From mosa@netcom.com Fri Sep 22 17:06:32 1995 From: mosa@netcom.com (Michele Lord) To: dave@sgi Newsgroups: alt.culture.hawaii,soc.culture.french,soc.culture.asian.american,soc.culture.indian,alt.fan.jai-maharaj,soc.culture.japan,soc.culture.filipino,soc.culture.indonesia,soc.culture.malaysia,soc.culture.native,soc.culture.australian,soc.culture.new-zealand,soc.culture.native.american,so From: jai@mantra.com (Dr. Jai Maharaj) Subject: Physicians Condemn French Nuclear Testing X-Request: PGP-Encrypted E-Mail is Preferred! References: <42q9qj$n1b@ixnews4.ix.netcom.com> <42thfl$2f7@agate.berkeley.edu> <432s74$8ju$1@sydney.DIALix.oz.au> <43s965$ifq@enigma.uniserve.com> Originator: jai@caprica.com Sender: news@caprica.com Organization: Mantra Corporation, USA Date: Thu, 21 Sep 1995 22:42:50 GMT X-Newsreader: MantraNews X-Pgp-Fingerprint: 77 CD 46 0A B2 99 34 25 8E 8A A8 96 7F 2C E9 46 Message-ID: Reply-To: Dr. Jai Maharaj Lines: 314 -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- /** psr.bulletins: 62.0 **/ ** Topic: Support Boycott of French Products ** ** Written 7:28 AM Sep 7, 1995 by psrnatl in cdp:psr.bulletins ** FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Holly Richardson September 6, 1995 202-898-0150 PHYSICIANS CONDEMN FRENCH NUCLEAR TESTING U.S. Disarmament Group Joins Boycott of French Products (Washington, DC) -- Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR) condemned France's nuclear weapons test in the South Pacific today and announced that it is urging U.S. consumers to join the international boycott of French consumer goods in protest over President Chirac's resumption of nuclear weapons testing. The group, along with a broad coalition of disarmament, environmental, peace, and religious organizations, expects the boycott to put pressure on French companies to exert their economic influence and encourage Chirac to end all nuclear weapons testing. "France's resumption of environmentally damaging nuclear weapons tests flies in the face of international consensus to end all nuclear testing," stated Robert K. Musil, Ph.D., PSR Executive Director. "Mr. Chirac's execution of these tests so soon after announcing his support for a truly comprehensive test ban treaty (CTBT) could undermine the international movement toward non-proliferation and severely impede progress in the CTBT talks currently underway at the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva." Since 1961, PSR has worked to end all nuclear weapons testing. PSR is the U.S. affiliate of the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War, which was awarded the 1985 Nobel Peace Prize for its "considerable service to mankind by spreading authoritative information and by creating an awareness of the catastrophic consequences of atomic warfare." "President Chirac's decision to resume testing stains the image of his government and may harm the economy of France," said Daryl Kimball, PSR Associate Director of Policy on nuclear weapons issues. "We hold Mr. Chirac directly responsible for any economic consequences of this boycott. He has the power to end the boycott by immediately cancelling additional nuclear weapons tests." One of the goals of the boycott is to engage Americans in the movement to end testing and abolish all nuclear weapons. The groups are asking the heads of French-owned companies to publicly state their opposition to the French nuclear tests and to urge Chirac to stop the tests. The coalition groups will ask their members to end the boycott of individual companies as evidence is received from French CEOs that they have contacted Chirac and expressed his or her opposition to the nuclear testing. - 30 - PSR is a leading organization of nearly 20,000 health professionals and supporters working in 80 U.S. chapters to eliminate weapons of mass destruction, promote a sustainable environment, and address the root causes of violence. PEACE ACTION * PHYSICIANS FOR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY * 20/20 VISION NATIONAL PROJECT * WOMEN'S ACTION FOR NEW DIRECTIONS * WOMEN'S INTERNATIONAL PEACE INTIATIVES * WOMEN STRIKE FOR PEACE September 7, 1995 TO: PSR Chapters and Friend and Colleague Organizations RE: Request for Support of Boycott of French Products to Protest Renewed Nuclear Testing After several meetings of Washington, D.C.