of the message. For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send "help" to the same address. Do not use quotes in your message. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 14 Jun 2001 18:37:26 -0400 From: "Conti, Richard A." Subject: (abolition-usa) U.S.-NATO MISSILE DEFENSE ON C-SPAN FRIDAY, JUNE 15, 2001 U.S.-NATO MISSILE DEFENSE Panels will focus on the nature and implications of a missile defense program, and possible alternatives. LIVE on C-SPAN 3 at 9am ET, then continuing on C-SPAN and C-SPAN Radio at 11am ET ***************************************************** This electronic mail transmission contains confidential information intended only for the person(s) named. Any use, distribution, copying or disclosure by another person is strictly prohibited. ***************************************************** - - 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, 14 Jun 2001 19:22:57 EDT From: JGG786@aol.com Subject: Re: (abolition-usa) U.S.-NATO MISSILE DEFENSE ON C-SPAN - --part1_13.1709cf6f.285aa151_boundary Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit who is speaking, jonathan granoff - --part1_13.1709cf6f.285aa151_boundary Content-Type: text/html; charset="US-ASCII" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit who is speaking, jonathan granoff - --part1_13.1709cf6f.285aa151_boundary-- - - 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, 14 Jun 2001 19:22:14 -0400 From: John Burroughs Subject: (abolition-usa) NPT v. Bush - article in World Policy Journal The spring 2001 issue of World Policy Journal includes an article that LCNP program director Jim Wurst and I did, "Ending the Nuclear Nightmare: A Strategy for the Bush Administration", available at www.worldpolicy.org. The article assesses emerging Bush policies against the disarmament agenda adopted at the 2000 Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty Review Conference. Also available online at the same location is an article by Bill Hartung, "Eisenhower's Warning: The Military-Industrial Complex Forty Years Later". John Burroughs, Executive Director Lawyers' Committee on Nuclear Policy 211 E. 43d St., Suite 1204 New York, New York 10017 USA tel: +1 212 818 1861 fax: 818 1857 e-mail: johnburroughs@lcnp.org website: www.lcnp.org Part of the Abolition 2000 Global Network 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: Fri, 15 Jun 2001 18:17:40 -0400 From: ASlater Subject: (abolition-usa) Manufacturing threats: Eur.Parl. condemns US posture on biological weapons Dear Friends, As we argue against the weaponization of space, let's be clear exactly where the threats are coming from!! Alice slater Thanks to Sharon Riggles for these notes and to Felicity Hill for circulating them. Centre for European Security and Disarmament - ISSUE UPDATE [Unofficial translation] Verbatim debate on the European Parliament resolution of 14 June 2001 on the Compliance Protocol for the Biological and Toxin Weapons=20 Convention (BTWC) MEP Bill NEWTON DUNN (Representing the Groupe du Parti Europ=E9en des=20 Lib=E9raux, D=E9mocrates et R=E9formateurs) Mr President, as everyone knows, the leaders of the EU and the=20 American President are meeting on G=F6teborg today. Obviously some of=20 the things they will air are their difference about e Kyoto Protocol=20 on the environment and global warming and about the Anti-Ballistic=20 Missile Treaty, which needs updating. But there is another important matter which has received very little=20 publicity and to which this debate is designed to draw attention. It=20 is the six-year negotiations that are nearing completion to update=20 the 1972 Biological and Toxic Weapons Convention. The problem with=20 the 1972 convention is that while it banned production of biological=20 weapons it contained no means of verifying whether they were being=20 produced on the quiet. Despite six years of negotiations, it now appears that the new US=20 Administration is backing off and is unwilling to support the terms=20 that have been negotiated to date, including by it own predecessors.=20 In the widespread opinion of this House, the presidential elections=20 last November did not suggest that the American people wanted a=20 wholesale change in government policy, but favoured a continuation of=20 the previous policy. Nevertheless, there are now very alarming=20 signals that the Americans may not support he work that has been done=20 so far. If that is the case, and if there is not final agreement on=20 containing biological and toxic weapons, what kind of message will it=20 send out to what President Bush calls the 'rogue' states of the world? We cannot get involved in the negotiations but the most important=20 thing we can do - and I hope the House will agree - is to give strong=20 support to the EU negotiating team and say to the Americans: 'come=20 on, sign up, we need this agreement'. MEP Bernd POSSELT (Representing the European Peoples' Party / Conservatives) Mr President, the 20th century began with the horrible use of=20 poisonous gas during WWI, that is, with chemical weapons. Then in=20 WWII came the use of nuclear weapons, and the last quarter of the=20 20th Century - starting with the Vietnam War - was particularly=20 marked by the development of biological weapons. It is clear that=20 advances in the biotechnology field currently offer horrendous=20 possibilities for killing. The human weakness of willingness to kill=20 constantly increases and is difficult to reverse, while the=20 international system of justice is not keeping pace. Many similar=20 ethical concepts, which are a necessary foundation