Subject: NucNews 99/12/09 Briefs - De-Alerting; Y2K; Workers Safety; Date: Thu Reply-To: prop1@prop1.org Sender: owner-nukenet@envirolink.org X-Listprocessor-Version: 8.2.07 -- ListProc(tm) by CREN Please address replies to articles to the original publisher. Please send NucNews copies? Refuting false information appreciated! -------------------------------------------------------------------------- [The full text can be found at http://prop1.org/nucnews/9912nn/991209nn.htm} * Alliance Demands Nuclear Stand Down * Back From the Brink Campaign Launched in D.C. Today * Militia Leader Arrested in Nuclear Plot * Y2K WORLD ATOMIC SAFETY HOLIDAY campaign (Y2K WASH) * Ukraine Armenia Nuclear Plants Lagging on Y2K * Blast at a Nuclear Bomb Factory Injures 3 * 10 injured in weapons plant explosion * Tennessee Weapons Plant Shut After Accident * Workers still waiting for health screening Piketon plant * Astronaut Radiation Limits Urged * Nuclear Waste Group Issues Sanction (N.C.) * Love Canal Revitalized in Niagara * China Denies Building Missile Base Near Taiwan * Clinton concerned about missile threat to Taiwan But he stresses one-China policy * World Talks About Policy on Iraq * Japan To Overhaul Rocket Program * N. Korea Reactor Deal Expected * Get Navy Out of Vieques * Navy Delays Puerto Rico Talks * Protesters Force Standoff at Puerto Rico Bomb Range * Yeltsin Angrily Touts Russia's Nuclear Arsenal * Cold Still Felt Between U.S.-Russia * U.S. Orders Russian Diplomat to Leave After Spying Arrest * Luck Exposes Russian Spy Operation * Timeline of Arrest of Suspected Spy * Russian Minister: New Weapons Needed Yeltsin Lashes Out At Clinton * U.S. Wants Good Ties With Russia Despite Spy Flap * World Silent As Russia Hits Chechnya --------- * Alliance Demands Nuclear Stand Down Associated Press December 9 1999 Filed at 4:46 p.m. EST By The Associated Press http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/w/AP-Nuclear-Targets.html http://www2.nando.net/noframes/story/0 2107 500140563-500166011-500606232-0 00.html WASHINGTON (AP) -- Worried that the world could be blasted into a nuclear disaster within minutes a new alliance is trying to persuade the U.S. government to take 5 000 nuclear weapons off ``hair-trigger alert'' to prompt a similar step by Moscow. ``Many of our citizens believe we already have done this '' said Bruce Blair a nuclear control expert who joined politicians former military control officers and other antinuclear experts to announce a campaign Thursday to get U.S. nuclear weapons off alert status. Despite a 1994 pact by President Clinton and Russian President Boris Yeltsin not to aim nuclear missiles at each other's cities 5 000 warheads on each side ``remain loaded for wartime targets that can be activated in seconds '' Blair said. A launch order would take only about 2 minutes to execute he said. * Back From the Brink Campaign Launched in D.C. Today National Press Building press conference 10 a.m. Dec. 9 1999: Report by Ellen Thomas prop1@prop1.org Details about getting the videotape Back from the Brink, the organizing packet fact sheets etc. can be obtained at http://www.DEALERT.org (see below) 1-877-55-BESAFE. Here's a quick link for writing Congress and media urging dealerting: http://congress.nw.dc.us/wnd/ * Militia Leader Arrested in Nuclear Plot ABC Newswire Thursday December 09 09:06 PM EST From: "Scott Portzline" Subject: Crystal River N-Plant identified as target in bomb plot TAMPA Fla. (APBnews.com) -- A militia leader is in jail for plotting to blow up a Florida nuclear power plant and black out Atlanta by destroying electrical facilities federal authorities said today. Donald Beauregard 31 of St. Petersburg planned to carry out the attacks by stealing explosives and weapons from National Guard armories in central Florida according to the U.S. Attorney's Office here. Beauregard was arrested Wednesday after he was indicted by a federal grand jury on conspiracy and weapons charges. * Y2K WORLD ATOMIC SAFETY HOLIDAY campaign (Y2K WASH) Date: Thu 09 Dec 1999 13:36:36 -0500 From: michael mariotte Organization: NIRS Dear friends- This week the Y2K WORLD ATOMIC SAFETY HOLIDAY campaign (Y2K WASH) is putting maximum pressure on the White House to issue an executive order to Give the Nukes a Rest for Y2K. This would also set a much-needed example for other world leaders. WE NEED EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU TO SHOW PRESIDENT CLINTON THIS WEEK (DEC. 8-9) THAT THE WHOLE WORLD IS WATCHING AND WANTS IMMEDIATE ACTION! (Fine to keep calling & faxing after that too but we need a flood on these two days. Please don't hesitate to forward this message to everyone you know!) * Ukraine Armenia Nuclear Plants Lagging on Y2K (Richard Murphy Yahoo! News/Reuters) http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/19991209/tc/yk_nuclear_1.html * Blast at a Nuclear Bomb Factory Injures 3 New York Times December 9 1999 By THE NEW YORK TIMES http://www.nytimes.com/yr/mo/day/news/national/nuke-blast.html WASHINGTON -- A chemical explosion Wednesday morning at a nuclear bomb factory in Oak Ridge Tenn. injured three workers one seriously and contaminated a fourth worker with uranium. The incident occurred about 9:30 a.m. as workers tried to clean up a mixture of sodium and potassium that had been spilled last Friday. Something possibly water reacted with the sodium to cause the explosion plant officials said. * 10 injured in weapons plant explosion USA Today 12/09/99- Updated 02:13 PM ET http://www.usatoday.com/news/digest/nd1.htm#soldier OAK RIDGE Tenn. - A chemical explosion at a nuclear weapons plant injured 10 workers - including one seriously - who were cleaning a welding area that had been shuttered since 1993. The Energy Department was investigating the Wednesday morning explosion at the Y-12 nuclear weapons plant. No nuclear materials were affected officials said. Three workers were hospitalized for burns or smoke inhalation. * Tennessee Weapons Plant Shut After Accident Reuters Updated 12:39 PM ET December 9 1999 http://webcrawler-news.excite.com/news/r/991209/12/news-nuclear-accident OAK RIDGE Tenn. (Reuters) - Three workers were being treated at hospitals for burns on Thursday following a chemical accident at a U.S. government nuclear weapons facility officials said. No nuclear material was involved in Wednesday's accident and there was no danger to anyone outside the plant according to Bill Wilburn spokesman for the Department of Energy facility. * Workers still waiting for health screening Piketon plant Despite promises the federal government hasn't come up with the money. Columbus Dispatch Wednesday December 08 1999 By Jonathan Riskind http://www.dispatch.com/pan/localarchive/nobuxnws.html WASHINGTON -- They promised. But federal officials haven't kept their pledge to pay for expanded health screening of current and former uranium-enrichment workers in southern Ohio Kentucky and Tennessee. The federal budget recently passed included $7 million for the programs until Congress removed it in last-minute maneuvering. Some Republicans in Congress say the Energy Department could pay for the program by reallocating money but that hasn't happened. * Astronaut Radiation Limits Urged New York Times December 9 1999 Filed at 5:04 p.m. EST By The Associated Press http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/w/AP-Astronauts-Radiation.html WASHINGTON (AP) -- U.S. and Russian astronauts working on the international space station should limit their exposure to radiation during intense solar activity a scientific advisory panel recommended Thursday. Plans for construction of the space station by 2004 call for some 43 space shuttle missions and about 1 500 space walks. This work will coincide with the peak of the 11-year cycle of solar activity next year the National Research Council noted in its report. * Nuclear Waste Group Issues Sanction New York Times December 9 1999 Filed at 3:00 p.m. EST By The Associated Press http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/a/AP-Low-Level-Waste.html COLLEGE PARK Ga. (AP) -- A commission set up to develop a disposal site for low-level radioactive waste in the Southeast demanded Thursday that North Carolina return $80 million in start-up money and pay a $10 million fine for not building the dump. The 14-member Southeast Compact Commission voted 12-0. North Carolina's representatives did not attend. The commission also threatened to take North Carolina to court if the state rejects the sanctions. North Carolina Attorney General Michael F. Easley had no immediate comment. The state has contended that it withdrew from the compact in July and that the commission has no authority to impose sanctions. Eight Southeastern states created the compact in 1984 to share responsibility for disposing of low-level radioactive waste created by power plants. North Carolina was chosen in 1986 to develop a site to replace an older one in Barnwell S.C. The state was given $80 million in development funds from the commission and Easley said the state spent an additional $50 million of its own money. The project never got beyond the planning stages. North Carolina regulators never licensed the facility because of environmental objections. South Carolina pulled out of the compact in 1995. The six other states have no alternative for a new regional site although Barnwell still accepts waste. Tennessee Commissioner Michael Mobley said Wednesday there