We are seeking support for the new Network we are developing to confront the serious new dangers to peace and human rights which we all face.
The National Missile Defence programme which President Bush is pursuing threatens to overturn all previous agreements on the management of nuclear confrontation, including the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty. The justification claimed for WMD is that it is necessary to prevent rogue nuclear strikes from such states as North Korea and Iran. This is far-fetched in the extreme, but what is perfectly clear is that the new programme is felt to be profoundly threatening by Russia, China and a number of European states.
Many European governments are opposed to National Missile Defence on principle. Meanwhile, the British Government pursues a lone course. It talks of a “net security gain” from Star Wars and hints that it is ready to co-operate in the upgrading of the key US early warning radar station at Fylingdales in the North Yorkshire Moors.
For some time now, this Foundation has been consulting with peace movements and others throughout Europe about the grave situation in which we all find ourselves. As part of this initiative, we have organised two conferences at the European Parliament in Brussels where the issues have been explored at length and in depth.
In the course of these contacts, a European Network for Peace and Human Rights has begun to establish itself. We are now seeking sponsors for this Network and you are warmly invited to become one. Simply email us, with your name and details. This role is honorific and implies no other commitment than that you approve and support the movement for nuclear disarmament and against a new arms race.
I do hope you will feel this is a good idea which is worthy of your support.
Ken Coates
Reports from the
European Network for Peace and Human Rights
launch Conference!