FIVE DAYS TO NONPROLIFERATION TREATY REVIEW CONF - WRITE YOURGOVT NOW

[John Hallam <nonukes at foesyd.org.au>]

PLEASE FORWARD THIS MESSAGE FAR AND WIDE

Dear All who get this message,

This  message may seem impersonal but it is important, it is not trying to
get you to buy something, and it affects the future of the whole planet -
or more accurately whether or not there will BE a future.

It tells you how you can help get rid of nuclear weapons on the eve of the
nuclear nonproliferation treaty review in New York, April 24- May 19th.

There are now less than five days to the start of the Nuclear
Nonproliferation Treaty Review Conference, depending exactly what time-
zone you are in.

It is essential that every government on the planet hears from its citizens
that they think it is of overwhelming importance to get rid of nuclear
weapons, as Article VI of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) obliges
the nuclear weapons states to do.

If progress - significant progress - toward that goal does not start
happening soon, there is a profound danger that the stagnation that
currently exists in the movement toward the elimination of nuclear weapons
may be converted into movement in the opposite direction - toward a
dangerous nuclear arms race, as UN secretary- General Kofi Annan has warned.

Article VI of the NPT,  actually legally obliges the nuclear weapons powers
to negotiate to eliminate their nuclear arsenals 'at an early date'.

Like the rest of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, article VI has been
in force since 1970. It is now central to a treaty that has been signed by
every nation except India, Pakistan, Israel and Cuba. One would have
thought that 30 years was  getting a bit long for 'at an early date'.

Resolutions in the Canadian, New Zealand, and Australian parliaments in the
last month or so have urged the weapons states to abide by their Article VI
obligations.  Further resolutions are before the German parliament and the
European Parliament.

374 international NGOs have signed a letter that has been faxed and mailed
to all NPT signatories plus india Pakistan and Israel, asking for the
fulfilment of article VI.

The ratification of the START-II agreement by the Russian parliament is a
hopeful sign that movement is possible, but is subject to many conditions
that have not been met.

You are very much urged to write to your government, preferably to your
foreign minister, and to urge them to place as much pressure on the nuclear
weapons states to move as quickly as possible toward the fulfillment of
their 'Article VI obligations', which are to get rid of nuclear weapons.

I am enclosing three sample letters that you can use as the basis for what
you write:
One general one,  One to the Russian government, and one to the Australian
government.

The one to the Australian government can be adapted for use by other US
allies.

I am also attatching a notice put out earlier urging people to tell their
governments that 'times up' for nuclear weapons.

You don't need to use these letters word for word - in fact it is best to
put it as much as possible in your own words, and best to write by hand.

(If your government has voted in the past in favour of anti- nuclear
weapons resolutions such as the 'New Agenda' resolution in the UN, they
also need to know that you support them in that.)

Do please take this seriously and write to your government immediately,
whether you are living in a nuclear weapons state (US, UK, France, China,
Russia, ), in the rest of the world, or in India, Pakistan and Israel.


BELOW IS HOW TO FAX, FAX NUMBERS,  THEN THE SAMPLE LETTERS.

HOW TO FAX, FAX NUMBERS OF SOME FOREIGN MINISTERS

A URL where the fax numbers of every head of state and foreign minister in
the world is listed plus lots of information is this:
Http://www.abolition2000.org.   It also has a (very) short sample letter.

(Another URL that has the fax numbers of heads of state, foreign ministers
and UN missions and also has lots of information on the NPT Review is:
Http://www.reachingcriticalwill.org )

Some of the relevant fax numbers are listed below. If your country is not
on this list, you can find your foreign minister or head of state on one of
the two URLs above.
(The + in front stands for whatever your countrys ISD access code may be.
You only really need it if you are faxing some other country. I hope
however, that  people may like not only to fax their own foreign minister
but also those of Russia and the US.)

Some of these numbers may have changed. If any of them don't work, let me
know at <nonukes at foesyd.org.au>  and check the number on the URL or with
your own telephone system.

If you are in the US, President Clintons fax number is 1-202-456-2461

If you are in Australia, foreign minister Alexander Downers fax number is
61-2-6273-4112.
Prime Minister Howards fax number is 61-2-6273-4100

If you are in Russia, Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov's fax number is
+7-095-244-3276 or +7-095-244-2203. (You need to be persistent with these
numbers)
The general Kremlin fax number is +7-095-205-4330. (This is the slowest fax
in the universe)

If you are in France, your foreign ministers fax number is +33-1-45-51-60-12,
Jacques Chirac's fax number is +33-1-47-42-24-65.

