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WHAT'S NEW IN INES? |
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No.2/2002 |
Dateline: January 14, 2002 |
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This is the weekly electronic information service of the International Network of Engineers and Scientists for Global Responsibility
Editor: Tobias Damjanov, e-mail:
WNII is archived at: http://inesglobal.org/archive.htm
INES homepages: http://inesglobal.org http://www.inesglobal.com/
INES International Office
INES Chair: Prof. Armin Tenner [Please note that the first "1" in q18 is the number one, while the last "l" is an "L"]
CONTENTS of WNII No. 2/2002
MEMBERSHIP AND PROJECTS' NEWS
INES members sign letter to Indian and Pakistani leadership
Quite a few INES member organisations, as well as INES Executive Director Reiner Braun, and INES Vice Chair David Krieger, are among the signatories of the following Open Letter to the presidents/prime ministers and other ministers of India and Pakistan concerning the current crisis between the two countries:
Dear Presidents, Prime Ministers, Secretary-General, and Foreign Ministers of India and Pakistan,
The undersigned groups and parliamentarians, representing people and organizations worldwide write to you to express our extreme concern over the possibility of conflict between your two countries.
A military conflict could all too easily become a devastating nuclear exchange, which could destroy both countries as functioning entities, with casualties in the millions. Some projections suggest that up to 150 million people might die, depending on the exact scenario.
Military action, or a threat of military action, could all too easily lead to an outcome that is not in anyone's interest.
Military solutions to the Kashmir problem should therefore be ruled out. It is therefore urgent to initiate a dialogue on Kashmir in whatever is the most effective manner, leading to a real solution to the Kashmir problem.
We do not seek to prescribe in detail any particular solution to the Kashmir issue. Rather we point out that the losses that would be incurred equally by both nations in a nuclear exchange are so vast, and so incomprehensible, that no political, security, or other goal whatsoever could possibly justify taking the risk of those losses.
Eliminating the risk of a nuclear exchange between India and Pakistan is a goal which must take precedence over all other possible political and security goals as it concerns the continued physical survival of both nations.
The religious traditions of both Islam and Hinduism place a high value on peace. Whoever provides a peaceful and just way out of this crisis will have the gratitude of both Indians, Pakistanis, and the world as a whole.
We therefore urge India and Pakistan: --To move their troops, especially 'strategic units', but also all military formations, back from the border. --To instruct their troops not to return fire if fired upon --To immediately enter discussions both at SAARC and elsewhere which will stabilize the situation. --To immediately restore road and rail links --To enter discussions as to the most appropriate way in which to pursue terrorist organisations.
and in the longer term: --To enter a dialogue aimed at providing a mutually acceptable solution to the Kashmiri problem. --To enter discussions aimed at eliminating the risk of a nuclear exchange between the two countries, under any circumstances. --To work towards lasting solutions toward peace and stability in the region.
Finally, we urge that both nations take seriously the goal of eliminating nuclear weapons to which other nations have agreed, and eliminate the risk of the annihilation of both parties by dismantling their nuclear arsenals.
We trust that through these and other representations, a peaceful solution to the current crisis will be found.
NOTE: This letter has also been sent to the UN Secretary-General with the request to exercise his good offices to facilitate and ensure that both the governments of India and Pakistan take immediate steps in conformity with this appeal for peace by the undersigned organizations and concerned individuals.
INES Statement on the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention
When the Fifth Review Conference of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC) was held at Geneva in November last year, INES has released a statement through its international Working Group on Biological and Toxin Weapons Control. (Unfortunately, I was informed about this only now; the ed.) This statement is available from the WNII Editor as an rtf-formatted email attachment.
For additional information, contact the convener of this Working Group, Prof. Kathryn Nixdorff: >
Russia: Socio-Ecological Union in support of Grigory Pasko
One of the Russian INES member organisations, the Socio-Ecological Union International, has just released a special issue (No 8/23, January 02) of its "SEU Times" which reports protest activities in support of Grigory Pasko, a Russian environmental journalist accused of high treason for revealing the truth about dangers coming from nuclear subs.
On Orthodox Christmas Day, January 7, some 60 people gathered in front of the FSB - KGB building at Ljubjanka Square, Moscow. They held posters "Got a spy position", "Who's next?", "Is Felix Back?" (referring to Felix Dzerjinsky, founder of the KGB). It was the first one in series of actions "Step forward and help!" in support of Grigory Pasko.
The action was carried out by the Socio-ecological Union International, Center for Human Rights and Democracy Development, Ecodefense!, "Yabloko" political party, Greenpeace Russia, and The Rainbow Keepers.
In the nearest future actions in support of Grigory Pasko will be held in Yekaterinburg, Chelyabinsk, Birobijan, Volgodonsk, Novocherkassk, Rostov on Don, Kalach on Don, Yaroslavl, Nijni Novgorod, Vladivostok. On January 25, the birthday of the famous Russian poet and singer Vladimir Visocky, concerts and performances in memory of freedom of speech in Russia and in support of Grigory Pasko will be held in several Russian cities.
