From: owner-abolition-usa-digest@lists.xmission.com (abolition-usa-digest) To: abolition-usa-digest@lists.xmission.com Subject: abolition-usa-digest V1 #444 Reply-To: abolition-usa-digest Sender: owner-abolition-usa-digest@lists.xmission.com Errors-To: owner-abolition-usa-digest@lists.xmission.com Precedence: bulk abolition-usa-digest Monday, May 14 2001 Volume 01 : Number 444 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 11 May 2001 08:42:25 +0000 From: Carol Wolman Subject: Re: (abolition-usa) Fwd: Armageddon Nominee Bolton Confirmed Congratulations to all on work well done! With the deluge of cruel news coming out of DC these days, it's easy to feel discouraged and overwhelmed. Many thanks to the indefatigable memers of this list, and people around the world who keep on plugging to oppose the evil empire. We shall overcome! Peace, Carol ASlater wrote: > >Date: Tue, 08 May 2001 15:10:21 -0500 > >Subject: Armageddon Nominee Bolton Confirmed > >To: palist@peace-action.org > >From: "tmoavero@peace-action.org" > > > >Well folks, John Bolton is the new Undersecretary of State for Arms Control > >and International Security Affairs. While his confirmation is a > >disappointment (cause for alarm, actually), we can feel good about the > >vote: > >57-43. Originally the word from the Hill was that there wasn't going to be > >much opposition. We changed this from a quiet, who's-going-to-notice > >nomination to a fairly tough vote for the Administration. Thanks to all of > >you who worked so hard on this one. > >See the message below from the Campaign for UN Reform. > > > >Tracy Moavero > >Armageddon Nominee Confirmed > >Washington, DC - May 8, 2001 - By a 57-43 vote, largely along party lines, > >the U.S. Senate today confirmed John R. Bolton to be the United States' > >Undersecretary of State for Arms Control and International Security > >Affairs. > >More Senators voted against confirmation than any other Bush nominee to > >date, including John Ashcroft. > >The large Senate opposition was the result of true grassroots lobbying, > >mostly through www.StopBolton.org. No money was spent advertising. There > >was scant media coverage and little active opposition by the Democratic > >leadership. > >All Republicans voted to confirm Bolton. > >The following Democrats voted to confirm Bolton: > >Joe Lieberman (CT) > >Ben Nelson (NE) > >Mary Landrieu (LA) > >John Breaux (LA) > >Russ Feingold (WI) > >Zell Miller (GA) > >Evan Bayh (IN) > > > >The following Republicans voted to ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear Test > >Ban > >Treaty (CTBT) but also voted to confirm Bolton: > >Gordon Smith (OR) > >Arlen Specter (PA) > >Jim Jeffords (VT) > > > >Please contact your senators to either thank them for their vote or > >register > >your disagreement. The transcripts from the Senate debate surrounding this > >vote will be posted to as soon as they are made available. > >Thank you for your time and energy put into this effort. Although we were > >not able to stop the confirmation, we were able to put the Bush > >Administration on notice that Mr. Bolton's extreme positions will not be > >accepted unopposed. > >Don Kraus > >========================================================== > >Don Kraus is the Executive Director of the Campaign for U.N. Reform > >Dedicated to Building a More Effective United Nations System > >420 7th Street, SE Suite C > >Washington, DC 20003 > >Phone: 202-546-3956 Fax: 202-546-8703 Toll-free: 888-869-CUNR > >Email: dkraus@cunr.org > >Web-site: http://www.cunr.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. - - 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, 11 May 2001 11:50:50 -0400 From: Susan Shaer Subject: (abolition-usa) Shoot Down Stars Wars
=B7       Please excuse any multiple postings - and please circulate this invitation widely.

Bush's new arms race is out of control! He wants a blank check to fund a missile defense system that doesn't work. We need people from all over, all walks of life, to come to Washington to raise our voices together.

