A Citizens Weapons Inspection
by Michael Coffey, November 25, 2002

On November 11, 2002 (Veteran’s Day), a Citizens Weapons Inspection Team and over 200 supporters gathered outside the gates of the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), a key facility in the U.S. nuclear weapons complex. Their presence emphasized the need for reciprocity given the recent United Nations Security Council Resolution calling for Iraqi compliance with weapons inspectors.

A Notice of Intent was served to LLNL Director Michael Anastocio, detailing the lab’s near 50-year history of creating weapons of mass destruction and questioning plans for new weapon development. The letter cites U.S. disregard for sentiments among the international community opposing the proliferation on weapons of mass destruction, specifically the Biological Weapons Convention, International Court of Justice, and Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Student leaders from numerous campuses shared their views. Some of the campuses represented were UC Berkeley, UC Santa Cruz, UC Santa Barbara, and UC Davis.

Similarly, event sponsors and endorsers included Tri-Valley CAREs, Western State Legal Foundation, California Peace Action, Veterans for Peace, Livermore Conversion Project, Global Exchange, Alameda County Peace and Freedom Party, the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation, Circle of Concern, Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, and Grandmothers for Peace.

Links:

Notice of Intent.
URL: http://www.wslfweb.org/docs/citinspletllnl.htm

UCSB Daily Nexus, Californians Protest Weapon Development.
URL: http://www.dailynexus.com/news/2002/3910.html

Contra Costa Times, Who Will Disarm America?
URL: http://www.bayarea.com/mld/cctimes/4500387.htm