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• Perspectives
  • US Nuclear Hypocrisy: Bad For The US, Bad For The World by David Krieger

• Take Action
  • No More Hiroshimas! No More Nagasakis! August 6 and 9 National Days of Remembrance and Action 1945-2005

• Disarmament and Non Proliferation
  • Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference Ends in Nuclear Deadlock
  • Russia Willing to Make Deeper Nuclear Cuts
  • India 's Upper House Approves Bill on Nuclear Non-Proliferation
  • US Claims 11 Interdictions of Nuclear Materials
  • US, Russia Secure Latvian Uranium
  • US House of Representative Approves Nuclear Weapons Appropriations

• Nuclear Insanity
  • LANL Whistle-Blower Beaten in Parking Lot
  • Europe Simulates Nuclear Disaster

• Nuclear Legacy
  • Labor Department Starts Processing Rocky Flats Workers’ Claims
  • Rongelapese Preparing to Return Home

• Nuclear Laboratories
  • Idaho Lab Unable to Locate Sensitive Discs
  • DOE Officially Opens Bidding Competition for LANL
  • LANL Bidding Field Narrows to Two: Northrop Grumman Drops Out
  • NNSA Proposes Pantex Fine
  • UC Regents Vote to Bid for LANL Contract; Students Stage Dramatic Protest

• Foundation Activities
  • Foundation to Hold National Youth Conference on Nuclear Issues
  • Peace Poetry Awards Deadline

• Educators Section
  • 60 Years After Creation of the Atomic Bomb, New Web Partnership Brings Nuclear Information to Citizens, Educators

• Resources
  • OneWorld Perspectives: The Nuclear Weapons Debate
  • US Weapons at War 2005: Promoting Freedom or Fueling Conflict?
  • New Radioactivity Discovered Outside Y-12 Production Lab
  • New Bunker Buster Animation
  • New Nuclear Weapons Effects Calculator Gives More Accurate Fallout Predictions

• Quotable
  • Robert McNamara, Former US Secretary of Defense
  • US Senator George Voinovich
  • Gen. Lance Lord, USAF
  • Frida Berrigan, World Policy Institute Senior Research Associate
  • Robert Dynes, University of California President
  • William J. Perry, Former US Secretary of Defense

• Editorial Team
  • Luke Brothers
  • David Krieger
  • Anna Langenbach
  • Carah Ong
  • Will Parrish

US Nuclear Hypocrisy: Bad for the US, Bad for the World | Top
by David Krieger

Every five years the parties to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty meet in a review conference to further the non-proliferation and disarmament goals of the treaty. This year the conference ended in a spectacular failure with no final document and no agreement on moving forward. For the first ten days of the conference, the US resisted agreement on an agenda that made any reference to past commitments.

The failure of the treaty conference is overwhelmingly attributable to the nuclear policies of the Bush administration, which has disavowed previous US nuclear disarmament commitments under the treaty. The Bush administration does not seem to grasp the hypocrisy of pressing other nations to forego their nuclear options, while failing to fulfill its own obligations under the disarmament provisions of the treaty.

The treaty is crumbling under the double standards of American policy, and may not be able to recover from the rigid "do-as-I-say, not-as-I-do" positions of the Bush administration. These policies are viewed by most of the world as high-level nuclear hypocrisy.

Paul Meyer, the head of Canada's delegation to the treaty conference, reflected on the conference, "The vast majority of states have to be acknowledged, but we did not get that kind of diplomacy from the US." Former UK Foreign Minister Robin Cook also singled out the Bush administration in explaining the failure of the conference. "How strange," he wrote, "that no delegation should have worked harder to frustrate agreement on what needs to be done than the representatives of George Bush."

No More Hiroshimas! No More Nagasakis!
August 6 and 9 National Days of Remembrance and Action
1945-2005 | Top

August 6 and 9, 2005 mark the 60th anniversaries of the US atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Join with people at four central US nuclear weapons sites in major actions calling for an end to the development and production of nuclear warheads. Activities will recognize the devastation caused by nuclear weapons and memorialize the many victims of bomb production at every step – from uranium mining to design, to production, to testing and use. Join the global majority to say NO! to militarism, war and oppression, and YES! to nonviolence, justice and a more secure world for all.

In Japanese culture, the 60th birthday holds a particular cultural significance in celebrating long life. In this 60th year since the US atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the greatest gift to the hibakusha (survivors of the atomic bombings) and to the world would be to reaffirm life by immediately initiating negotiations for the elimination of nuclear weapons.

Here is what you can do:

1. Attend a major action on August 6 at one of the core nuclear weapons sites in California, Nevada, New Mexico and Tennessee (see specific site info below). Be sure to share the information and bring others with you!
2. Organize or participate in a candlelight vigil at the City Hall in your community on August 9. Click here for more information.
3. Download, copy and distribute the August 6 and 9 National Days of Remembrance and Action flyer to your friends, family, networks and/or members of your organization and encourage them to get involved!
4. Print the August 6 and 9 National Days of Remembrance and Action Postcard to distribute to members of your organization or at events. For more information, please contact Carah Ong at cong@napf.org or (202) 543-4100, ext. 105.

August 6 and 9 National Days of Remembrance and Action are coordinated by: Abolition Now!, Buddhist Peace Fellowship, Nevada Desert Experience, Nuclear Age Peace Foundation, Pax Christi New Mexico, Oak Ridge Environmental Peace Alliance, Tri-Valley CAREs, United for Peace and Justice, and Western States Legal Foundation.

Livermore Nuclear Weapons Lab, California

“Seeds of Change”─ celebrate the vision of a nuclear free world with music, a dinner rally and candlelight march.
Where: William Payne Park, 5800 Patterson Pass Rd. Livermore, CA
When: Saturday, August 6, 2005, 5 pm

Initial co-sponsors include: American Friends Service Committee, California Peace Action, Green Party California, Livermore Conversion Project, the Northern California Communist Party, Nuclear Age Peace Foundation, Peace and Freedom Party, Peace Fresno, Tri-Valley Communities Against a Radioactive Environment (CAREs), Veterans for Peace San Francisco Chapter 69, Western States Legal Foundation, Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom and Women for Peace.

Contact: Tara Dorabji, Tri-Valley CAREs, tara@trivalleycares.org, (925) 443-7148, www.trivalleycares.org.

Los Alamos Nuclear Weapons Lab, New Mexico

“ Hiroshima, 60 Years: It Started Here -- Let's Stop It Here!” – teach-in, sunflower pageant, workshops, music, candle ritual, meditation, and more.
Where: Ashley Pond Park in Los Alamos, NM
When: Saturday, August 6, 2005, 8:30 am to 10:00 pm

Initial endorsing organizations include: Albuquerque Peace and Justice Center, Buddhist Peace Fellowship, Los Alamos Study Group, Pax Christi New Mexico, Upaya Zen Center and the local chapter of Veterans for Peace.