This message is for:
Who: all who think President Bush's new arms race is ridiculous and a disaster
What: rally in front of the White House - go to Capitol Hill to talk with members of Congress
When: soon! Sunday, June 10 rally from 2 to 4 pm - Monday and Tuesday, June 11 and 12 training and Capitol Hill Education Days
[registration form below]


THE NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT PARTNERSHIP & PROJECT ABOLITION PRESENT:

=93STOP THE NEW ARMS RACE=94 CONGRESSIONAL EDUCATION DAYS & WHITE HOUSE RALLY


The Nuclear Disarmament Partnership, a joint effort of Peace Action, Peace Links, Physicians for Social Responsibility, 20/20 Vision and WAND, Women's Action for New Directions, in conjunction with Project Abolition and many, many friends, invite you to come to Washington DC to educate policy makers that we need to stop "Star Wars" National Missile Defense -- and instead to pursue nuclear disarmament measures leading to the complete abolition of nuclear weapons.

What, When, & Where...
Following the rally with entertainment and arts in front of the White House on Sunday, June 10 from 2-4 pm, we will begin Monday morning, June 11 with a training and briefing on Capitol Hill.

We will be making visits to Congress on Monday and Tuesday. Monday evening we will host an informal reception and pizza party on the Hill. Additional events, education and networking opportunities will occur on Monday and Tuesday.

Why join us?
This is your chance to make a difference and change our nation's nuclear future.

At this very crucial time, the Bush Administration is unveiling its intention to deploy a National Missile Defense. This nightmare will be a complex sea, land and space based system. In pursuit of this new version of the Star Wars plan, they will tear up the ABM Treaty, possibly provoking an arms race with Russia and China, while wasting hundreds of billions of dollars. Participate in our Congressional Education Days to declare your opposition to National Missile Defense and encourage your elected officials to pursue disarmament measures including the complete abolition of nuclear weapons. It is your turn to become a part of the solution...let your voice be heard!

How much will this experience cost?
A registration fee of $25 will cover the cost of training and pizza at the Pizza Party. Of course, there's no fee to attend the White House Rally. You will be responsible for your travel, lodging and food during your stay in DC. We will be happy to help make suggestions, though you are ultimately responsible for making your own arrangements.

Please contact us as soon as you know you are coming. We want to assist you in making travel and lodging plans and work with you in scheduling meetings with your Senators and Member of Congress.

Activist Training and Congressional Education Days Registration
June 10-12, 2001 Washington, DC

Name_______________________________ Organization_________________________

Address_____________________________ City _____________State ____Zip _______

Phone (Day) __________________________(Evening) ___________________________

E-mail __________________________________________________________________

Return this form to: The Nuclear Disarmament Partnership
1875 Connecticut Ave., NW Suite 1012 Washington, DC 20009
For more information contact:
Kathy Crandall at 202.667.4260 x240 Fax: 202.667.4201
Kcrandall@disarmament.org www.disarmament.org
Cost is $25
_____ Yes, I have included $______ to help subsidize students and others
travel expenses.

PLEASE JOIN US FOR THE WHITE HOUSE RALLY TOO! (NO REGISTRATION NECESSARY)
RALLY IS SUNDAY JUNE 10 AT 2PM AT LAFAYETTE PARK (PEACE PARK) IN FRONT OF THE WHITE HOUSE
WWW.PROJECTABOLITION.ORG


SCHEDULE OF EVENTS (Draft)

Sunday, June 10
2pm-4pm: Rally, Lafayette Park (Peace Park)
Washington, DC
Join us for entertainment!

Monday, June 11
8:30am-9:00am: Welcome & Breakfast
Congressman Dennis Kucinich (OH)
Location TBA

9:00am-12:00pm: Orientation &
Training (location TBA)

1pm-5pm: Congressional Visits

5pm-8pm: Debriefing and Pizza Party
The Washington Home of Stewart Mott
122 Maryland Avenue, NE
Washington, DC 20002

Tuesday, June 12
Congressional Visits &
Possible Press Event (location TBA)


