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~~ tom

HIROSHIMA DAY

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REMEMBER HIROSHIMA!

Some 1,590 times since the end of World
War Two in 1945, nuclear devices have been
tested, adding the essential factor to today’s
appalling picture of a world which now con-
tains enough nuclear firepower to destroy
itself many times over.

The testing of nuclear weapons has, in fact,
proven these devices work. We also know that
delivery systems will carry ever bigger yields
further and with “street address accuracy.” In
46 years of the nuclear age we see the technol-
ogy of humankind once more showing itself to
be awesome in its efficiency.

It has been repeated many times that the
weapons used by the United States against
defenceless Japanese cities were mere popguns
compared to what’s in store should a nuclear
exchange take place today. But, as the only
real “‘live” tests on record, the destruction of
Hiroshima and Nagasaki gave horrible and
graphic evidence that nuclear war is a mad-
ness that can only be contemplated by mani-
acs.

What more proof is needed? What else is
there we should know about nuclear war?

Does, it matter to you how many times over
you are killed in a nuclear war, or whether you
die in the first searing blast, or more slowly as
nuclear winter descends?

Why, ask youself, does the United States
refuse to match the Soviet test ban? Is it that
more “proof” of nuclear destructibility is
needed? Could it be that nuclear war is actu-

ally being planned by the Rambos in the i
tagon?

Buried among the growing comp
the technology of today’s nuclear arms wit
hidden in the jargon of firepower and fg
boggling array of coded ‘“weaponesé si
rather simple fact: if nuclear weapons !@
stops, so will nations’ capacity to devel0P
weapons and weapons systems.

This is connected with another fac
vent a new, dangerous arms race, we mu
stop where we are. This would permit s!4
move to the next stage of disarmamen od

In fact, the USSR’s 15 year plan, 4
in three stages, proposed just that —
of the very first steps being a ban of
nuclear weapons’ testing. It is the fi
toward the stated goal of a world
nuclear weapons by the year 2000. snot

It’s for just that reason the USSR anne
last August it would unilaterally end f ie
testing and urged the U.S. to join. It's for
that reason Moscow has extended its if (i
times, despite Reagan’s rejection. An it
just that reason — a world without ye
weapons — that it.is urgent that the ©)
date, August 6, 1986, is not allowed toP)
without Washington being pressed t0 J
USSR in a test ban agreement. It woul
finest way to commemorate the victill®
died in Hiroshima on that day almo&
decades ago.

Jexities d
+ {5 4

tO

with of
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rst Sf

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— Tom Mot

On August 6, 1986, one of the most
important arms control initiatives in
decades — the unilateral Soviet
moratorium on nuclear testing — will
be one year old. On that day it will also
be due to expire. A critical opportunity
to brake the arms race may be irretriev-
ably lost.

The United States, which since 1945
has conducted 804 atomic explosions
(far more than any other nuclear pow-
er), continues to stonewall and pre-
varicate on the issue of a test ban treaty.
Although much of the world public,
numerous governments, labor organ-
izations, churches, scientists, peace
groups and many others have called
upon the Reagan administration to ac-
cept the Soviet offer of a permanent
cessation of testing, the U.S. has re-
sponded by actually escalating its

schedule of experimental nuclear
blasts.

Star Wars Ahead

The main goal of continued testing is
the development of future nuclear
weapons. The Reagan administration
has a full menu of these in preparation:
the Midgetman missile, the Trident II
(D-5), and a hydrogen bomb-powered
X-ray laser weapon designed for the
upcoming Star Wars network. It is to
complete development of these destabi-
lizing new weapons-systems that the
U.S. has so far rejected any possibility
of joining the USSR in the testing
moratorium.

Such an agreement, however, would
have major benefits for those of us with
no vested interest in ongoing weapons
development. Experts agree that a

570
ei

U.S: U.S.S.R. . France

Nuclear Explosions
804 1945 — mid-1986
(Total: 1,590)

39 32 |
[iemetees i.) [coer menn eee)
United China India
Kingdom

Sources: Centre for Defence Information,
U.S. National Resources Defence Council

TRIBUNE GRAPHIC: JOSE KAUFMAN

comprehensive test ban treaty would
prevent the emergence of new nuclear
warhead types, and undermine the
effectiveness of old ones. It would also
be a major confidence-building mea-
sure in arms control negotiations which
these days often seem on the verge of
collapse.

Fallout Reduced

A mutual nuclear test ban would also
have the welcome effect of reducing the
quantities of atomic radiation that are
annually released into the environment.
Since the tragic accident at the Soviet
power station, Chernobyl, earlier this
year, considerable attention has been
focussed on this problem. Few have
noted, however, that the major source
of long-term radioactive pollutants
since 1945 has been nuclear explosions.

This element is of enormous signi-
ficance for us all: in 1982 the U.S.
Academy of Sciences estimated that
One person in one thousand will de-
velop cancer as a result of environ-
mental radiation by the year 2000.
Every increase in the level of fallout
worsens those odds.

Citizens’ Initiative
The Reagan administration has
claimed that a comprehensive test ban
treaty would be ‘‘unverifiable’’ and
therefore difficult to negotiate.
However, an extraordinary initiative

— of a sort which will hopefully be-

come common — has seriously chal-
lenged official Washington’s position.
A group of American scientists belong-
ing to the U.S. Natural Resources De-
fence Council (NRDC) recently signed
an agreement with their counterparts in

the Soviet Academy of Sciences: to
stall equipment near the nucleat the
facilities of both sides, and beget
task of verification even in the 20%
of a treaty between governments

This pact allows the Americans wid
up seismic detection posts of oe
territory, to monitor any nucle
which may take place. (During J uly of
U.S. team began setting up the? skit
three such stations near Karkarali? is
eastern Kazakhstan). Soviet sci@™ 19
will also be given the opportulh ag
erect similar installations on Pr at
land near the Nevada nuclear test oft”

This arrangement — whic
voked an angry response from the ajo"
gan administration — has the “A.
purpose, as NRDC scientist TOM iyi |
hran has noted, ‘to demonstra i
verification is no obstacle to a 1 af
test ban, and that the United States gl
the Soviet Union can co-operate!
objective.”

Time Has Come

Such initiatives, along with large ro
tests that have attended each rece yf
clear test in Nevada, and the pl 10
coming from virtually every ©? com
the world, indicate that the
prehensive test ban is an ide@
time has definitely come. iv

The unilateral Soviet moral as
due to expire shortly, still repr git
the best chance to break the dead!
this crucial issue. On August % cot
could be no more appropriate or i
structive way to remember the apse
of Hiroshima, than to sign a? j
ment abolishing nuclear eXP
forever. wel

a

Jos!

6 e PACIFIC TRIBUNE, JULY 30, 1986