VATICAN U.N. REPRESENTATIVE ARCHBISHOP RENATO MARTINO: Nuclear Weapons "Grave Danger to Humanity" by David Buer, OFM 'strictly conditioned moral accep- Archbishop Martino at the United On October 19, 1998, Arch- :ance of nuclear deterrence". Since Nations called for "a review of the bishop Renato Martino, Vatican :hen, that acceptance has become strategy of nuclear deterrence". Two Nuncio to the United Nations, spoke iarrower and narrower. In 1990, (continued on next page) to the First Committee of the 53rd session of the United Nations Appeal for your Financial Support General Assembly that is review- ing disarmament programs. Hesaid Dear friends; "the world must move toward the We are aware that at this time you are flooded with appeals for funds. Also we know abolition of nuclear weapons... the there are many expenses associated with the Christmas season that is descending continued existence of 30,000 upon us. Nevertheless we are once again asking for your support for Nevada Desert nuclear weapons almost a decade Experience. after the end of the Cold War, poses As the articles in this newsletter relate, there is no lessening in the commitment of the a grave danger to humanity". United States to develop and deploy nuclear weapons. As the B-52 bombers took off for It has been 15 years since the lraq so recently they were able to present a new not in their arsenal U.S. Catholic Bishops issued their during the lraq war. This new nuclear weapon was specifically designed to penetrate the famous peace pastoral that had a earth to a deep enough level to hit Saddam Hussein's command headquarters and possibly eliminate Saddam himself. Evidence from the lraq war presented us with vivid picturesof the slaughter of innocent women and children in such Mile efforts. Now these attempts can be nuclear armed. If we cross the nuclear threshold again there is no telling where it will stop. Such experts as General Lee Butler (former commander of all stategic forces) insist there may well be no stopping all out escalation once the first bomb is dropped. Given the perilous state of continuing to live in a world with nuclear weapons as a growing threat, we at join General Butler and the growing world-wide movement insisting the only hope is to move for total abolition of all nuclear weapons. With this conviction we embark on Millennium 2000, which begins with the entry into the new millennium and makes a radical commitment to work towards the elimination of all nuclear weapons! Ironically as the danger grows, the apathy is not disturbed. Thus, it is very difficult to find funds to mobilize for this campaign. We primarily depend on you who have seen for many years the desperateness of nuclear war and have kept us going this far. We are gearing up for this ati out campaign. Quite frankly, we need your help if this campaign is to happen. Before beginning your Christmas shopping can you consider a generous gift to Nevada Desert Experience? It might also be seen as a gift to your family to ensure their safety in a fragile world. Many thanks and may God bless you and gift us with a world of peace. , OFM, Chair, Nevada Desert Experience, P 0 Box 4487, , NV 89127 (continued from front page) turn the world away from nuclear weapons. lision and hope of Archbishop Martino's years later, back at the U.N., he stated; The majority of the world is calling the 3ctober 19, 1998 statement to the United "the dangerous strategy of nuclear deter- rninorii that possess nuclear weapons to Vations, "The world has rid itself of the evils rence is outmodedn. Again at the U.N., in truly ban them comprehensively. Certainly ~f legitimized slavery, legalized colonial- 1997, Archbishop Martino said; 'Nuclear there are forces that want to continue to rely sm, and legalized apartheid. These were weapons are incompatible with the peace Dn nuclear weapons. They are our oppo- Aiminated as the result of rising global we seek for the 21st century. They cannot nents. awareness and political determination. So, be justified. They deserve condemnationn. Nevada Desert Experience is commit- also, the growing momentum to delegit- Over the last several years, Nevada ted to continue the clarion call to our past mize and eliminate nuclear weapons must Desert Experience has worked harder to and current supporters and to those new now be accompanied by political action by be in solidarity with our colleagues who hiends that are discovering us through the all [nations]. Humanity deserves no less protest with us, not only at the Nevada Test travels of our Education Director, Cindy from usn. Site, but also those active at the nuclear Pile. In the coming year we will continue our Join Nevada Desert Experience at the laboratories in Livermore, CA and Los events during Lent and August. Excitement and add your voice to Alamos, NM. Both labs are very active in is already building for the extraordinary Jesse Manibusan's song; "Now is the time, preparing for the "subcritical testsn that gathering of Millennium 2000, December tve are the ones, this is the place, walking have taken place at the Nevada Test Site 29,1999 - January 2,2000 (see enclosed the ways of peace". We urge your