Citizens Against Weapons of Mass Destruction

www.SOS2003.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DATE: June 24, 2003

SUBJECT: SOS — Speak Out at STRATCOM: No New Weapons of Mass Destruction!

Senior officials in the Bush administration who have proposed the production of a new generation of nuclear weapons have scheduled a meeting to discuss plans for nuclear proliferation at US Strategic Command (STRATCOM) during the first week of August 2003. STRATCOM is the nuclear command and control center for the United States military. Located at Offutt Air Force Base just outside Omaha, NE, STRATCOM oversees all nuclear weapons capabilities, including land, sea, air and even space-based weapons systems.

A group of Midwestern citizens based in Nebraska are mobilizing under the name Citizens Against Weapons of Mass Destruction (CAWMD) to protest the plans for “low-yield” and “Earth-penetrating” nuclear weapons. Josh Cramer, a spokesperson for CAWMD, cited a Pentagon document obtained by the Los Alamos Study Group as the initial source of information regarding the August STRATCOM meetings. The legitimacy of this document was recently confirmed by the National Security Administration.

Members of CAWMD, which include residents of neighboring Midwestern states such as Iowa and Missouri, have expressed concern that House and Senate Armed Services Committees are nearing completion of bills authorizing approximately 0 billion in defense spending for FY 2004. Among the contested provisions of this legislation is language on low-yield nuclear weapons research and the future testing of nuclear weapons.

To protest this conference and the plans for new weapons of mass destruction, CAWMD is hosting a weekend of nonviolent, lawful rallies, speakers, teach-ins, concerts and peaceful protest August 1, 2, & 3, 2003 in Omaha, NE, USA. The three-day event will include:

A forum for the announced presidential candidates Friday evening, August 1.

A candlelight vigil commemorating the nuclear bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki following the candidate forum Friday, August 1.

Teach-ins at the University of Nebraska in Omaha on Saturday, August 2.

A rally in Omaha’s Memorial Park beginning at noon Saturday, August 2, featuring guest speakers including:


Greg Mello, Los Alamos Study Group


Arjun Makhijani, President, Institute for Energy and Environmental Research


Four survivors of the bombing of Hiroshima, Japan, Confederation of A and H Bomb Sufferers.

A peaceful protest near STRATCOM itself on Sunday, August 3; at the time of this release, details for the Sunday event are still being discussed.

www.SOS2003.com