Contact: Los Alamos Study Group, (505) 265-1200, www.lasg.org ; Pax Christi New Mexico, (505) 870-2275, www.paxchristinewmexico.org ; and Upaya Zen Center, Joan Halifax, (505) 986-8182, www.upaya.org .

Nevada Test Site, Nevada

“Many Stories, One Vision for a Nuclear Free World” ─ conference, speakers and public witness including storytelling, nonviolence trainings, liturgy, music, performance, workshops and nonviolent direct action.
Where: University of Nevada, Las Vegas and the Nevada (Nuclear) Test Site
When: August 4-7, 2005

Sponsored by: Nevada Desert Experience and Pax Christi USA; Co-sponsored by: Buddhist Peace Fellowship, Citizen Alert, Episcopal Peace Fellowship, Nuclear Age Peace Foundation, Pace e Bene Nonviolence Service, Physicians for Social Responsibility (L.A.) and Western States Legal Foundation. Western Shoshone are supporting the action.

Contact: Nevada Desert Experience, (702) 646-4814, nde_youth@peacenet.org, www.nevadadesertexperience.org and www.paxchristiusa.org .

Y-12 Nuclear Facility, Tennessee

“Stop the Bombs!” ─ remembrance/names ceremony; peace march, rally and direct action; and peace lantern ceremony.
When: Saturday, August 6, 2005, all day
Where: Y-12 National Security Complex, Oak Ridge, TN

Contact: Ralph Hutchison, Oak Ridge Environmental Peace Alliance, orep@earthlink.net, (865) 483-8202, www.stopthebombs.org .

Initial Co-Sponsors Include: Cumberland Center for Justice and Peace; Footprints for Peace; Justice, Peace, Integrity of Creation—Diocese of East Tennessee; Nipponzan Myohoji—Atlanta Dojo; Oak Ridge Environmental Peace Alliance; Pax Christi—Memphis; Pax Christi—Michigan; Presentation Sisters; Sisters of Charity, Cincinnati; Sisters of the Precious Blood, Dayton; and Women’s Action for New Directions, Michigan.

August 9, 2005: Remember the Bombing of Nagasaki

We are calling for candlelight vigils to be held at City Halls in communities across the country. In addition, we encourage people to organize readings, lantern lighting ceremonies, shadow projects and more. In support of the Mayors for Peace, we are calling on local groups to invite their Mayors to participate in the vigils and read out proclamations.

Contact: Jackie Cabasso, Western States Legal Foundation, wslf@earthlink.net, (510) 839-5877, www.wslfweb.org

Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference Ends in Nuclear Deadlock | Top

On 27 May 2005, the Review Conference of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) ended without having achieved significant progress on a wide range of arms control issues.

Every five years, diplomats from 188 member states gather to review the implementation of the NPT and discuss measures to address the treaty’s three pillars of disarmament, non-proliferation, and the “peaceful” uses of nuclear energy.

The month-long Review Conference held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York from 2-27 May 2005 was marked by a number of contentious issues that remain unresolved. No agreement could be reached on controlling the nuclear fuel cycle, making withdrawal from the NPT more difficult, and dealing with states that are not party to the NPT. Member states failed to adopt a final document based on consensus and could not agree on any new objectives.

Daryl Kimball, Head of the Arms Control Association stated, “It's a tremendous lost opportunity to strengthen the effort to stop proliferation.”

Procedural problems as well as the lack of political will on the part of certain member states obstructed any attempts at making progress. Only after two weeks of conference discussion did member states agree on which issues to discuss in which of the three Main Committees. France and the United States objected to any reference made to previous achievements of the 2000 Review Conference. Iran refused to discuss language regarding its safeguards breaches, and Egypt rejected proposals on withdrawal issues.

Ambassador Thomas Graham, a former US arms control diplomat, stated, “There's a lot to worry about out there, and this treaty is at the heart of it.” The NPT Review Conference "is definitely going to have a somewhat negative effect on efforts to keep the non-proliferation regime afloat and to strengthen it.”

In an op-ed on 30 May 2005, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan stated, “In my opening address to the conference, I argued that success would depend on coming to terms with all the nuclear dangers that threaten humanity. I warned that the conference would stall if some delegates focused on some threats instead of addressing them all. Some countries underscored proliferation as a grave danger, while others argued that existing nuclear arsenals imperil us. Some insisted that the spread of nuclear fuel-cycle technology posed an unacceptable proliferation threat, while others countered that access to peaceful uses of nuclear technology must not be compromised. In the end, delegations regrettably missed the opportunity to endorse the merits of all of these arguments. As a result, they were unable to advance security against any of the dangers we face.”

Read the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation’s briefing to the Seventh NPT Review Conference entitled “Back to Basics: Reviving Nuclear Disarmament in the Non-Proliferation Regime“ online at:
http://www.wagingpeace.org/menu/resources/publications/2005_npt-briefing.pdf.

The official statements, NGO statements, working papers, Chairmen's summaries, NGO analysis and news from the 2005 NPT Review Conference are available on Reaching Critical Will’s website at: http://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/legal/npt/nptindex1.html#docs .

Russia Willing to Make Deeper Nuclear Cuts | Top

On 16 May, two Russian officials said that the country is open to reducing its strategic nuclear arsenal to levels lower than required by the 2002 Strategic Offensive Reductions Treaty (SORT) with the US.

Lt. General Vladimir Verhoytsey, Deputy Director of the Defense Ministry’s Department of Nuclear Safety and Security, said that Russia is “ready to reduce to 1,500 warheads or less.”

SORT requires Russia and the US to reduce their deployed strategic arsenal to between 1,700 and 2,200 warheads by 2012. However, reductions under the treaty are not verifiable and can be reversed when the treaty expires in 2012.

Anatoly Antonov, director of the Foreign Ministry’s Department for Security and Disarmament, said that Russia remains committed to pursuing “a situation where there are no new nuclear threats on our border.” He also said disarmament “depends on all of us,” rather than just two nations. Antonov asked, “What about other countries that continue to work on nuclear weapons?” He added, “We’re telling our partners we can’t close our eyes” to developments on Russia’s borders and around the world.

In answer to questions about why Russia has announced it is developing a new nuclear missile system if it is committed to arms reduction, Verhovtsev replied, “developing doesn’t mean possessing.”

India's Upper House Approves Bill on Nuclear Non-Proliferation | Top

On 12 May, India's upper house of parliament passed legislation banning the proliferation of nuclear technology seven years after the country shocked the world with a series of nuclear tests. The bill will become law as soon as it is signed by Indian President Abdul Kalam.

