PROPOSAL NUMBER: 007-07
1. Date proposed 9/27/07. Sponsors: Tanya Ishikawa, Adams/Jefferson Chapter Secretary and Tom Kelly, GPCO Co-Chair
2. TITLE:
Proposal to Endorse the September 2007 Statement by the Colorado Coalition for the Prevention of Nuclear War
3. FULL PROPOSAL:
The Green Party of Colorado will add its organizational name and support to the statement against potential nuclear weapon use in the Middle East, and for the full Non-Proliferation Treaty. The Green Party of Colorado Outreach Committee will send a media release and update our Internet communications (Web sites, listserves, etc.) describing our support of the statement.
3a. Full Statement of the Coalition:
Loose Lips Threaten Real Security
The Colorado Coalition for Prevention of Nuclear War
September 2007
The Colorado Coalition for the Prevention of Nuclear War finds the conversation about potential “use” of nuclear weapons in the Middle East to be irresponsible and illegal. Those who reject our membership in the Non-Proliferation Treaty and the International Court of Justice intend this conversation to legitimizes this outrageous question.
Americans should be talking instead about is a pledge of no first use on the part of the United States as an early step in returning to our commitments under the Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Until the Military Policy of the United States rejects nuclear weapons as acceptable in any situation, we are rejecting the whole premise of non-proliferation. The Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT) was ratified by the United States Senate and thus has the force of Law within the US Constitution (See Article VI). When the Congress or the President act outside the commitments made in the NPT they are putting themselves above US Law.
The pledge in this treaty, by non-nuclear states — to forego development of these weapons — is predicated on actions of nuclear states to stand down and move toward multilateral elimination of all such weapons — under an international inspection schem e. Unless the United States keeps this commitment, there is no legal basis on which to “invade pre-emptively” or to punish a country that seeks to gain nuclear capability. Their national sovereignty within the international legal framework trumps that action in international law, unless the NPT is honored by nuclear states.
We call on all Colorado citizens to hold all our leaders and potential leaders to a commitment to real non-proliferation and international nuclear disarmament. The International Court of Justice has identified both the use and/or threat of use of these weapons as a Crime Against Humanity. To make a policy of first strike use of a nuclear weapon against any state– no matter how onerous– by the United States, a topic of legitimate conversation is a crime against humanity on our part.
That there were no nuclear weapons found in Iraq in 2003 after our pre-emptive invasion proves that international inspection (by the United Nations) had been effective and can be effective in the future to make the entire world more secure from these abominations. As we struggle six years later with the long term consequences of this rash invasion we should remember there are better ways to obtain real national security than hiding behind their illusory shield.
Approved by the Board of the Coalition
* Bob Kinsey
* Judith Mohling
* Roz Goldfield
* Wayne Snyder
* Mary Alyce Behrens
* Francine Schwartzenberger
* “R” Addison
* Barbara Moe
* Warren and Patt Rempel
* Tom Green
* Adrienne Anderson
* Mary Casper
* Ann White
* Donna Spring
Evergreen Peace, Marcie Dahlen, Sandy Valentine, Jean Bell, Etta Satter, Hannah Hayes
Greeley Chapter of Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, Elaine Schmidt, organizer
Pikes Peak Justice and Peace Commission, Jeff Briggs, Peter C Haney
Colorado Progressive Jewish News, Rob Prince, editor
Cord MacGuire, Boulder
Bob Carlsten, Denver
Mary Lou Peterson, Chicago
Cynthia Lee Lowrey, Arvada
Rev. Emilly Hassler, Washington Park UCC Denver
James Roth, Denver
Elaine Andrews, Boulder
John Kane, Professor of Religious Studies, Regis University
Barbara S. Royal, Indiana
Catherine Blake
Mark Oeser, Arvada
T.J. Bowen, Arvada
Dianne Henke
Sally Harper, Colorado Springs
Ryan Canaday, Lakewood
Mary Ogles
David Corcoran
Coalition Contact –Bob Kinsey
303-949-4073
www.thecoloradocoalition.org
kinsey_65@msn.com
4. BACKGROUND:
The Coalition is distributing the statement as a call to Coloradoans and their government leaders to reject any plan by the U.S. to use nuclear weapons in the Middle East. Any support of the statement is welcomed.
5. Justification/Goals:
Bob Kinsey, the Coalition Contact, is an active Green and former Green Party candidate for Colorado offices. Other members of the coalition, both organizational and individual, are supportive of Green Values and many are or have been Green Party members. The statement supports the 10 Key Values of the Greens, specifically Ecological Wisdom, Non-Violence, Social Justice, and Future Focus.
6. Pros:
1) Support of the statement would link the Green Party to a significant cause and organizations, as well as demonstrate our support for them.
2) Support of the statement would help Greens and non-Greens alike to understand our values and political stands, thereby promoting the party and possibly gaining more active members.
3) Support of the statement and promoting it takes very little resources.
Cons:
1) Support of the statement by the state party would imply full support by all members, when in fact each member still has a right to their own opinion on the matter.
2) The Green Party of Colorado could be initiating its own similar statements, instead of jumping on the bandwagon with others.
7. Alternatives to the proposal:
1) Doing nothing. Not endorsing the statement or communicating it.
2) Opposing the statement.
3) Endorsing it but not communicating that endorsement.
4) Creating our own statement.