www.wand.org
WWW.DISARMAMENT.ORG
WWW.PROJECTABOLITION.ORG
WWW.DONTBLOWIT.ORG


This message is from Susan Shaer of WAND. Please, again, excuse the possible multiple messages. It is vital to get the word out! Please forward this 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: Fri, 11 May 2001 13:53:42 EDT From: ChadAmherst@aol.com Subject: Re: (abolition-usa) Fwd: Civil inspection nuclear weapons base Buechel, Germany We support this action. Nuclear Weapons Abolition Task Force, Franklin/Hampshire Chapter, Citizens for Participation in Political Action, c/o Johnson, 1114 South East St. Amherst, MA,01002, USA. Chad Johnson - - 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, 11 May 2001 22:51:34 -0700 From: HOME Subject: (abolition-usa) Newene Sogobi Mava'a Mia : Western Shoshone Walk On the Sacred Land Newene Sogobi Mava'a Mia : Western Shoshone Walk On the Sacred Land Jennifer Olaranna Viereck May 12, 2001 Six tired but jubilant Western Shoshone spirit runners and their supporters arrived at the gates of the Nevada Test Site just after sunrise this morning, after running and walking 240 miles over their mountains and desert lands. Newene Sogobi Mava'a Mia, the second annual Western Shoshone Walk On the Sacred Land, began Monday in Warm Springs, Nevada, and followed the western boundary of the Nevada Nuclear Weapons Test Site to its southern entrance at Mercury, Nevada. Next year, they will follow the eastern perimeter, past Rachel and the notorious Area 51. The run was organized by Johnnie Bobb, a Western Shoshone National Council member, artist, and spiritual leader. In the first year, he traveled to every Shoshone community and gathering and spoke to many people personally about his vision for a spirit run. A gentle, quiet man, Bobb is deeply concerned about the survival of the land and water, the medicines and foods, and the Shoshone people themselves. The Shoshone Nation, Newe Sogobia, recognized by the federal government in the Treaty of Ruby Valley of 1863, encompasses the Nevada Test Site and the site for the proposed Yucca Mountain High-Level Nuclear Waste Repository. Survivors of the fall-out from over 1,000 nuclear bombs, the remaining 6,000 Western Shoshone suffer a high rate of cancer and thyroid disease. Says Johnnie Bobb, "We are walking and running for our land and rights-to take back Shoshone land that our grandmothers and grandfathers once took care of with their footsteps. Step by step, they went from place to place to hunt and to gather where food was found, and where doctoring took place. Most of all, Shoshone people are buried here, and their spirits are with us. When we pray and sing there will be happiness, joy and love in our hearts, as we stand strong for our ancestors." Johnnie Bobb followed the runners each day, planting willow branches with ribbon flags of the six Shoshone sacred colors. Each afternoon, he set up a new camp by the roadside, with beribboned teepee, signs, and mobile kitchen and latrine. Highly visible to all who passed by, the camp drew an enthusiastic response from cars and semi trucks alike. In three mile relays, the six runners carried an eight foot eagle staff an average of forty five-miles a day. Although heavy with bundles of medicinal herbs, eagle feathers and other sacred objects from the runners and other well wishers, the staff is what carried each runner on, according to Darlene Graham, the eldest and only woman runner. "The powerful medicine coming through my hand from the staff, the energy of Mother Earth coming up through my feet- I can't describe the feeling to you in English- but I could in my own Newe language," she said, tears coming to her eyes. Darlene, a grandmother of seven, spent much of her life on the Duckwater Reservation, immediately downwind of the Test Site. She recalls the mysterious booms and colored clouds of her childhood. She lost her brother to cancer at the age of 32, and both sisters suffer thyroid disease. Two of her four children have learning disorders. The runners spanned thirty-seven years in age, and traveled from three states to participate. Jose Corleto, a 20 year old from the isolated Yomba Reservation in central Nevada, was one of a few runners the year before. A growing interest in traditional spirituality and political issues facing Western Shoshone brought him on the road once again. "It's really worth it," said Jose quietly. "Even though it's hot out here and your bones are hurting and your muscles aching, when you get to the end, you know you've done something good. It's the least a Shoshone person can do for their Mother." Joseph Allison, also 20, comes from urban Sacramento, California. He had no idea what to expect and describes his initial feelings as skeptical. But on his first day an antelope kept pace beside him, running and walking, until bounding away at his three mile finish marker. He feels a deep affinity for the land he is praying for now. Joseph's cousins, Rudy