Good News!
by Frieda Gardner, WAMM

Crusader Contract Canceled

As many had predicted, United Defense's contract for building the gigantic Crusader "artillery system" has been canceled. (Alas, this event cannot be interpreted as a sign of lower, leaner defense spending. Crusader bit the dust for being too being too slow and unwieldy.)

Nevada Forsakes the Mushroom Cloud

The state of Nevada decided not to use the image of a nuclear mushroom cloud on its federal stamp.

Nuclear Missile Site is History

A nuclear missile site in South Dakota has been decommissioned and converted to a National Park Service historic site. The 80-foot hole housed warheads aimed at Russia. (Yes, this is good news, but if it makes you feel safe, don’t forget that 500 Minuteman III and 50 “Peacekeeper” missiles remain housed and ready for our “protection” in North Dakota, Montana, and Wyoming.)

Unocal Ruled Liable for Burmese Injustices

A federal judge has ruled that Unocal is vicariously liable, under the 1789 Alien Tort Claims Act, for the actions of a joint venture partner in Burma. According to activist lawyers fighting on behalf of a group of Burmese villagers, the actions include slave labor, kidnapping, and rape. The partner in question is the Burmese military junta. Other corporations potentially liable under the Act are ExxonMobil (torture, kidnapping, and rape in Indonesia), Coca-Cola (violence against union organizers in Colombia), and Freeport McMoran (Carl Goldstein, Star Tribune, September 15, 2002).

Palestinian Women Seek Indictment of Sharon with Support of Israeli Women

Nine Israeli women's peace groups have voiced their support for an effort by Palestinian groups in Lebanon to indict Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon for war crimes committed twenty years ago in the Sabra and Shatila refugee camps.

Activists Take on Supplier of Israeli Bulldozers

Activists from SUSTAIN (Stop U.S. Tax-funded Aid to Israel Now) attempted to arrest executives of Caterpillar corporation for war crimes. In addition to presenting photographs showing CAT bulldozers demolishing the homes of Palestinian civilians (a war crime under the 4th Geneva Conventions), protesters wrapped the office building in “caution” tape, and posted “Condemnation Orders” on the front doors, in imitation of Israeli soldiers’ actions in the occupied territories (www.sustaincampaign.org).

European Jews for a Just Peace Founded

In late September, eighteen European Jewish peace groups founded European Jews for a Just Peace (EJJP) to “reach out to, and to speak to . . . the large number of European Jews who are dissatisfied with Israeli policies toward the Palestinians.” The group also wants to lobby the European Union, “Israel's biggest trading partner, to honor human rights conventions.” (To contact EJJP, e-mail eajg@xs4all.nl.)