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Oppose New Nuclear Weapons Today

Target: U.S. Senate
Sponsored by: Union Of Concerned Scientists

The Bush administration has asked for $8.5 million in the 2006 budget for research on a "Robust Nuclear Earth Penetrator" (RNEP). This new nuclear weapon, also known as the nuclear "bunker buster," is being promoted as a useful tool in attacking deeply buried command centers or underground stores of chemical and biological weapons. But numerous scientific critiques, including one by the National Academy of Science, find that in many cases such a weapon would be ineffective. In addition, the nuclear blast and radioactive fall-out could kill millions of innocent people in surrounding areas. A single "bunker buster" would be nearly 100 times more powerful than the nuclear bomb that destroyed Hiroshima.

In the coming weeks, the Senate will consider funding for this new nuclear weapon. Please tell your Senators to reject all funding for the dangerous nuclear "bunker buster."

deadline: 7-11-2005
goal: 10,000

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Dear Senator,

I am greatly opposed to the Administration's proposal to seek funding for research on a Robust Nuclear Earth Penetrator (RNEP). This nuclear weapon is not needed, sets the United States on a new course of developing nuclear war fighting weapons, and sends a counterproductive message to the international community at a time when we are trying to discourage other nations from developing nuclear weapons. I hope that you will support Senator Feinstein's amendment to eliminate funding for the RNEP program.

As you know, RNEP is intended to destroy deeply buried bunkers and/or underground stores of chemical or biological weapons. However, a recent National Academy of Sciences study (http://books.nap.edu/catalog/11282.html?onpi_newsdoc04272005) concludes that the weapon would have limited utility against such targets, and that its use could kill millions of people downwind from the explosion. Moreover, the United States already has precision conventional weapons that could collapse all entrances and exits to underground bunkers.

To illustrate the technical realities of the RNEP weapon, the Union of Concerned Scientists has produced a two-minute flash video that shows both the weapon's technical shortcomings and the consequences of its use. I strongly recommend that you and your staff consider and use this important resource--it can be found at: http://www.ucsusa.org/global_security/nuclear_weapons/page.cfm?pageID=1781

Finally, I believe that Congress needs to match their words with their actions when addressing the cause of nuclear proliferation. If we are calling on other nations to refrain from building nuclear weapons, we should refrain as well.

I look forward to hearing your position on this important issue and hope that you will support Senator Feinstein’s amendment to deny all funding for the RNEP program.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

We signed the “Oppose New Nuclear Weapons Today” petition!

# 250:

1:57 pm PDT, Jun 25, Kelley Highbear, South Dakota

# 249:

1:53 pm PDT, Jun 25, Troy Runyon, Florida

# 248:

1:53 pm PDT, Jun 25, Rose Blue, Ohio
we need to stop killing people!

# 247:

1:50 pm PDT, Jun 25, Marina Payne, Oregon

# 246:

1:44 pm PDT, Jun 25, Tracy Brown, New Jersey
Because we need more peace, not more weapons!! How can you create peace when you have dangerous weapons to threaten people with?

# 245:

1:36 pm PDT, Jun 25, Deb Carlson, Florida

# 244:

1:30 pm PDT, Jun 25, Nona Burnett, Louisiana
We have had the technology for over 35 years to use wind & solar energy! We have had the ability to use sewage, livestock manure,corn husks & other alternate fuel & energy sources for over 35 years! WHY has Congress FAILED to authorize the CLEAN use of these forms of energy? I STRONGLY suspect it is because they & the White House staff and our President & Vice President are "In Bed" with the BIG OIL/Nuclear corporations (just as they are with the prescription drug companies!)!

# 243:

1:27 pm PDT, Jun 25, Pamela Russell, Texas

# 242:

1:21 pm PDT, Jun 25, Kimberly Hendl, North Carolina

# 241:

1:14 pm PDT, Jun 25, Lucia Wo, Illinois

# 240:

1:12 pm PDT, Jun 25, Mylene Dunlap, California

# 239:

1:09 pm PDT, Jun 25, Rodney White, Kentucky

# 238:

1:05 pm PDT, Jun 25, Minerva Cervantes, Mexico
The buliding of any nuclear weapon, in any part of the world is a direct threat of innocent lives. Weapons of mass destruction are the coward's way to kill whomever is bothering you, not only you are condemming that person but their whole race, settlement and ecosystem

# 237:

12:51 pm PDT, Jun 25, Dima Raber, Oregon

# 236:

12:44 pm PDT, Jun 25, John Powell, United Kingdom
I Total Oppose All Nuclear Weapons, how do these people sleep any night.It beat me.

# 235:

12:41 pm PDT, Jun 25, Greg Chapman, Illinois
yeah, what my brother said!

