Good News!
by Mary Shepard and Polly Mann, WAMM
Jewish Unity for a Just Peace Forms
Over 100 Jewish activists from the U.S., Canada, Europe, and Israel will converge on Chicago May 4-6, 2001, for the first ever gathering of Jewish Unity for a Just Peace. In response to Israel's intensified attacks on Palestinian communities, representatives of dozens of Jewish organizations will map out coordinated activities to build support for a complete end of Israeli occupation of the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem. For further information, contact Steve Feurstein at 773-454-8397 or Mitchell Plitnick at 510-526-7913.
Effective Action Against The Transportation Of Nuclear Waste
As predicted, the troubles of disposing nuclear waste from weapons manufacturing and nuclear plants can no longer be concealed. Recently, German antinuclear activists effectively frustrated the transportation of nuclear waste across Europe in trains, using their own bodies in a well-publicized protest. Although they finally failed to stop the delivery, their protest required enormous numbers of military and police enforcers--so many that the cost, both in public opinion and in monetary terms, must have made nuclear advocates rethink the feasibility of solving the greenhouse problem with nuclear power. These protesters will not go away. Instead, they are learning new stratagems from each action.
Here in the U.S., antinuclear activists are alerting communities and the general public about the "Mobile Chernobyl" plan of our own Congress (which was vetoed by Clinton but looks as if it will now have presidential backing). Last summer, the Nuclear Information and Resource Center and Public Citizen's Critical Mass Energy and Environment Project kicked off a nationwide Radioactive Roads and Rails Campaign. Activists carried a full-size, mock, high-level atomic waste cask across the Midwestern areas that will be on the route from Eastern nuclear sites to the Yucca Mountain waste site. Along the way they held informational workshops. Once citizens learn about this indefensible idea, they will resist as surely as the Europeans. The "Mobile Chernobyl" plan is scheduled to go into effect as early as 2003.
Peaceful Protest in Argentina
In Buenos Aires on April 10, 2001, corporate executives from 34 nations were meeting in secret to plan their expansion of the hapless NAFTA agreement to include the entire Western Hemisphere in a Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA). Protests, organized by unions from countries in South America's Southern Cone Common Market (which includes Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay) held impressive demonstrations. Women's groups held seminars on "Free Trade and Gender: the Impacts of FTAA on Women." They argue that FTAA would only worsen the inequalities between men and women. Thousands of protesters marched peacefully through the streets of Buenos Aires in a column four miles long. Participants on both sides of the column handed out informational leaflets, which were eagerly read by the spectators. The march was absolutely peaceful and, unlike in the United States, the police were very cooperative. (Who would think Argentina could give U.S. law enforcement agencies a lesson in managing peaceful demonstrations?)
Mohawks Open Border to Fair Trade Activists
Once more we are indebted to an Indian nation for help in a time of need. The Mohawk Akwesasne, who never surrendered the land that comprises the Akwesasne reserve, is offering safe passage to U.S. citizens who are trying to get into Canada and being turned back at the border. The reservation, along the St. Lawrence River, spans both sides of the U.S./Canadian border. As this article is written, many people are being barred from entering Canada because border police fear those entering will travel to Quebec City to oppose and disrupt the Summit of the Americas conference concerning the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA). It seems that Canadian police can ban you from their country if they think they know what you are thinking and can arrest you before you commit an action they think you might carry out.
U.S. Handgun Market Dwindling
According to the Associated Press, the latest data from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms indicates the American handgun market has dropped off sharply--so sharply some industry experts worry it may never fully recover. The number of licensed gun dealers has plummeted from a peak of 284,000 in 1992 to 104,000 today. Possible reasons for the drop include background checks required by the 1993 Handgun Violence Prevention Act, a saturation of the market, a 33-year low in the crime rate, and recent shooting sprees.
Sustainable Energy Takes Root in North Dakota
A 30-watt Capstone microturbine, the size of a small refrigerator, creates all the electricity needed to heat a 200-room motel in Fargo, ND. The microturbine also provides electricity to the motel's kitchen, laundry, and bathrooms.