Action Alert - Nuclear weapons tests

Peace Movement Aotearoa

we have received word this morning that the US nuclear weapons test 'Bagpipe' has been rescheduled to SATURDAY, 26 SEPTEMBER. Details of who you can protest to in anticipation of the test are below, after the announcement message from the Shundahai Network. Last item in this message is the original DOE press release as the test was initially re-scheduled for today.

We will let you know on Monday if it was detonated over the weekend, for post-detonation protest !

DOE RESCHEDULES SUBCRITICAL NUCLEAR WEAPONS TEST "BAGPIPE"

to Saturday, September 26, 1998.

WEAPONS GRADE PLUTONIUM TO BE EXPLODED ON SACRED WESTERN SHOSHONE LAND!

NONVIOLENT DIRECT ACTION PLANNED!

Continued nuclear weapons design, testing and production under costly Stockpile Stewardship and Management Program threaten our air, water and land with radioactive contamination from coast to coast!

Today, the DOE, announced the new schedule for problem filled subcritical nuclear weapons test "Bagpipe" to be exploded on Saturday, September 26, 1998.

They did not give any times but these tests generally take place from 9 - 11 am.

We encourage you all to hold local vigils and demonstrations on Saturday in solidarity with those hear in Nevada who will be seeking to stop these tests through non violent direct action.

****** WHAT YOU CAN DO *******

1. People to express your indignation to in Aotearoa / New Zealand :
   a) Contact the US ambassador - Josiah Beeman, US Embassy, 29 Fitzherbert Tce, Thorndon, Wellington; tel (04) 472 2068; fax (04) 471 2380.
   b) Contact Jenny Shipley and Don McKinnon and ask them to contact the US ambassador to ask his goverment to stop the test / register the NZ government's disapproval of it -
   Prime Minister’s office tel (04) 471 9998; fax (04) 473 7045; Don McKinnon’s office tel 471 9999; fax 471 1444 or write to them at Parliament Buildings, Wellington (no stamp needed).
   You could also point out that in the event of any nuclear weapons tests occuring, you expect to see the US ambassador summonsed to the Beehive as was the Indian ambassador when India tested ... and perhaps the bringing home of the NZ ambassador from Washington ?!
   c) Contact your local MP and ask them to contact Jenny Shipley, Don McKinnon and the US ambassador.
   
2. People to express your indignation to in the US - President Bill Clinton, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave, Washington DC 20001,United States of America. Tel 00-1-202-456-1111 (the Clinton comment line !) or -1414; fax 00-1-202-456-2461 or -2883.
   You can send email messages to president@whitehouse.gov, however you only receive an automated response to these, and it is not clear if anyone actually reads them.
   You can fax the DOE (Dept of Energy) under whose auspices US nuclear weapons tests are conducted at : 00-1-202-586-4403 or -1567.
   You can email Derek Scammell at the DOE office in Las Vegas for more information or to register your disapproval

DOE TO CONDUCT FOURTH SUBCRITICAL EXPERIMENT

SCIENTIFIC DATA TO HELP ENSURE THE SAFETY AND RELIABILITY OF THE STOCKPILE WITHOUT NUCLEAR TESTING

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) will conduct its fourth subcritical experiment in Nevada on Sept 24. Subcritical experiments produce essential scientific data and technical information on the effects of aging on nuclear weapons materials. The experiments are called "subcritical" because no critical mass is formed, no self sustaining nuclear chain reaction can occur and therefore no nuclear explosion can result. The experiments support DOE's stockpile Stewardship Program to maintain the safety and reliability of the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile without nuclear testing and are fully consistent with the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.

Subcritical experiments help ensure the safety and reliability of the stockpile without nuclear testing." said Energy Secretary Bill Richardson. "These experiments are a key part of our scientific program to provide new tools and data that assess age related complications and maintain the reliability and safety of the nation's nuclear arsenal."

The primary objective of this experiment will be to obtain important physics information on plutonium samples of varying ages. Using techniques developed by the Energy Department's Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, the experiment will involve chemical high explosives to generate high pressures that are applied to weapons materials - in particular, plutonium. The experiment will involve the use of 7.2 ounces of chemical high explosives and about 7.2 ounces of plutonium distributed over four separate assemblies.

The experiment will be conducted at the Nevada Test Site's U1a Complex. 85 miles northwest of Las Vegas. The U1a complex is at the base of a vertical shaft, approximately 960 feet beneath the surface, designed to contain these experiments in a safe and secure environment

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