Foreign Minister Natwar Singh assured lawmakers that the proposed legislation "would not hinder" India's development of its defense capabilities and atomic power industry. Before lawmakers passed the bill, Singh stated, " India is committed to safeguarding its security as a nuclear weapon state and to deepen its autonomous scientific and technical capability for meeting our security imperatives as well as our developmental goals. The bill does not seek to check development of missile technology but prevent leakage of this technology. As a responsible nation, India has never passed on its proven technological capabilities to anyone.”

The Weapons of Mass Destruction and Their Delivery Systems (Prohibition of Unlawful Activities) Bill outlaws the transfer of biological and chemical weapons and their delivery systems. The Bill makes clear that a person caught engaging in nuclear commerce or passing on atomic technology could face five years to life in prison as well as a fine. The legislation covers Indians in India and abroad and foreigners residing in India.

India has refused to sign two hallmark agreements on proliferation, the Non-Proliferation Treaty and the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, saying they are discriminatory because they allow the five permanent members of the UN Security Council to keep their nuclear weapons.

After the May 1998 nuclear tests, which were followed by nuclear tests by rival Pakistan the same month, India announced a moratorium on future testing and called for a time-frame for global disarmament.

India has wanted to develop its civilian nuclear industry with Russian and US assistance. In April, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice offered India greater access to high technology sales, including civilian nuclear power plants and fuel to meet its growing energy needs.

India is currently barred from buying such equipment because it is not a signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty that forbids such sales to countries that do not agree to international inspection of nuclear plants and facilities.

Nuclear energy meets three percent of India's total power requirement but New Delhi has set a target of increasing nuclear energy consumption to 25 percent by 2050.

US Claims 11 Interdictions of Nuclear Materials | Top

The United States has announced that it has intercepted 11 shipments of nuclear materials that were on their way to North Korea or Iran during the past nine months. According to State Department spokesman Richard Boucher, the interdictions were part of the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI), a program instituted by the US in the attempt to prevent the spread of nuclear technology and weapons of mass destruction.

During a press briefing in Washington, DC on 31 May 2005, Boucher said the PSI has the cooperation of approximately 60 countries. He added, “Bilateral cooperation with several governments prevented North Korea from receiving materials used in making chemical weapons and cooperation with another country blocked the transfer to North Korea of a material useful in its nuclear programs.”

David Gordon of the National Intelligence Council informed a committee in Congress that the actions taken by North Korea are “an indication that Kim might be willing to make good on his threat to market nuclear weapons or fissile material in the future.”

Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice told the State Department on 31 May that “PSI partners, working at times with others, have prevented Iran from procuring goods to support its missile and WMD programs, including its nuclear program.”

No indication was given as to what happened to the nuclear materials after they were intercepted by the US and their allies. It is also unclear exactly how far Washington will go to prevent the spread of nuclear technology to North Korea and Iran, the remaining two members of President Bush's so-called “axis of evil.”

US, Russia Secure Latvian Uranium | Top

On 24 May 2005, the US Department of Energy (DOE) announced that three kilograms of highly enriched uranium (HEU) were returned from Latvia to Russia in a joint effort between Latvia, Russia, the United States, and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

The uranium had been supplied to Latvia by the Soviet Union for use in a research reactor, which was shut down seven years ago.

The Global Threat Reduction Initiative, a program run by the DOE’s National Nuclear Security Administration, coordinates the return of HEU from former Soviet states to Russia.

“The recovery, return and eventual elimination of highly enriched uranium is an important component of the administration's Global Threat Reduction Initiative campaign to reduce the threat posed by dangerous nuclear and radiological material worldwide,” said US National Nuclear Security Agency Administrator Linton Brooks.

US House of Representative Approves Nuclear Weapons Appropriations | Top

On 26 May 2005, the US House of Representatives approved the $29.7 billion fiscal 2006 Energy and Water Development Appropriations bill by a 416-13 vote. The bill includes $1.5 billion for nuclear non-proliferation programs and $6.2 billion for nuclear weapons activities.

The bill denies any funds used towards the development of new types of nuclear weapons, such as the Robust Nuclear Earth Penetrator (“bunker busters”). However, it provides $25 million for an initial study of a Reliable Replacement Warhead.

The Energy and Water Appropriations Bill is expected to go to the Senate floor in mid-June.

EU-3, Iran Pledge to Reach Agreement by July | Top

During a meeting in Geneva on 25 May 2005, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom (EU-3), and Iran pledged to come up with an agreement regarding the Iranian nuclear program by the end of July 2005.

After the meeting, British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said Iran had "reaffirmed its commitment not to seek to develop nuclear weapons. The freeze of the enrichment program will continue until an agreement is reached."

Iran renewed its vow that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only, and in accordance with its right to develop nuclear energy under the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

Hasan Rowhani , Iran 's chief nuclear negotiator, agreed to more talks over the summer. He stated, "We believe following the discussions today we could come to a final agreement within a reasonably short time." Iran continues to assert, however, that uranium enrichment activities will resume if no agreement with the EU-3 can be reached.

Such an agreement is likely to include economic, political and technological assistance for a civilian nuclear program. The EU-3 are also offering commercial ties such as support for Iran’s entry into the World Trade Organization.

The US has repeatedly accused Iran of attempting to build nuclear weapons clandestinely and has sought to refer Iran to the UN Security Council. This months’ meeting in Geneva was held after France, Germany, and the UK warned that they were moving toward the US position. A referral of Iran to the Security Council could result in international sanctions imposed against Iran.

Pakistan Hands Over Centrifuges to IAEA to Help Illuminate Iranian Program | Top

On 24 May 2005, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) received Pakistani centrifuge parts it had requested in connection with its investigation of the Iranian nuclear program.

In January of 2003, the Pakistani nuclear scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan confessed to transferring centrifuge technology to Iran. The Iranian government claims that traces of uranium found on its centrifuges stem from their earlier use in Pakistan, and not from domestic uranium enrichment activities.

The IAEA requested access to Khan and nuclear facilities in Pakistan, but the government refused investigations on Pakistani soil. In March 2005, Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf decided to send old centrifuge parts to Vienna to facilitate investigations.

The parts remain under Pakistani control during the analysis and will be returned to Pakistan after their examination.

LANL Whistle-Blower Beaten in Parking Lot | Top

Tommy Ray Hook, a Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) whistle-blower scheduled to meet with a congressional investigator this week, was severely beaten on 5 June 2005 by a group of men he says told him to keep his mouth shut. Tommy, a 23-year LANL employee, has a broken jaw, a herniated disc in his back, broken teeth, can barely talk and fades in and out of consciousness, said his wife, Susan. He was assaulted outside Cheeks, a strip club in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

According to Susan Hook, the attackers told her husband during the attack, “‘If you know what is good for you, you will keep your mouth shut.’”

