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Date: Wed, 22 Sep 1999 18:21:13 +1000
To: "Russell D. Hoffman"
From: FoE Sydney - Nuclear Campaign
Cc: Carol Moore
Subject: [y2k-nuclear] Dear Russell and Carol - Positive things to Do re EP resolution
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Dear Russell,
I saw your post to Carol Moore, and I can understand why you feel the way you do.
However I don't know if I have been a bit lucky or what but my own experience (and this is Australia not the US obviously) has been a little different.
true, I often feel that I should just dress up in a chicken suit and wear a sign saying 'The sky is falling'. Might be more effective.
However, a small miracle of sorts happened the other day (Monday).
Our Senate in Canberra actually voted for a resolution on Y2k and de-Alerting that actually had de-alerting in the operative paragraph.
Of course it got absolutely no media coverage whatsoever, but it was still the Australian Senate voting for its president to write to Yeltsin and Clinton to ask them to take nuclear weapons off hairtrigger alert over the y2k rollover period.
So I feel a little less gloomy than you do. True, the media don't want to know. But they are not the only game in town.
Now, there is something coming up that we have at least a chance to WIN and winning will be important.
It is the resolution that was prepared initially by myself and Commander Rob green and then revised by mari takenouchi and grattan healy of the greens for the European Parliament.
it will be again input to the formal preparation process on sept 27th, and will be presented to a meeting of 'urgency coordinators' on 30 sept. They will decide if it is to be listed as an urgency motion.
If it is (and the success with the Australian one makes that more probable), then it will be presented and dabated on ct 4 and voted on oct 7th.
IT IS CRUCIAL TO GET AS MANY LOBBY LETTERS IN AS POSSIBLE BEFORE SEPTEMBER 27.
I have already emailed people the fax numbers to send it to and sample letters.
I append what i sent again just in case.
UPCOMING RESOLUTION IN EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT ON Y2K/DE-ALERTING NUKES
CAN YOU FAX AND EMAIL THESE LETTERS TO THESE PEOPLE BY 27/30 SEPT? IT WILL MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE!
Dear People,
The deadline for lobbying on the deferred resolution on de-alerting nuclear weapons and shutting down nuclear plants for the Y2K rollover is again approaching.
The new timetable for lobbying for a resolution in the European Parliament
on Y2K and the de-alerting of nuclear weapons is as follows.
- further resolution preps in week of 27 Sept in Brux;
- meeting of urgency coordinators in Brux. to set agenda (usually 5 items) on Thursday morning, Sept 30th;
- deadline for tabling, Mon Oct 4th in Strasbourg.
- debate and vote Thursday, Oct 7th in Strasbourg.
This means that the deadline for lobbying is really 27 September, and absolutely by 30 September.
If you want this resolution to get on to the agenda and to pass, you will need to write letters by 27th and fax them and email them to the adresses below. Your faxing and emailing really really makes a difference, so please try to do it by the 27th!
Below is who to fax and their fax numbers, a big list of people to email, and sample letters.
- 1) PEOPLE TO FAX
- 2) ADRESSES TO EMAIL
- 3) SAMPLE LETTERS
1) PEOPLE TO FAX
(Note that you will have to insert your own national ISD access codes where
the + is. In Australia thats 0015 or 0011)
1) HANS- GERT POETTERING MEP, Chairperson of the EPP (Christian democrat)
faction of the EP
FAX NUMBERS:+ 33-3-8817-9311, +32-2-284-9311
2)BROK M. ELMAR, MEP, CHAIR, INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS COMMITTEE OF THE EPP
+33-3-8817-9323, +32-2-284-9323
3)PAT COX, MEP, CHAIR OF THE LIBERAL/DEMOCRAT/REFORM GROUP OF THE EP
+33-3-8817-9363, +32-2-284-9363
(Note that Pat Cox may be sympathetic to the idea of a resolution on Y2K
and De-Alerting)
2) EMAIL ADRESSES TO SEND TO:
The following email adresses cover most of the European Parliament - the
Socialist, Green, Green-Left and EPP factions.