and Santiago Lozada, are raising families of their own in the Sacramento area. They are both grandsons of Eunice Silva, a greatly respected Shoshone healer from Battle Mountain, who passed over a few years ago at the age of 104. Both return to Nevada regularly to participate in traditional gatherings. Upon hearing of the suffering of the few runners making the trek the year before, they felt they had to support the effort this year. Says Rudy, "This is all very different for me. You learn so much about the land when you're out there, but you really learn a lot about yourself. I'm not the same man I was a few days ago." Santiago adds, "We're here for our ancestors and Mother Earth. Mama needs us-that's the bottom line." Chet Stevens is forty-eight, a construction worker from Reno, Nevada. For the past several years, he has traveled whenever work allows (and sometimes when it didn't) to help with sweatlodges and other ceremonies. He is frank about his own efforts to heal from a past of alcohol, and his desire to give something back for the growth and relief he feels. "When you are out there, you get a lot of insight spiritually," Chet says. "You are really opened up to all things, to a different level of understanding and connection, like in the Sun Dance, like a Vision Quest." Evening in camp was filled with starlight and talk around the drum. Feelings were shared openly about each runner's day, and how to best convey their message to Test Site officials upon arrival. Issues facing the Shoshone were discussed in detail, from current transportation of nuclear waste, to toxic pesticide spraying of medicinal herbs, to upcoming "controlled burns" by the Bureau of Land Management and inevitable radiation releases from 'downwind' forests. The runners have been amply nurtured by the fierce heart and splendid cooking of Lois Whitney, Director of the Western Shoshone Defense Project and member of the Elko Shoshone Colony. This author was greeted with an enormous Indian taco on arrival at the roadside camp, and followed Sunrise Ceremony and the departure of the first runner the next dawn with French toast, sausage, coffee and fruit. Lois is very grateful for more runners this year, but she wants to see a lot more. "It was so hard to see the suffering of the men last year, when you know able-bodied people that turn their back. How dare they say they're Native Americans when they refuse to protect their land?" Lois is clear about the issues that bring her to the Test Site. "First, they created these atomic bombs and blew them up here without letting us know the impacts-my people have suffered terribly from radiation. And, they used them to blow up other people. Now they want to turn full circle, and bring their poison back here to Shoshone land for all time." Says Lois about her role as camp cook, "I am so proud of these runners, especially our sister Darlene, the only woman out there. I wanted to at least see them properly nurtured. And I am humbled by the opportunity to do this. It is wonderful, being on the land, working together. The suffering we do is nothing compared to the blessings the Creator gives us." And what of next year? Everyone hopes to bring more Western Shoshone into the spirit run, but all people are welcome. Non-Shoshone support this year provided food, water, support vehicles to accompany runners, and video documentation. Chet Stevens explains, "When we pray and run, it isn't just for the Shoshone. We pray for every plant, every car that passes. We're all in this together-we all live on one planet Earth, we share the same water and air. We are praying for everyone." For more information about Newene Sogobi Mava'a Mia, contact Johnnie L. Bobb, at (775) 964-2210, or HC61 Box 6250, Austin NV 89310. This article may be reproduced in its entirety. Please credit and notify the author. - -- Jennifer Olaranna Viereck HOME: Healing Ourselves & Mother Earth 760-852-4151 PO Box 420, Tecopa CA 92389 USA Breaking the Silence of Nuclear Denial! - - 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, 12 May 2001 17:58:00 +0100 From: Sally Light Subject: (abolition-usa) Joyce Hollyday - Benefit for Nevada Desert Experience FROM THE HEART, A Conversation with Joyce Hollyday =96 A Benefit for Nevada Desert Experience Thursday, May 17, 2001, 7 =96 9 pm Wesley Foundation, 2398 Bancroft Way (at Dana), Berkeley Parking available at Sather Gate Lot, 2450 Durant Free-will offering at the door Dear Friends of Nevada Desert Experience, This is just to remind you that Joyce Hollyday, renowned author and speaker, will appear this coming Thursday, May 17, at Nevada Desert Experience=92s Berkeley office at the above address. Joyce is an Associate Conference Minister for the Southeast Conference of the United Church of Christ, and author of several books. She is currently collecting oral histories for the forthcoming book on African American Congregations within the United Church of Christ, Rekindle