NUCLEAR WATCH SOUTH



P.O. BOX 8574 ~ ATLANTA, GA 31106 ~ 404-378-4263 ~ nukewatchsouth@mindspring.com

SIGN THE PETITION PROPOSITION ONE 2010 Campaign Nuclear Disarmament and Economic Conversion Act of 2009 ~ HR 1653 ~ Nuclear Watch South visits the WHITE HOUSE PEACE VIGIL March 29, 2009 (photo by U.S. Marine Derrick) VISIT PROP1.ORG Nuclear Disarmament and Economic Conversion Act of 2009 (Introduced in House) HR 1653 IH 111th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1653 To provide for nuclear disarmament and economic conversion in accordance with District of Columbia Initiative Measure Number 37 of 1992. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES March 19, 2009 Ms. NORTON introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To provide for nuclear disarmament and economic conversion in accordance with District of Columbia Initiative Measure Number 37 of 1992. 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 of 2009'. SEC. 2. REQUIREMENT FOR NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT AND ECONOMIC CONVERSION. The United States Government shall-- (1) disable and dismantle all its nuclear weapons and refrain from replacing them at any time with any weapons of mass destruction; (2) 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 and infrastructure needs such as housing, health care, education, agriculture, and environmental restoration, including alternative fuel sources; (3) undertake vigorous good faith efforts to eliminate war, armed conflict, and all military operations; and (4) actively promote policies to induce all other countries to join in these commitments for world peace and security. 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. WILLIAM "DOUBTING" THOMAS vigiled for 28 years in front of the White House for nuclear disarmament. The vigil continues today. CLICK HERE	ASK YOUR REPRESENTATIVE TO JOIN ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON, DENNIS KUCINICH AND JOHN LEWIS IN SUPPORTING HR 1653 Introduction of Nuclear Disarmament and Economic Conversion Act of 2009 REP. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON Ms. Norton. Madam Speaker, Today, I am again introducing the Nuclear Disarmament and Economic Conversion Act (NDECA), as I have done since 1994, after working with the residents who were responsible for a ballot initiative passed by D.C. voters in 1993. NDECA requires the United States to disable and dismantle its nuclear weapons when all other nations possessing nuclear weapons enact laws to do the same. NDECA further provides that when U.S. nuclear weapons are dismantled, the resources for supporting nuclear weapon programs would be used for our growing human and infrastructure needs, such as housing, health care, Social Security and the environment. I chose to introduce the NDECA before the March 20th memorial service for William Thomas, who sat in front of the White House in an anti-nuclear vigil for nearly 28 years. His efforts have been called the longest uninterrupted war protest in U.S. history. He truly embodied our inalienable First Amendment rights. Tragically, instead of nuclear disarmament, nations around the world have increased efforts to seek or acquire nuclear capability with Iran's failure to halt uranium enrichment captured attention until recently, China's nuclear weapons and today North Korea continues testing missile long range missiles and there is little doubt that North Korea has acquired a nuclear device. India and Pakistan continue to fight over the Kashmir region and with the recent terrorist strikes in India, the instability in the region persists. Pakistan assures us that its weapons are safe, as nuclear secrets are sold by its top scientists, the streets are riled with protests, a military coup is not out of the question, and the semi-autonomous regions are dominated by Al-Qaeda and the Taliban. The invasion of Iraq cost the United States much of its leadership on nuclear proliferation and other urgent international issues. This country reached a non-credible status in dissuading other nations who aspire to become or remain nuclear powers as we ourselves took greater initiative in increasing our own nuclear weapons program. We moved in the right direction when the Senate ratified the Moscow Treaty in 2003, which provides that by 2012 both the U.S. and Russia will reduce their long-range warheads by two-thirds from approximately 6,000 warheads each to 2,200. However, the Bush administration failed to build on this effort. According to the study, "Securing The Bomb: An Agenda for Action" (May, 2004; prepared by the Belfer Center, Harvard University Kennedy School of Government): "Total nuclear-threat-reduction spending remains less than one quarter of one percent of the U.S. military budget. Indeed, on average, the Bush administration requests for nuclear-threat-reduction spending over FY 2002 - 2005 were less, in real terms, than the last Clinton administration request, made long before the 9/11 attacks ever occurred." Instead, the Bush administration moved to increase the country's nuclear capacity. However, the problem today is even more complicated than nuclear disarmament by nation states. The greatest threat today is from inadequately defended and guarded sites in many countries where there is enough material to make nuclear weapons and many opportunities for terrorists or nations without weapons to secure nuclear materials. Astonishingly, because of the previous administration's absence of leadership, less nuclear material was seized in the two years following the 9/11 attacks than in the two years immediately preceding the attacks ("Securing The Bomb: An Agenda for Action", May 2004). In my work on the Homeland Security Committee, I know that threats from nuclear proliferation and available nuclear material are more dangerous in the post 9/11 era than in 1994, when I first introduced the Nuclear Disarmament and Economic Conversion Act. It is more urgent than ever to begin closing down nuclear capability here and around the world. Today, our country has a hobbled economy, 45 million people still without health insurance, a long list of other urgent domestic needs put on the back burner following the invasion of Iraq, large tax cuts for wealthy people and corporations, and millions of Americans losing their homes and jobs. As the only nation that has used nuclear weapons in war, and still possesses the largest arsenal, the U.S. has an obligation to begin the arduous process of leading the world in the transfer of nuclear weapons funds to urgent domestic needs. SIGN THE PETITION TO SUPPORT PROPOSITION ONE 2010 HR 1653
~ STOP BOMBPLEX ~
NOW IS THE TIME TO REJECT NUCLEAR WEAPONS The U.S. is for the third time seeking permission from its people to rebuild the nuclear weapons complex. Thanks to the National Environmental Policy Act, the government is now required to hold public hearings to solicit comments for an environmental impact statement before it can build new bomb factories. The public has spoken clearly and unequivocally at each opportunity that we reject nuclear weapons under any and all circumstances. In round one of the public comment period, 32,000 comments demanding nuclear disarmament and rejecting nuclear build-up were submitted! In the final round of public comment, more than 120,000 voices demanded total nuclear disarmament be analyzed as an alternative to building more nuclear weapons. It has been nearly 20 years now since our country has manufactured new nuclear weapons. Momentum is on the side of nuclear disarmament and the final abolition of weapons of mass destruction. Our national security lies down the path of nuclear waste management, environmental restoration and securing the bomb materials from dismantled weapons. We have a rare window of opportunity to establish a turning point in human history — to publicly express the vision and goal that may inspire our country to lead the world in ending the global nuclear nightmare. Nuclear weapons are a human artifact and it is humanly possible to turn away from the wasteful path of nuclear madness. We can turn our hearts and minds to a new frontier of human ingenuity — honoring treaties to dismantle nuclear weapons, managing radioactive nuclear waste and securing weapons-grade plutonium and uranium from future use as nuclear weapons. We are standing at a choice point in history. If it is human nature to learn from our mistakes, then it is wise for us to remember that it was the Bomb itself (and the rockets we developed to deliver them to the other side of our Earth) that showed us the stark and glorious revelation that our planet is finite, fragile and destructible and — most important of all — that we are all in it together. READ ARTICLE AT COMMON DREAMS