If you are in the UK, Tony Blairs fax number is +44-171-925-0918.
The Foreign Minister, Robin Cook's fax number is:  +44-171-270-2144

If you are in Germany, the Chancellors fax number is: +49-228-56-2357,  or
+49-30-4000-2357
Foreign Minister Joschka Fischers number is any of these: 49-228-168-6662,
49-30-20186-252,
+49-228-1734-02, +49-30-201-8619-24

Here are the fax numbers of some foreign ministers only:
If you are in Canada, your foreign ministers fax number is: +1-613-996-3546.
If you are in Japan, you need to fax +81-3-3581-9675
If you are in Italy please fax 39-6-628-6210, or 39-6-3222-850 or
39-6-3222-734
If you are in Hungary, please fax your foreign minister on +36-1-356-3801
If you are in Korea, try  your minister of foreign affairs on
+82-2-724-8291, +82-2-739-5370
If you are in Brazil, your foreign ministers fax should be +55-61-226-1762
If you are in Mexico, try +52-6-782-4109
If you are in Greece try 30-1-645-0094 (or 0095)
If you are in Thailand, try +66-2-225-6155, or 66-2-226-1374


SAMPLE LETTERS

(1) General Sample Letter

SAMPLE LETTER FOR EVERYONE TO SEND TO PRESIDENTS/PRIME MINISTERS/FOREIGN
MINISTERS

RE: NUCLEAR NONPROLIFERATION TREATY REVIEW CONFERENCE APRIL 24-MAY 19 2000
- GETTING RID OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS

TO: PRESIDENT, PRIME MINISTER AND FOREIGN MINISTER,

Your Excellency,
[0r]
Dear President, Prime Minister and Foreign Minister,

I am writing  to urge [your/our]  government to take a strong position at
the upcoming  Review Conference of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty in
New York April 24 to May 19, 2000, and to urge [your/our] head of state or
of government to attend this  meeting.

It is vital that the governments of all nations   do their utmost to
pressure  the nuclear weapons states, especially the US and Russia, to do
more  to fulfill their obligations under Article VI of the NPT,  and
negotiate their nuclear weapons stockpiles down to zero.

The International Court of Justice reaffirmed in 1996, in a unanimous
advisory opinion that this is indeed a legal obligation.

The nuclear weapons states are currently making very little movement toward
fulfilling  this obligation.  Instead there have been many developments in
the opposite direction.

The US Senate has failed to ratify the CTBT,(Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty)
and the US is contemplating the deployment of a Ballistic Missile Defence
System in violation of the 1972 ABM (Anti-Ballistic Missile) treaty.

Talks between the US and Russia to make cuts in nuclear weapons are
stalled, as is implementation of  START II. Russia has changed its previous
policy of 'no first use' of nuclear weapons to one that mirrors those of
the western states.  The recent ratification of START-II by the Russian
duma, though welcome, has many conditions attatched to it which are not
likely to be satisfied soon by the US, and if the US deploys a 'National
Missile Defence' (NMD) system, the Russians say they will not be bound by
any arms limitation treaties.

Both the US and Russia continue to conduct 'subcritical' nuclear tests.
China is modernizing its nuclear arsenal, and India and Pakistan have
openly tested nuclear weapons. Israel,  in spite of a recent debate in the
Knessett, refuses to acknowledge its nuclear capabilities but may have as
many as 400 weapons.

On the other hand, the non nuclear weapons states with a few notable
exceptions, have adhered to their side of the bargain, while the NPT has
become nearly universal.

A successful outcome at the coming NPT Review Conference,  would explicitly
commit parties under Article VI to the elimination of nuclear weapons at an
early date,  and a global regime banning nuclear weapons, and would outline
the process for that to occur.

It is important that your government and every government, use its position
to push the nuclear weapon states and particularly the US and Russia, to
fulfill Article VI during the coming review conference. In particular, they
must be pressed to proceed further to the implementation of START-II and
toward START-III immediately.

A key preliminary step in this direction that would reduce the danger of
purely accidental war and improve the climate for further steps, would be
the removal from alert status of warheads, and the abandonment of'launch on
warning' postures. This should be followed by the verifiable physical
removal of warheads from delivery vehicles.

It is especially vital that [your/our] [head of government/head of state]
be present at the proceedings of this review conference, and speak clearly
in favour of the elimination of nuclear weapons at an early date, and
fulfillment of the requirements of Article VI.