the Gift. She served for 15 years as Associate Editor of Sojourners magazine, was a founding member of Witness for Peace in Nicaragua, and part of the first team to establish a nonviolent, prayerful presence there in the 1980s. She also traveled throughout apartheid-era South Africa, and was an observer to that nation=92s Truth and Reconciliation Commission in 1997. Please join us for an unforgettable and inspiring evening. In peace =85. Sally Light Executive Director Nevada Desert Experience For more information, please call the JPIC Office at (510) 536-3772, etc. 113. - - 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, 14 May 2001 10:16:59 -0400 From: ASlater Subject: (abolition-usa) Fwd: Per your inquiry: Biological Weapons and the U.S. Dear Friends, Below is some disturbing information in response to an inquiry I made about the US posture on the biological weapons convention. It seems that the Bush Administration is blowing off talks with North Korea to prevent the "missile threat", trashing the ABM treaty thus escalating Chinese and Russian hostility to the US, and ratcheting up the PR in America about threats from "terrorists" while it does everything in its power to create new threats such as by undercutting the ability to monitor and verify biological warfare threats. Who's the rogue state now? Alice Slater >Date: Fri, 11 May 2001 16:30:48 -0500 >Subject: Per your inquiry: Biological Weapons and the U.S. >To: aslater@gracelinks.org >Cc: kristin@iatp.org >From: "nsorensen@iatp.org" > >Dear Alice Slater, > >A press release dated today about the U.S. role in the Convention >negotiations is available at the Sunshine Project's wetsite: >www.sunshine-project.org > >The U.S. is blocking further progress on the Biological and Toxin Weapons >Negotiations. On our website at www.iatp.org/global you will find a focus >on the Bioweapons negotiations. The Sunshine Project has written a great >summary of the loopholes in the Convention itself, and the U.S. is one of >the main opponents of closing them. > >http://www.sustain.org/biotech/library/admin/uploadedfiles/5th_Review_Confer >ence_of_the_BTWC_Closing_Loop.pdf > >I spoke with the Arms Control Bureau in the State Department, who >represents the U.S. in the negotiations. They were unwilling to divulge any >of the positions that they are taking. I said that I am a U.S citizen, and >I have a right to know what positions they are taking on my behalf, but >they didn't budge. If you want to call the State Department and ask them >directly, their telephone numbers and contact information are: > >Mike Ward >(202) 647-5344 >Bob Mackalack >(202) 646-5477 >Jennie Grommel >(202) 647-8778 >Geneva 011-41-22-749-4480 > >I hope this information is helpful. > >Sincerely, > > >Neil Sorensen >Program Assistant for International Programs >Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy >2105 First Avenue South >Minneapolis, MN 55404 USA >Tel: (612) 870-3412 >Fax: (612) 870-4846 >Email: nsorensen@iatp.org >http://www.iatp.org/global >http://www.wtowatch.org >http://www.sustain.org/biotech >http://www.gefoodalert.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: Mon, 14 May 2001 10:42:45 -0500 From: "Boyle, Francis" Subject: RE: (abolition-usa) Fwd: Per your inquiry: Biological Weapons and the U.S. this is the same attitude taken by the reagan admistration: attack the arms control treaties and exploit America's technological lead in all areas, including biotechnology. It appears that GW has gone back to staff his administration with the Reaganites. For the record, his father was very supportive of controls on biological weapons, signing into law the Biological Weapons Anti-terrorism Act of 1989, which was passed unanimously by both Houses of COngress. Later amended and strengthened by the Anti-Terrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act. fab. Francis A. Boyle Law Building 504 E. Pennsylvania Ave. Champaign, IL 61820 USA 217-333-7954(voice) 217-244-1478(fax) fboyle@law.uiuc.edu - -----Original Message----- From: ASlater [mailto:aslater@gracelinks.org] Sent: Monday, May 14, 2001 9:17 AM To: abolition-caucus@egroups.com; abolition-usa@lists.xmission.com Subject: (abolition-usa) Fwd: Per your inquiry: Biological Weapons and the U.S. Dear Friends, Below is some disturbing information in response to an inquiry I made about the US posture on the biological weapons convention. It seems that the Bush Administration is blowing off talks with North Korea to prevent the "missile threat", trashing the ABM treaty thus escalating Chinese and Russian hostility to the US, and ratcheting up the PR in America about threats from "terrorists" while it does everything in its power to create new threats such as by undercutting the ability to monitor and verify biological warfare threats. Who's the rogue state now? Alice Slater >Date: Fri, 11 May 2001 16:30:48 -0500 >Subject: Per your inquiry: Biological Weapons and the U.S. >To: