WHAT'S NEW IN INES
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No.21/2001 Dateline: May 27, 2001
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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:
INES homepage: 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 a "L"]
CONTENTS of WNII No. 21/2001
Editor's apologies:
Dear WNII readers,
Due to my current situation, I am unemployed again. I had to accept a limited opportunity to earn some money over the last few days. This has not only caused a delay in mailing this WNII issue, I also could not take part in the recent INES Council Meeting about which I would have liked to give you a brief report here. My apologies.
Sincerely yours,
Tobias Damjanov
MEMBERSHIP AND PROJECTS' NEWS
New Zealand: Engineers for Social Responsibility (ESR) Newsletter, May 2001 (Vol. 17/No. 2) http://www.esr.org.nz
The latest ESR Newsletter carries the following main articles:
- Report on the 15th ESR Annual Conference March 2001 "Valuing Human Capital" (J. Blakeley)
- How is NZ Reacting to the Greenhouse Effect? (G. Law)
- Energy Report to October 2000 (D. Roche)
Newsletter Editor: Neil Mander < >
SPECIAL SECTION ON THE US MISSILE DEFENCE POLICY
International Meeting of the Global Network Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space Leeds, UK, 4-6 May 2001 (see also WNII 19/01)
Here are some selected quotes taken from a conference report by Karl Grossman:
- Among the speakers was Jeremy Corbyn, a member of the British Parliament, who described the U.S. Star Wars program as "complete madness. " Reflecting on the gathering, Corbyn declared: "We have a movement here!"
- "Star Wars, " said Gagnon [coordinator of the Global Network; the ed.], "is about corporate power, corporate domination" and unless it is stopped it will be "stealing our future." He spoke of how, back in the U.S., some leaders of the Democratic Party and "some in the peace movement" are beginning to describe the Star Wars program as "a lemon that won't work." "Given enough money, parts of the program will work," said Gagnon, and the "argument can't be about whether it will work or not" but instead should challenge the horrible U.S. scheme of seeking "control" of space and "domination" of Earth below.
- Dr. Atsushi Fujioka, director of the Institute for Peace and Human Rights Studies in Kyoto, Japan criticized the U.S. Space Command motto of "Master of Space" stating that "humankind will never be master of space. We are all children of Mother Earth and Mother Space."
- Edward Appiah Brafoh of the Green Earth Organization in Ghana described the U.S. Star Wars program as "showing nothing but greed and selfishness." He said: "It is peace we want in this world, not war. War is expensive. Peace is priceless." The Star Wars program is a "recipe for violence and war," he said.
- Dr. Philip Webber, chair of UK-based Scientists for Global Responsibility [INES member organisation; the ed.], said that the U.S. Star Wars program "creates a grave risk of re-igniting the global nuclear arms race, undermining international security and wastes resources which could be used to the benefit of the worlds people and the environment." Dr. Webber advised: "Don't let anybody fool you, the lasers the U.S. seeks to deploy in space are not defensive." The U.S. Space Command, he said, "makes hawks look like doves" and seeks to project power from space to exercise "dominion." He said, "Frankly, the biggest rogue state around is America."
- Dr. Alla A. Yaroshinskaya [INES Executive Committee member who has been elected a new Board member of the Global Network; the ed.], former advisor to the president of Russia and president of Russia's Ecological Fund, said the U.S. "son of Star Wars" program could cause a return of the Cold War. If the U.S. moves ahead with the scheme, Russia as well as China will be compelled to counter the U.S. program and there would be a "breakdown" in the "whole world order."
- Alice Slater of the Global Resource Action Center for the Environment [INES member Organisation; the ed.] said that with the Bush administration, the "U.S. is out of the closet in pushing Star Wars. Star Wars "is about the U.S. military first enforcing U.S. corporate domination of the world, " said the president of the U.S.-based organization. The scheme can and must be stopped, she said. "We all have to work together - representatives from every continent." She noted George W. Bush's "announcement this week that he is prepared to go full-steam ahead" with the U.S. Star Wars program. "The gauntlet has been thrown down to people of good will to prevent the heavens from being turned into a new frontier of war and to forestall a new nuclear arms race," said Slater.