-based peace, disarmament, environmental and religious organizations on the subject of France's proposed series of nuclear testing, we have decided that as a part of our efforts to stop all nuclear weapons testing and to achieve a truly comprehensive test ban treaty by 1996, we will urge our members and supporters to join in a general boycott of consumer goods produced in France and/or by French-owned firms. We expect France to conduct the second of its series of tests as soon as next week. China is expected to conduct 1-2 more tests in 1995 and 1-2 more tests in early 1996. Goals of the Campaign: The campaign seeks to encourage American citizens to participate in a growing international boycott of French products in protest of President Chirac's decision to end the French nuclear testing moratorium and conduct 7-8 tests on Mururoa and Fangataufa Atolls in the South Pacific between September 1995 and May 1996. The campaign will encourage a general consumer goods boycott and will highlight a number of well-known French products. The campaign also seeks to encourage French-owned firms to express their opposition to President Chirac's plan to conduct the tests and to alert our memberships about which French-owned firms have publicly expressed such views. The campaign has/will send letters to the CEOs of French firms exporting goods/operating in the U.S. urging them to publicly state their opposition to French tests and to write to President Chirac to urge him to stop the tests. The letter also informs them that upon receipt of a copy of their public statement and their communication to President Chirac, we will inform our members and exclude their company from our boycott (attached). The boycott campaign formally began when France broke its current nuclear test moratorium and will end when France reinstates its no testing policy and/or cancels the tests it has proposed to conduct. The campaign encourages American citizens to write, call, and/or fax President Chirac and the CEOs of those firms who have not expressed opposition to continued nuclear testing. In addition to the boycott campaign, our organizations have organized a "Rapid Response Network" to alert citizens in cities across the U.S. when/if France or China conduct nuclear tests and ensure that peaceful demonstrations of protest occur at major French and Chinese governmental, corporate and/or cultural centers in the U.S. Rationale for the Campaign: The boycott campaign has been initiated in order to pressure France to abide by the current U.S., U.K. and Russian moratoria on nuclear weapons testing and refrain from conducting nuclear tests in the South Pacific. We believe that French nuclear tests should not occur because: o French nuclear testing in the South Pacific has been condemned by the international community -- especially by Australia, New Zealand and nations throughout the Pacific and Asia. Recent public opinion polls in France show that over 60% of the population is opposed to renewed testing. o French nuclear tests would further damage the fragile environment of the Mururoa and Fangataufa atolls and will endanger the broader South Pacific environment. o French nuclear testing would severely impede progress towards a Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT). France has recently said that it would support a CTBT that bans "all nuclear weapon tests" by 1996. However, renewed nuclear weapons testing by France would upset progress at the test ban talks which are now underway in Geneva. o French nuclear testing would severely undermine the international non-proliferation regime. France's decision to test is a betrayal of the commitment expressed by the participants of the recent Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Extension Conference to conclude a CTBT "no later than 1996." In addition, the nuclear weapons states, including France, promised to exercise the "utmost restraint" with regard to nuclear testing. o France does not need additional nuclear weapons tests to uphold the safety and reliability of its arsenal, nor does it need tests to modernize its strategic nuclear forces. The marginally useful information that these tests might provide to French weapons designers is clearly not worth the damage the tests would effect on nuclear non-proliferation efforts and the environment. What You Can Do 1) Join the Boycott Campaign: my organization would like to endorse the boycott campaign and sign sign the campaign statement (attached). 2) Sign the letter to CEOs: please let us know the name of the individual from your organization who should be listed. 3) Join rapid response network: send me more information about local and regional activities. 4) Provide other support (please describe). Please mail or fax your response as soon as possible to: "Boycott", c/o CTB Clearinghouse, 1819 H Street NW, Suite 660, Washington, DC 20006 or fax it to 202-862-9762. If you have questions please call Fran Teplitz at Peace Action (202-862-9740), Daryl Kimball at Physicians for Social Responsibility (202-898-0150), or Naila Bolus at 20/20 Vision National Project (202-833-2020). End Nuclear Weapons Testing: Boycott French Products The following organizations join together in condemning the French government's decision to resume nuclear weapons tests. President Chirac's decision is an affront to the international community and represents an unjustifiable assault on the environment, human health and the cause of international nuclear non-proliferation. The French government has faced a growing storm of international protest and condemnation from citizens, organizations and governments around the globe. President Chirac has wilfully turned this protest aside stating that French national