aslater@gracelinks.org >Cc: kristin@iatp.org >From: "nsorensen@iatp.org" > >Dear Alice Slater, > >A press release dated today about the U.S. role in the Convention >negotiations is available at the Sunshine Project's wetsite: >www.sunshine-project.org > >The U.S. is blocking further progress on the Biological and Toxin Weapons >Negotiations. On our website at www.iatp.org/global you will find a focus >on the Bioweapons negotiations. The Sunshine Project has written a great >summary of the loopholes in the Convention itself, and the U.S. is one of >the main opponents of closing them. > >http://www.sustain.org/biotech/library/admin/uploadedfiles/5th_Review_Confe r >ence_of_the_BTWC_Closing_Loop.pdf > >I spoke with the Arms Control Bureau in the State Department, who >represents the U.S. in the negotiations. They were unwilling to divulge any >of the positions that they are taking. I said that I am a U.S citizen, and >I have a right to know what positions they are taking on my behalf, but >they didn't budge. If you want to call the State Department and ask them >directly, their telephone numbers and contact information are: > >Mike Ward >(202) 647-5344 >Bob Mackalack >(202) 646-5477 >Jennie Grommel >(202) 647-8778 >Geneva 011-41-22-749-4480 > >I hope this information is helpful. > >Sincerely, > > >Neil Sorensen >Program Assistant for International Programs >Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy >2105 First Avenue South >Minneapolis, MN 55404 USA >Tel: (612) 870-3412 >Fax: (612) 870-4846 >Email: nsorensen@iatp.org >http://www.iatp.org/global >http://www.wtowatch.org >http://www.sustain.org/biotech >http://www.gefoodalert.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. - - 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, 14 May 2001 10:47:27 -0500 From: "Boyle, Francis" Subject: (abolition-usa) FW: biowarfare defense articles in The Mercury News - -----Original Message----- From: Boyle, Francis [mailto:fboyle@law.uiuc.edu] Sent: Thursday, August 31, 2000 7:54 PM To: Boyle, Francis; 'crg-forum@igc. topica. com (E-mail) ' Subject: RE: biowarfare defense articles in The Mercury News Dear Colleagues: You would not believe the amount of time i spent working with this reporter on all the problems and dangers with this research. And yet almost everything I said was censored out. not much more than a piece of advertisement for the California biotech industry. In particular, most disturbing, i specifically told her that if any of these genetic engineering contracts called for the development of an aerosol delivery device, that was a tell-tale sign that the research was going to be put to weapons use. You will note:"And Maxygen's latest contract is to develop a method of delivering vaccines through aerosols rather than inoculation." Yet, no comment by me. Indeed, without blinking an eye she repeats the company's obvious propaganda knowing full well the implications here because i took a lot of time explaining it to her from scratch.fab - -----Original Message----- From: Boyle, Francis To: crg-forum@igc. topica. com (E-mail) Sent: 8/31/00 3:35 PM Subject: FW: biowarfare defense articles in The Mercury News Francis A. Boyle Law Building 504 E. Pennsylvania Ave. Champaign, IL 61820 USA 217-333-7954(voice) 217-244-1478(fax) fboyle@law.uiuc.edu - -----Original Message----- From: Wong, Nicole [mailto:NWong@sjmercury.com] Sent: Thursday, August 31, 2000 3:06 PM To: 'dave.waller@lmco.com'; 'petersen@cepheid.com'; 'baumback_k@abgenix.com'; 'hkushner@liu.edu'; 'PIRICRO@mail.northgrum.com'; 'davis_g@abgenix.com'; 'Jim@genelabs.com'; 'Jerry_Weltsch@frost.com'; 'Rolf_Gatlin@frost.com'; 'FBOYLE@LAW.UIUC.EDU' Subject: biowarfare defense articles in The Mercury News Hope you managed to pick up a copy of the San Jose Mercury News on Sunday. My package on biological warfare defense ran on the front page and continued on for two full pages inside. In case you missed it, here are the links: http://www.mercurycenter.com/premium/front/docs/biowar27.htm http://www.mercurycenter.com/premium/nation/docs/nubiocomp27.htm http://www.mercurycenter.com/premium/local/docs/nubioside27.htm However, I believe the Mercury online articles are only available free-of-charge for seven days, so check the stories out soon. Thanks for your help, Nicole ___________________________________________________________ T O P I C A The Email You Want. http://www.topica.com/t/16 Newsletters, Tips and Discussions on Your Favorite Topics - - 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, 14 May 2001 10:58:21 -0500 From: "Boyle, Francis" Subject: (abolition-usa) FW: Biowarfare research: OP-ED IN THE ALB. TRIBUNE it seems there is a reason why the new Bush people do not want this BWC protocol: they have something to hide. fab. Francis A. Boyle Law Building 504 E. Pennsylvania Ave. Champaign, IL 61820 USA 217-333-7954(voice) 217-244-1478(fax) fboyle@law.uiuc.edu - -----Original Message----- From: Boyle, Francis