PRESS RELEASE

1 September 2000

World Says NO to Star Wars

RELEASE IN SYDNEY, WASHINGTON, LONDON, BERLIN

More than 336 environment groups, peace groups, church groups, political organisations, parliamentarians and local governments from the US, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Russia, Japan, Germany, France, UK, Denmark, Norway, Iceland, and places from Patagonia to Washington, have called on the US government in an open letter not to proceed with its National Missile Defense (NMD) ‘Star Wars’ proposal, and called on other governments to make every effort to stop the US plan.

The 336 groups include: Friends of the Earth International (groups in 60 countries); Greenpeace International, the largest anti nuclear weapons groups in the world; Abolition 2000, with 2000 member groups worldwide; International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW); Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom; the International Peace Bureau; and the British American Security Council (BASIC).

The total membership of all the groups who have signed is in the millions.

The letter has been signed by some 33 Parliamentarians including 14 federal Australian MPs, 6 Canadian MPs, and 4 members of the European Parliament.

Opposition to NMD/Star Wars is high in Europe, where most governments have expressed opposition or grave reservations about the scheme which threatens to re-ignite the Cold War arms race. Britain’s House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee recently warned in a report, "We are not convinced that the US plans to deploy NMD represent an appropriate response to the proliferation problems faced by the international community." The proposed use of the radar station at Fylingdales has been a particular point of concern, and its inclusion raises fears that Britain’s participation could make the country a target for an aggressor state as well.

The government of Denmark, whose consent to the use of the radar station at Thule in Greenland is crucial for NMD, has also taken up debate on the issue and expressed concern about breaching the ABM Treaty. Constituents recently deluged the prime minister’s office with emails and faxes asking the government to deny that consent.

Russia, and China have stated that if NMD/Star Wars proceeds they will ditch all arms-control agreements to date. The EU, the Non-Aligned Movement, and the New Agenda Coalition, which together represent the overwhelming majority of the world’s governments, have stated opposition to NMD/Star Wars.

International Sign-On Letter

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