NUCLEAR WAR RISK HIGHER TODAY THAN IN 1983
Comment from Larry Ross, June 24, 2004

The following shows how the fate of the earth can hang on the judgement of one man. Reading this article makes one realise that humanity has been very lucky not to have had a nuclear war and the end of civilization before now. Every day is really a gift of borrowed time. We should be focusing major resources on reducing the nuclear risk. Unforunately we are moving toward nuclear war, not away from it. The new Bush Pentagon doctrines of preemptive war based on suspicion, new nuclear weapons, withdrawal from peace treaties, and threatened use of nuclear weapons, not as ultimate suicidal deterrents, but as battlefield options even against non-nuclear states, shows where we are headed. One wonders why people are not more worried and devoting more of their time and resources to stopping it - particularly those that have the time and resources. The first mistake, due to accident, miscalculation or poor judgement, madness, or intention, could be the last mistake the human race ever makes. With nuclear war there are no second chances. Just as one individual prevented it in 1983, so one, or a few individuals can cause it to happen in 2004, or 2005. The new nuclear doctrines, and the attitudes driving them, make it more likely today.
Think about it. What can we do?

Larry Ross

~~~~~~~~~        See Also America at Risk of Nuke Attack         ~~~~~~~~~

PRESS RELEASE, June 17, 2004

Australian Senate Honours Man Who Saved the World

From: John Hallam, Nuclear Weapons Campaigner
Friends of the Earth Australia, nonukes@foesyd.org.au

SENATE HONOURS MAN WHO SAVED WORLD BUT US,
RUSSIA KEEP THOUSANDS OF WARHEADS READY TO LAUNCH

Shortly before 5pm yesterday the Australian Senate passed a motion put by Democrat Senator Lyn Alison recognising that on 26 September 1983, the world had come frighteningly close to nuclear annihilation. It was saved by the reluctance of duty officer Colonel Stanislav Petrov of the Soviet missile corps to press a flashing red button that would have initiated an automatic sequence that would have sent 15,000 warheads to incinerate the US and its allies.

This would most likely have ended civilisation and most life.

Amid wailing sirens and flashing light, Colonel Petrov held firm and convinced his superiors that what seemed to be a US missile attack was a 'glitch'. Experts on nuclear weapon systems generally credit Colonel Petrov with having saved the world.

Colonel Petrov was awarded the World Citizens Award on 21 May of this year.

The Senate resolution put by Senator Alison not only recognises Colonel Petrovs achievement in ensuring our continued survival, but calls on the Australian government to support measures to lower the alert status of nuclear weapon systems so that it will never again be possible to destroy civilisation by accident as so nearly happened.

The Canberra Commission recommended in 1996 that nuclear weapon systems be taken off launch-on-warning status. Many resolutions have passed the United Nations General Assembly, calling for this to be done.

However, to this day, the US and Russia maintain thousands of warheads on Launch-on-Warning status, able to destroy civilisation and life within minutes, just as when Colonel Petrov was on watch that fateful night of September 1983

Contact: John Hallam 9567-7533 h9810-2598 Pauline Mitchell CICD 03-9663-3677

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The following motion was passed by the Australian Senatejust before 5pm today.

Congratulations to Senator Lyn Alison who put it up.

John HallamNuclear Weapons Campaigner Friends of the Earth Australia 02-9567-7533 h9810-2598

Item of Business No 895 - Nuclear Weapons Systems and Colonel Stanislav Petrov

Notice of Motion from Senator Lyn Alison

On the next day of sitting, I shall move that the Senate:

a) Recalls the incident that took place in the USSR at Serpukhov-15 on 26 September, 1983, 12.30pm Moscow Time and the role of Colonel Stanislav Petrov in this incident.

b) Notes: i. that the Serpukhov-15 incident, in which a newly installed Soviet surveillance system, reported that the US had launched nuclear missiles at the USSR, is considered by many analysts to have been the closest the world has ever come to nuclear war;

ii. that the megatonnage likely to have been used at that time was between 30 and 60 times the amount required to produce a nuclear winter and that the number of nuclear weapons that would have been launched would have ended civilisation and most living things.

iii. the role played by Colonel Stanislav Petrov in refraining from launching a number of thousands of warheads at the US in retaliation and in pressing his superiors to consider it a false alarm;

iv. that the Canberra Commission of 1996 recommended that strategic nuclear weapons be taken off 'Launch on Warning' status;

v. the resolution of the European Parliament on that matter of Nov 11 1999, and its own resolutions as well as repeated calls to lower the alert status of strategic nuclear weapons by the Non -Aligned Movement and the New Agenda Coalition have been passed year after year by the UN General Assembly.

c) Offers its congratulations to Colonel Petrov for being presented with the World Citizen Award on Friday 21 May 2004, in recognition of his actions. d) Urges the Government to give support to measures aimed at lowering the readiness to launch nuclear weapon systems and to support such measures on the floor of the UN General Assembly.

Press Release 17/6/2004