Sent: Tuesday, April 10, 2001 1:54 PM To: 'AALS Section on Minority Grps. mailing list' (E-mail) Subject: Biowarfare research: OP-ED IN THE ALB. TRIBUNE - --------------------------- OP-ED PIECE IN THE ALB. TRIBUNE 3/17/01 By: Peggy Prince, Executive Director of Peace Action N.M. Dr. Beryl Schwartz, educator Cathie Sullivan, researcher Dr. Francis Boyle, law professor at Illinois University and author of the 1989 Bioweapons and Anti-Terrorism Act The opinion piece of Saturday (3/10) in the Albuquerque Tribune, written by two Los Alamos National Lab (LANL) employees is as slick as the shiny paper of their brochures and, like them, contain little depth or substance. It is very disappointing that they decided to play the fear 'card' to elicit from their readers an emotional rather than reasoned response to their arguments. Without doubt, accidental or deliberate biological contamination of people or the environment is a serious concern. However, the Bio-Safety Level 3 (BSL-3) Bio-Weapons lab proposed for LANL is not only the wrong location, given their scandalous safety and security record, but also the wrong mission for a nuclear weapons research, development and production facility. Unlike the BSL-2 facility license they now hold which only allows them to study dead pathogens of viruses and bacteria, with a BSL-3 facility license they can study and reproduce live "infectious or lethal exotic agents". A BSL-3 facility has never been located at a nuclear weapons production lab before. There shouldn't be one at LANL now. Let's examine why. Two useful yardsticks exist against which to measure LANL's request for a new bioweapons-capable lab. Since the folks who want to increase work with toxins and disease organisms are managers with roots deep in the nuclear weapons program, we can first look at their performance record in critical areas like worker safety, community safety, and whistleblower protection. Intimidation of whistleblowers, a cavalier attitude towards worker safety, and inept, often over-budget program management, have characterized LANL from the beginning. For instance, according to the final accident report of April,1996, investigators found that Laboratory managers were at fault in the electrocution of Efren Martinez (Efren jackhammered into a 13,200 volt cable and 4 years later remains in a vegetative state). The work was performed outside the safety rules of an authorized workplan in a rush to beat a deadline and the two Lab managers most directly responsible for this tragedy are both still working at the Lab with promotions and pay raises. The investigators stated that: 'Significant, sitewide, programmatic weaknesses in the Laboratory's safety management program and failure to correct them were the principle causes of the accident.' A follow up report done 2 years later, reported that many electrical safety problems had not been addressed and the Lab had quietly ended many corrective actions before the corrections were completed or verified as effective. In a second example of disregard of worker safety, consider that during the Cerro Grande fire, which burned large sections of potentially contaminated LANL property, firefighters were given no protective gear or instructions for reducing risk of contamination to their families from their work clothes. A third example deals with disregard of community safety. The lab planned open-air testing of detectors using a strain of bacterium Bacillus globigii (Bg) which can be harmful to elderly and infirmed persons. The community of White Rock objected to putting children, seniors, and those with impaired immune systems at risk and forced the experiment to stop. The second useful yardstick with which to judge LANL's competency, is the February 2001 report from the Department of Energy's office of Inspector General, an independent auditing agency within the government. This important document is available at http://www.ig.doe.gov/oig_public_documents.htm (Inspection of Department of Energy Activities Involving Biological Select Agents; IG-0492) The report's main finding cites deficiencies in organization, oversight and implementing procedures in the current DOE (and LANL) bioweapons-related program. If these sound like vague criticisms, they are not. They are the concrete failures that, as in Efren's case, increase the risk Lab work poses to its workers and the public. Specifically, the Inspector General (IG) found that the Albuquerque DOE office did not even know LANL had 'an extensive program' with Anthrax or select agent DNA nor had the Lab's Biological Safety Officer done the required assessment or evaluation of biolab safety. The report also cited inadequate screening of incoming shipments of biological material at LANL. In one case this resulted in a scientist working with the wrong DNA material for four months before realizing his error-- a potential biological catastrophe if the same thing happened at the proposed new