Mrs. Hook said her husband was lured to Cheeks by a late-night phone call answered by Hook when he was already in bed around 10:15 pm. Previously, Hook had been contacted through a LANL friend by someone claiming to be a lab auditor, who like Hook, had uncovered alleged fraud. The unnamed auditor and Hook had planned to meet on the afternoon of 3 June, but the person never arrived for the meeting. Hook believed the information would be useful in his case against UC and LANL, according to Chuck Montaño, a friend and co-worker. So when the caller said he was sorry for missing the Friday meeting, Hook assumed it was the auditor. According to Susan Hook, the caller insisted they meet at Cheeks where they could be assured neither would be recognized. She said Hook agreed to the meeting place and drove about 50 minutes to the topless club.

Hook, 52, is known at the nuclear-weapons lab for taking strong stands against fraud and abuse, and he has a lawsuit pending against the lab’s operator, the University of California, alleging retaliation. As the lab's former officer-in-charge of dealing with whistle-blower complaints, he had access to internal investigation reports and high-level officials.

The University of California is competing to keep the management contract, and many employees want UC to win in the bid process. Bringing up problems now could jeopardize that. Though the assailants never mentioned LANL or the upcoming competition for its management, the FBI is looking into the possibility that Hook’s assailants attempted to muzzle him.

According to Hook’s attorney Bob Rothstein who alerted the FBI to the situation, “They made statements to him during the course of the attack, which indicated that they were trying to intimidate him from continuing to engage in disclosure of wrongdoing. They left him in the parking lot for dead.” Hook went into the bar and waited more than an hour before leaving. Hook was in his red Subaru sedan, parked near the front door, and had started the engine when a large man, wearing a shirt with "75" on it, pulled him from the driver's seat, Rothstein said. Three to six men dragged him from his car and beat him.

Members of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce were scheduled to meet with Hook on 7 June 2005 to prepare his testimony for the congressional investigation. In spite of what happened, they still plan to interview Hook and others. The hearing will cover broad management concerns such as worker safety, whistle-blower protections and the restart of the lab after a seven-month shutdown last summer.

Santa Fe police say officers were called to the Cheeks parking lot about 2 am on 5 June 2005. Hook was taken by ambulance to St. Vincent Regional Medical Center.

The University of California and LANL Director Robert Kuckuck denounced the attack, saying any form of violence toward a person is unacceptable.

Chuck Montaño, a co-plaintiff with Hook in his lawsuit against UC, thinks his co-worker was set up. Montaño said, “Whistle-blowers usually suffer financial and emotional consequences when they speak out. But violence, physical attacks, is something I guess I was a little naive (about). I didn't think it would happen. But we re talking about a major contract here. We’re talking about people that have strong feelings about the University of California continuing to run the laboratory, so I guess now in retrospect it doesn't surprise me that it would become violent.”

Hook suffers from a heart condition, and he is recovering from a stroke and shoulder surgery. He had been back to work just three weeks.

Europe Simulates Nuclear Disaster | Top

A two-day nuclear disaster simulation began in Europe on 11 May 2005. More than 60 nations participated in the simulation to prepare contingency plans should a nuclear disaster occur in the future. The simulation tested international communications and continental emergency response readiness.

At the center of the exercise is the Cernavoda nuclear power plant, a Romanian nuclear reactor where the simulated accident occurred. The International Atomic Energy Agency is leading a number of agencies that will evaluate the response to what officials call a Chernobyl-style nuclear accident. Officials will track weather patterns to see how radioactive fallout would be dispersed as well as calculating necessary health measures to treat those exposed to radioactivity and entire Romanian villages will be evacuated.

Zhanat Carr, the World Health Organization’s Radiation Emergency Medical Preparedness and Assistance Network Coordinator stressed the importance of cooperation and communication in the event of a nuclear catastrophe, “No matter how ready you are, if there’s no communication, the response will not work.”

During the Chernobyl disaster 19 years ago, over 6 million people were exposed to radioactive fallout. The World Health Organization reports the Chernobyl disaster is responsible for a 10-fold increase in thyroid cancer among children in the affected areas. Officials stress the likelihood of another major nuclear accident is low but nonetheless the threat exists. During preparations for this European nuclear disaster simulation, a series of reports commissioned by Greenpeace in 2003 resurfaced. These reports conclude that millions of people could be killed by a single major accident or terrorist attack on a nuclear plant. It remains clear: to best manage the threat posed by nuclear plants, the goal should be to gradually phase out their existence.

US Missile Defense Interceptor Tests on Hold? | Top

Tests of US missile defense interceptors have stopped while investigators work to determine the causes of two failed launches in December and February. On 11 May, Lt. General Henry Obering, Director of the US Missile Defense Agency (MDA), told a Senate subcommittee that recommendations from independent reviewers for improving the tests are being implemented.

According to Obering, “I can assure you that while these test aborts were major disappointments, they were not major technical setbacks. Neither you, the American public, nor our enemies will believe in our ground-based ICBM defense until we demonstrate its effectiveness by successfully conducting additional operationally realistic flight tests.”

However, according to the Russian Defense Ministry, the US plans separate tests of an intercontinental ballistic missile and an interceptor in May. On 10 May, sources in the Russian Defense Ministry said, “The Russian side has been notified of all space launches planned by the Americans.”

According to one Russian defense official, integrated flight tests of the ground-based missile interceptor have been scheduled at the Ronald Reagan missile range on Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands. The interceptor will be aimed at a target fired from Alaska. The US had also planned to launch a Minuteman 3 missile from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California to strike a target on the Kwajalein Atoll the last week of May, but the test did not go forward. (this test was to take place last week but did not go forward).

The MDA is moving ahead with plans this year to install 10 additional interceptors at Fort Greely in Alaska. An X-band radar is also expected to be placed at the Aleutian Islands.

India Successfully Tests Nuclear-Capable Missile | Top

On 12 May, India test-fired a nuclear-capable missile designed for battlefield use. The Prithvi 1 missile has a range of 190 miles and can carry low-yield nuclear or conventional warheads. According to officials, the test was successfully conducted at the Chandipur-on-Sea test site in eastern India. Last tested in March 2005, the 28-foot surface-to-surface missile is undergoing review before being added to India’s arsenal.

Deactivation of Peacekeeper ICBMS to Be Completed by September 2005 | Top

As part of an arms reduction pact between the United States and Russia, all Peacekeeper intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) deployed at Francis E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming will be dismantled by September 2005.

The Strategic Offensive Reductions Treaty (SORT) requires the United States and Russia to implement strategic nuclear weapons reductions by almost two-thirds by 12 December 2012.

Maj. Gen. Frank Klotz, the commander of Air Force Space Command's 20th Air Force, says, “Our first big installment in the ICBM business, in terms of helping the overall strategic force get down to those levels, is deactivation of the Peacekeeper missiles.”

The removal and deactivation of the 50 Peacekeeper missiles started in October 2002 when 17 missiles were taken out of their silos and disassembled. Some of the technology of these missiles is re-used for space launch vehicles as well as other types of missiles to improve capabilities and facilities.

