DECLARE A MORATORIUM ON SUBCRITICAL TESTING July 16, 1998 Dear President Clinton: As national, regional, and local organizations working for the ratification of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, we urge you to declare a moratorium on the US subcritical testing program and seek agreement from Russia and China to halt activities at their test sites as well. The recent nuclear tests by India and Pakistan highlight the precariousness of the nonproliferation regime. At this vitally important juncture, the US needs to take leadership in opposing all forms of nuclear testing and in de-legitimizing the role of nuclear weapons worldwide. Declaring a moratorium on the US subcritical nuclear testing program would be an important step in this direction. By contrast, should the US conduct a subcritical test at this tense moment in history, it would only serve to fuel the flames of nuclear frenzy in other nations. The ongoing US investment in nuclear weapons, and the subcritical testing program, is provocative to nations with nuclear aspirations. India has stated the need to conduct nuclear tests was in part based on the desire to advance their computer codes in order to benefit from a subcritical testing program of their own. During sensitive CTBT negotiations in 1996, the US subcritical testing program generated great opposition and raised questions about the US commitment to the test ban. Subcritical testing, which includes site preparations that look almost identical to those of a full-scale nuclear test, also makes verification of the test ban more difficult. The US sets a dangerous precedent by continuing the subcritical program. Additionally, the entire stockpile stewardship program calls into question the US commitment to its obligations under Article 6 of the Non-Proliferation Treaty to work for nuclear disarmament. The US has already conducted one subcritical test this year (Stagecoach) and anticipates conducting one or two more in September. These tests are not needed for assuring the safety and reliability of the US nuclear weapons arsenal. Conducting more subcritical tests, especially at this dangerous moment in international relations, seems particularly foolhardy. Taking a strong leadership approach and declaring a moratorium on the US subcritical testing program would send a much better and much safer message to India, Pakistan, and other nuclear aspirants: that the US is willing to step out on the path against nuclear testing and nuclear weapons. US leadership on this issue is essential for progress on reducing regional and global nuclear dangers. The US cannot hope to convince other nations to eschew nuclear weapons if it continues its massive investments in nuclear weapons research. The subcritical testing program only exacerbates an already difficult, dangerous, and inflammatory situation. We urge you to once again make the US a leader on these issues and declare a moratorium on the subcritical testing program. Sincerely, National Groups Maureen Eldredge Alliance for Nuclear Accountability Darryl Fagan Americans for Democratic Action Bill Capowski Center for Campus Organizing Clayton Ramey Fellowship of Reconciliation (USA) Joe Volk Friends Committee on National Legislation Maurice Paprin Fund for New Priorities in America Alice Slater Global Resource Action Center for the Environment Barbara Wiedner Grandmothers for Peace International Timothy Fuller Gray Panthers, National Office Tom Clements Greenpeace Alan Wayre Lawyers Committee on Nuclear Policy Marie Dennis Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns Howard Hallman Methodists United for Peace With Justice Michael Marriotte Nuclear Information and Resource Service Dave Robinson Pax Christi USA Gordon Clark Peace Action Robert Tiller Physicians for Social Responsibility Ellen Thomas Proposition One Committee Anne Anderson Psychologists for Social Responsibility Paul Walker Veterans for Peace Susan Shaer Womens Action for New Directions Betty Burkes Women's International League for Peace and Freedom Edith Villastrigo Women Strike for Peace Robin Caiola 20/20 Vision Regional and Local Groups Don Herriod Abalone Alliance, CA Jonathan M. Haber Action Site to Stop Cassini Earth Flyby, MA Michael J. Keller Anne Arundel Peace Action, MD Byron Plumley American Friends Service Committee, CO Peter Drekmeler Bay Area Action, CA Philip M. Klasky Bay Area Nuclear Waste Coalition, CA Alan Senauke Buddhist Peace Fellowshp, CA Erica Harrold California Peace Action Harry Rogers Carolina Peace Resource Center, SC Tom O'Rourke Catholic Peace Fellowship, Philadelphia, PA Michael Closson Center for Economic Conversion, CA Chuck Johnson Center for Energy Research, Salem, OR Francis U. Macy Center for Safe Energy, Earth Island Institute, CA Sally Hindman Chaplaincy to the Homeless, CA John Hadder & Rick Neilson Citizen Alert, NV Harold Stokes Citizens for Alternatives to Chemical Contamination, MI Jami Caseber Citizens Opposing a Polluted Environment, CA Rev. Robert Moore Coalition for Peace Action, NJ Regional and Local