is no hope North Carolina ever will build the facility. * Love Canal Revitalized in Niagara Associated Press December 9 1999 Filed at 10:59 a.m. EDT http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/a/AP-Love-Canal.html NIAGARA FALLS N.Y. (AP) -- Twenty years ago when 7 500 residents left Love Canal it seemed the area would never again be a community. But the agency given the task of revitalizing the neighborhoods has held its last meeting. Agency officials said their work to bring people back to the area which was declared a federal disaster in 1978 because of chemical contamination is done. The Love Canal Revitalization Agency has renovated 240 homes in Love Canal and sold all but one. Seniors who once lived in Love Canal have returned. Young couples have bought their first home there.... Thousands of tons of dioxin PCBs and other chemicals had been buried at the site along the Niagara River. The dumping ground was one of areas that led to the creation of the Superfund program which provides federal funding for the cleanup of the worst environmental disasters. Some warn that Love Canal isn't ready to be set free. Lois Gibbs the leader of the Love Canal Homeowners Association in the 1970s and 1980s said the legacy of Love Canal will never be over. * China Denies Building Missile Base Near Taiwan Reuters Updated 5:21 AM ET December 9 1999 http://webcrawler-news.excite.com/news/r/991209/05/international-china-taiwan BEIJING (Reuters) - China denied on Thursday a newspaper report that it was building a second short-range missile base near Taiwan and urged the island to do more to improve bilateral ties. "This report is based entirely on fabricated rumors Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue told reporters when asked to comment on a report in the Washington Times newspaper that China was constructing a second short-range missile base at Xianyou, about 135 miles from Taiwan. * Clinton concerned about missile threat to Taiwan But he stresses one-China policy Associated Press Washington Times 12/9/99 By Bill Gertz bill.gertz@washtimes.com http://208.246.212.80/world/news1-19991209.htm President Clinton voiced grave concern" yesterday over the growing Chinese missile threat to Taiwan including construction of two short-range bases near the island. "China is modernizing its military in a lot of ways but our policy on China is crystal clear. We believe there is one China Mr. Clinton said when asked about a report on the missile bases in yesterday's editions of The Washington Times. The dispute between the mainland and Taiwan has to be resolved through cross-strait dialogue the president said. And we oppose and would view with grave concern any kind of violent action." * World Talks About Policy on Iraq New York Times December 9 1999 Filed at 9:33 p.m. EST By The Associated Press http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/i/AP-UN-Iraq-Brinkmanship.html UNITED NATIONS (AP) -- It's high-level political brinkmanship. Telephone traffic between world capitals has been heavy. The hot topic again is Iraq. After months of negotiations the United States and Britain are pressing the U.N. Security Council to vote by Saturday on a new policy toward Iraq. But so far there is no indication of how Russia a close Iraq ally will vote on the new resolution. * Japan To Overhaul Rocket Program New York Times December 9 1999 Filed at 1:16 p.m. EDT By The Associated Press http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/i/AP-Japan-Rocket.html TOKYO (AP) -- The Japanese government announced a major overhaul of its rocket development program Thursday raising questions about whether the technological powerhouse can extend its expertise into outer space. The decision to halt the development of the troubled H-2 rocket -- a key element of the space program -- followed two failed launches this year. * N. Korea Reactor Deal Expected Associated Press December 9 1999 Filed at 9:30 a.m. EDT http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/i/AP-NKorea-Nuclear-Reactor.html SEOUL South Korea (AP) -- A U.S.