Taiwan Test Fires First Cruise Missile | Top

According to news reports in the China Times, Taiwan has successfully test fired its first cruise missile, which would allow the island to hit major military targets in southeast China. The Hsiung Feng cruise missile has a range of 1,000 kilometers (600 miles). It was developed by the military-run Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology.

The China Times reported that the Hsiung Feng cruise missile could be used to attack military bases in southeast China. The paper stated, "Once deployed, it would mark the first time that Taiwan is able to put 'strategic weapons' into use. Its political and military impact would be far-reaching.”

The newspaper said Defense Minister Lee Jye witnessed the test firing of the missile from Chiupeng military base in the southern Pingtung county. The missile flew over 500 kilometers (300 miles) before hitting its target. The newspaper report did not specify when the test took place but speculated that it could have been in March.

The missile is expected to go into pilot production later this year or next. Taiwan is striving to build up its missile defense capabilities to counter the military threat from China, which officials say has targeted the island with at least 700 ballistic missiles.

Taiwan 's cabinet last month approved a revised arms deal with the United States worth almost 15.5 billion dollars after the previous proposal was rejected by parliament. The arms package would span a 15-year period and begin in 2005, pending final approval by parliament. The deal includes eight conventional submarines, a modified version of the Patriot anti-missile system and a fleet of anti-submarine aircraft. The massive budget proposal has stirred heated debate on the island as critics said the spending could further provoke China and heighten cross-strait tensions.

China views Taiwan as part of its territory awaiting reunification since they split at the end of the civil war in 1949, and has repeatedly threatened to invade if the island moves towards formal independence.

Lockheed Martin Gets Contract for MEADS Missile Defense | Top

The governments of the United States, Germany and Italy have awarded a $3.4 billion contract to Lockheed Martin Corp. and its partners in a joint venture to design and develop the Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS). The joint venture, MEADS International Inc. of Orlando, Fla., also includes European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co. of the Netherlands, MBDA-Italia and Lenkflugkoerpersysteme of Germany.

On 20 April 2005, the German Parliament approved the nine-year contract, which previously won approval from Italy and the US.

MEADS is a mobile missile defense system designed to replace the Patriot system in the United States and Germany. According to the contract news release, the system includes a lightweight launcher, fire control and surveillance radars, and “plug-and-fight” battle management command and control capabilities. The purpose of the system is to defend against tactical ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles and aircraft.

Lockheed Martin will perform work on MEADS at its locations in Orlando, Florida, Dallas, Texas, Huntsville, Alabama, and Syracuse, New York. Fifty-eight percent of the funding for the program is from the US government.

Iran Tests New Solid Fuel Missile | Top

According to Iran’s Defense Minister, the country tested a new missile on 29 May 2005 using solid-fuel technology that matches the more than 2,000-kilometer (1,280 mile) range of its Shahab-3 missile. Rear Admiral Ali Shamkhani said the test was "100 percent successful."

Iran also recently upgraded the Shahab-3 ballistic missile, which is based on liquid-fuel technology and believed to be based on a North Korean design.

Iran 's rapid progress on its ballistic missile program is a major cause for concern among the international community, which is already alarmed over Iran's nuclear activities.

Syria Tests Three Scud Missiles over Turkey | Top

On 27 May 2005, Syria test fired three scud missiles capable of delivering chemical weapons and built using North Korean technology. According to Israeli military officials, one of the missiles broke apart mid-flight, scattering debris over Turkey. One senior Israeli military official said, “This is really putting your fingers in the eyes of the Americans, saying, ‘I’m not dancing to your flute. The tests are probably needed for the missile project, but this is [Syrian President Bashar al-Asad] taking a risk here and sending a message.” However, Israeli officials did not report the tests until a week after they occurred because of confusion over why the United States has made no public comment on the incident.

Faruk Logoglu, Turkish ambassador to the United States, was told by the Syrian ambassador “that during a military exercise there was a technical mishap and that the Syrian government was very sorry about this.”

According to Israeli officials, this is the first time Syria has tested a missile over another country and they noted that the range of the missiles would have easily allowed for tests within Syrian borders.

Radioactive Leak at Sellafield Nuclear Reprocessing Plant Went Unnoticed | Top

Some 83,000 liters of highly radioactive liquid leaked unnoticed for up to nine months from a ruptured pipe at the Thorp reprocessing plant at Sellafield in Cumbria, northwest England. According to reports, it is the UK’s worst nuclear accident in years.

The leak – equal to filling half an Olympic swimming pool – was detected on 19 April 2005, and according to reports, it was "the result of a catalogue of human and engineering errors." The leak has prompted a review by British Nuclear Group of other potential leaks and a campaign against "complacency" among staff.

The British Nuclear Group, which runs Sellafield, has acknowledged that workers "failed to respond to 'indicators' warning (that) a badly designed pipe had sprung a leak as long ago as last August.” The incident was classified as "level three" in gravity by the International Atomic Energy Authority. The most serious level on the scale is seven, a point reserved for incidents like the Chernobyl disaster in 1986.

Work to pump the so-called "radioactive liquor" back into the Thorp system began on 23 May 2005. The last level-three incident in Britain, also at Sellafield, was in September 1992. The leak could upset government and industry hopes of building new nuclear power plants.

Yucca Mountain and Skull Valley Waste Disposal Sites Moving Forward Despite Environmental and Social Concerns | Top

On 18 May 2005 US District Court Judge Philip Pro ruled against the Western Shoshone National Council. The Shoshone Council was suing for a preliminary injunction to prevent the federal government from applying for an operating license for the nuclear waste dump at Yucca Mountain. The Shoshone argue that the 1863 Treaty of Ruby Valley, which recognizes land of present-day Nevada, California, Utah, and Idaho as Shoshone tribal land, allows for only specific uses of ancestral lands, i.e. settlements, mining, ranching, agriculture, none of which include storage of nuclear waste.

Judge Pro ruled in favor of US Justice Department lawyer Sara Culley’s argument, who said the Shoshone’s challenge of the Yucca project was, “a direct contradiction of a congressional mandate.” Judge Pro said an injunction halting progress on Yucca Mountain “would delay progress towards completing Congress’ chosen solution.”

In other US nuclear waste disposal news, on 24 May 2005 the Atomic Safety and Licensing Board rejected the state of Utah’s appeal to prevent the construction of a nuclear waste dump at Skull Valley. Attorneys for the state of Utah argued that the storage of spent fuel and other radioactive nuclear waste poses a significant threat to the public should jets from the adjacent US Air Force base crash into the waste casks. US Nuclear Regulatory Commission lawyers successfully convinced the Licensing board that Utah state attorneys raised this concern too late and that the argument lacked scientific merit.

