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WASH Sign-On letters to U.S. Y2K/Nuclear Officials

 

Here are official WASH letters to President Clinton and others that you can get friends and other citizens to sign on (like a petition), or that you can get organizations to sign -- especially anti-nuclear and environmental organization, but ANY public concern organization should sign them. Each one has a format for additional signature pages, as well.  And each one could be adapted for use in other countries.

 


WASH sign-on letter from organizations


 

To: President Bill Clinton Date:
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20525

From: The concerned organizations listed below

PETITION re the urgent need for a Y2K World Atomic Safety Holiday

 

cc:

Vice President Al Gore
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington, DC 20525

Chairman Greta Joy Dicus
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Washington, DC 20555-0001

John Koskinen
Chair of the President's Council on Year 2000 Conversion
115 Old Executive Office Building
Washington, DC 20502

 

We, the undersigned, on behalf of our members, implore you to take every action necessary to avert nuclear accidents that are at increased risk at New Year 2000 because of potential Y2K date-related computer, digital chip and embedded system malfunctions. The rollover to year 2000 will challenge all of the world's 433 nuclear power reactors on the same day, while all other utility and communication systems are also being challenged.

A recent U.S. State Department study of 161 countries found 80 to be at medium-to-high risk of Y2K-related disruptions in their inter-dependent telecommunications, energy and transportation sectors. It concludes: "It would be prudent to recognize that Y2K- related failures are inevitable, both here and abroad."

Because no one knows what January 1st, 2000, will bring, it is imperative that the nuclear reactors worldwide be as prepared as possible for expected power outages, computer and embedded system problems which could result in reactor accidents and even meltdowns.

We consider nuclear war an unacceptable global humanitarian and environmental risk and call for the de-alerting and de-coupling of all nuclear weapon systems.

In order to prevent potentially grave cascading human and ecological Chernobyl-level crises, what is needed is for all nuclear host nations to create a "World Atomic Safety Holiday" in time for the New Year's weekend.

Therefore, as you are a world leader who is responsible for preserving public and environmental safety and health, we call on you to immediately create policy and implement programs that will support the following measures:

· A phased shift of all reactors to stand-by status in time for the Y2K weekend - By the last week of December (no later than December 30th at noon), phase all nuclear reactors to a "stand-by" position so that no plant is splitting atoms during the rollover period. This temporary stoppage will help avert mistakes which could result from misinformation or a lack of information caused by computer software or embedded system malfunctions.
As of January 1, begin a managed phase-in of reactor operation only after normal functions have been restored, validated and stabilized, including electrical transmission systems and related telecommunications.

· Adequate, reliable back-up power and fuel supplies for critical cooling systems - Since nuclear operations produce enough heat to melt nuclear fuel in as short a time as two hours, if not cooled, immediately ensure that emergency back-up power systems are functioning and have fuel reserves which are adequate to power essential systems. This must include all critical nuclear facilities including waste storage sites (particularly irradiated fuel cooling pools and liquid high-level waste storage tanks). It will also be necessary to provide additional, alternative emergency back-up power systems by December 15, 1999 to prevent nuclear melt-downs in the event of extended or successive power outages combined with diesel generator failure. Each facility needs one month supply of emergency back-up fuel, at a minimum.

· Government incentive subsidies for industry - Projected nuclear industry financial costs caused by the phased move of reactors to temporary "idle" or stand-by status, as well as from back-up power retrofit costs must be covered by government subsidy incentives.

· Voluntary society-wide load reductions - Projected drops in power grid supply capacities must be compensated for in each country by demand side management -- voluntary industry-wide participation in going off-line to support these safety measures and use-reduction by means of conservation and efficiency. Where possible, shift to alternative power sources on the parts of both industrial and private consumers.

· De-alerting and de-coupling of all nuclear weapons systems - De-alert nuclear weapons and de-couple nuclear bombs from missiles by December 1, 1999 to prevent missile launch on warning based on false data from early warning system error and/or undetectable nuclear command and control tampering. Implement trust-building measures between and among nuclear nations - particularly the U.S. and Russia.

These prudent measures and investment are simply insurance against damages due to nuclear consequences stemming directly, or indirectly from Y2K problems. These measures should be renewed for the additional challenge dates of February 29 and December 31, 2000.

With only months remaining until the rollover, it is imperative that all nuclear nations collaborate in these efforts to ensure a safe transition to the next millennium. On behalf of all the world's peoples and all life, we urge leaders of every nuclear reactor or nuclear weapons host nation to undertake this initiative as a joint international effort so that the financial status of a host nation is not an impediment to accomplishing the goal of ensuring a successful World Atomic Safety Holiday for New Year 2000 and beyond.