of the=20 international justice system, are getting weaker rather than=20 stronger. The end result being an eroded social system, with even=20 more opportunities to kill. This demonstrates what a massive responsibility we have, and it is=20 therefore urgent that the international system of justice is=20 strengthened and that there be a multilateral approach to this=20 question. The USA has, of course, a great responsibility but so does=20 the EU. And we must watch that we act appropriately in our role - and=20 in this case justifiably and strongly protesting against the US - but=20 we are not willing to nor capable of stepping in as a major player in=20 the international power game. We easily criticise the leading role of the US, but I think this role=20 is too broad. However, that is not the fault of the US, it is the=20 fault of the weakness of the political - and especially security=20 policies - of the EU. I appeal to the Summit in G=F6theburg to finally=20 set out EU priorities and to put security policy in the centre of the=20 Summit, so that the EU finally can become an equal partner of the US.=20 This problem would then be solved. MEP Jan Marinus WIERSMA (Representing the Party of European Socialists) Mr President, the visit of President Bush to Europe is inter alia=20 dominated by his plans to build a National Missile Defense. They are=20 being developed to defend the US against attacks by so-called rogue=20 states. It would be an understatement to say that we are not very=20 enthusiastic about these plans and prefer a multilateral approach to=20 the threat the US refers to. Missile defense will, however, not be=20 able to defend the US against biological weapons, which can be spread=20 (or be proliferated) in a variety of ways. =20 It is both ironic and tragic that the US does not seem to want to=20 contribute to the strengthening of the biolgiocal weapons convention.=20 Biological weapons can be more easily developed and proliferated than=20 nuclear weapons and these weapons can only be effectively fought=20 through multilateral agreements and that should include a proper=20 control mechanism to trace violators. This mechanism must be=20 developed quickly. With an agreement on this issue, we can finally=20 mark a success in the fight against this weapon of mass destruction.=20 The political conclusion of an agreement should be that international=20 alternatives to unilateral action in the security domain do exist. MEP Patricia MCKENNA (Representing the Green Group) Mr President, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction poses=20 a major threat to the world. The misuse of biotechnology for hostile=20 purposes must be addressed straight away. The use of biological and=20 toxic weapons has to be tackled. It is disgraceful that there is not=20 mechanism in place today to verify compliance with the Biological and=20 Toxin Weapons Convention. A legally binding protocol to strengthen compliance with the BTWC is=20 a matter of the utmost urgency. We would urge the States Parties to=20 show maximum flexibility and readiness to compromise, so that a short=20 deadline can be met and a protocol adopted before the Fifth=20 Convention Review Conference in November/December of this year. We would also like to see States create a stronger possible=20 verification regime in order to curb the hostile misuse of biological=20 technologies. This means maintaining at the very least the measure=20 currently outlined in the chairman's draft text. We would recommend=20 that the final version of the compliance protocol establish a modern=20 and open verification regime capable of adjusting to changes in=20 political climate and in technological capabilities. David BYRNE (EU Health and Consumer Protection Commissioner) Mr President, the Commission fully supports the resolutions tabled by=20 the different groups in the European Parliament. It is indeed=20 critical at present that effective progress be achieved by the=20 international community in the field of non-proliferation and=20 disarmament. As regards the specific case of the BTWC signed in 1972,=20 the lack of a verification protocol has been a major flaw vis-=E0-vis=20 non-proliferation in the international community. The Ad Hoc Group=20 was created to resolve this issue. After five years of difficult=20 negotiations at the Disarmament Conference in Geneva, the time has=20 now come to conclude such a protocol. The EU praises the commitment of Ambassador T=F3th, Chairman of the Ad=20 Hoc Group, to achieve effective progress in time for adoption of the=20 verification protocol during the BTWC Conference a the end of this=20 year. The Commission hopes that all States Parties will accept the=20 composite paper as a good starting point towards enabling the task of=20 drafting and agreeing on the protocol to be finalised in time for the=20 BTWC Conference. MEP James PROVAN (Vice-President of the European Parliament, Chair of=20 the Session) The joint debate is closed. - --=20 ******* =20 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 http://www.gracelinks.org GRACE is a member of Abolition 2000, a global network for the elimination nuclear weapons. =20 - - To unsubscribe to abolition-usa, send an email to "majordomo@xmission.com" with "unsubscribe abolition-usa" in the body of the message. For information on digests or retrieving files and old messages send "help" to the same address. Do not use quotes in your message. ------------------------------ End of abolition-usa-digest V1 #449 *********************************** - 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.