January 16, 2008
(Washington, DC – 1/16/08) – The Department of Energy has dedicated a 90 day comment period to the Bush Administration’s proposed nuclear weapons production facility formally known as Complex 2030. This comes despite Congressional action zeroing out funding for the reliable replacement warhead, a new nuclear weapon, associated with the $150 million nuclear complex.
Recent polls by World Public Opinion show 79% of the American people want to see the U.S. government do more to eliminate nuclear weapons. Peace Action is among 68 other groups engaging the public to use this comment period to support nuclear abolition and U.S. compliance with the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
Across the nation, Peace Action Affiliates will hold community meetings to discuss the project and collect comments for the DOE. Peace Action supporters in California, Nevada, New Mexico, and Texas will present their opinions at DOE hearings in those states. The Peace Action online campaign is expected to reach over 100,000 nuclear abolition activists.
“Tens of thousands of Americans will write the Department of Energy in the next three months to tell them that they refuse to have nuclear weapons built in their backyard. Instead it is time to dismantle nuclear weapons rather than build new ones,” claimed Paul Kawika Martin, Peace Action’s political director.
The comment campaign will continue through the appointed 90 day period culminating in a final hearing in Washington, DC at which Peace Action’s national office will issue a statement on behalf of the network. The statement will call for the U.S. government to: stop the Complex Transformation project, increase dedication to nuclear abolition, and invest resources into nuclear cleanup and renewable energy programs.
BACKGROUND
- The Nuclear Complex to be transformed is made up of facilities scattered across the country at 8 major locations with missions as diverse as laboratory work, explosives testing, and nuclear weapons component manufacturing.
- Complex Transformation would include a major new facility—the Chemistry and Metallurgy Research Replacement (CMRR) at Los Alamos National Lab—to build 50-80 warhead cores (plutonium “pits”) per year, violating the spirit of U.S. commitments to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Article 6 which encourages disarmament.
- The 2007 JASON pit lifetime study confirmed that existing pits could last 100 years or more making the Complex Transformation project an unnecessary expense for an indebted Federal Government.
- Legislative and Executive branches of the U.S. government have yet to complete mandated nuclear policy reviews necessary to assess how the U.S. should move into the future regarding nuclear weapons.
- Increased production of plutonium pits, through Complex Transformation, will lead to increased risk to national security, public health, and the environment.
- Expanding our current nuclear weapons program sends the wrong message to other Nations, like North Korea, with whom we are negotiating over nuclear disarmament.
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2 Comments |
Bush Administration, Complex 2030, Complex Transformation, Global Activism, Nuclear Weapons, Peace, Peace Action, RRW, War, military, weapons proliferation |
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Posted by barbpa
November 30, 2007
When we talk about “Real Security through International Cooperation and the Funding of Human Needs” it is sometimes hard to understand what that means in terms of our daily lives.
On my way home I often pass a family saying hello and usually exchanging brief pleasantries. Normally, the father and sometimes the mother sit on the front stoop watching the baby play. Last night, however, as I rounded the corner something was very different. All the contents of their house had been dumped haphazardly onto the sidewalk; they were not sitting on the porch but rather on the street near their clothes. They had been “put out of their house.” They could not make the rent for this month and so this family of three (with a toddler) was homeless, sitting in the dark and cold with no place to go. They had left that morning for work and daycare with a small sense of security, only to arrive that night vulnerable and in genuine danger. How is it, in the richest democracy in the world, we can put a family out?
My neighborhood is known for gang activity. I myself, have witnessed 3 shootings; none of which, thankfully, resulted in death or injury; but they were scary. I can’t imagine being a toddler on the street hearing those booming noises echo only feet away from me. I have lots of Libertarian friends who don’t believe the government could solve these problems even if it did have a billion dollars. I might agree if we ever had a chance to test the theory. The money spent on militarism represents more than 70% of our Federal budget. The money for social programs is less than 5%. Where are our priorities? Why have we, for decades, chosen bombs over people?
Again, I turn to my Libertarian friends who claim the ONLY function of a Federal government is the protection of national boarders from foreign invaders. I would like to see a more comprehensive idea of ‘foreign invaders.’ I think hunger and frost bite should be counted among the terrorists affecting our world.