-led international consortium will formally sign a $4.6 billion contract next week to build two nuclear power plants in North Korea South Korean officials said Thursday. The contract to be signed Dec. 15 with Seoul's state utility Korea Electric Power Corp. is the final phase of preparations to build the reactors promised under a 1994 nuclear agreement to supply reactors that cannot be used to make weapons. South Korean officials said the contract will designate their state power utility as the prime contractor. Ground-leveling and other preparatory work has been under way since 1997 to build the reactors in Kumho a rural village in the northeastern part of North Korea. The main work has been delayed because of funding and other problems. * Get Navy Out of Vieques New York Times December 9 1999 http://www.nytimes.com/yr/mo/day/letters/l09pue.html To the Editor: It is time to look at military abuses right under our noses as well as in other parts of the world. It is time for the United States Navy to stop disrupting the lives and livelihoods of residents with its training exercises at Vieques Puerto Rico ("Puerto Ricans Gain Ear of Washington but Seek Far More front page, Dec. 5). The residents deserve the right to live and work in peace. President Clinton needs to listen to the broad coalition of political, civil and religious groups and give the word to pull the Navy out of Vieques immediately. EDMUNDO QUINONES Brooklyn, Dec. 6, 1999 * Navy Delays Puerto Rico Talks New York Times December 9, 1999 Filed at 6:25 p.m. EST By The Associated Press http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/i/AP-US-Puerto-Rico.html WASHINGTON (AP) -- In a new setback for the Pentagon's efforts to regain use of its Vieques bombing range, the Navy is delaying sending an admiral to Puerto Rico to discuss a resolution of the dispute, officials said Thursday. Last week the Pentagon announced that it would send Rear Adm. Kevin Green, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command, to San Juan to discuss President Clinton's plan for resuming Navy training on Vieques next spring using ``inert,'' or dummy, bombs only and ending all Navy operations there within five years. * Protesters Force Standoff at Puerto Rico Bomb Range Reuters Updated 6:17 PM ET December 7, 1999 http://webcrawler-news.excite.com/news/r/991207/18/news-arms-puertorico VIEQUES, Puerto Rico (Reuters) - U.S. authorities and angry residents were locked in a tense standoff on Tuesday at a military bombing range on the island of Vieques where Puerto Ricans are demanding the U.S. Navy end war games. Members of a police riot squad were sent to Vieques on Tuesday as a precautionary measure after up to 500 protesters massed at the front gate of Camp Garcia on Monday night, continuing a vigil that began on Saturday when protesters put locks and chains on the camp's front gates. They fended off attempts by U.S. authorities to cut the locks, shook the gates and chanted Navy leave." * Yeltsin Angrily Touts Russia's Nuclear Arsenal New York Times December 9 1999 By ERIK ECKHOLM http://www.nytimes.com/yr/mo/day/late/10nyt-yeltsin.html BEIJING -- President Boris Yeltsin responded sharply on Thursday to President Clinton's criticism of Moscow's military assault on Chechnya reminding the world that Russia remains a nuclear power. "President Clinton permitted himself to put pressure on Russia Yeltsin said in front of television cameras here before meeting with the leader of China's legislature. It seems he has for a minute forgotten that Russia has a full arsenal of nuclear weapons." Clinton responded in measured tones to Yeltsin's comments alluding only obliquely to Russia's nuclear power and repeating his insistence that Russia's strategy in Chechnya is counterproductive. * Cold Still Felt Between U.S.-Russia New York Times December 9 1999 Filed at 4:35 p.m. EST By The Associated Press http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/w/AP-New-Cold-War.html WASHINGTON (AP) -- Spats over spies. Harsh words over wars. Predictions of an arms race. The Cold War is long over but in both style and substance relations between Washington and Moscow are growing chillier. The administration's announcement Thursday that a Russian diplomat had been caught eavesdropping at the State Department is the latest in a string of episodes that recall the dark days of Cold War confrontation. Few expect a return to the frightful prospect of nuclear threats but the rhetoric is moving in that direction. * U.S. Orders Russian Diplomat to Leave After Spying Arrest New York Times December 9 1999 By DAVID JOHNSTON and JAMES RISEN http://search.nytimes.com/search/daily/bin/fastweb?getdoc+site+site+96845+0+ wAAA+U.S.