A Nuclear Moratorium? Who knows, we may find we can live without these weapons permanently

This declaration was passed unanimously at a Y2K WASH-World Atomic Safety Holiday Citizens' Y2K-Nuclear Forum in Berlin attended by representatives from NGOs in Japan, Germany, the USA, Australia, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and France. It was presented to the delegates at the G8 special conference on Y2K contingency planning in Berlin on Sept. 21st.

The Occasion: The G-8 nations (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, UK, US), recognizing their responsibility to the world community, are holding the G-8 Seminar on Contingency Planning for Y2K in Berlin on September 21 and 22, 1999. The title of this meeting indicates that the G-8 nations have accepted that Y2K compliance cannot be accomplished in time for the Year 2000 rollover, and that contingency plans are essential.

Citizens around the world are concerned that the potential effect of Y2K-related system failures on nuclear facilities poses serious threats to the world community and to the life of the planet. Therefore, we convened an International Citizens' Y2K-Nuclear Forum the day before the G-8 meeting to give voice to our concerns about this critical issue. We, the participants in this forum, recognizing that governments derive their authority from their citizens, require that the G-8 place on the meeting agenda the Y2K threats to the nuclear infrastructure. We forward the following conclusions to the G-8 representatives, and call upon them to be implemented immediately.

The Context: The nuclear age is nearly as old as the computer age. Nuclear weapons and their delivery systems, as well as nuclear power plants and other nuclear installations, rely on computers. 4400 of the world's nuclear weapons are still held on "hair trigger alert." Early warning and communication systems are liable to be severely affected by Y2K, thereby risking a misreading of nuclear weapons data, and increasing the danger of an unauthorized or accidental use of nuclear weapons.

The world's 1000+ nuclear facilities: depend on electrical energy to operate. As reported by regulatory agencies and independent experts, a failure in computer or embedded microchip systems may cause a breakdown in energy transmission, with consequences that could result in a nuclear accident, or even a meltdown. The generators that supply back-up power for nuclear installations depend on fuel supplies that may also be interrupted by the Y2K bug.

The Risk: No one knows what will happen on or after January 1, 2000 or beyond that date because of the Y2K problem. The potential for humanitarian and ecological disasters is self-evident. We cannot afford to take risks that could prove catastrophic and irreversible. While some contingency plans have been initiated, the public needs documented evidence that they will be safe from such potential catastrophes.

The Solution: We therefore call upon all governments, the international nuclear industry, and all citizens to support a World Atomic Safety Holiday, and to work together to implement the following steps:

1. Take all nuclear weapons off "hair trigger alert" from 1 December 1999 onwards, and remove all nuclear warheads from their delivery systems so that they cannot be launched immediately.

2. Shut down all nuclear installations by 1 December 1999, and not bring them back online after 1 January 2000, until they are tested, transparently verified for Y2K compliance, and the electrical grid stability is re-established.

3. Provide reliable and redundant back-up systems, with adequate fuel supplies for worst case scenarios, in every nuclear installation by 1 December 1999, to ensure that critical nuclear facilities are stable and under control.

4. Ensure that contingency plans are in place in every community where a nuclear facility is located. To prepare for "worst case scenarios," we call on local governments in communities with nuclear installations to set up emergency procedures that inform and protect the public, and to assess the companies operating the nuclear facilities for the costs of these precautions. These procedures should include but not be limited to:

(a) producing and distributing leaflets educating the public about the danger to the community of nuclear accidents, the long-term dangers to health of radioactive material in the environment, and recommended actions in case of meltdown or accident to minimize the danger to health.

(b) supplying iodine tablets and instructions for their use to every household, with storage in central areas for rapid distribution in emergencies.

(c) conducting evacuation exercises on a regular basis, and regularly testing emergency services, such as hospital emergency rooms and fire department procedures.

5. Institute a worldwide moratorium on transport of all nuclear materials from 1 December 1999.

6. To monitor, assess, and make recommendations about the unfolding global situation, provide for ongoing expert discussion and evaluation between G-8- appointed and independent Y2K-Nuclear Forum experts, to be disseminated through the internet and printed media.

The Opportunity: The challenge of meeting the Y2K problem offers the opportunity for all of us to face the reality of the nuclear dangers we live with every day. Y2K shows us that our control over technology is limited and accidents can happen; governments need to be mindful of the ever-present threat of nuclear accidents in the future, as long as nuclear weapons and nuclear energy continue to exist. Together in the next days and weeks, we can take steps to create a safer world, provide for our common security and minimize the risk of nuclear catastrophe.

A good source of information: John Hallam, Friends of the Earth Sydney, 17 Lord St., Newtown, NSW, Australia; Fax(61)(2)9517-3902; ph (61)(2)9517-3903; write him for sign-on letter that went to Presidents Clinton and Yeltsin <nonukes@foesyd.org.au>
http://homepages.tig.com.au/~foesyd