WHAT'S NEW IN INES?

No.36/1999

Dateline: 12 September  1999

WNII is an electronic information service of INES,
the International Network of Engineers and Scientists for Global Responsibility

Editor: Tobias Damjanov, e-mail: < >
INES homepage: http://inesglobal.org
INES International Office < >
INES Chair Prof. Armin Tenner < >

INES Congress 2000

''Challenges for Science and Engineering in the 21st Century''

Stockholm, 14-18 June 2000

http://www.ines2000.org

 INES 2000 Conference Secretariat: mailto:

CONTENTS of WNII No. 36/1999

NOTE: All INES e-mail addresses and homepages are available upon request from: <>

INES MEMBERSHIP UPDATE

Please inform us about changes of your email address or your homepage!

MEMBER ORGANISATIONS' AND PROJECT GROUPS' NEWS

USA: Institute for Energy and Environmental Research (IEER)    http://www.ieer.org

  Initiated by IEER, more than 70 organizations and individuals from around the world, on 3 September, called on a new USA National Academy of Sciences (NAS) panel being set up to study the impacts of low-level radiation exposure to consider a wide range of potential health effects including birth defects and genetic damage in its deliberations. IEER President Dr. Arjun Makhijani handed the corresponding letter to the NAS Committee on the Biological Effects of Ionizing Radiation (BEIR VII) for consideration on behalf of the signatories, stating that "The issue of the health effects of radiation is far more complex than the range of effects evaluated in the last BEIR committee report. Moreover, some of the data, such as US worker dose data, used in radiation studies is suspect or seriously flawed.  It is crucial that the committee consider data integrity and quality questions and not accept results of studies only because they have been published in peer-reviewed journals." IEER requested that the committee treat the issues in the letter with the same seriousness had a member of the committee raised them.

  You can get the letter from Hisham Zerriffi, IEER Project Scientist:

USA: Nuclear Age Peace Foundation (NAPF), The Sunflower, No. 28, September 1999  http://www.wagingpeace.org/sf/index.html

  The latest edition of The Sunflower covers the following:

plus a list of interesting events and useful resources.

NUCLEAR WEAPONS

Abolition 2000 homepage: http://www.abolition2000.org

For the latest nuclear weapons abolition grassroots news, visit: http://www.napf.org/abolition2000/news/


[*] [Source: "NATO Nuclear Flash 99-38" (August 30, 1999)]

Indian Scientist Calls for Rejection of Nuclear Doctrine [*]  ftp://ftp.nautilus.org/nnnnet/news/082799deccan.txt

  The Indian newspaper "Deccan Herald" reported that nuclear scientist Dr. M V Ramana warned that the controversial draft Indian nuclear doctrine would -- if implemented -- lead to large scale destruction and deaths to civilian populations. Ramana said that the "early warning" capability called for by the doctrine "is impossible" to achieve, given the short missile flight times in South Asia.

Pakistan Peace Coalition National Council Statement On India's Nuclear Doctrine [*]

  This interesting statement is available from one of the following email addresses of the PPC: ; ;

  Note that the statement not only criticizes India's military nuclear approach but also points out, among other things, that "It remains necessary that Pakistan desists from all arms races and remains committed to the objective of south Asia becoming wholly free of all nuclear and other mass destruction weapons. As a preliminary , Pakistan should honor its promise of signing CTBT and cooperate in bringing into being the FMCT in good faith while all these steps are to be in the spirit and hope of adhering to the NPT. "

Rumors of Nuclear Capability for Israeli Subs Triggers Arab Debate [*] ftp://ftp.nautilus.org/nnnnet/news/082599albath.txt

  Rumors that new Israeli submarines purchased from Germany can fire nuclear missiles triggered a commentary in Syrian newspaper Al-Ba'th calling for Arab nations to monitor Israel. A previous report in an Egyptian newspaper claimed the new submarines could carry nuclear missiles and direct nuclear attacks against other countries in the region.
For previous Egyptian report, go to: ftp://ftp.nautilus.org/nnnnet/news/080799rose.txt

Central Asia a nuclear-weapon-free zone?

  The Japan-based Hiroshima Peace Institute publishes a non-proliferation and disarmament research newsletter which is available on their website, http://serv.peace.hiroshima-cu.ac.jp/   and click on "English version." The newsletter contains updates on the effort to make Central Asia a nuclear-weapon-free zone at the Sapporo meeting in October 1999.  [from: "Sunflower," No. 28, September 1999].

Webquest on the Pakistan-India Conflict

  A "webquest" created by a teacher in Pakistan challenges students to deal with looming nuclear war by seeking solutions to resolve deeply rooted political problems and ensure a lasting peace. It is called "Quest for Peace & Diplomacy: A Webquest on the Pakistan-India Conflict." Try a webquest - it's creative and inspiring --- by going to: http://www.angelfire.com/wy/peacequest   [from: "Sunflower," No. 28, September 1999]

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

UNEP Online Book Shop  http://www.earthprint.com

  The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has opened an Online Book Shop (see URL above) on 23 August, which allows customers to order copies of all UNEP publications and covers topics such as environmental law, climate, industry and environment and biodiversity. Customers using the web site have the choice of looking for books from specific categories, environmental themes, and quick search options. Once a selection has been made, customers have various payment and delivery options including the use of credit cards and quick delivery service. The new UNEP Internet book shop complements UNEP's existing home page http://www.unep.org  and its publication catalogue Environment in Print.

BRIEFINGS

East Timor information

Campaigning against Star Wars  http://www.globenet.free-online.co.uk

  The Global Network Against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space is organizing an international effort on September 13-15 to oppose the revitalized Star Wars plans of the Clinton administration and the U.S. Congress. Calling it the Star Wars International Call-In Days, activists around the world will be speaking out in opposition to a scheduled Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) test planned in September over the Pacific Ocean by the Pentagon.

  Congress has voted to allow the BMD system to move forward  as "soon as technically feasible".  The Clinton administration is now beginning to consider circumventing the 1972 ABM Treaty that outlaws the development of weapons systems like the BMD. Clinton is scheduled to make a final deployment decision on the BMD in June, 2000.   According to Global Network Coordinator Bruce Gagnon, "With Democrats and Republicans recently voting to allow early deployment of BMD, the door has been opened wide for the deployment of space-based weapons.  We are talking about moving the arms race into space!  The cost in tax dollars will be staggering and the threat to world peace will be enormous. People understand that putting lasers in space is an offensive strategy. We are organizing a global response to this craziness."

  Global Network organizers are calling on the public to contact the White House and Congress between September 13-15 with the message No BMD, No Star Wars. Activists in other parts of the world will be contacting the U.S. Embassy in their country with the same message.

  The Star Wars International Call-In Days will mark the beginning of a year long campaign being organized by the Global Network.  Throughout 2000 a series of events will target the Star Wars issue.  Included in these actions will be a demonstration at the Treasury Department on April 14 highlighting the $100 billion that has been spent on Star Wars development to date and an International conference on the subject the following day. On October 7, 2000 an International Day of Protest to Stop the Militarization of Space will be held.

CONFERENCES - MEETINGS - SEMINARS

Events listed here are being published only once due to limited space. Changes, however, will be taken into account (marked with ''UPDATE'')

Tolerance and Beyond: Religions, Rights and Civil Society in the OSCE Countries

INES WEB AND E-MAIL SERVICE

Science for Peace Canada

Note the following:

<><><><><> end of No.36/1999 what's new in ines <><><><>