For pictures of this action go to: http://www.seu.ru/projects/eng/pasko
For more information, contact Sviatoslav Zabelin, SEU Council Co-Chair: < >
Previous issues of "The SEU Times" may be found at: http://www.igc.org/gadfly
SPECIAL SECTION ON US MISSILE DEFENSE POLICY
Inquiry: what other space weapons bans do you know?
INESAP Coordinator Regina Hagen writes:
This is a call for those who know of initiatives/proposals for a space weapons ban beyond those I am aware of which are
Please contact me, if you have knowledge of any other texts, proposals, legislation, initiatives.
Regina Hagen < >
No Star Wars: International Space Organizing Conference and Protest
2002 marks the 10th anniversary of the Global Network. Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA), the only person in Congress to vote against the call for war in Central Asia, will be a keynote speaker. Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH), who has introduced legislation to ban weapons in space, has been invited to also deliver a keynote address. Representatives from peace groups worldwide will be in attendance to share their work to stop Star Wars. Included will be a protest at Lockheed Martin (Sunnyvale) where work is underway on the space-base laser, airborne laser, Theatre Missile Defense (TMD), and new satellites for space war fighting.
For more details, mailto:
Keep Space for Peace Week: International Days of Protest to Stop the Militarization of Space
From the Global Network Against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space http://www.space4peace.org
Having seen the number of local actions double in 2001 (115 actions in 19 countries) the Global Network is calling for a week of events on October 4-11, 2002. In addition to local protests at key space installations, groups are urged to organize events throughout the week that would include things like visits to political leaders, community teach-ins, meetings of religious leaders, visits to local schools, media work, and public displays. Help us build this vital global movement to stop the nuclearization and weaponization of space. Working together we can create a new consciousness about protecting space from the bad seed of war!
The dates of October 4-11 were chosen to coincide with the pro-space "World Space Week" that annually promotes the aerospace industry agenda for space.
US Missile Defense Agency established (Source: US Dept. of Defense Press Release, 4 January 02)
At the beginning of this year, US Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld announced the redesignation of the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization (BMDO) as the Missile Defense Agency (MDA). Consistent with the president's emphasis on missile defense, the secretary also provided direction necessary to meet the top four priorities for the United States in this important mission area. These are:
The MDA is charged with developing the missile defense system and baselining the capability and configuration of its elements. The military departments will procure and provide for missile defense operations and support.
The secretary's memo and related documents at on the web at: http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Jan2002/b01042002_bt008-02.html
PDF version: http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Jan2002/d20020102mda.pdf
See also: "NMD Update" #40 (10 January 02) of the US-based Center for Defense Information: The Pentagon changed BMDO's name to Missile Defense Agency: http://www.cdi.org/hotspots/issuebrief/ch5/index.html#update
US Center for Defense Information: web references
"NMD Update" #39 (7 January 02) of the US-based Center for Defense Information provides the following:
US intentions to circumvent the Outer Space Treaty? (Source: Global Network Space Alert Newsletter #12/Winter 2002)
The U.S. intends to project power "to and from space." The military space plane is envisioned as the successor to NASA's space shuttle. The Air Force is now making plans to devote significant funding for a military space plane in the 2004 budget. The military space plane would allow the U.S. to circumvent the U.N.'s Outer Space Treaty that outlaws "weapons of mass destruction" in space by claiming that the space plane was not "stationed" in space. Instead it would fly into space, and then return to earth delivering "precision strikes on terrestrial targets." The space plane would also deploy war-fighting satellites in space. NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, is now working with the Air Force on creation of the military space plane.
"Ballistic Missiles in the Middle East" (From: Regina Hagen, INESAP Coordinator)
You might be interested to hear that INESAP member Reuven Pedatzur has edited a new book on "Ballistic Missiles in the Middle East". If you are interested in the book, please contact him at: < >
The collection of articles presented in this book is the result of the international conference, "From MTCR to ZBM" (zero ballistic Missiles), held in Israel by The Galilee Center for Strategy and National Security, in October 1997. The articles have been modified since then, and the authors had the chance to review the recent developments in the Middle East, and in the world, in the area of ballistic missile proliferation.
The articles in this book deal with most of the aspects of the influence of ballistic missiles on the Middle East, and on Israel in particular:
The principal message emanating from this book is the need of the policymakers in the Middle East to allocate much more attention to the issue of ballistic missile and its influence on the future of the region.
Abolition 2000 homepage: http://www.abolition2000.org Grassroots News: http://www.napf.org/abolition2000/news/
David Krieger: US Nuclear Weapons Policy After September 11th
This article by the INES Vice Chair and President of the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation is available from the WNII Editor as an rtf-formatted email attachment. (It was already disseminated through INESnet.)