P.O. BOX 8574 ~ ATLANTA, GA 31106 ~ 404-378-4263 ~ nukewatchsouth@mindspring.com

Bonnie Raitt Becky Hardee NO NUKES Benefit Concert

SIGN THE PETITION

PROPOSITION ONE 2010 Campaign
Nuclear Disarmament and
Economic Conversion Act of 2009
~ HR 1653 ~

Nuclear Watch South visits the WHITE HOUSE PEACE VIGIL
March 29, 2009 (photo by U.S. Marine Derrick)

VISIT PROP1.ORG

Nuclear Disarmament and Economic Conversion Act of 2009 (Introduced in House)

HR 1653 IH

111th CONGRESS

1st Session H. R. 1653

To provide for nuclear disarmament and economic conversion in accordance with District of Columbia Initiative Measure Number 37 of 1992.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

March 19, 2009

Ms. NORTON introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

A BILL

To provide for nuclear disarmament and economic conversion in accordance with District of Columbia Initiative Measure Number 37 of 1992.

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 of 2009'.

SEC. 2. REQUIREMENT FOR NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT AND ECONOMIC CONVERSION.

The United States Government shall--

(1) disable and dismantle all its nuclear weapons and refrain from replacing them at any time with any weapons of mass destruction;

(2) 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 and infrastructure needs such as housing, health care, education, agriculture, and environmental restoration, including alternative fuel sources;

(3) undertake vigorous good faith efforts to eliminate war, armed conflict, and all military operations; and

(4) actively promote policies to induce all other countries to join in these commitments for world peace and security.

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.

WILLIAM "DOUBTING" THOMAS vigiled for 28 years
in front of the White House for nuclear disarmament.
The vigil continues today.

CLICK HERE

ASK YOUR REPRESENTATIVE
TO JOIN ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON, DENNIS KUCINICH AND JOHN LEWIS IN
SUPPORTING HR 1653

Introduction of Nuclear Disarmament and Economic Conversion Act of 2009

REP. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON

Ms. Norton. Madam Speaker, Today, I am again introducing the Nuclear Disarmament and Economic Conversion Act (NDECA), as I have done since 1994, after working with the residents who were responsible for a ballot initiative passed by D.C. voters in 1993. NDECA requires the United States to disable and dismantle its nuclear weapons when all other nations possessing nuclear weapons enact laws to do the same. NDECA further provides that when U.S. nuclear weapons are dismantled, the resources for supporting nuclear weapon programs would be used for our growing human and infrastructure needs, such as housing, health care, Social Security and the environment.