security requires nuclear weapons testing--eight tests are planned by France in the South Pacific between September 1995 and May of 1996 in order to develop two new nuclear warheads. These plans directly contradict a moratorium on nuclear testing honored by the US, Russia and the UK since 1992. In addition, French testing undermines efforts to negotiate a global, comprehensive ban on nuclear weapons testing which is currently under negotiation. We can not and will not accept this threat to world peace and international security. It is clear that President Chirac has not heeded the will of the international community and further decisive action is required. Therefore, the following anti-nuclear, environmental, human-rights, labor, peace and religious organizations have decided, after much deliberation, to join together in coalition to launch a comprehensive boycott of French products and services until such time as the French government stops its nuclear tests and joins the international moratorium on nuclear tests pending completion of negotiations for a Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT). We therefore call on all people concerned about the future of our planet to stop buying all French goods and services with the twin goals of sending both an economic as well as political message to President Chirac. We feel that broad public participation in this boycott will be the strongest statement which can be made against French nuclear weapon testing. President Chirac has been advised that his resumption of nuclear testing would precipitate an international boycott of French products. His government has disregarded this message and has instead chosen to victimize French citizens as well as those around the globe who are threatened by French nuclear testing and the proliferation risk presented by the French tests. Nonetheless, we do not wish to penalize French companies and their employees and dependents who oppose French nuclear testing. Therefore, we pledge to call on the public not to boycott French goods that are produced by companies that publicly declare opposition to nuclear testing and send formal letters of protest to French President Chirac demanding the immediate cessation of nuclear weapons tests. Peace Action * Physicians for Social Responsibility * 20/20 Vision National Project * Women's Action for New Directions * Women's International Peace Intiatives * Women Strike for Peace 8/30/95 DRAFT Date CEO Company Address France Dear CEO: Peace, religious, environmental and labor organizations in the United States, representing hundreds of thousands of consumers, are actively pursuing plans for a boycott of French products. We are pursuing this strategy in response to President Chirac's plans to annul France's nuclear testing moratorium, and invite you to join the effort to uphold the French test ban. As you are no doubt aware, a boycott was launched in several countries earlier this summer and is gaining momentum. The boycott will be in effect until France reinstates its no testing policy and cancels the tests proposed in the South Pacific this year and the next. Understanding the economic consequences of a boycott, we are adopting this strategy after careful consideration and research, and only after the failure of repeated efforts to encourage President Chirac to maintain the testing moratorium. We are now alerting major French corporations to this boycott as we compile a sample list of French companies/products for U.S. consumers to boycott. We wish to avoid, however, penalizing any corporations that have already expressed opposition to President Chirac's plans for a new series of eight nuclear tests in the Mururoa and Fangataufa atolls beginning this summer. As a vital economic force in your country, we ask that you exercise your influence, if you have not already done so, and urge President Chirac to uphold the French moratorium on nuclear testing established in 1992. Once we have received a copy of your communication with the President, we will inform our network and the media, and exclude your company from our boycott. Thank you very much for your attention and involvement in promoting an end to nuclear testing. A decision by France to forego additional tests would expedite the negotiations underway to finalize a Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, prevent further environmental damage, and promote a new course for global security. For your information, the attached pages further detail the dangers of failure to cancel the proposed new tests, and provide a profile of the organizations supporting this boycott. We look forward to hearing soon about (Name of Company's) encouragement of president Chirac to preserve the French moratorium on nuclear testing. Sincerely yours, ** End of text from cdp:psr.bulletins ** *************************************************************************** This material came from PeaceNet, a non-profit progressive networking service. 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