For Immediate Release: Contacts:
Monday, August 2, 2004 See
information below
National Media Statements
Alliance for Nuclear Accountability: “Nearly
60 years into the nuclear age, Americans' health and safety are in acute and
growing danger from the Department of Energy's nuclear weapons complex. The
Alliance for Nuclear Accountability and its 33 member groups will join hundreds
of other community groups in the BE SAFE network in opposing nuclear weapons
policies. These policies violate US laws and threaten our health, environment
and our national security. We oppose the US government's violation of
international treaties to pursue a destabilizing buildup of nuclear weapons,
and its refusal to clean up deadly radioactive waste from the nuclear weapons
complex, which violates federal law.” Susan Gordon, Director, 206-547-3175.
Center
for Health, Environment & Justice: “Under tremendous
international pressure, the U.S. agreed to take precautionary action on nuclear
weapons with a cessation of the nuclear arms race and disarmament at the
Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference in 2000. Now, the Bush
Administration has reversed these disarmament plans with alarming proposals to
develop new nuclear weapons. While
funding for nuclear arms increases, environmental cleanups are being
jeopardized. The BE SAFE Network calls
on national leaders to halt the weapons build up, reinstate precautionary
disarmament plans and establish nuclear waste cleanup policies that are
protective of our children. As we commemorate the anniversaries of the Trinity
atomic detonation and the Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombing, we call on our
policymakers to heed the lessons learned from these tragedies.” Lois Marie Gibbs, Executive Director,
Falls Church, VA, 703-237-2249 or 703-627-9483 (Cell).
Global Resource Action Center for the Environment
(GRACE) “In the 60 years since
the devastating bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the US has spent over five
trillion dollars on nuclear weapons, created more than 4,500 contaminated sites
covering tens of thousands of acres, secretly tested radiation on 23,000
American civilians in about 1,400 projects over 30 years, including mentally
disabled children, mental patients, poor women and US soldiers. More than
200,000 US troops were ordered to observe nuclear test detonations and were
exposed to radiation. Nuclear waste
remains lethal toxic for more than 250,000 years—a virtually eternity, when we
know that all of recorded history spans only 5,000 years. We need to stop producing any more nuclear
materials—military and civilian—and devote our precious intellectual and
financial resources to containing and safeguarding the toxic legacy of the
nuclear age.” Alice Slater, President, New York, 212-726-9161
Greenpeace International: “At this time when we are all concerned
about security and proliferation of nuclear weapons and materials, there is no
more urgent time for citizen activism to confront this danger. The BE SAFE Campaign’s opposition to the
Bush Administration plans to usher in a new generation of nuclear weapons is
essential if we are to turn back those plans and to step closer to the dream of
a nuclear-free world. Recalling the words
of Frederick Douglass – ‘Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did
and it never will.’ – I support the noble demands of the Clean Up, Don’t Build
Up campaign.” Tom Clements, Senior Adviser, Nuclear Campaign, Amsterdam, The
Netherlands, 31 20 523 6222.
Indigenous Environmental Network: “For more that 50
years, the legacy of the U.S. nuclear chain, from exploration and processing of
uranium, to weapons production and testing, to nuclear power and disposal of
radioactive spent fuel rods has had devastating health and ecological affects
on American Indian, Alaska Natives, Pacific Islanders and their traditional
lands and waters. As communities that have experienced first hand exposures—we
support the BE SAFE campaign that would move America beyond uncertainty in
decision-making to a precautionary approach that would take protective measures
when there is scientific evidence that an activity threatens wildlife, the
environment, or human health—even in the absence of full scientific certainty.
The future of America and Mother Earth depends on it.” Tom B.K. Goldtooth, Director, Bemidji, Minnesota,
218-751-4967.
Military
Toxics Project: “Depleted uranium (DU)
weapons are a perfect example of why the precautionary principle is critical
for the protection of the environment and our health. DU is a by-product of
enriching uranium for nuclear weapons and power plants. Since we cannot safely
dispose of nuclear waste, the Departments of Energy and Defense creatively
chose to use this nuclear waste in weapons. However, the neighboring
communities of DU weapons manufacturers, enrichment facilities and testing
grounds have all become contaminated. There are high rates of illness and
cancer among workers and neighbors of those facilities. Where the U.S. has used
DU weapons in war, there are reports of increased cancer, birth defects and
other illnesses among U.S. soldiers and civilians. However, no conclusive health or environmental studies have been
done. While the Pentagon and Congress battle it out—people are dying. We know
DU is radioactive and toxic—we know radiation and toxics kill. The
precautionary principle means simply—better safe than sorry. Therefore, until the Pentagon can prove DU
is harmless, we must stop producing, manufacturing, testing and using DU
weapons.” Tara Thornton, Executive Director, Lewiston, ME, 207-783-5091.