The decisions taken at the coming NPT Review conference will literally
determine the fate of the world. Only by the authority lent by the presence
of heads of State or of Government can decisions be taken that will have
the end result of ridding the world of nuclear weapons and fulfilling the
mandate of the nuclear nonproliferation treaty over the last thirty years.


Signed...etc.

(2) Sample letter to president Putin and Foreign Minister Ivanov of Russia,
cc'd to Clinton.

SAMPLE LETTER FOR EVERYONE TO SEND TO PRESIDENT PUTIN
AND FOREIGN MINISTER IGOR IVANOV.

RE: NUCLEAR NONPROLIFERATION TREATY REVIEW CONFERENCE APRIL 24-MAY 19 2000
- GETTING RID OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS

TO: PRESIDENT PUTIN +7-095-205-4330,
FOREIGN MINISTER IVANOV +7-095-244-3276, +7-095-244-2203
RUSSIAS UNITED NATIONS AMBASSADOR + 1 212 628 0252
cc
PRESIDENT CLINTON +1-202-456-2461

Dear President Putin and Foreign Minister Ivanov,

I am writing  to urge Russia's government to fulfill its obligations under
Article VI of the nuclear nonproliferation treaty, and to commend your
ratification of the START-II agreement.

It is vital that we negotiate their nuclear weapons stockpiles down to zero
sooner rather than later.

The International Court of Justice reaffirmed in 1996, in a unanimous
judgment, that this is indeed a legal obligation.

It is now vital that the Russia and the US fulfill their clear obligations
under Article VI of the nonproliferation treaty. While arms reductions have
occurred since the 1980s, this process of reduction has now stalled and may
be going into reverse.

The US and Russia are both signed on to a treaty, article VI of which
demands that you negotiate to eliminate your nuclear arsenals. The binding
nature of Article VI was  reaffirmed by the 1996 unanimous advisory opinion
of the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

Russia and the US together, as well as China, the UK and France cannot
forever refuse to fulfill their clear legal obligations under the NPT while
expecting that other countries will continue to fulfill theirs. The
credibility of the NPT will disappear if the nuclear weapon states -
yourselves - do not fulfill your obligations. The eventual result of that
is likely to be much wider acquisition of nuclear weapons, with a vastly
increased likelihood of nuclear war.

While Russia may have been given reasons to distrust US and NATO
intentions, the stakes in getting rid of nuclear weapons are literally
ultimate. No political goal,  no matter how central it may seem to the
interests of either Russia or the US,  can justify the possible destruction
of human civilisation and life worldwide.

Public opinion in both your countries is strongly in favor of negotiating
to eliminate nuclear weapons. Global public opinion is overwhelmingly in
favor of this and indeed demands it, as do the overwhelming majority of
governments.

A successful outcome at the coming NPT Review Conference,  would explicitly
commit parties under Article VI to the elimination of nuclear weapons at an
early date,  and a global regime banning nuclear weapons, and would outline
the process for that to occur.

The ratification of START-II by the Russian Duma is a move in the right
direction. However, it would be terrible if the conditions that you have
attatched to that ratification were to prevent further progress due to the
intransigence of the US Congress. We urge on both sides the importance of
actually implementing the treaty and of moving beyond it to START-III and
the elimination of nuclear weapons.

In this context, it is especially vital that the Russian and US Presidents
be present at the proceedings of the NPT  Review Conference, and be ready
to negotiate to eliminate your nuclear arsenals as you are obliged to do
under Article VI. The decisions taken at the coming NPT Review conference
will literally determine the fate of the world. Only by the authority lent
by the presence of heads of State or of Government can decisions be taken
that will have the end result of ridding the world of nuclear weapons and
fulfilling the mandate of the nuclear nonproliferation treaty over the last
thirty years.

Signed...etc.

(3)Sample letter to Alexander Downer (foreign Minister) and Prime Minister
Howard of Australia

SAMPLE LETTER TO ALEXANDER DOWNER/JOHN HOWARD ON THE NUCLEAR
NONPROLIFERATION TREATY REVIEW CONFERENCE

RE: NUCLEAR NONPROLIFERATION TREATY REVIEW CONFERENCE APRIL 24-MAY 19 2000
- GETTING RID OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS

TO:
JOHN HOWARD, PRIME MINISTER 02-6273-4100, 9251-5454
ALEXANDER DOWNER, MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS,
02-6273-4112, 08-8370-8166
PENNY WENSLEY, AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED NATIONS,
0015-1-212-351-6610

Dear Foreign Minister Downer, Ambassador Wensley, and Prime Minister Howard,
I am writing  to urge the Australian  government to take a strong position
at the upcoming  Review Conference of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty
in New York April 24 to May 19, 2000. It is vital that Mr Downer makes a
strong statement in favour of the elimination of nuclear weapons as legally
required under article VI of the NPT, at that forum.