wrothley@europarl.eu.int, drothbehren@europarl.eu.int, cradzio@europarl.eu.int, wpiecyk@europarl.eu.int, fperezroyo@europarl.eu.int, propoletano@europarl.eu.int, rmyller@europarl.eu.int, smurphy@europarl.eu.int, emorgan@europarl.eu.int, e.morgan.mep@geo2.poptel.org.uk, bmiller@europarl.eu.int, mmedina@europarl.eu.int, emcnally@europarl.eu.int, lmcoron@europarl.eu.int, dmartin@europarl.eu.int, gluttge@europarl.eu.int, rlinkohr@europarl.eu.int, B.Lange@link-h.comlink.apc.org, clage@eurparl.eu.int, Krehl@epri.org, hkuhne@europarl.eu.int, glenys.kinnock@geo2.poptel.org.uk, nkindermann@europarl.eu.int, kjunker@europarl.eu.int, kjans@europarl.eu.int, jizquierdo@europarl.eu.int, jhume@europarl.eu.int, jhome@europarl.eu.int, ahulten@europarl.eu.int, shughes@europarl.eu.int, 106403.352@compuserve.com, rhowitt@europarl.eu.int, mhoff@europarl.eu.int, lgroener@eurpoarl.eu.int, L.Groener.mep@t-online.de, nglante@europarl.eu.int, norbert.glante@emails.de, fghillardotti@europarl.eu.int, egebhardt@europarl.eu.int, ggarot@europarl.eu.int, hettl@spoe.or.at, nettl@spoe.or.at, hettl@europarl.eu.int, nettl@europarl.eu.int, pberes@europarl.eu.int, ebaroncrespo@europarl.eu.int, fblak@europarl.eu.int, fblok@europarl.eu.int, dbowe@europarl.eu.int, mail@davidbowe.demon.co.uk, acompos@europarl.eu.int, fbertinotti@europarl.eu.int, aalavonos@europarl.eu.int, kcoates@europarl.eu.int, sainardi@europarl.eu.int, ccarnero@europarl.eu.int, lcastellina@europarl.eu.int, vephrimidis@europarl.eu.int, meriksson@europarl.eu.int, fwurtz@europarl.eu.int, lvinci@europarl.eu.int, amohamedali@europarl.eu.int, fbertinotti@europarl.eu.int, melmalan@europarl.eu.int, apuerta@europarl.eu.int, lgonzalezalvarez@europarl.eu.int, cripameana@europarl.eu.int, gmoreau@europarl.eu.int, apailler@europarl.eu.int, lwynn@europarl.eu.int, pwhithead@europarl.eu.int, mwatts@europarl.eu.int, ralf.walter.mdep@t-online.de, dtsatsos@europarl.eu.int, gtitley@europarl.eu.int, avalenti@psc.es, stockmann@epri.org, pskinner@europarl.int, G.SCHMID@LINK-R.DE, gruffolo@europarl.eu.int, dcohnbendit@europarl.eu.int, maglietta@europarl.eu.int, nahern@europarl.eu.int, 106114.173@compuserve.com, ubloch@europarl.eu.int, undine.vonblottnitz@t-online.de, vonblottnitz@epri.org, maelvoet@europarl.int, magda.aelvoet@agalev.be, hbreyer@europarl.eu.int, hiltrud.breyer @gruene.de, fgraefe@europarl.eu.int, uholm@europarl.eu.int, ulf.holm@mp.se, hkerr@europarl.eu.int, wkriessl@europarl.eu.int, jlagendijk@europarl.eu.int, europa@groenlinks.nl, plannoye@europarl.eu.int, fdupont@compuserve.com, mlindholm@europarl.eu.int, malou.lindholm@mp.se, pmckenna@europarl.eu.int, 106375.3114@compuserve.com, emueller@europarl.eu.int, pcoxmep@tinet.ie, hpoettering@europarl.eu.int, edith.mueller-mdep@t-online.de, lorlando@europarl.eu.int, orla003@pn.itnet.it, eschroedter@europarl.eu.int, eschroedt@aol.com, ischorling@europarl.eu.int, inger.schorling@mp.se, isoltwedel@europarl.eu.int, 106204.167@compuserve.com, gtamino@europarl.eu.int, wtelkaemper@europarl.eu.int, clucas@europarl.eu.int, w.telkaemper@3landbox.comlink.apc.org, wulmann@europarl.eu.int, jvoggenhuber@europarl.eu.int, imitmasser@gruene.at, ebrok@t-online.de, ebrok@europarl.eu.int, per-arne.arvidsson@moderat.se, parvidsson@europarl.eu.int, mbanotti@europarl.eu.int, johnbowis@aol.com, jbowis@europarl.eu.int, sbl@moderat.se, lburentsam@europarl.eu.int, bushillm@aol.com, buttiglione-r@camera.it, rboege@europarl.eu.int, martin@mcallanan.freeserve.co.uk, mcallanan@europarl.eu.int, gcarlsson@europarl.eu.int, gunilla.carlsson@moderat.se, charlotte.cederschiold@moderat.se, gchichester@europarl.eu.int, GilesChichester