It strikes me that these terrorists are potently killing people all over the world on a daily basis – and U.S. investment in militarism only compounds the problem. I lived in Kosova for a time about a year ago. The people there are so grateful to the U.S. for ending the genocide perpetuated by Milosevic. They have a picture of Bill Clinton or Gen. Wesley Clark on nearly every street; including a giant mural on Bill Clinton bvld in downtown Prishtina. Of course there is another side to this gratitude. On Bill Clinton blvd there are still apartment buildings bombed out from U.S. strikes in 1999. People are still living in homes exposed to the elements with no water or electricity. The unemployment rate is staggering and the thousands of ‘missing’ are still unaccounted for. The political status of Kosova is still in flux between a Serbian territory and an independent state. Neither Europe nor the U.S. has invested enough money and time into the rebuilding of Kosova. We saved them from genocide and then condemned them to poverty through our inaction.
There is a similar story happening all over the world: in Ethiopia & Eutria; in Pakistan & Afghanistan; in Burma & S. Korea; in Sudan, in Sri Lanka, in Palestine, in Columbia, in Morocco, in every continent. Real security, internationally, means investing in the health and well being of all humans; knowing that persons whose security needs are met will never strap a bomb to their back and then board a train.
Terrorism, both the Islamic kind and the gang kind, can only be stopped by meeting our human needs as a global community. The U.S. is in a unique position to take leadership in this endeavor, and we have historically. Although now contentious, the IMF and World Bank served their original purpose after WWII. The funding provided by these international organizations rebuilt Europe after the devastation and renewed the historic cities to their former glory. We have lost the philanthropy which launched us into a global super power. Now we face our challenges with bombs and empty promises. Ours is a path of destruction and destitution. We must regain our conscious and expand our sense of community if we are ever to realize a peaceful world.
6 Comments |
Afghanistan, Africa, Bruma, Bush Administration, Cheney, Congress, Global Activism, Iraq, Justice, Middle East, Musharraf, Pakistan, Peace, Senate, Sudan, Vietnam, War, Youth, air strikes, diplomacy, military, refugees, terror |
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Posted by barbpa
September 5, 2007
Those who died in Iraq from Aug 26 to Sep 1:
Cpl Matthew Medlicott 21 Houston TX
Cpl Rogelio Ramirez 21 Pasadena CA
Spc Tracy Willis 21 Marshall TX
Sgt Joshua Morley 22 Boise ID
Sgt James Collins Jr 35 Rochester Hills MI
Cap Erick Foster 29 Wexford PA
Cpl John Tanner 21 Columbus GA
Spc Edward Brooks 25 Dayton OH
Sgt Andrew Nelson 22 Moorhead MN
Pvt Justin Sanders 22 Watson LA
Spc Travis Virgadamo 19 Las Vegas NV
Sgt Jason Butkus 34 West Milford NJ
Sgt Daniel Scheibner 40 Muskegon MI
89 were seriously wounded and maimed.
67 were returned to kill fields.
306 Iraqi sisters and brothers were killed.
To date 81 US troops have been killed in
Afghanistan this year.
61 women have been killed by hostile fire
in Iraq since March 2003.
Cf: icasualties.org
March 2003 .
No Comments » |
Afghanistan, Bush Administration, Iraq, Middle East, Peace, Veterans, War, military, troops |
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Posted by barbpa
August 22, 2007
Those who died in Iraq from Aug 12 to 18:
Sgt Alicia Birchett 29 Mashpee MA
Sgt Andrew Lancaster 23 Stocton IL
Sgt Scot Kirkpatrick 26 Reston VA
Sgt William Scates 31 Oklahoma City OK
Spc Alun Howells 20 Parlin CO
Pvt Paulomarko Pacificador 24 Shirley NY
Pvt Juan Lopez Jr 23 San Antonio TX
Sgt Eric Cottrell 39 Pittsview AL
Pvt Shawn Henzel 20 Logansport IN
Spc Stephen Jewell 26 Bridgeton NC
Sgt Stanley Reynolds 37 Rock WV
Sgt Sean Fisher 29 Santee CA
CWO Jackie McFarlane Jr 30 Virginia Beach VA
CW Christopher Johnson 31 Grand Rapids MI
Spc Zandra Walker 28 Greenville SC
Sgt Princess Samuels 22 Mitchellville MD
Sgt Robert Pirelli 29 Franklin MA
Spc Kamisha Block 20 Vidor TX
Sgt Paul Norris 30 Cullman TX
Pvt Willard Kerchief III 21 Evansville IN
Ltn Jonathan Edds 24 White Pigeon MI
30 were seriously wounded and maimed.
100 were retuned to kill fields.
