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ACTION ALERT US BOYCOTT NUCLEAR TEST BAN TELL THEM YOU BOYCOTT US PRODUCTS VIENNA, SEPT. 3 - 5, 2003 More information on nuclear testing, graphics,
maps as well as model letters for President Bush and your government http://www.motherearth.org/nuke/ctbt1.php
Dear friends,
Please take some of your valuable time
to help us stop the nuclear armsrace. It will take you just a few minutes
to act and make a difference.
What can you do?
* Please read the following ALERT
* E-mail a letter to President Bush and
his UN representatives (model letters on website)
* E-mail a letter to your government as well as others if you have time * Fast-forward this ALERT to your network, friends, etc ... and ask them to do the same * Make a link on your website to this action ALERT Next week the US is once again demonstrating
its unilateral and arrogant policies. They have decided to boycott the
Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Conference (CTBT) which will be held in Vienna
(Austria) from 3rd to 5th September. Government representatives will
meet to discuss the CTBT Entry Into Force (CTBT EIF). Interesting detail:
one other country that has decided to boycott the conference is North
Korea.
Since 1945 there have
been 2051 nuclear tests on our planet. This
adds up to an average of one nuclear explosion every 10 days for the
past 58 years. These atomic tests have caused enormous human suffering
in the form of cancers, birth defects and social upheaval, and environmental
destruction without precedent. The effects have been felt especially
by Indigenous People, who have seen their lives and homelands sacrificed
for what officials have misleadingly called safe nuclear tests and activities.
We need to prevent any new atomic tests in the future.
Although the US was the first state to
sign the CTBT in 1996, today we are extremely worried by the US policy
concerning the nuclear test ban treaty.
Since George W. Bush came to power in
2001:
* President Bush does not support the CTBT and declared that he will not seek the approval of the Senate which is still needed for the ratification by the US * In November 2002, during a UN General
Assembly, the US was the only country voting against keeping the CTBT
on the UN agenda.
* On August 7th 2003 Mr. Colin Powell declared that the US "has no intention of testing nuclear weapons at this time". However Mr. Powell continued by stating "but we can't rule nuclear testing out forever". * Recent disclosures demonstrate that the US is pushing for research and development of a new generation of earth-penetrating nuclear weapons. * Official proposals are also circulating to reduce the preparation time necessary before resuming underground nuclear testing at the Nevada nuclear test site. Observers declared that they expect the
US to announce resumption of atomic testing within two years. In this
context it is not surprising for the US to boycott the 2003 CTBT EIF
Conference in Vienna. The US finds itself once again on the wrong side
of history and could lead the way for a new nuclear arms race.
TIME TO ACT NOW
We need to send a strong signal to the
US today that they have to ratify the CTBT, stop research and development
of new nuclear weapons and close and clean-up the Nevada nuclear test
site. Because we experience that words have no effect on the policy
of President Bush and his administration, we urge you to pledge to start
or continue a consumers boycott of all or some US products. See a top
10 list of products on our site. Please take time to send your letters NOW.
This US boycott ALERT is part of a
larger boycott which condemns US unilateral policies. http://www.motherearth.org/USboycott/index.php
If you did not yet sign-up, please register
your support for this boycott today http://www.motherearth.org/USboycott/index_en.php#pledge
Mohamed ElBaradei, head of the International
Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), has also accused the US of hypocrisy
in its dealing with weapons of mass destruction. He told this week
to the German newspaper "Stern": "Double standards are being used
here. The US government insists that other countries do not possess
nuclear weapons. On the other hand they are perfecting their own arsenal.
I do not think that corresponds with the [Nuclear Non-Proliferation]
treaty they signed."
For Mother Earth is also calling on people
to support or take part in "citizens inspections" of nuclear weapons
bases. These inspections draw attention to the fact that the US is maintaining
their own largely secret stockpiles of nuclear weapons, in breach of
their obligations under the non-proliferation treaty, while they use
weapons inspections as the justification for going to war against Iraq.
You can find more information about upcoming inspections at: www.motherearth.org/nuke/inspection.php
Thank you for your support,
Pol D'Huyvetter
For Mother Earth - Voor Moeder Aarde vzw K. Maria Hendrikaplein 5 9000 Gent - Belgium Phone +32-9-242 87 52 or 04 Fax +32-9-242 87 51 pol@motherearth.org www.motherearth.org |