Groups, Continued……. Beryl Schwartz Colorado Peace Action Jay Coghlan Concerned Citizens for Nuclear Safety, NM Ron Swenson EcoSystems, CA Merle Malcheski Elders for Survival, CA Chuck Brocious Environmental Defense Institute, ID Don Finch For A Clean Tonawanda Site, NY Maria Mendez & Susan Lee Solar Grandmothers (and M/Others) Alliance for the Future, TX Peg McIntire Grandparents for Peace, FL Doris Copperman Gray Panthers of Central Costa County, CA Carroll Webber Greenville Peace Committee, NC Paige Knight Hanford Watch, OR Jennifer O. Viereck Healing Global Wounds, CA Kevin Martin Illinois Peace Action Sherry Larsen-Beville Livermore Conversion Project, CA Greg Mello Los Alamos Study Group, NM Michael Niece Magdalene House Catholic Worker, CA Carol Wagner Mt. Diablo Peace Center, CA David Buer Nevada Desert Experience, NV Sean Donahue New Hampshire Peace Action Mary Beth Brangan Nuclear Democracy Network, CA Joanna Macy Nuclear Guardianship Project, CA Felice & Jack Cohen-Joppa Nuclear Resister, AZ Ralph Hutchison Oak Ridge Environmental Peace Alliance, TN Doris Smith Panhandle Area Neighbors and Landowners, TX Tom Webb Pax Christi- Bay Area, CA Edouard & Francoise Rocher Pax Christi Cape Cod, MA Mary Lees Pax Christi, Massachusetts Eirik Harteis Pax Christi Metro DC Rachel Keeler Pax Christi Metro New York Mary & Bill Carry Pax Christi Michigan Frank Dworak Pax Christi New Jersey Jean Egan Pax Christi New Orleans, LA Merle Nolde OSB Pax Christi St. Cloud, MN Shirley Poore & Sheila O'Brian Pax Christi, Tallahassee, FL Kay Arnold Pax Christi, TX Regional and Local Groups, Continued…. Bob & Adele DellaValle-Rauth Pax Christi, Virginia Ellen R. Robinson Peace Action Council of Youngstown, OH Herbert Rothschild Jr Peace Action - Greater Houston Chapter, TX Wells R. Staley-Mays Peace Action Maine Ray Cary Peace Action Milwaukee, WI Jo Ann Fuller Peace Action - Sacramento-Yolo, CA Chapter Suzie Sherman Peace Action, Santa Cruz, CA Mavis Belisle Peace Farm, TX June Stark Casey Peace Links, CA Carol Jahnkow Peace Resource Center of San Diego, CA Bernice Fischer Peninsula CTBT/Non Proliferation Coalition, CA Paul George Peninsula Peace and Justice Center, CA Wayne Shandera, MD Physicians for Social Responsibility, Houston TX Jonathan Parfrey Physicians for Social Responsibility, Los Angeles, CA Wells R. Staley-Mays Physicians for Social Responsibility, Maine Herbert Perr, MD Physicians for Social Responsibility, Nassau County, NY Wendy Perron Physicians for Social Responsibility, New York City Dan Kerlinsky, MD Physicians for Social Responsibility, NM Donald Rucknagel, MD Physicians for Social Responsiblity, Southwest Ohio Tim Keller, MD, MPH Physicians for Social Responsibility, WA Gail Snyder Pikes Peak Justice and Peace Commission, CO Melanie Okamoto Political Ecology Group, CA Bruce A. Drew Prairie Island Coalition, MN David R. Bassett Religious Society of Friends, Ann Arbor, MI Peace & Social Concerns Committee Kathie Spallone Religious Society of Friends, PA Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, Abolition 2000 Working Group Tom Marshall Rocky Mountain Peace and Justice Center, CO Father Bill O'Donnell St. Joseph the Worker Church, CA Social Justice Committee Sister Elizabeth Newman & Sister Leah Couvillion School Sisters of Notre Dame, Dallas Province, TX Reinard Knutsen Shundahai Network, NV Beatrice Brailsford Snake River Alliance, ID Elisabeth Anderson Sonoma County Center for Peace & Justice, CA Marylia Kelley Tri-Valley Communities Against a Radioactive Environment, CA Bob Kinsey United Church of Christ, Peace & Justice Task Force Rocky Mountain Conference, CO Henry Clark West County Toxics Coalition, Richmond, CA Regional and Local Groups, Continued…. James Mang Western New York Peace Center, Buffalo Jaqueline Cabasso Western States Legal Foundation, CA Beth Wilson Women for Peace, East Bay, CA Lilliam Nurmela Women's International League for Peace & Freedom, East Bay, CA Tina Bell Women's International League for Peace & Freedom, New York Metro Stella Paton & Ethyl Von Hermann Women's International League for Peace & Freedom, San Francisco Branch, CA Mary Byrd Davis Yggdrasil Institute, KY Clint McClintic 20/20 Vision South Bay, CA Dale Nesbitt 20/20 Vision San Francisco/East Bay, CA International Groups Lindis Percy & Anni Rainbow Campaign for the Accountability of American Bases, United Kingdom John Hallam Friends of the Earth, Sydney, Australia Lysiane Alezard Mouvement de la Paix, France Norm Abbey Nanoose Conversion Campaign, Canada Dave Martin Nuclear Awareness Project, Canada Graham Daniell People for Nuclear Disarmament, Australia George Farebrother World Court Project, United Kingdom Cc: Secretary of Energy Elizabeth Moler (Acting) Secretary of State Madeline Albright ********************* Maureen Eldredge Program Director Alliance for Nuclear Accountibility 1801 18th St. NW, Suite 9-2 Washington, DC 20009 202-833-4668/fax: 202-234-9536 (formerly the Military Production Network) A national network of watchdog organizations working on DOE's nuclear weapons complex.