Washington DC
THE CALL
The military is now pushing hard to get approval to deploy the Ballistic
Missile Defense (BMD) system "as soon as technically feasible". President
Clinton will receive a recommendation from a Pentagon panel before June 2000
on the BMD deployment question. The BMD program is made up of two
components -- National Missile Defense (NMD) which is intended to protect
the continental U.S. and the Theatre Missile Defense (TMD) which would be
limited to protecting troops in regional battlefields. It is possible that
the Pentagon will recommend deployment of the TMD system first.
Deployment of the expensive and destabilizing "missile defense" program is
the first step in the reinvigoration of Star Wars. Boeing, Lockheed Martin
and TRW now hold a joint contract to build space-based lasers that would be
the follow-on technology to BMD. The Pentagon is also developing
anti-satellite (ASAT) weapons that would be used to "knock out" competitors
satellites in space. The U.S. sells the BMD system as "defensive". The
U.S. Space Command, committed to space "control and domination", has other
plans. BMD is truly a Trojan horse, a way to get public support for the
deployment of offensive systems in space. Space weapons must be opposed if
we are to be successful in preventing the creation of an arms race in space.
Join with people from around the world as we gather in Washington DC during
these four days of protest events to call upon President Clinton and
Congress to cancel plans to revitalize Star Wars. In order to prevent the
weaponization of space we must develop an international constituency that
can build the movement to keep space for peace.
Each year since 1992 the Global Network has brought people together who are
working worldwide to stop the nuclearization and weaponization of space. We
expect the April 14-17, 2000 meetings to be our biggest, and most important,
ever. Please join with us!
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
FRIDAY, APRIL 14
SPEAKERS/PERFORMERS TO INCLUDE:
SUNDAY, APRIL 16
MONDAY, APRIL 17
COSTS
The registration fee for the April 15 conference Star Wars Revisited: An
International Conference on Preventing an Arms Race in Space will be on a
sliding scale between $15 - $50 (pay what you can best afford within that
range.) Lunch and supper will be provided as part of your registration fee.
High school and college students will pay $5 each. American University
students will not have to pay a fee.
The April 16 international strategies meeting and lobby preparation will be
free of charge. (Lunch will be on your own that day.)
We will send you a full schedule of events upon receipt of your
registration. PLEASE REGISTER IN ADVANCE.
HOUSING
We will be happy to provide a list of moderately prices hotels in the
Washington DC area if you request it.
Home hospitality will be available on a very limited first-come,
first-served basis. Inquire early. If you can make your own local housing
arrangements please do so.
TRANSPORTATION
Let us know if you need a ride to Washington DC and we will try to link you
up with others.
American University (April 15-16) is very near the Tenleytown-American
University metro stop on the Red Line. A shuttle runs every hour from the
metro stop to American University on the weekends. American University is
located on Nebraska Ave. in northwest Washington DC.
Sign me up to be part of the Keep Space for Peace events in Washington DC!
Name_______________________________________
Organization_________________________________
Address_____________________________________
City________________________________________
State/Zip____________________________________
Country_____________________________________
Phone ( )________________________________
E-Mail______________________________________
Enclosed is my registration for the April 15 conference at American
University (includes lunch & dinner) in the amount of $____________. (Pay
what you can best afford between $15 - $50. High school and college
students pay $5.)
I/we will participate in the April 17 Keep Space for Peace lobby day. We
will make appointments with our Congressional delegation before we come to
Washington DC.
Send me information on hotels in the DC area.
Send me a space organizers packet so I can get more involved. Enclosed
is $5 to cover costs.
Enclosed is a donation of $_________ to help sponsor students,
low-income, and overseas participants in the events.
Send me ______ copies of this brochure and I will help distribute them.
Return to:
(Demonstration at Treasury Department - next door to White House -- from 12:00 to 3:00 pm)
SATURDAY, APRIL 15
(Star Wars Revisited: An Int'l Conference on Preventing an Arms Race in Space at American University - Ward Bldg.)
8:30 - 9:30 am Registration begins in Ward Bldg basement 9:30 - 10:00 Welcome by Karl Grossman & Abdul Aziz Said
(Director, Center for Gloal Peace, American University)10:00 - 10:30 Keynote by Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio)
Keep Space for Peace: Creating a New Consciousness Toward Space10:30 - 12:30 Military Space Panel:
12:30 - 12:45 Concluding Reflections on Ballistic Missile Defense
12:45 - 1:45 Lunch (We provide brown bag) 2:00 - 2:30 Keynote by Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa)
The Need for an International Ban on Weapons in Space2:45 - 4:30 Future Nuclear Powered Space Missions Panel
4:45 - 6:30 Alternative Visions Panel
7:00-10:00 pm Supper & Music by Holly Graham, Lynda Williams & Michael Scott Miller
(Supper prepared by Dorothy Day Catholic Worker House)
(GN Strategy Meeting & Lobby Planning at AU)
9:00 -9:15 am Welcome & History of GN by Karl Grossman 9:15 - 9:30 Introductions 9:30 - 10:30 Coordinators Report & Other Sharing Reports on Local Space Organizing Activity 10:30 - 11:30 Lobby Day Discussion and Plan
11:30 - 2:15 Lunch on your own (Time available to attend IMF/World Bank protests in downtown DC) 2:15 - 3:00 Small Groups Int'l Strategy Discussion 3:00 - 4:00 Reports from Small Groups & Discussion 4:00 - 4:15 Break 4:15 - 5:00 October 7, 2000 Int'l Day of Protest to Stop the Militarization of Space Planning 5:00 - 7:00 Decision on next GN meeting, BOD elections, Review of Budget, and GN's U.N. representative
(Lobby Day on Capitol Hill)
We urge people to pre-arrange appointments and to spend the day visiting
your Representatives and Senators. When everyone is finished we ask you to
check back in at our HQ so we can get feedback on your visits. Thank you
for helping us to build the movement to prevent the nuclearization & weaponization of
space.
9:00 am - 5:00 pm GN Lobby Day HQ at FCNL Office (245 Second St NE) 9:00 am - 4:00 pm Day long vigil begins on east steps of Capital
REGISTER NOW
Global Network
PO Box 90083
Gainesville, Fl. 32607
(352) 337-9274
globalnet@mindspring.com
www.globenet.free-online.co.uk