The ruling clears the way for the approval of the Skull Valley nuclear waste dump and the storage of about 44,000 tons of radioactive waste about 45 miles southwest of Salt Lake City.

Sources: Ritter, Ken, “Federal judge denies Indian tribe’s plea to halt nuclear dump,” AP, 18 May 2005; “Board Rejects Utah’s Nuclear Dump Appeal,” Associated Press, 24 May 2005; US Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Office of Public Affairs, 24 May 2005.

Venezuela Going Nuclear…with Iran? | Top

During his regular Sunday television broadcast on 22 May 2005, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez expressed an interest in nuclear energy and in cooperating with Latin American nations, and Iran in developing its nuclear industry. President Chavez stated, “We must start working on that area…the nuclear area. We could along with Brazil, with Argentina and others, start investigations into the nuclear sector and ask for help from countries like Iran.” Chavez said developing a nuclear industry for civilian purposes, “Is for development, for life, for peace and energy.”

Brazilian officials quickly distanced themselves from Chavez’s comments. Edson Kuramoto, President of the Brazilian Nuclear Energy Association, said, “ Brazil has been investing in the area for over 30 years, and Argentina for about the same time. According to information that we have, research in Venezuela is very little developed.” In addition to Venezuela’s undeveloped nuclear industry, Brazilian officials are wary to align themselves too closely with Chavez’s Venezuela because of his fierce opposition to many US policies and his strategic partnerships with Cuba, Iran, and China.

Brazilian Vice President Jose Alencar reinforced ties with the US by saying, “ Brazil has an accord for developing energy for peaceful ends with Argentina and the United States. There is no accord with Iran or Venezuela.”

Sources: Markey, Patrick, “Chavez Says Venezuela interested in nuclear energy,” Reuters, 22 May 2005; Khalip, Andrei, “ Brazil wary on nuclear cooperation with Venezuela ,” Reuters, 23 May 2005.

Ukraine and US Agree on Nuclear Waste Safeguards | Top

On 26 May 2005, US Secretary of Energy Samuel Bodman and Ukrainian Minister for Emergency Situations David Zhvaniya pledged to upgrade security at Ukrainian nuclear waste storage facilities. The agreement aims to prevent the trafficking of nuclear waste and to prohibit terrorists from seizing materials for use in a crude nuclear weapon.

In early 2005, US President George W. Bush and Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko pledged cooperation on nonproliferation and in securing nuclear materials.

The agreement calls on the US National Nuclear Security Administration’s Office of Global Radiological Threat Reduction to significantly upgrade security at six Ukrainian nuclear waste facilities.

France and China Reach Agreement on Nuclear Energy Contracts | Top

On 18 May 2005, AREVA, France’s leading provider of nuclear services, announced two new nuclear energy contracts with China valued at more than $500 million. Under the contracts AREVA will supply the Ling Ao reactor, in Guangdong Province, with instrumentation, control systems, turbines, and other hardware.

A number of large contracts have yet to be awarded. Chinese officials anticipate they will announce by October 2005 the winner of an $8 billion contract to build four new nuclear power plants. AREVA, Westinghouse Electric Co., and Russia's AtomStroyExport are competing for the contracts which promise to be the largest international nuclear contracts in years.

These contracts confirm China’s commitment to increase its nuclear power generating capacity 400% by the year 2020.

First Waste Shipment From Fernald | Top

On 1 June 2005, the Fernald uranium facility in Ohio started shipping radioactive waste to a waste control site in Texas.

The shipment is the first of an estimated 2,100 shipments of the Cold War-era radioactive material that has been stored in two aging concrete storage silos at the plant since the 1950s.

Earlier attempts to clean up the Fernald site in the 1980s failed when planned measures to permanently dispose of the radioactive materials in Utah and Nevada did not materialize.

Sweden Shuts Down Nuclear Reactor | Top

At midnight on 1 June 2005, technicians at Sweden's Barseback-2 nuclear reactor hit the off button, shutting down the country's oldest nuclear power plant for good. Vattenfall, the state-owned company that operated the facility, will now funnel $1.09 billion toward building northern Europe's biggest wind farm. The country's 10 remaining nuclear facilities will be shut down in a few years.

Sweden made the decision to phase out nuclear power as part of a 1980 referendum in favor of renewable sources of energy, such as wind and solar. However, concerns about global warming have led many to reconsider the case for nuclear energy. Recent polls show some 80% of Swedes say they want to keep nuclear power, which covers some forty percent of the country's electricity needs. Some Swedes are worried that they'll end up importing energy from coal and gas plants elsewhere in Europe, thus generating more greenhouse gases.

Danes celebrated the shutdown as Barseback lies just across the Baltic Sea from their capital, Copenhagen. A third of Barseback's 348 employees will keep their jobs for the time being, and the plant will not be knocked down until at least 2020. Although Denmark remains nuclear free, Sweden's northern neighbor Finland is building its fifth nuclear reactor, due to come online in 2009.

Labor Department Starts Processing Rocky Flats Workers’ Claims | Top

On 26 May 2005, officials announced that the Department of Labor will start processing claims filed by sick employees of the former Rocky Flats nuclear weapons facility in Colorado.

After taking over from the Department of Energy last year, the Labor Department launched a new workers’ compensation program targeting employees that suffered exposure to toxic substances while working at federal facilities.

Labor Secretary Elaine Chao said the workers’ claims will be expedited to ensure medical benefits and compensation to sick Rocky Flats’ employees.

In related news, Rocky Flats’ last remaining plutonium building was demolished on 1 June 2005, but the contaminated basement structures of Building 371, which constitute low-level nuclear waste, will remain buried on site. Workers tried to remove the most serious contamination before parts of the building were chopped up and sent to a waste site in Utah.

Rongelapese Preparing to Return Home | Top

Exiles from Rongelap Atoll in the Marshall Islands are at last preparing to return to the island where they were used as human guinea pigs to monitor radiation.

Rongelap Atoll, a series of low-lying islands, sandbanks and coral reefs around a huge lagoon, is about 161 kilometers (100 miles) downwind of Bikini atoll where the US detonated the Bravo hydrogen bomb in 1954, which was more than 1,000 times more powerful than the Hiroshima bomb.

Those on Rongelap at the time thought they were witnessing the end of the world. "We saw a second sun rising in the west, the light was so bright, and we heard this big noise," said Lemyo Abon, who was 14 when the bomb exploded. "Later, stuff fell from the sky, it tasted bitter but some of us children were playing in it. We did not become frightened until we saw the eyes of the older people and we realized that they were scared."

Dreadfully contaminated, the islanders were removed by American soldiers and held in camps for three years before being taken back and told they would be safe as long as they avoided local foods such as the coconut crab.