I chose to introduce the NDECA before the March 20th memorial service for William Thomas, who sat in front of the White House in an anti-nuclear vigil for nearly 28 years. His efforts have been called the longest uninterrupted war protest in U.S. history. He truly embodied our inalienable First Amendment rights.

Tragically, instead of nuclear disarmament, nations around the world have increased efforts to seek or acquire nuclear capability with Iran's failure to halt uranium enrichment captured attention until recently, China's nuclear weapons and today North Korea continues testing missile long range missiles and there is little doubt that North Korea has acquired a nuclear device. India and Pakistan continue to fight over the Kashmir region and with the recent terrorist strikes in India, the instability in the region persists. Pakistan assures us that its weapons are safe, as nuclear secrets are sold by its top scientists, the streets are riled with protests, a military coup is not out of the question, and the semi-autonomous regions are dominated by Al-Qaeda and the Taliban.

The invasion of Iraq cost the United States much of its leadership on nuclear proliferation and other urgent international issues. This country reached a non-credible status in dissuading other nations who aspire to become or remain nuclear powers as we ourselves took greater initiative in increasing our own nuclear weapons program. We moved in the right direction when the Senate ratified the Moscow Treaty in 2003, which provides that by 2012 both the U.S. and Russia will reduce their long-range warheads by two-thirds from approximately 6,000 warheads each to 2,200.

However, the Bush administration failed to build on this effort. According to the study, "Securing The Bomb: An Agenda for Action" (May, 2004; prepared by the Belfer Center, Harvard University Kennedy School of Government): "Total nuclear-threat-reduction spending remains less than one quarter of one percent of the U.S. military budget. Indeed, on average, the Bush administration requests for nuclear-threat-reduction spending over FY 2002 - 2005 were less, in real terms, than the last Clinton administration request, made long before the 9/11 attacks ever occurred." Instead, the Bush administration moved to increase the country's nuclear capacity.

However, the problem today is even more complicated than nuclear disarmament by nation states. The greatest threat today is from inadequately defended and guarded sites in many countries where there is enough material to make nuclear weapons and many opportunities for terrorists or nations without weapons to secure nuclear materials.

Astonishingly, because of the previous administration's absence of leadership, less nuclear material was seized in the two years following the 9/11 attacks than in the two years immediately preceding the attacks ("Securing The Bomb: An Agenda for Action", May 2004). In my work on the Homeland Security Committee, I know that threats from nuclear proliferation and available nuclear material are more dangerous in the post 9/11 era than in 1994, when I first introduced the Nuclear Disarmament and Economic Conversion Act.

It is more urgent than ever to begin closing down nuclear capability here and around the world. Today, our country has a hobbled economy, 45 million people still without health insurance, a long list of other urgent domestic needs put on the back burner following the invasion of Iraq, large tax cuts for wealthy people and corporations, and millions of Americans losing their homes and jobs.

As the only nation that has used nuclear weapons in war, and still possesses the largest arsenal, the U.S. has an obligation to begin the arduous process of leading the world in the transfer of nuclear weapons funds to urgent domestic needs.

SIGN THE PETITION
TO SUPPORT PROPOSITION ONE 2010
HR 1653

~ STOP BOMBPLEX ~

Now is the Time to Reject Nuclear Weapons

NOW IS THE TIME TO REJECT NUCLEAR WEAPONS

The U.S. is for the third time seeking permission from its people to rebuild the nuclear weapons complex.

Thanks to the National Environmental Policy Act, the government is now required to hold public hearings to solicit comments for an environmental impact statement before it can build new bomb factories. The public has spoken clearly and unequivocally at each opportunity that we reject nuclear weapons under any and all circumstances. In round one of the public comment period, 32,000 comments demanding nuclear disarmament and rejecting nuclear build-up were submitted! In the final round of public comment, more than 120,000 voices demanded total nuclear disarmament be analyzed as an alternative to building more nuclear weapons.

It has been nearly 20 years now since our country has manufactured new nuclear weapons. Momentum is on the side of nuclear disarmament and the final abolition of weapons of mass destruction. Our national security lies down the path of nuclear waste management, environmental restoration and securing the bomb materials from dismantled weapons. We have a rare window of opportunity to establish a turning point in human history — to publicly express the vision and goal that may inspire our country to lead the world in ending the global nuclear nightmare.

Nuclear weapons are a human artifact and it is humanly possible to turn away from the wasteful path of nuclear madness. We can turn our hearts and minds to a new frontier of human ingenuity — honoring treaties to dismantle nuclear weapons, managing radioactive nuclear waste and securing weapons-grade plutonium and uranium from future use as nuclear weapons.

We are standing at a choice point in history. If it is human nature to learn from our mistakes, then it is wise for us to remember that it was the Bomb itself (and the rockets we developed to deliver them to the other side of our Earth) that showed us the stark and glorious revelation that our planet is finite, fragile and destructible and — most important of all — that we are all in it together.

READ ARTICLE AT COMMON DREAMS

Love Your Mother Stop the Bombplex