The Senate on Thursday 9 March 2000 has made the same request, and asks
that the government base its policy on the reccommendations of the Canberra
Commission. The New Zealand and Canadian parliaments have passed similar
resolutions unanimously.

It is vital that the Australian government  does its utmost, as  the March
9th Senate resolution asks,  to  pressure  the nuclear weapons states,
especially the US and Russia, to do more  to fulfill their obligations
under Article VI of the NPT,  and negotiate their nuclear weapons
stockpiles down to zero sooner rather than later.

The International Court of Justice reaffirmed in 1996, in a a unanimous
judgment that this is indeed a legal obligation.

The nuclear weapons states are currently making very little movement toward
fulfilling  this obligation.  Instead there have been many developments in
the opposite direction. These developments lead many including the
Secretary General of the United Nations and ex-President Jimmy Carter, to
predict a difficult review conference, and to call for new initiatives to
break the logjam.  The ratification of START-II by the Russian Duma, while
hopeful, is highly conditional and depends on the US taking steps on the
ABM treaty which it has for far been unwilling to take.

A successful outcome would explicitly commit parties to the elimination of
nuclear weapons at an early date and to a global regime banning nuclear
weapons, and would outline the process for that to occur.

Australia has had a good reputation in the nuclear disarmament field. It is
important that Australia use its position to push the nuclear weapon states
and particularly our allies in that direction during the coming NPT Review
Conference. In doing so it should follow the practical steps laid out by
the Canberra Commission which this country initiated.

Signed...etc.

******************************************
TIME'S UP! - http://www.times-up.net
******************************************
There are over 36,000
nuclear weapons on the planet.

More countries are building bombs
while unsecured nuclear stockpiles
are a target for terrorists.

Stop nuclear madness!
Send a message to the people
who can prevent nuclear havoc.

*******************************************
Join millions of people and send a message to our
elected leaders to tell them TIME'S UP! for nuclear
weapons.  FORWARD THIS MESSAGE FAR AND WIDE!!

On April 24, the nations of the world will assemble at
the United Nations for a four week conference to review
the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). The 1970
NPT was a pledge from the whole world not to acquire
nuclear weapons in return for a promise from the five
nuclear states (United States, Soviet Union, United
Kingdom, France and China) to eliminate nuclear
weapons.

Instead, we now have over 36,000 nuclear bombs on
the planet -- 5,000 of them poised on hair trigger alert in
the U.S. and Russia. India and Pakistan joined the
nuclear club two years ago and Israel admitted it had
the bomb last year. Currently, American efforts to build
a "son of Star Wars" violates the 1972 Anti-Ballistic
Missile Treaty. This blatant violation has resulted in
new nuclear saber rattling in Russia and China.

The world is at a critical crossroads. Either the
Millennial NPT review will keep the promises made to
rid the world of nuclear bombs or a new runaway
nuclear arms race will proliferate around the globe. In
one quick step, you can make a difference. Send a
message to the people who can prevent nuclear havoc
by telling them TIME'S UP! for nuclear weapons.

******************************************
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
******************************************
1.  Sign our petition and send a message to elected
leaders:
U.S. Residents - go to http://actionnetwork.org/add.tcl?domain=TIMESUP
Non-U.S. Residents -
http://www.gracelinks.org/gracelinks/timesup/nonusresidents.html

2.  Enroll your organization in Abolition 2000 -
a global network to eliminate nuclear weapons -
at http://www.napf.org/abolition2000/orgendorse.html

*******************************************
PLEASE FORWARD THIS MESSAGE TO YOUR
FRIENDS WORLDWIDE!
*******************************************
To learn more about nuclear proliferation, the NPT and
what you can do to help, visit the following web sites:

Abolition 2000 - http://www.napf.org/abolition2000
GRACE Nuclear Abolition Project -
http://www.gracelinks.org/gracelinks/nuke/index.html
Reaching Critical Will - http://www.reachingcriticalwill.org


John Hallam
Friends of the Earth Sydney,
17 Lord Street, Newtown, NSW, Australia, 2042
Fax (61)(2)9517-3902  ph (61)(2)9517-3903
nonukes at foesyd.org.au
http://homepages.tig.com.au/~foesyd