In fact, the Rongelapese stayed on their beloved island for nearly 30 years. But the rates of miscarriage soared, as did the number of strange and aggressive cancers. The sick were flown by the Americans to Hawaii for treatment and tested so the US army could study the long-term effects of radiation. Eventually, the Rongelapese escaped their homes, fleeing on the Rainbow Warrior, Greenpeace's flagship which in 1985 was leading a nuclear-free Pacific campaign.

Their refuge, Mejato, about 161 kilometers (100 miles) away, had previously been uninhabited for good reason: it is less than 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) long, with waters too shallow for decent fish or to land a large boat, and the soil is salty and poor.

Today there are about 450 people living there, but only a handful of paid jobs. The nearest supplies are an eight-hour boat trip away. The mayor, James Matayoshi, 35, wants to help them go home. "We are going to build houses and create jobs on Rongelap so they have something to go back to."

The US Department of Energy maintains a "full body counter" facility on Rongelap, which measures everyone on the island for radiation monthly. US scientists say Rongelap is safe if people eat imported as well as local food. But this is little consolation to those understandably skeptical of men in white coats.

Idaho Lab Unable to Locate Sensitive Discs | Top

In echoes of Los Alamos, according to the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Inspector General, the Idaho National Laboratory is unable to account for 269 computers and disc drives that may contain top-secret information. While none of the missing equipment was authorized to contain sensitive information, lab officials said that they may contain data regarding nuclear technologies that is illegal to release to foreign nationals.

According to the DOE’s findings, the Idaho lab has lost a total of 998 items over the last three years, totaling a cost of $2.2 million.

The 890-square mile complex is roughly the size of Rhode Island and has eight major research facilities. Its primary responsibilities include nuclear reactor research, reprocessing irradiated reactor fuel, naval nuclear and weapons development, and storage of radioactive waste from nuclear weapons production.

In the past two years, the DOE has also internally audited and criticized the security procedures not only at Los Alamos National Laboratory, but also at Sandia National Laboratories, Lawrence Livermore Lab, and the Savannah River Complex in South Carolina.

DOE Officially Opens Bidding Competition for LANL | Top

On 20 May 2005, the US Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) issued its final request for proposals to manage Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). According to the request, the winner of the bidding competition will be granted a seven-year contract for between $63 and $79 million a year, with an option for a 13-year extension of the contract.

The DOE’s previous contract with the UC was for only $8 million annually.

Bidders will be evaluated on a 100-point system, with the greatest emphasis being on three of seven criteria: science and technology, the competency of their chosen lab director, and ability to manage lab operations (including security, safety, and environmental cleanup).

The request for proposals avoids stating that LANL will begin manufacturing large amounts of plutonium pits, but rather emphasizes the need for bidders to be flexible in case manufacturing does become a central program there.

The NNSA plans to name the competition’s winner on 1 December 2005. The new manager will actually take over in July 2006.

LANL has been managed by the University of California since its inception in 1943 under a series of no-bid contracts. In the face of repeated financial and security scandals at the lab, the DOE announced in 2004 that it would open the bidding competition for the first time.

LANL Bidding Field Narrows to Two: Northrop Grumman Drops Out | Top

On 26 May 2005, military-industrial giant Northrop Grumman withdrew its interest in competing for management of the Los Alamos National Laboratory, stating in a press release that “it can best provide… support (for the US Department of Energy) through other key programs.” The company was placed at a severe disadvantage in the bidding competition following the formation of the University of California-Bechtel and University of Texas-Lockheed Martin consortiums.

Meanwhile, UT Chancellor Mark G. Yudof recently said that he expects the UT-Lockheed team to formally submit their bid later this summer.

Tri-Valley Communities Against a Radioactive Environment (Tri-Valley CAREs) in Livermore, CA, and Nuke Watch in New Mexico also intend to submit a bid. For more information, read “’Watchdog Partnership’ To Submit Bid for Los Alamos Nuclear Laboratory” in the February 2005 Sunflower at: http://www.wagingpeace.org/menu/resources/sunflower/2005/02_sunflower.htm#9c.

NNSA Proposes Pantex Fine | Top

On 17 May 2005, the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) proposed a $123,750 fine against the BWXT Pantex laboratory in Texas. The fine would be the largest ever against a Pantex contractor.

According to an NNSA investigation, Pantex workers, while dismantling a W-56 warhead last January, found a crack in a high-explosive charge. The workers taped the charge and attempted to place it in a safe position, but the crack expanded and technicians had to stop work.

Department of Energy investigators say that Pantex officials failed to conduct an appropriate safety review before they ordered the high-explosive charge removed.

UC Regents Vote to Bid for LANL Contract; Students Stage Dramatic Protest | Top

On 25 May 2005, over 50 University of California students, joined by a handful of nuclear abolition activists from across the state, converged on the University of California Regents’ meeting at UC San Francisco in a spirited display of opposition to the UC’s partnership with Bechtel Corporation and continued involvement in the nuclear weapons business.

The Regents had announced only days before that they would vote at the meeting on whether to enter a partnership with Bechtel Corporation, BWXT Technologies, Washington Group International, and New Mexico’s three state university systems to bid to continue to manage the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL).

During the public comment period, one student after another rose to the microphone to stand and speak out against the UC-Bechtel relationship, the UC’s involvement in the prospective manufacturing of new plutonium pits at Los Alamos, and the conflicts of interest among various members of the Regents who are tied to the nation’s nuclear weapons complex, among other topics.

After 30 minutes, the Regents closed the public comment period despite numerous students’ still being signed up to speak, prompting the protesters to break into chants of “We Will Not Be Silenced in the Face of UC Violence,” “Let Us Speak,” and “Student Power; Regents, Cowards.” The Regents left the room, before several University police officers entered and declared the protest group an “unlawful assembly.” The students eventually agreed to remain relatively silent in exchange for not being arrested.

Two hours later, after the Regents’ Finance Committee and "Oversight of the Energy Department Laboratories" committees voted unanimously to recommend that the UC join the bidding competition, students once again disrupted the meeting with boisterous chants – this time, “We Vote No!”. The Regents once again left the room, and the police finally coaxed the students to go outside, where they staged a spirited rally while donning shirts that spelled out “BOOKS NOT BOMBS.”

The protest was by far the largest at a Regents meeting over the issues of University lab management in at least 15 years. The majority of students who took part are members of the UC Santa Cruz group Students Against War (SAW).

The following day, after the students went home, the Regents voted 11-1 to officially enter the DOE bidding competition. In contrast to the previous day, the Board devoted only a few minutes to its discussion of the bid.

The sole dissenter was Regent Gary D. Novack, vice president of the UC Alumni Associations. Novack told the San Francisco Chronicle that he worries that “continuing our relationship with the Los Alamos National Laboratory may defocus UC from its primary mission of teaching, research and service to the people of California.”