626 Iraqi sisters and brothers were killed.
1 Comment |
Bush Administration, Cheney, Congress, Counter-Recruitment, Iraq, Middle East, Peace, Peace Action, Veterans, War, military, troops |
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Posted by barbpa
August 16, 2007
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Afghanistan, Africa, Global Activism, Justice, Peace, Peace Action, Youth, anti-nuclear movement, diplomacy, diversity, international aid, movies, peace history, social movements |
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Posted by barbpa
August 15, 2007
Those who died in Iraq from Aug 5 to 11:
Spc Daniel Reyes 25 SanDiego CA
Sgt Bradley Marshall 37 Little Rock AR
Spc Charles Leonard Jr 29 Monroe LA
Sgt Joey Link 29 Portland TN
Spc Justin Blackwell 27 Paris TN
Pvt Jeremy Bohannon 18 Bon Aqua TN
Spc Kareem Khan 20 Manahawkin NJ
Cpl Juan Alcantara 22 New York
Sgt Nicholas Gummersall 23 Chubbuck ID
Sgt Jacob Thompson 26 No Mankato MN
Spc Christopher Neiberger 22 Gainesville FL
Pvt Craig Barber 20 Ogmore Vale UK
Sgt Jon Bonnell Jr 22 Fort Dodge IA
Air Martin Beard 20 Rainworth UK
Cpl Reynold Armand 21 Rochester NY
Spc Donald Young Helena MT
Sgt Michael Tayaotao 27 Sunnyvale CA
Cpl Chris Casey 27 London UK
Cpl Kirk Redbath 22 Romford UK
Sgt Joan Duran 24 Roxbury MA
Pvt William Edwards 23 Houston TX
Spc Justin Penrod 24 Danville IL
87 were seriously wounded and maimed.
88 wounded were returned to killing fields.
420 Iraqi sisters and brothers were killed.
Cf: www.icasualties.org
2 Comments |
Bush Administration, Cheney, Congress, Iraq, Middle East, Peace, Presidential, Senate, Veterans, War, military, oil, troops |
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Posted by barbpa
August 15, 2007
The Washington Post printed a Peace Action West letter in response to last week’s article about the “failure” of diplomacy with Iran:
Room for Diplomacy on Iran
Regarding the Aug. 9 news story “In the Debate Over Iran, More Calls for a Tougher U.S. Stance”:
The article’s reference to the “failure of carrot-and-stick diplomacy to block Tehran’s nuclear and regional ambitions” falsely implied that the Bush administration has pursued and exhausted constructive diplomatic options with Iran. A serious diplomatic effort would involve talking directly with the Iranian government without preconditions, which this administration has refused to do. The administration also undermines the ability to engage in productive dialogue through hostile rhetoric and saber-rattling.
It is clear that military action against Iran would be disastrous and that it would probably accelerate any attempts by the Iranian government to pursue nuclear technology. It should also be clear that pragmatic, sustained diplomatic efforts have succeeded in the past and are our only hope for resolving tensions with Iran.
REBECCA GRIFFIN
Political Director
Peace Action West
1 Comment |
Bush Administration, Global Activism, Iran, Middle East, Nuclear Weapons, Peace, Peace Action, Presidential, War, diplomacy, imperialism, military |
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Posted by barbpa
August 9, 2007
“All I know is that you have participated directly or indirectly in the crime.”
Why is Half of Iraq in Absolute Poverty? By: Layla Anwar
This is a line from an article written by an Iraqi woman named Layla Anwar. The crime she is referring to is, of course, the U.S. occupation of Iraq. She talks about the crimes of apathy and arrogance on the part of Westerners who want to ‘save’ the ‘those people’. This is arrogance is a part of all of our foreign policy - especially in international aid to the supposed ‘third world’, or the global south including the Americas, Africa, and Southern Asia. She talks about the lack of direct action on the part U.S. citizens to stop war before it began. Of course, she talks about the ramifications of our ‘democracy building’ in Iraq – of how many are starving, are displace, are scarred for life. I found myself torn between my occupation advancing peace ideologies and my education in international development. My life is focused on all the things she condemns and yet I feel my work is important.
Then I remember what drove me to be a part of the peace movement in the first place. I was in Kosovo (Kosova for those in the know) and I worked with a local group, the Kosova Womens Network, deeply entrenched in the feminist movement during the Serbian occupation and today. In my work there I came into contact with the Women in Black from Serbia. They told me their stories of standing in front the Belgrade government buildings asking “how can we talk about democracy in our country while we squash it abroad.” These stories affected me in so many ways. Regardless of the imminent danger they were in; regardless of the stigma and harassment they faced – they stood in solidarity against violence meted out in their names. That is why I joined the peace movement.