lab with live toxic or disease-causing organisms. Also at LANL, after receiving a shipment in a container with both outer and inner linings crushed , a scientist promptly destroyed the material but the 'responsible facility official' told the inspector there was 'zero risk' and he saw no need for 'special handling procedures'. The Los Alamos Biosafety Officer told the investigator they had no 'hazard control plan' for damaged shipments, a story they later changed after seeing the quote in the IG's draft report. Unfortunately, this list goes on and on. While at one time accident reports were on LANL's website, now they are behind a cyber wall, out of public view. The frequent newspaper reports on nuclear and hazardous materials accidents at LANL are just the tip of the iceberg, since often only diligent reporter investigations unearth pertinent facts that would otherwise be kept from public purview. The Lab's chronic mismanagement and safety failures should remove it from consideration as a site for a bioweapons-capable facility with the built-in potential for accidents with toxins and disease organisms. Nationally, there are other serious concerns. The Bush administration has rejected the Comprehensive nuclear Test Ban Treaty, a Treaty that is crucial for further reductions in nuclear weapons and to reducing the possibility of the proliferation of nuclear weapons. There is serious talk of abandoning the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, as well, in order to pursue the National Missile Defense, a continuation of the fairy story Star Wars debacle which may well end up costing well over $100 Billion. The U.S. has also refused to sign on to the Landmine Treaty which could help save thousands of innocent civilian lives each year. Later this year there will be a review of the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) in Geneva. Given the Bush lack of commitment to other important treaties, will the Bush, Helms, Domenici et al regime work to weaken and desiccate that treaty as well? While Bush's national security team expresses concern about the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, the U.S. remains the largest purveyor of such weapons over the years, and the team has said little about the ongoing international negotiations to strengthen the BWC. Their silence regarding support for arms control treaties in general is troubling and may be reflective of its attitude toward BWC. The Department of Energy has traditionally used starry-eyed rhetoric, scare tactics, and slick propaganda to try to woo and confuse the public. In this instance, they are trying to push the BSL-3 facility at LANL without being willing to submit the plan for the facility, using live "infectious or lethal exotic agents", to a full Environmental Impact Statement. However, it's not necessary to scratch our heads and assume that the government wouldn't lie to us. Use the logic of your own experience. If it looks like a snake and sounds like a snake... well you know the rest. The legitimate work of bio-threat reduction must find a home where managers respect safety, respect whistleblowers, have real oversight and demand that established procedures are followed. LANL doesn't even come close to filling the bill. LANL should not add more toxic, select DNA or disease agent work to the already unsafe, poorly managed nuclear weapons program. New Mexico deserves better than to be the nation's center for both nuclear and biological weapons of mass destruction. Demand that the Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Agency, which would be in charge of the BSL-3 facility, be required to conduct a full and fair Environmental Impact Statement. Better yet, just say 'no'. According to University of Illinois law professor, Dr. Francis Boyle, author of the 1989 Bioweapons and Anti-Terrorism Act which outlaws the manufacture of biological weapons, "This creates prima facie problems of compliance with the Biological Weapons Convention. Why locate a bio-weapons lab at a facility whose primary mission is development and production of offensive nuclear weapons? You can imagine the way other countries will view it: We say to them, don't do it, meanwhile our own people are putting dual-use research into a known weapons facility." Peace Action New Mexico is a statewide affiliate of Peace Action, the nation's largest grassroots peace and social justice organization. Peace Action N.M. can be contacted at 505.989.4812 TO COMMENT ON THE BSL-3 BIO-WEAPONS FACILITY AT LANL, CALL OR WRITE: Rep. Tom Udall @ 202-225-6190/505-984-8950 Sen. Jeff Bingaman @ 202-224-5521/505-988-6647 Elizabeth Withers David Gurulé N.E.P.A. Compliance officer DOE/LANL Area Office 667-8690 667-5105 528 35th St. 528 35th St. Los Alamos, N.M. 87544 Los Alamos, N.M. 87544 - --- Sponsor's Message -------------------------------------- Discuss Tech News as It Happens! 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