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Selected Web pages
(in alphabetical order of key words)
- Australia: The US alliance is fundamental, missiles and all (article by Greg Sheridan; The Australian, May 18, 2001): http://theaustralian.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,2013461%255E7583,00.html
- Ballistic Missile Defense web site of the US-based Federation of American Scientists: http://www.fas.org/nsp/bmd/index.html
- Bibliography on Space-Based Weapons (compiled by Kristine Munipalli, Reference Librarians, Air University Library, Maxwell AFB, AL; SNCOA Library Bibliography: May 2000): http://www.au.af.mil/au/aul/school/sncoa/spacebw.htm
- British American Security Information Council (BASIC) North Atlantic Network on National Missile Defense (NMD): http://www.basicint.org/NMDpageNAN.htm
- Contents:
- Background on the debate within Greenland and Denmark: http://www.basicint.org/NMDDenmarkopp.htm
- Background on the debate within the United Kingdom: http://www.basicint.org/NMDukopp.htm
- Tools for Campaigning Against NMD: http://www.basicint.org/NMDcampaigningtools.htm
- Local Contacts on NMD: http://www.basicint.org/NMDlocalcontacts.htm
- Links to Sites on NMD (Grassroots Organizations *** Research Organizations *** News Services *** U.S. Government Sites) http://www.basicint.org/NMDlinks.htm
- Other Reports/Publications on NMD http://www.basicint.org/NMDreports.htm
- Europe and Missile Defense: Tactical Considerations, Fundamental Concerns (article by Andrew J. Pierre; Arms Control Today, May 2001): http://www.armscontrol.org/ACT/May2001/pierre.html
- UK: Menwith Hill U. S. Spy Station: http://www.gn.apc.org/cndyorks/mhs/index.htm including: The UK Role in Star Wars: Fylingdales - The Proposed Upgrade for the US NMD System (contents: Can NMD Work? *** Is it Necessary? ***NMD as part of the US First Strike Policy *** The International Response *** Criteria for Deployment *** Fylingdales *** Menwith Hill *** Notes & References *** More Information): http://www.gn.apc.org/cndyorks/fdales/uk&starwars.htm
- UK: 100 MPs oppose US missile plan (article by Richard Norton-Taylor; The Guardian, May 10, 2001): http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,488391,00.html
- USA: National Security Space Road Map (NSSRM): http://www.fas.org/spp/military/program/nssrm/
- US Air Force Space Command (AFSPC): http://www.spacecom.af.mil/hqafspc/mission.htm
- US Air Force Space Command: Strategic Master Plan for FY02 and Beyond, 9 February 2000: http://www.spacecom.af.mil/hqafspc/library/AFSPCPAOffice/2000smp.html
- "Vision 2020" U.S. Space Command Long Range Plan (LRP):
- Table of Contents: http://www.peterson.af.mil/usspace/LRP/toc.htm
- Downloadable pdf-version: http://www.peterson.af.mil/usspace/LRP.htm
- Information booklet: http://www.spacecom.af.mil/usspace/visionbk.htm
- For other US government military space documents, including some more recent planning documents, see those collected by the US-based Western States Legal Foundation at: http://www.wslfweb.org/space/spacedocs.htm
NUCLEAR WEAPONS
Abolition 2000 homepage: http://www.abolition2000.org
Grassroots News: http://www.napf.org/abolition2000/news/
New web resources on US nuclear weapons
- US nuclear strategy: article on declassified documents [Source: Nuclear Policy Project Flash, Volume 3, Number 18, May 8, 2001] The National Security Archive published a collection of declassified documents about US nuclear strategy. The documents, which were released to the Archive under the US Freedom of Information Act, provide new information about development of the so-called launch-on-warning doctrine, which continues to dominate US nuclear planning in the 21st century. "These documents bring to light the longstanding practice of quietly gearing the nuclear war plan for launch on warning while keeping the public and most civilian policy-makers in the dark about the risk of launching on false warning," commented Bruce Blair, a former Air Force nuclear missile officer and currently president of the Center for Defense Information in Washington DC. The corresponding article by William Burr can be found at: http://www.gwu.edu/%7Ensarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB43/
- Fact Sheet on US nuclear arsenal - The May issue of "The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists" carries an article on U.S. Nuclear Forces, 2001: Intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), which you can find at: http://www.bullatomsci.org/issues/nukenotes/ma01nukenote.html
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Pathways to a Sustainable Future (Thanks to INES Council member Joachim Spangenberg for providing this information)
This is the title of a study by the German-based "Work & Environment Interdisciplinary Project" sponsored by the trade unions-linked Hans Böckler Foundation. The document breaks down in the following four parts:
- Part 1: Sustainable Development and the European Union
- Part 2: Concepts for the Future (including:
- Sustainable growth: the socio-economic scenario
- Integrated sustainability: the socio-environmental scenario
- The future of work and sustainability
- Contrast scenario
- Comparison of scenarios)
- Part 3: Policy for Sustainability (including:
- Strategy and action zones
- Strategy bundles from economic, environment and employment perspectives
- Action Zone 1: Environmental concept for structural change
- Action Zone 2: Social concept for structural change
- Action Zone 3: Technological and social innovation
- Action Zone 4: Working hours policy
- Action Zone 5: Changing consumption patterns)
- Part 4: Conclusion and Outlook
The brochure can be obtained free of charge from "Der Setzkasten GmbH": < > or as a PDF-formatted email attachment from the WNII Editor.