Name (signature & print) / Title / Organization / Address (incl. ZIP Code) / Phone / E-mail

 

* * * * (additional pages format) * * * *

 

World Atomic Safety Holiday Petition to President Clinton (continued) page _____

 

Name (signature & print) / Title / Organization / Address (incl. ZIP Code) / Phone / E-mail


WASH sign-on letter from citizens


 

To: President Bill Clinton Date:
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20525

From: The concerned citizens listed below

PETITION re the urgent need for a Y2K World Atomic Safety Holiday

 

cc:

Vice President Al Gore
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington, DC 20525

Chairman Greta Joy Dicus
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Washington, DC 20555-0001

John Koskinen
Chair of the President's Council on Year 2000 Conversion
115 Old Executive Office Building
Washington, DC 20502

 

We, the undersigned, implore you to take every action necessary to avert nuclear accidents that are at increased risk at New Year 2000 because of potential Y2K date-related computer, digital chip and embedded system malfunctions. The rollover to year 2000 will challenge all of the world's 433 nuclear power reactors on the same day, while all other utility and communication systems are also being challenged.

A recent U.S. State Department study of 161 countries found 80 to be at medium-to-high risk of Y2K-related disruptions in their inter-dependent telecommunications, energy and transportation sectors. It concludes: "It would be prudent to recognize that Y2K- related failures are inevitable, both here and abroad."

Because no one knows what January 1st, 2000, will bring, it is imperative that the nuclear reactors worldwide be as prepared as possible for expected power outages, computer and embedded system problems which could result in reactor accidents and even meltdowns.

We consider nuclear war an unacceptable global humanitarian and environmental risk and call for the de-alerting and de-coupling of all nuclear weapon systems.

In order to prevent potentially grave cascading human and ecological Chernobyl-level crises, what is needed is for all nuclear host nations to create a "World Atomic Safety Holiday" in time for the New Year's weekend.

Therefore, as you are a world leader who is responsible for preserving public and environmental safety and health, we call on you to immediately create policy and implement programs that will support the following measures:

· A phased shift of all reactors to stand-by status in time for the Y2K weekend - By the last week of December (no later than December 30th at noon), phase all nuclear reactors to a "stand-by" position so that no plant is splitting atoms during the rollover period. This temporary stoppage will help avert mistakes which could result from misinformation or a lack of information caused by computer software or embedded system malfunctions.
As of January 1, begin a managed phase-in of reactor operation only after normal functions have been restored, validated and stabilized, including electrical transmission systems and related telecommunications.

· Adequate, reliable back-up power and fuel supplies for critical cooling systems - Since nuclear operations produce enough heat to melt nuclear fuel in as short a time as two hours, if not cooled, immediately ensure that emergency back-up power systems are functioning and have fuel reserves which are adequate to power essential systems. This must include all critical nuclear facilities including waste storage sites (particularly irradiated fuel cooling pools and liquid high-level waste storage tanks). It will also be necessary to provide additional, alternative emergency back-up power systems by December 15, 1999 to prevent nuclear melt-downs in the event of extended or successive power outages combined with diesel generator failure. Each facility needs one month supply of emergency back-up fuel, at a minimum.

· Government incentive subsidies for industry - Projected nuclear industry financial costs caused by the phased move of reactors to temporary "idle" or stand-by status, as well as from back-up power retrofit costs must be covered by government subsidy incentives.

· Voluntary society-wide load reductions - Projected drops in power grid supply capacities must be compensated for in each country by demand side management -- voluntary industry-wide participation in going off-line to support these safety measures and use-reduction by means of conservation and efficiency. Where possible, shift to alternative power sources on the parts of both industrial and private consumers.

· De-alerting and de-coupling of all nuclear weapons systems - De-alert nuclear weapons and de-couple nuclear bombs from missiles by December 1, 1999 to prevent missile launch on warning based on false data from early warning system error and/or undetectable nuclear command and control tampering. Implement trust-building measures between and among nuclear nations - particularly the U.S. and Russia.

These prudent measures and investment are simply insurance against damages due to nuclear consequences stemming directly, or indirectly from Y2K problems. These measures should be renewed for the additional challenge dates of February 29 and December 31, 2000.

With only months remaining until the rollover, it is imperative that all nuclear nations collaborate in these efforts to ensure a safe transition to the next millennium. On behalf of all the world's peoples and all life, we urge leaders of every nuclear reactor or nuclear weapons host nation to undertake this initiative as a joint international effort so that the financial status of a host nation is not an impediment to accomplishing the goal of ensuring a successful World Atomic Safety Holiday for New Year 2000 and beyond.

 

Name (signature & print) / Address (incl. ZIP Code) / Phone (optional) / E-mail (optional)

 

* * * * (additional pages format) * * * *


World Atomic Safety Holiday Petition to President Clinton (continued) page _____

 

Name (signature & print) / Address (incl. ZIP Code) / Phone (optional) / E-mail (optional)