"Nuclear Weapons: Abolish or Perish"
This is the title of an article by US-based nuclear whistleblower and WNII reader Andreas Toupadakis. You'll find this article at:
http://www.commondreams.org/views02/0106-06.htm
or:
http://www.mediamonitors.net/andreastoupadakis4.html
It is also available from the WNII Editor as an rtf-formatted email attachment.
2002 WORLD SUMMIT ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT NEWS
PrepCom II web reference
The proposed organization of work and background materials on the WSSD PrepCom II Session are available on the Summit's web site at the following page: http://www.johannesburgsummit.org/html/documents/prepcom2.html
UNEP.Net Freshwater Portal opened http://freshwater.unep.net
In order to help environmental assessment professionals and policy makers keep up to date with the most authoritative information on this critical environmental field, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), on 2 January, opened the UNEP.Net Freshwater Portal, an online gateway to information about freshwater. The portal - URL see above - is an extensive catalogue of information resources ranging from documents, to databases, to maps and graphics, covering the most critical freshwater issues of the day: water scarcity, irrigated agriculture, water and sanitation, water quality, groundwater, transboundary water management, water and ecosystems, floods and droughts, and urban water.
The UNEP.Net Freshwater Portal, operated by UNEP/GRID-Arendal in Norway, is part of the UNEP.Net information system http://www.unep.net a network of cooperating centres facilitating access to authoritative environmental information from a broad range of information and data providers. Other special topic areas of UNEP.Net that are currently operational include Climate Change, the Arctic, and the GEO Data Portal which provides over 300 statistical data sets on a variety of topics.
For more Freshwater Portal information, please contact Aake Bjoerke: < >
"Technology and Ethics. A European Quest for Responsible Engineering" (From: Dr Martin Meganck, Belgium)
"Technology and Ethics. A European Quest for Responsible Engineering" is the title of a new handbook on engineering ethics edited by B. Hériard Dubreuil and P. Goujon (Leuven: Peeters, 2001). Dr Martin Meganck who was a member of the editorial team, sent to WNII the following short description:
The book consists of three main parts: - a part on micro-ethics: questions which can be met by engineers as individuals; - a part on meso-ethics: questions on the level of the company or organisation; - a part on macro-ethics: questions on a more societal or even global level.
Each part consists of three sections: - a thematic introduction; - a series of practical examples; - and two or three articles with reflections by sociologists, philosophers,...
Some of the themes which often appear as points of interest of INES, are also included in the book, i.a. an interview with Sir Joseph Rotblat on engineers and nuclear armament, an article on sustainable development, etc.
For further details, contact Dr Meganck: < >
New edition of "Disarmament Diplomacy"
The new edition of Disarmament Diplomacy (No. 61, covering events in October and November 2001) is now available at:
http://www.acronym.org.uk/dd/dd61/index.htm
From the contents:
NOTE: The website indicated above also features documentation and updates on a range of arms control developments.
UNEP opens Post-Conflict Assessment Unit
Building on the success of its recent environmental assessments in the Balkans region, including the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Albania and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, the United Nations Environment Programme, on 11 December last year, has launched its new Post-Conflict Assessment Unit.
The new Unit will have a similar but broader mandate than that of the UNEP Balkans Unit, which it replaces, and will be available to conduct assessments in any of the world's many post-conflict zones. Its 11-member team will be based with other UNEP offices at the International Environment House in Châtelaine (Geneva).
Areas of immediate concern could include Afghanistan, which has experienced over 20 years of conflict. Despite the success of the recent UN-brokered talks, the country remains burdened by land mines, the effects of drought and the environmental degradation of fresh-water, sanitation systems, forests and soil quality.
Post-conflict environmental assessments are a vital tool for making independent and reliable investigations of environmental impacts and for providing clear recommendations on the necessary remediation. Keeping environmental priorities on the agenda throughout the post-conflict reconstruction is equally important. UNEP's approach to post-conflict assessments has included the vital step of working with donors to secure funds for clean-up activities.
For more information, contact Michael Williams at: < > http://postconflict.unep.ch/
Nuremberg Documents online (Source: Federation of American Scientists' "Secrecy News", Volume 2002, Issue No. 5 January 11, 2002)
The Rutgers Journal of Law and Religion has announced the online publication of documents from the Nuremberg Tribunal in which Nazi officials were tried following World War II (see URL below).
The documents come from the archive of General William J. Donovan, who served, among other things, as special assistant to the U.S. chief of counsel during the International Military Tribunal at Nuremberg.
The Nuremberg Project of the Rutgers Journal of Law and Religion: http://camlaw.rutgers.edu/publications/law-religion/nuremberg.htm
No new or changed email or web addresses in this issue. All INES e-mail addresses and homepages are available upon request from:
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