# 234:

12:31 pm PDT, Jun 25, Francisca Nassar-Fischle, Puerto Rico
I would really like to see my elected politicians WORK FOR THE PEOPLE, FOR HUMANITY, FOR THE CONSERVATION OF THE HUMAN RACE!!!! How come something like this could be happening? Someday you will be held accountable for your actions, for your decisions, and you will face, not a board or a jury, but the guilt of wiping humanity off the face of the Earth...and that guilt is eternal...Can you sleep peacefully at night? I'll pray for you, and your decisions...may the Lord guide you...not the so-called avenging and justifying pro-american Lord of President Bush...a false and egolitarian creation of his selfish and disturbed imagination...but the True God of Love, Peace and Redemption, the Living God, the Creator, the Alpha and the Omega...the One and Only.

# 233:

12:29 pm PDT, Jun 25, Carol Bonham, California
ENOUGH!! Stop killing the planet and innocents! You degrade the human race! Bush you speak of good and evil so much…you must be blind to not see that you are reeking of evil in all your choices! OPEN your eyes!

# 232:

12:23 pm PDT, Jun 25, Mary Ross, Texas

# 231:

12:12 pm PDT, Jun 25, Maureen Panno, Illinois
Anyone who possesses a scrap of compassion or caring for any life form would not want to see a weapon of this magnitude produced. How can anyone with a conscience view this weapon as a "good thing"? I fear for my children and unborn grandchildren. God Bless America indeed.

# 230:

12:08 pm PDT, Jun 25, Judith Hodges, California
This action is without regard for any life, let alone humans continuing on the face of the earth. I have only one conclusion regarding this proposed devastation. These people are either suicidal, completely given over to blood lust and greed or completely insane. Perhaps it's all of the above. My strongest recommendation is to support an IMPEACH BUSH campaign. Blessings to all.

# 229:

12:07 pm PDT, Jun 25, Name not displayed, Montana
Weapons such as this kill more than their intended targets, and for an extended amount of time. Vote no on buncker-buster bombs with nucular capability

# 228:

12:04 pm PDT, Jun 25, Susan Wilson, Indiana
duh!

# 227:

12:01 pm PDT, Jun 25, Eugene & Ann Spake, California

# 226:

11:59 am PDT, Jun 25, Name not displayed, India

# 225:

11:55 am PDT, Jun 25, Carol Brown, Ohio

# 224:

11:47 am PDT, Jun 25, Dennis A Rash, Ohio
I have great respect for all human life including the unborn and strongly feel that the overall costs to human life and the world are much greater than whatever conjoured justification may be tried to be defended as rational thinking.

# 223:

11:42 am PDT, Jun 25, Melissa Savilonis, Connecticut

# 222:

11:34 am PDT, Jun 25, Deb Headley, Texas

# 221:

11:34 am PDT, Jun 25, Alicia Campbell, California
Funding nuclear weapons is actually a step backword in evolution. It helps breed the mindset that we MUST create bigger and more powerful weapons in an age where we should be establishing just the opposite. We should be finding ways to preserve the planet not destroy it!

# 220:

11:34 am PDT, Jun 25, Kelsey Lissner, California

# 219:

11:33 am PDT, Jun 25, Jimmy Mach, Minnesota

# 218:

11:29 am PDT, Jun 25, Rebecca Long, Ohio
8.5 million dollars would surely help our state with what we really need -JOBS,EDUCATION,ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION! Nuclear weapons research is not a priority when we drive hours a day to keep a low-paying job(s). Our schools are closing around us. We can't drink our water because of industrial contamination. Nuclear weapons research will be null and void when there is nothing left in this country to protect. Why don't you "outsource" that as well?

# 217:

11:25 am PDT, Jun 25, Paula Prindle, New York

# 216:

11:25 am PDT, Jun 25, Rhonda Williams, California

# 215:

11:23 am PDT, Jun 25, Name not displayed, Philippines

# 214:

11:22 am PDT, Jun 25, Darlas Fink, Pennsylvania

# 213:

11:21 am PDT, Jun 25, Stephanie Sagemoon, Arkansas

# 212:

11:19 am PDT, Jun 25, Cathy McClintock, Arizona

# 211:

11:18 am PDT, Jun 25, Name not displayed, Illinois

# 210:

11:14 am PDT, Jun 25, Jeanie Williams-West, Louisiana

# 209:

11:05 am PDT, Jun 25, Meghann Adams, Minnesota

# 208:

11:01 am PDT, Jun 25, Charlene Shumate, Arkansas
More nuclear waste to try and dispose of. Rather than wasting our money on this how about taking care of our elderly and disabled. The old saying goes, "the rich get richer and the poor get poorer". Your administration certainly is holding that true.

# 207:

10:56 am PDT, Jun 25, Anna Van Laan, Pennsylvania

# 206:

10:47 am PDT, Jun 25, Vicky Lynn De Maeyer, Belgium

# 205:

10:36 am PDT, Jun 25, Sharon Parks, California

# 204:

10:33 am PDT, Jun 25, Linda Bescript, Arizona
8.5 billion $ to kill and destroy even more? How does that serve and protect society and the planet?

# 203:

10:30 am PDT, Jun 25, Name not displayed, Oregon

# 202:

10:27 am PDT, Jun 25, Name not displayed, United Kingdom

# 201:

10:25 am PDT, Jun 25, Benjamin Jones, New Jersey

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Oppose New Nuclear Weapons Today

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