MEP@eclipse.co.uk, jcorrie@europarl.eu.int, ccostaneves@europarl.eu.int, acunha@europarl.eu.int, gdeprez@europarl.eu.int, nirjdevamep@hotmail.com, ddover@demon.co.uk, ddover@europarl.eu.int, adoyle@europarl.eu.int, mebner@europarl.eu.int, direktion@athesia.it, jelles@europarl.eu.int, jevans@europarl.eu.int, mferber@europarl.eu.int, ffiori@europarl.eu.int, ifriedrich@europarl.eu.int, awijkman@europarl.eu.int, anders.wijkman@kristdemokrat.se, wgvelzen@europarl.eu.int, wgvelzen@worldonline.nl, dvarela@europarl.eu.int, stillich@europarl.eu.int, sttpaku@t-online.de, mthyssen@europarl.eu.int, dtheato@europarl.eu.int, mgahler@europarl.eu.int, michael.gahler@t-online.de, cgo@fundacion-entoano.org, jgilrobles@europarl.eu.int, aglase@europarl.eu.int, agomolka@europarl.eu.int, rgoodwill@europarl.eu.int, vgm@mail.telepac.pt, eu.info@skynet.be, dan@hannan.co.uk, hansenne@skynet.be, , malcolm_harbour@compuserve.com, manor_cottage@compuserve.com, chris@hhhome.tory.org.uk, wfoster@clara.net, rhieronymi@europarl.eu.int, hieronymi@t-online.de, cjackson@europarl.eu.int, gjackson@europarl.eu.int, gjarzembowski@europarl.eu.int, gjarzembowski@compuserve.com, ejeggle@europarl.eu.int, kontakt@eurojeggle.de, piia-noora.kauppi@ouka.fi, piia-noora.kauppi@aristos.fi, cklass@europarl.eu.int,
3) HERE IS THE LETTER TO SEND (PLEASE CUSTOMISE)
TO:
HANS-GERT POETTERING MEP, 33-3-8817-9311, 32-2-284-9311
BROK M.ELMAR MEP, 33-3-8817-9323, 32-2-284-9323,
PAT COX MEP, 33-3-8817-9363, 32-2-284-9363,
Dear Hans-Gert Poettering, Pat Cox, and Brok M. Elmar,
I am writing in support of an urgency motion on Y2K, Nuclear weapons, nuclear reactors, and other risks which was to have been placed on the agenda of the EP on Monday 13 September. I understand that it is now possibly to be placed on the agenda in October, and that a meeting of urgency coordinators will consider it on September 30th.
A resolution on Y2K and nuclear weapons was passed unanimously in the Australian Senate on Aug 12 and another on September 20th. A resolution has also been presented to the Canadian senate.
It is a pity that it was not possible for this motion, urgent and timebound as it is, to have been placed on the agenda at the earliest possible moment. The issues it addresses are both of the utmost gravity, and require action at the earliest possible stage. There are now only just over 100 days to the Y2K rollover.
The motion sought to address the risks of nuclear reactor accidents, and possible accidental nuclear war as a result of Y2K- related computer errors.
Specifically, it was to have addressed the problem of Y2K computer-error induced accidental nuclear launches by the simple, cost-free, and risk-free measure of standing down nuclear forces or De-Alerting.
It is disturbing that a clear commitment to De-Alerting was in fact excised from the motion, presumably because it was felt that the PPE would not accept de-alerting.
If that is indeed your position it is a gravely and dangerously mistaken one. We urge you to reverse it. De-Alerting has in fact, neither costs nor risks. Failure to de-alert or stand down nuclear forces on the other hand, risks potentially, the ultimate catastrophe. It is literally to play Russian roulette with the entire planet.
De-Alerting, or standing down nuclear forces, was of course recommended by the Canberra Commission in 1996, and was called for by subsequent resolutions of the UN general Assembly.
It has been said that without verification, De-Alerting would cause more rather than less uncertainty over the Y2K rollover period.
There are two responses to this. The first is that it is not in fact too difficult to ensure that De-Alerting is verifiable by mutual inspection.
The second response is that this is in any case simply not the case. Verification is certainly highly desirable, but ANY move to a lower alert status by either or both sides of a nuclear 'pair' such as the US and Russia makes the likelihood of an accidental nuclear exchange much lower.
