-Caveat Lector-
Please study this proposal from Thomas who has been maintaining the
antinuclear vigil across from the White House since 1981 and whose
dedication to this cause warrants careful consideration of his proposal
below.
From: Peace through Reason <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Proposal to Abolition 2000
Date: Friday, October 08, 1999 1:06 AM
David-
Last night I went on the congressional website and checked out
Markey's
and Woolsey's anti-nuclear measures presently pending in the House. I
discovered that they are both resolutions =-= not bills.
This is very disappointing, because, unlike a bill, which causes
change
by creating law, a resolution has no binding effect on anything ... a
resolution is little more than a feel good measure.
So I sent the following to Ellen to take to the conference.
Not sure, but I think you may have read this before, in one of
its
earlier incarnations.
Thomas
PROPOSAL TO BUILD A GRASSROOTS MOVEMENT
TO PRESSURE THE U.S. POLITICAL SYSTEM
FOR NUCLEAR WEAPONS ABOLITION
October, 1999
In order to abolish nuclear weapons before the end of the century, or,
for that matter, at any time in the future, it is essential to build a
strong
U.S. abolition campaign. We hope this proposal will be considered during
evaluation and development of specific strategies and activities to create a
broadly inclusive campaign that will inject denuclearization and the
elimination of nuclear weapons into the political mainstream.
BACKGROUND
FACTS: The United States (1) was first to research, produce, test, and
deploy nuclear weapons, and first to use them against human targets, (2) has
led the world in the development and production of innovative nuclear
weapons
and delivery systems throughout the nuclear age, and (3) notwithstanding the
NPT and CTBT, continues to test, develop, and produce new weapons systems.
No
wonder the U.N. resolutions for a nuclear weapons abolition convention are
getting nowhere fast.
We believe that as long as the nuclear weapons policy of the United
States remains unchanged, it is highly unlikely that anyone is going to take
suggestions for international abolition seriously. Before most of the world
was
snickering at the blatant NTP/CTBT/Subcritical hypocrisy of the United
States.
Of course, this has always been a major obstacle to using the NPT or CTBT as
tools for securing an international convention on nuclear weapons. Today
international credibility of these treaties is even more suspect. At the
very
moment that this proposal is being written, the US Senate is debating
ratification of the CTBT. Opponents of the treaty, confident that they can
kill the measure, are pressing for a ratification vote. In the meantime the
US
is conducting tests of anti-ballistic missle systems, imperiling both the
ABM
and SALT treaties.
If we are to be practical, we must accept the fact that neither treaties
nor mere resolutions alone will not necesarily turn this problem around. Zia
Mian alluded to this fact in his address to the NPT Preparatory Committee at
the U.N.:
"We believe it is time for these opinions to be acted upon. Words are cheap.
It
is the responsibility of all the states who have supported these resolutions
in
the General Assembly and the Conference on Disarmament to force negotiations
upon those who will not negotiate. Otherwise they are doing no more than
standing on the sidelines wringing their hands, they are providing cover for
those countries who have no intention of negotiating."
We must question the direction of those dedicated to interjecting the
elimination of nuclear weapons into the political mainstream. Presently the
entire political movement within the United States can be summed up in two
proposed House Resolutions, H. Res. 74, proposed by Congressman Markey, and
H.
Res. 82, proposed by Congresswoman Woolsey. Although both H. Res. 74 and 82
are positive expressions. As resolutions, however, even if passed by
Congress,
they would have very little effect toward denuclearization.
PROPOSED STRATEGY FOR
MAJOR POLITICAL CHANGE WITHIN THE UNITED STATES
Any meaningful strategy must necessarily go beyond educating,
outreaching, conferencing and mere talk in general. A successful strategy
must
be based on promoting some tangible, workable vehicle that is actually
capable
of carrying an abolition movement to its desired culmination.
A strong foundation for exerting decisive political pressure on the
United States to abolish nuclear weapons was laid by U.S. Congresswoman
Eleanor
Holmes Norton in 1994, when she introduced the Nuclear Disarmament and
Economic
Conversion Act (H.R. 2545) to the U.S. House of Representatives. In essence,
the bill would mandate that the U.S. government to eliminate its' nuclear
weapons if all other countries do, and to redirect the nuclear weapons
budget
towards converting the nuclear weapons industries and restoring the
environment.
The text of H.R. 2545 appears at the end of this proposal. The official
government version of the bill can be accessed online at
http://thomas.loc.gov/home/ -- type "H.R. 2545" into the box, and click
"Search." The text and a great deal more information is also available
online
at http://prop1.org/prop1/ehn99716.htm.
Obviously, if Mrs. Norton's bill were to become law it would send an
unmistakably clear message to the world that the United States is actually
sincere about trying to reverse the nuclear weapons program it's been
pursuing,
and the strategic objective for achieving major political change within the
United States would be accomplished.
