Oppose U.S.-India Nuclear Cooperation Deal

Welcome to the Subversive Peacemaking Blog. For those who don't know me, I have been sending emails to a relatively small social justice email network for a few years. While it has grown steadily in readership, I have decided that it is time to enter the blogosphere and see if I can engage even more people to act for peace and justice to build a better world for all. This is a good day to begin since it is the International Day of Peace; September 21 has been designated the International Day of Peace by a United Nations resolution on September 7, 2001. This day is celebrated all over the world by events, large and small, focused on promoting peace in the world. Of course, peacemaking is more than a (one day) job; it is a way of life.


If you don't already know, the Bush Administration recently convinced the 45 member nations of the Nuclear Suppliers Group to lift a 30-year ban on nuclear trade with India. India first tested a nuclear weapon in 1974, which resulted in the international community placing a trade ban on nuclear technology and materials. President Bush and Indian Prime Minister Singh reached a verbal agreement for the U.S. to provide nuclear fuel and technology to India in 2005, even though India has not signed the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Since 2005, the President has been pushing Congress to approve the agreement. You can see the entire timeline of the U.S.-India nuclear deal at Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL).

So just why is this a BAD idea??? As Pakistani scientist Pervez Hoddbhoy recently commented, "The deal has struck yet another nail into the coffin of nonproliferation." Right now we need to be doing everything possible to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons, but the Bush administration has done just the opposite - among the highpoints:

• Pulled out of the Anti Ballistic Missile Treaty


• Pushed for a new generation "Reliable Replacement Warhead"


• Pursued new (strategic) uses for nuclear weapons

We need to clean up our own house so that we can set an example for the rest of the world. Meanwhile, we can impact global proliferation right now. The President is making one last push to get Congress to approve the U.S.-India deal. This deal would greatly increase India's capacity to produce nuclear weapons, and would vastly undermine the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, of which India is not a part.

Urge your representative to oppose this U.S.-India nuclear cooperation deal, and to work instead toward the elimination of these dangerous weapons. While at the FCNL Website, consider signing up to get their Action Alerts. Until next time,

PEACE,

Leonard