How anyone Can help Eliminate N-Weapons: What to Write, Numbersto fax.

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

PLEASE RE- POST  AND FORWARD THIS TO EVERYONE YOU POSSIBLY CAN
(Sorry for duplicate copies caused by double- posting.)

Please read this slowly and carefully!

- This email tells you exactly how you as an ordinary individual can really
make a difference to the coming (April 24-May19) review conference of the
nuclear nonproliferation treaty, and help to eliminate nuclear weapons.

It tells you what to write and what numbers to fax it to.

The Review Conference of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty is in just 34
days. (Apr 24-May19th)

The nuclear nonproliferation treaty is just about the most important
international treaty there is, and it has been signed by every country on
the planet except Cuba, India, Pakistan and Israel.

Article VI of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty committs nuclear weapon
states to negotiate to eliminate their nuclear arsenals. It has been in
force since 1970, thirty years, and progress toward the elimination of
nuclear weapons is stalled.  That Article VI really does impose a legal
obligation to eliminate nuclear weapons was reaffirmed by the international
Court of Justice in 1996.

There is concern that if progress is not made by the nuclear weapons states
toward the fulfilment of Article VI, the NPT, the main instrument of
nuclear non proliferation, may start to unravel.

That would mean more nuclear weapons, more countries with nuclear weapons,
and a greater chance of nuclear war in the future.

It is essential to get a clear message from the public to all governments
in every country, but especially to the heads of the Nuclear Weapons
States, that article VI of the NPT must be fulfilled, and that progress
toward filling it must start immediately.

Ordinary people can best do this by writing and faxing a letter (preferably
handwritten NOT printed), to your Foreign Minister or Prime Minister or
President.  Sample letters and fax numbers are below.

If you are an organisation please sign the Abolition Statement by emailing
A2000 at silcom.com or by visiting Http://www.abolition2000.org.

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


If you are an ordinary person or an organisation, you can fax a suitably
customised version of one of the sample letters below to either your Prime
Minister, your President, or most importantly, your Foreign Minister.

Next comes the texts of a sample letter that can be sent by anyone to their
heads of state, prime ministers and foreign ministers anywhere, and a
sample letter that can be sent to the Russian government. There is also one
we are sending to the foreign minister of Australia, Alexander Downer.

I reccommend sending the letter to the Russian government if you are in
Eastern Europe or in Russia or in CIS countries as well as a letter to your
own head of state/foreign minister.  Note that it is copied to President
Clinton.

The general letter is to be sent anywhere, but is largely designed for
countries other than the US, Russia,  or the UK. I strongly suggest that
you make changes to adapt it to what you know of your particular country
and its position.

For example, Ireland, New Zealand, Sweden, Brazil, Egypt, Mexico, South
Africa, and a large number of other countries have actually taken a very
good position on this issue. If your country's position is a good one your
letter will need to congratulate them for that, and urge them to maintain
it.

If you don't know exactly what your countrys position is going to be then
send the letter as it is but ask them what it will be.

TEXT OF
(1)GENERAL SAMPLE LETTER FOR EVERYBODY TO SEND
AND
(2)SAMPLE LETTER TO PUTIN AND IVANOV
(3)SAMPLE LETTER TO AUSTRALIAN FOREIGN MINISTER ALEXANDER DOWNER

FOLLOWS


(1)GENERAL SAMPLE LETTER FOR EVERYBODY TO SEND

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 or foreign minister 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, and its Duma has refused to ratify START-II.

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.

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 abandonment of 'launch on warning' postures. This should be followed by
reduction of alert status of warheads, and the verifiable physical removal
of
warheads from delivery vehicles.

It is especially vital that [your/our] [head of government/head of
state/foreign minister] be present at the proceedings of this review
conference. 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 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.

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.

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 AUSTRALIAN FOREIGN MINISTER ALEXANDER DOWNER

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

Dear Foreign Minister Downer 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 the Australian government  does its 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 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.

The US Senate has failed to ratify the CTBT,(Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty)
the US is contemplating the deployment of a highly destabilising Ballistic
Missile Defence System in violation of the 1972 ABM (Anti-Ballistic
Missile) treaty, and talks between the US and Russia to make cuts in
nuclear weapons are stalled.

A successful outcome would explicitly commit parties 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.

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 review
conference.

I note that a resolution to this effect passed the Senate on March 9th, and
am disappointed that the government was not able to support that
resolution.

Signed...etc.



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