And yet, in my inbox today was a recently released study on the ‘progress’ we’ve made in Iraq. According to this study by the University of Michigan, Iraqis are becoming more nationalistic and secular in their government. Is this a good thing? Is this a bad thing? Is it my place to say one way or another? Certainly it is not my place to make judgments on what is good or bad for Iraq.
It is only my place to emphatically say it is our job as U.S. citizens to expose the crimes of our government. It is my duty to be uncomfortable in acknowledging that the lifestyle I lead is directly related to this war. The same is true for you who are reading this. Every time we turn on our AC, drive the children to work, eat fresh citrus from Mexico, and drink water out of bottles we contribute to the deaths of millions across the world through our modern imperialism.
We live in a system, a globalized system, created hundreds of years ago when the first colonialists boarded their ships to explore and dominate for gold, God, and glory. We perpetuate this system with ‘development programs’, ‘international aid’, and ‘democracy building’. War is not the only way we destroy the culture and infrastructure of other states. The only way to uproot this system is to challenge our idea of what is ‘progress’, ‘democracy’, ‘wealth’, ‘education’, and ‘power’. I challenge you, as peacemongers, to do so in your daily lives. I promise you to take that challenge with you. I bid you peace to do the good work I know you want to do.
7 Comments |
Africa, Global Activism, Iraq, Kosovo, Middle East, Peace, War, imperialism, international aid, military, race, social movements |
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Posted by barbpa
August 8, 2007
Barack Obama’s statement, last Thursday, that he would not use nuclear weapons “in any circumstance” to fight terrorism in Afghanistan and Pakistan and drew criticism from chief rival Hillary Rodham Clinton and accolades from anti-nuclear activists.
It appears Sen. Obama is the only leading Presidential candidate who is willing to consider the multifaceted implications of a foreign policy where ‘all options’ are on the table.
During the Cold War the U.S. public was intimately aware of the threat nuclear war posed to the country and the world. While the bombs have become more powerful the country has become more complacent about our leaders threatening their use. It is a shame that in all the rhetoric condemning or applauding Obama’s statement no one has questioned the destructive position of Clinton and the other candidates.
Nuclear weapons are never an acceptable form of force, but especially in this circumstance would be devastating to our world and to our national security – moreover, they would be ineffectual in their purpose.
Nuclear weapons cannot weed terrorists out of the mountains of Pakistan and Afghanistan. Nuclear weapons are designed to decimate a region or country – they have no purpose but to kill civilians for years after the initial explosion with cancer and birth defects. By definition, their use is in itself is a terrorist act because they so specifically target civilians. Our threats of a ‘nuclear option’ only further inflame a difficult diplomatic situation in the Middle East and radicalize new terrorist recruits.
Those candidates who would not take the nuclear option off the table are callus and arrogant – preferring to placate to the minority of the country who support the Bush administration than to stand up for a new direction in U.S. foreign policy. They are
naïve for believing the nuclear option should ever be on the table.
4 Comments |
Bush Administration, Clinton, Iran, Middle East, Nuclear Weapons, Obama, Peace, Presidential, Senate, War, anti-nuclear movement, military, weapons proliferation |
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Posted by barbpa
August 8, 2007
Those who died in Iraq from Jul 29 to Aug 4:
Pvt Cody Grater 20 Spring Hill FL
Sgt Wilberto Suliveras 38 Humacao PR
Sgt Jack Richards 39 Oklahoma
Cpl Sean Stokes 24 Auburn CA
Cpl Jason Kessler 29 Vernon WA
Pvt Alfred Jairala 29 Hialeah FL
Pvt Charles Heinlein Jr 23 Hemlock MI
Spc Zachariah Gonzalez 23 Indiana
Sgt Stephen Maddies 41 Elizabethton TN
Cpl Steve Edwards 35 Sutton UK
Sgt Travis Bachman 30 Garden City KS
Sgt Julian Rios 52 Anasco PR
Sgt Eric Salinas 25 Houston TX
Spc Christian Rojas Gallego 24 Loganville GA
Sgt Fernando Santos 29 San Antonio TX
Cpl Christian Vasquez 20 Coalinga CA
Pvt Mtthew Murchison 21 Independence MO
Spc Bradon Long 19 Sherman TX
Pvt Jaron Holliday 21 Tulsa OK
Cpl Jason Lafleur 28 Ignacio CO
Sgt Dustin Wakeman 25 Ft Worth TX
65 were seriously wounded.
86 wounded were returned to occupation.
480 Iraqi sisters and brothers were killed
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Bush Administration, Cheney, Congress, Counter-Recruitment, Iraq, Peace, Veterans, War, military, oil, troops |
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Posted by barbpa