BRIEFINGS
Third United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries: Summary Report from The Interactive Thematic Session on Energy
The Interactive Thematic Session on Energy at the Third United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) was held on 17 May 2001 in Brussels, Belgium. The Session was organized in parallel with the Third UN Conference on the LDCs held at the European Parliament from 14-20 May 2001. The Session was organized by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) with the support of the Government of Austria, and was attended by over 300 government delegates, including ministers and energy experts. The Session followed a preparatory process that included a High Level Meeting on Energy held at UNIDO headquarters in Vienna from 14-16 March 2001.
The "Earth Negotiations Bulletin" (Volume 52, Number 01, 19 May, 2001) has published a Summary Report from this Session which is available from the WNII Editor as an rtf-formatted email attachment. Further coverage of The Interactive Thematic Session on Energy at the Third United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDCs), can be found at: http://www.iisd.ca/sd/LDCs/index.html
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Conference on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) held
From 22-23 May 2001, the Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) was held in Stockholm, Sweden. A comprehensive report has been published in the "Earth Negotiations Bulletin" (Volume 52, Number 57, 25 May, 2001) which is available from the WNII Editor as an rtf-formatted email attachment. Coverage of this Conference can also be found at: http://www.iisd.ca/chemical/popsd/
CONFERENCES, MEETINGS, SEMINARS
SATIS 2001: Conference on Sustainable Applications for Tropical Islands States http://www.pcj.com/whatsnew.htm
- Date: 29-31 August 2001
- Venue: Kingston, Jamaica
This conference aims to provide a forum for dissemination of information on the use and development of renewable energy technologies and systems in tropical islands, particularly in the Caribbean. For more details, contact Raymond M. Wright: < >
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AMAZON ECOTOUR 2001: First International Symposium and Exposition on Ecotourism and Sustainable Development of the Amazon Basin Countries http://www.ecotourenglish.com.br.ms
- Date: 24-27 September 2001
- Venue: Manaus, Brazil
- Organized by the Brazilian Institute for The Environment (BIOSFERA) with the support of the Ministry of Sports and Tourism in Brazil
The event will bring together over 2,000 participants, with delegations from 28 countries, including governmental authorities, entrepreneurs, professors, researchers and students interested in the planning and implementation of new ecotourism projects in the Amazon Region, covering part of Brazilian, Colombian, Venezuelan, Peruvian, Ecuadoran, Bolivian, Guyanian and Surinamian territories. The agenda of the Symposium will involve conferences, round table, in addition to an international exposition.
For more details, mailto:
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Southern NGO Summit (Preparation for the World Summit on Sustainable Development)
- Date: 8-10 October 2001
- Venue: Algiers, Algeria
For more details, contact Esmeralda Brown, Southern Caucus Chairperson:
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17th European Photo-Voltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition http://www.wip-munich.de/conferences/pv/munich_2001/munich.html
- Date: 22-26 October 2001
- Venue: Munich, Germany
- Subjects to be addressed include: fundamentals, novel devices and new materials; crystalline silicon solar cells; photo-voltaic systems technology; and use of photo-voltaic by developing countries
For more details,
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ISES 2001: Solar World Congress of the International Solar Energy Society http://www.unisa.edu.au/ises2001congress/home.html
- Date: 25 November-2 December 2001
- Venue: Adelaide, Australia
- The technical programme will cover all aspects of renewable energy and energy sustainability, including research and development, industry, applications, demonstrations, education, and socio-economic and political issues
For more details, mailto:
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MTEE-2001: International Symposium on the Management and Technology of Energy and Environment http://www.iceee.org
- Date: 7-8 December 2001
- Venue: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- The symposium will address energy, environmental management and technology issues, and is a forum for information exchange among executives and professionals from industry, government, and academic institutions
For more details, mailto:
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International Conference on Renewable Energy for Rural Development
- Date: 19-21 January 2002
- Venue: Dhaka, Bangladesh
- The technical scope will include power generation from offshore wind, waves, current and tidal schemes. The conference will also consider future technologies, in the medium- to long-term time frame, to address the technical issues for future development of these renewable energy sources
For more details, contact A.K.M. Sadrul Islam, Convenor: < >
INES WEB AND E-MAIL SERVICE
No new or changed addresses.
All INES e-mail addresses and homepages are available upon request from:
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