Foundation to Hold National Youth Conference on Nuclear Issues | Top

In an effort to broaden its Youth Outreach Initiative on a national basis, the Foundation will host a week-long national youth conference focusing on nuclear organizing and activism from 15-21 August at the University of California at Santa Barbara. The conference will bring together some 35 to 40 young people to educate and empower them to become more effective leaders in their work to oppose nuclear weapons. The conference will serve to leverage the passion of these young people in working separately and together, and the Foundation will be a support structure for these efforts following the conference. For more information or to fill out the online application, please visit: http://www.wagingpeace.org/menu/programs/youth-outreach/index.htm#youth-conference.

Peace Poetry Awards Deadline | Top

Don’t miss a chance to enter in the Foundation’s 10th Annual Barbara Mandigo Kelly Peace Poetry Awards! The deadline for entry is Friday, 1 July 2005.

The Barbara Mandigo Kelly Peace Poetry Awards are an annual series of awards to encourage poets to explore and illuminate positive visions of peace and the human spirit. The Poetry Awards include three age categories: Adult, Youth 13-18, and Youth 12 & Under. For a list of complete guidelines and winning poems from previous years, please visit: http://www.wagingpeace.org/menu/programs/awards-&-contests/bmk-contest/index.htm

60 Years After Creation of the Atomic Bomb, Hard Answers are Easy to Find
New Web Partnership Brings Nuclear Information to Citizens, Educators | Top

July 2005 marks the 60th anniversary of the dawn of the Atomic Age. For six decades, nuclear weapons have figured prominently in the plans and fears of nations and individuals alike. Recent events have brought concern over nuclear issues back to a level not seen since the end of the Cold War.

For people looking to form an educated opinion and to gauge a better understanding of the complexity of nuclear issues and the actions of their government, information can be hard to come by and, when found, even harder to understand.

How is a nuclear weapon made? What are the international policies about nuclear arms currently in place? How does nuclear power factor into the discussion? What can be done with nuclear by-products? How did all of this begin? Is nuclear terrorism a real threat? Why are North Korea and Iran pursuing nuclear programs? The answers to these questions, and literally thousands of others, are answered through the newly created online collaboration, Nuclear Pathways, http://nuclearpathways.org

Launched as a nuclear information clearing house, Nuclear Pathways currently integrates four sites, each with its own specialization and mission. The content of each site complements that of the others, providing access to comprehensive, and comprehensible information covering issues from the scientific to the philosophical, from the political to the historical to the ethical, and myriad other topics in between.

The project is a component of the National Science Digital Library ( http://nsdl.org ), funded by the Division of Undergraduate Education of the National Science Foundation, and includes the following affiliated websites:

Alsos.wlu.edu

The Alsos Digital Library for Nuclear Issues is an annotated, searchable bibliography for the study of nuclear issues. The collection includes annotations of over 1,600 books, articles, films, CD-ROMs, and websites, all of which have been reviewed by members of the library's prestigious National Advisory Board. It is the site’s mission to make the history and current status of nuclear issues more accessible and comprehensible to the general public as well as to students and educators in the many fields influenced by the forces of the nuclear age. Based at Washington and Lee University, the site provides specific bibliographies for the other three Nuclear Pathways sites.

AtomicArchive.com

A companion to the award-winning CD-ROM, Atomic Archive: Enhanced Edition, this site explores the science, history and consequences of the atomic age. The site describes how nuclear weapons work, the science behind them and the effects of their use. The history section chronicles the important discoveries and decisions leading up to the development of the first atomic bomb, up through recent events in today's post-Cold War era. The site allows users to enrich their understanding of the people and events of the nuclear age by perusing an archive of compelling materials including photos, film clips, and primary source documents—some recently declassified—and a comprehensive timeline that marks milestones in nuclear history. The website has been acknowledged by National Science Teachers Association and Scientific America as one of the top science and historical education websites.

ChemCases.com

ChemCases.com, based at Kennesaw State University and supported by the National Science Foundation, is a collection of 13 case studies linking decision making and policy with basic chemical sciences. The site’s nuclear chemistry unit, prepared by Prof. Frank Settle of Washington and Lee University, provides the fundamental physical and chemical basis for applying, analyzing and evaluating today's issues of nuclear power, waste and weapons. ChemCases.com has been cited by AAAS (through SCIENCE) and by Scientific American as one of the top science education sites on the web. Visitors have opened more than 3 million ChemCases.com pages since 2001.

NuclearFiles.org

From nuclear proliferation to nuclear testing, Nuclear Files provides access to primary source documents, historical and background information and analysis, data and graphs on everything from Hiroshima to North Korea. The site also offers biographies of key individuals, as well as a media gallery with photos, video and audio clips. The site connects educators from various disciplines, offering a resource section with study guides and sample syllabi for various courses. Nuclear Files also features a timeline of the history of the Nuclear Age, as well as the latest developments in nuclear issues. Nuclear Files.org is a project of Nuclear Age Peace Foundation.

The Nuclear Pathways sites bring together every aspect of one of the most crucial issues of our time to the people who need the information the most – ordinary citizens, educators and students.

For more information visit http://nuclearpathways.org

"If I were to characterize U.S. and NATO nuclear policies in one sentence, I would say they are immoral, illegal, militarily unnecessary, very, very dangerous in terms of the risk of inadvertent or accidental launch and destructive of the non-proliferation regime that has served us so well.”

Robert McNamara, Former US Secretary of Defense
Speaking on a panel at the Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference
24 May 2005

"It is my opinion that John Bolton is the poster child of what someone in the diplomatic corps should not be…. This is not behavior that should be endorsed as the face of the United States to the world community at the United Nations.”

Senator George Voinovich (R-OH)
Speaking at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on John Bolton
12 May 2005  

"Space superiority is not our birthright, but it is our destiny….Space superiority is our day-to-day mission. Space supremacy is our vision for the future."

Gen. Lance Lord, USAF
From a New York Times article entitled Air Force Seeks Bush's Approval for Space Weapons Programs
18 May 2005

"Arming repressive regimes while simultaneously proclaiming a campaign against tyranny undermines the credibility of the United States and makes it harder to hold other nations to high standards of conduct on human rights and other key issues.”

Frida Berrigan, World Policy Institute Senior Research Associate
Remarks made during release of US Weapons at War 2005, available at http://www.worldpolicy.org/projects/arms/reports/wawjune2005.html
25 May 2005

“I believe we should compete for the Los Alamos contract for three essential reasons: the excellence in science that we bring to the table, the strength of the management team we have put together and the contribution this unique combination of players can make to the nation.”

Robert Dynes, University of California President
Remarks from a prepared statement on the University of California’s role as steward of the nation’s nuclear laboratories.
25 May 2005

“I have never been more fearful of a nuclear detonation than now.… There is a greater than 50 percent probability of a nuclear strike on U.S. targets within a decade.”

William J. Perry, Former US Secretary of Defense
Remarks made at a meeting of the National Academy of Sciences
Summer 2004