In this context it is worth noting that the UK has already moved its 'notice to fire' for its submarine force from seconds to days. This measure is not easily verifiable but it is nonetheless of immense benefit in assuring strategic stability.
De-Alerting, verifiable or not, creates a 'firebreak' that ensures that, faced with Y2K induced uncertainty, there is the opportunity to verify possibly or probably false warning data, and to take rational decisions.
Under normal circumstances, without De-Alerting, and under the prevailing doctrine of ' launch on warning', the existence of roughly 5,500 US and Russian land-based ICBMs capable of being fired within 20 minutes, and with flight times of 20-40 minutes (and much shorter for submarine- launched missiles), gives decision-makers extremely short times in which to retaliate against an attack which may not be taking place at all.
Finally, De-Alerting has been recommended as a measure that is desirable in and of itself quite apart from any Y2K - related considerations. It is as if, in driving an LPG tanker around a particularly sharp bend, we are reminded that we should obey the speed limit and ensure that our brakes and steering work. Obviously it is best to keep to the speed limit and have working brakes and steering at all times.
That the risk of Y2K - related computer glitches in the systems that control and monitor nuclear weapons is taken very seriously indeed by the US and Russia is shown in their current negotiations aimed at exchanging personnel between command centres and setting up a joint 'strategic stability centre' in Colorado.
We applaud the efforts to do this, but it is worrying that the Colorado centre is scheduled to become operational only on December27. A four - day delay will render it useless.
The Y2K resolution also contains a variety of other measures, intended to minimise the probability of Y2K- induced reactor accidents and other major safety problems. These measures are especially relevant to eastern European and CIS reactors, but it should not be assumed that western European plants will be immune to Y2K induced problems, especially if electricity grids are affected as seems entirely possible. I strongly commend all of these reactor safety measures to the PPE and the Liberal Democrat/Reform groups.
I urge both PPE/CD groups and Liberal Democrat groups to support this resolution as a very high and extremely urgent priority, and specifically to support De-Alerting or standing down nuclear forces in the light of Y2K.
I trust that this responsible, risk- free, and cost -free measure will gain your partys support at the very earliest opportunity.
John Hallam,
Nuclear Campaigner,
Friends of the Earth.
John Hallam
Friends of the Earth Sydney,
17 Lord street, Newtown, NSW, Australia,
Fax(61)(2)9517-3902 ph (61)(2)9517-3903
nonukes@foesyd.org.au
http://homepages.tig.com.au/~foesyd
http://homepages.tig.com.au/~foesyd/nuclear/bbletter.html
--------------------------------------------------------
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----- end of John Hallam's complete response with an action-item for everyone -----
United States Government official contact points:
NASA needs to be told in no uncertain terms NEVER to launch nuclear rockets of any type ever again!
To learn about the absurd excuses NASA used to launch Cassini and its 72.3 pounds of plutonium in 1997, ask them for the 1995 Environmental Impact Statement for the Cassini mission, and all subsequent documentation. At the same time, be sure to ask them for ANY and ALL documentation available on future uses of plutonium in space, including MILITARY, CIVILIAN, or "OTHER" (just in case they make a new category somehow!). To get this information, contact:
Cassini Public Information
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
4800 Oak Grove Drive
Pasadena CA 91109
(818) 354-5011 or
(818) 354-6478
Here's NASA's "comments" email address:
comments@www.hq.nasa.gov
Daniel Goldin is the head of NASA. Here's his email address:
daniel.goldin@hq.nasa.gov
or
dgoldin@mail.hq.nasa.gov
Here's the NASA URL to find additional addresses to submit written questions to:
http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/facts/HTML/FS-002-HQ.html
YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW WHAT NASA IS DOING TO YOUR HEALTH.
Be sure to "cc" the president and VP and your senators and congresspeople, too.
President Bill Clinton
White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20500; Ph. (202) 456-1111, Fax (202) 456-2461;
e-mail -- president@whitehouse.gov
Vice President Albert Gore
White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.,
N.W.,Washington, D.C. 20500;Ph. (202) 456-1414, Fax (202)
456-2461; e-mail -- vicepresident@whitehouse.gov
Secretary William Cohen
1000 Defense
The Pentagon
Washington D.C. 20301
703-695-6352
Secretary Bill Richardson
Department of Energy (DoE)
1000 Independence Avenue SW
Washington D.C. 20585
202-586-6210
fax: 202-586-4403
Always include your full name and postal address in all correspondence to any Government official of any country.
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