%7EOrders%7ERussian%7EDiplomat%7Eto%7ELeave%7EAfter%7ESpying%7EArrest Related Article Russians Detain U.S. Diplomat Calling Her a Spy (Dec. 1 1999) http://www.nytimes.com/library/world/europe/120199russia-us-spy.html WASHINGTON -- The federal authorities on Wednesday night arrested a Russian diplomat believed to be an intelligence officer who had sought classified information from the State Department government officials said. The officials said that the case involved a listening device found in a conference room at the State Department and was linked to a substantial Russian espionage effort aimed at pilfering sensitive information about American activities abroad. [The diplomat who was arrested on a bench outside the department headquarters was declared unwelcome in the United States and ordered to leave within 10 days the Associated Press reported on Thursday. * Luck Exposes Russian Spy Operation By The Associated Press New York Times December 9 1999 Filed at 8:01 p.m. EST http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/w/AP-US-Russia-Spy.html WASHINGTON (AP) -- U.S. agents found it ``a little bit odd'' when they encountered Russian diplomat Stanislav Gusev near the State Department last summer. The chance sighting officials said Thursday led to the discovery of a Russian operation that included an ``extremely sophisticated'' spying device inside America's diplomatic headquarters. * Timeline of Arrest of Suspected Spy Associated Press December 9 1999 Filed at 12:05 p.m. EDT http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/w/AP-US-Russia-Spy-Timeline.html The timeline surrounding the arrest Wednesday of Russian diplomat Stanislav Borisovich Gusev as related by FBI Assistant Director Neil Gallagher. * Russian Minister: New Weapons Needed December 9 1999 Filed at 10:18 a.m. EDT By The Associated Press http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/i/AP-Russia-US-ABM.html MOSCOW (AP) -- Russia must develop new weapons capable of neutralizing any missile defense system the United States might build in the future Defense Minister Igor Sergeyev said in an article published Thursday. Sergeyev said missile defenses under development in the United States could make Russia's aging arsenals increasingly useless. He called for the development of ``weapons based on new physical principles'' to offset what he described as a growing U.S. military edge. ``We have the necessary scientific and technological potential ... to unveil experimental new types of deterrent weapons within the next few years '' Sergeyev said in a front-page article in the military daily Krasnaya Zvezda. He did not elaborate on the kinds of weapons Russia wants to develop. Yeltsin Lashes Out At Clinton New York Times December 9 1999 Filed at 4:03 p.m. EST By The Associated Press http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/i/AP-China-Yeltsin.html BEIJING (AP) -- Boris Yeltsin lashed out at President Clinton on Thursday for criticizing Russia's war in Chechnya bluntly reminding Clinton that Russia remains a nuclear power. ``It seems Mr. Clinton has forgotten Russia is a great power that possesses a nuclear arsenal. We aren't afraid at all of Clinton's anti-Russian position '' Yeltsin said at a meeting with Chinese legislative chairman Li Peng. ``I want to tell President Clinton that he alone cannot dictate how the world should live work and play. It is us who will dictate.'' * U.S. Wants Good Ties With Russia Despite Spy Flap Reuters Updated 12:09 PM ET December 9 1999 By Steve Holland http://webcrawler-news.excite.com/news/r/991209/12/news-russia-spy WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States said on Thursday it still wants a constructive relationship with Russia despite the expulsion of a Russian diplomat on spying charges and evidence of widespread Russian intelligence activity. "Our policy of engagement with Russia has not changed said Mike Hammer, spokesman for the White House National Security Council. We have a broad range of shared interests in the U.S.-Russia relationship and we intend to continue to pursue them." * World Silent As Russia Hits Chechnya Associated Press DECEMBER 09 01:32 EST By LOUIS MEIXLER http://wire.ap.org/APnews/center_package.html?FRONTID=WORLD&PACKAGEID=russia &STORYID=APIS717KPNO0&SLUG=CHECHNYA%2dGLOBAL%2dSILENCE ANKARA Turkey (AP) - Major world powers and several Islamic states have condemned Russia's campaign against Chechnya but none are threatening sanctions or other measures against Moscow. Russia which is threatening to unleash a massive bombardment on the Chechen capital still has a huge army of concern to its immediate neighbors. Few countries are willing to anger Moscow's government or add to its fragility especially at a time many are seeking better economic ties with Russia. ___________________________________________________ Today's Newspapers: http://prop1.org/nucnews/links.htm NucNews Archives: http://prop1.org/nucnews/briefslv.htm Subscribe NucNews: mailto:prop1@prop1.org (NucNews-Subscribe) Submit URL/Article: mailto:prop1@prop1.org (NucNews-Editor) About NucNews: http://prop1.org/nucnews/nucnews.htm Distributed without payment for research and educational purposes only in accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107. [You have our permission to download copy and forward any and all of NucNews. Help keep the information flowing!]