Unfortunately, although Mrs. Norton has introduced the Nuclear Disarmament
and
Economic Conversion Act four separate times (H.R. 3750 in 1994, HR. 1647 in
1995, and H.R. 827 in 1997), thus far it has failed to gain enough political
support to make its way out of committee. However, as the focus of a broad
based grassroots movement H.R. 2545 could easily gain the widespread
political
support.
PROPOSED TACTICS TO ACHIEVE THE STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE
The following are suggestions for possible joint activities by
grassroots groups around the country. The listing is not exhaustive.
1. Due to the existence of Mrs. Norton's Nuclear Disarmament and
Economic Conversion bill, the most obvious opportunity for grassroots joint
activity is banding together in support of this existing legislation. The
only
thing standing between Norton's bill becoming "the law of the land" is lack
of
legislative support. They only thing lacking for legislative support is U.S.
voter pressure upon congressional representatives.
2. Building voter initiative movements, similar to the Freeze initiatives of
the early 80's, in states where Representatives won't support the bill would
impress upon the politicians that there is popular support for the idea.
3. The inclusion of abolition initiatives on ballots around the country
would guarantee that the subject would be center stage in the electoral
debates.
4. Petition drives. Although simple petitions do not usually carry
great weight with politicians in office, petitions that qualify voter
initiatives for the ballot have significant weight unto themselves.
5. Producing educational materials and designated website would be
essential to any political movement. Of course, we already have a website
(http://prop1.org/prop1), and we've produced a couple of video tapes.
6. Public television documentary could feature commentary from experts
like General Lee Butler and Russian Defense Minister Igor Sergeyev, as well
as
economic authorities, who would explain how much the United States has spent
on
its nuclear arsenal, and offer alternatives as to how that money could have
been spent. A documentary of this nature could be a significant moment of
public engagement with the nuclear issue and would serve as method of
mobilizing public support for lobby and/or voter initiative participation.
7. Speaking tours by people like General Lee Butler, Admiral Stansfield
Turner, other former government officials, and nuclear, religious, or
economic
authorities, building public exposure on issues of Nuclear Disarmament and
Economic Conversion.
8. Outreach to colleges and universities. A special effort could be
made to encourage debates, teach-ins, and conferences on college and
university
campuses, as a way of engaging students and faculty in the challenge of
eliminating nuclear weapons, and enlisting them into practical lobbying and
electoral projects. See, for example, the "Campus Outreach Project" and
questionnaire at http://prop1.org/prop1/outreach.htm.
9. Outreach to the religious community would be a natural. After all,
even most fundamentalist Christians agree Jesus wouldn't build a nuclear
weapon, and most fundamentalist Moslems agree that nukes aren't acceptable
for
use in a jihad.
10. Introducing the idea of abolishing nuclear weapons by outlawing them
in town meetings, is another way of stimulating participation in the
movement.
Abolition proposals have already been adopted by a number of city councils,
providing a legislative vehicle to transform these proposals into law would
enlarge these efforts to have a practical effect.
11. Abolition walks. Long distance walks offer an activity that brings
people
together, and almost assure media exposure. Whether this is an activity that
can or should be repeated as a political tactic might be considered in light
of
past successes and failures.
Sincerely,
Proposition One Committee
PO Box 27217, Washington DC 20038 USA
202-462-0757 (fax 202-265-5389)
[EMAIL PROTECTED] -- http://prop1.org
House Bill HR-2545
[Presented July 16, 1997, by Congresswoman Norton]
105th CONGRESS
1st Session
H.R. 827
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
A BILL
To provide for nuclear disarmament and economic conversion in accordance
with District of Columbia Initiative Measure Number 37 of 1993.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE
This Act may be cited as the "Nuclear Disarmament and Economic Conversion
Act".
SEC. 2. REQUIREMENT FOR NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT AND ECONOMIC
CONVERSION.
The United States Government--
1. shall disable and dismantle all its nuclear weapons and refrain from
replacing them at any time with any weapons of mass destruction;
2.shall undertake vigorous good faith efforts to eliminate war, armed
conflict, and all military operations;
3. shall actively promote policies to induce all other countries to join in
these commitments for peace on earth; and
4. shall redirect resources that are currently being used for nuclear
weapons programs to use--
(A) in converting all nuclear weapons industry employees, processes,
plants, and programs smoothly to constructive, ecologically beneficial
peacetime activities during the 3 years following the effective date of this
Act, and
(B) in addressing human needs such as housing, health care, education,
agriculture, and environmental restoration.
SEC. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE.
This Act shall take effect when the President certifies to the Congress
that all foreign countries possessing nuclear weapons have established legal
requirements
comparable to those set forth in section 2 and those requirements have taken
effect.
____________________________________________________________
* Peace Through Reason - http://prop1.org -Convert the War Machines! *
____________________________________________________________
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