ongoing several times since last year. Also, at Liv- flyer). Desert Voices will regularly update support of the Nevada Desert Experience. ermore Labs preparations are going for- you throughout the year. We will continue ward with the "Stockpile Stewardship Pro- our networking with groups active here in gramn, a program costing billions and bil- Nevada and at the nuclear weapons labo- U.S. TESTS lions of dollars that enables the U.S. to ratories. We will continue our vigil of the further develop and test nuclear weapons subcritical tests. NUCLEAR BOMB using super lasers and the most powerful It is necessary to occasionally stop to After several months of delays, new computers. see how far we have come. Earlier this year the Department of Energy con- It is these developments that Archbishop 80 U.S. Catholic Bishops associated with ducted its subcritical nuclear weap- Martino had in mind when he said on Pax Christi USA signed a statement con- ons test, named "Bagpipe" on October 19th; "...what is deeply troubling is demning nuclear deterrence policy. Gen- September 26,1998 at the Nevada the prospect of a new nuclear arms race. eral Lee Butler, who commanded U.S. Test Site. Nevada Desert Experi- The modernization programs of those who nuclear forces earlier this decade, argues ence joined with Shundahai Net- already have nuclear weapons, combined from a military perspective, that nuclear work and other local anti-nuclear with the acquiring of nuclear weapons by weapons are obsolete. The Franciscan activists for protests at the Nevada other [countries], and research now going leadership in Rome urged the leaders of Test Site and at the Federal Build- on in stillothers, plunge the world into more the world to abolish nuclear weapons (write ing in Las Vegas. In the San Fran- danger than existed during the Cold War. NDE for a copy of the 3 page statement). cisco Bay Area, Nevada Desert The longer this situation continues, the Nevada Desert Experience has steadily, Experience joined in protests at the more a growing number of [countries] will consistently called for an end to nuclear headquarters of Bechtel (the con- falsely claim that nuclear weapons are weapon testing, called for the closing of the tractor who operates the Nevada legitimaten. Nevada Test Site and supported the West- Test Site) and at Livermore Labs. Since 1982, Nevada Desert Experience ern Shoshone as the legitimate stewards of The next su bcritical underground has brought thousands of people of faith to the land it occupies. nuclear weapons test is scheduled the Nevada Test Site to get informed, pray, Let us, together, echo the final words of for late November 1998. attend creative interfaith liturgies, sing, dance and protest nuclear weapons test- TELLING THE NEVADA DESERT EXPERIENCE STORY ing and production. As author Jonathan Ken Butigan, a former NDE Board Member, is writing a Schell has recently reminded us, we have dissertation and book on NDE. He would like to hear from a "Gill of Timen[Metropolitan Books, Henry you! Please use the enclosed survey to reflect on your Holt and Co., 223 pages, $251 available to NDE experiences. Thank You! RECENT NDE STAFF AND BOARD TRANSITIONS I----- .-+- -j- 1 1 --== --== The NDE board has three new members. -- attended NDE events several times in the last Nancy Lynch, a Quaker from Santa Barbara, two years. He has been an active supporter to CA. Over the last ten years, Nancy has come Plowshares activists Steve Kelley, SJ and Susan regularly to th~Nevada Test Site, participating Crane. ;qpT** in the last two Holy Week Walks. Her husband, In April, Julia Occhiogrosso and Gary . who died of cancer over ten years ago, was one Cavalier completed 2 112 years as NDE co- - 1 < -- -.- of the ground troops who participated in the directors.They continue their work at the Las / 0- - above ground nuclear tests at the Nevada Test Vegas Catholic Worker and Julia works part- ? DRAWING BY NANCY LYNCH Site in the 1950's. Erik Thompson has been time at Pace e Bene with their From Violence to coming to the Nevada Test Site since the 1980's. Wholenessprogram. David Buer, OFM is NDE's /I In 1989, Erik joined Louie Vitale, OFM and interim director. NDE board members Earl Augustu Desert 1 1 others to rclaim the cha~elin the--~ Nevada Test-- Johnson and June Stark Casey completed Site town of Mercury. Mike Niece and his wife their three year terms. We are grateful for their Witness 1998 11 Kathy live at the Mandaleine Catholic Worker dedication to the vision and projects of NDE since 1995. Richard, OFM offered his last Eucharistic New Nevada Desert Experience service at the Nevada Test Site, before he headed back to France. Alain has been Mission Statement participating in events at the Nevada Test Site since the first Lenten Desert Experi- (Approved at October 1998 Board Meeting) As people of faith, we believe that the production and testing of ence in 1982! We will miss him. The next day, participants gathered at St. James nuclear and other weapons of massdestruction are physically, emotion- ally and spiritually devastating to all creation. Church in Las Vegas for ADW 98: "In Their Memory: From Violence to Wholenessn. The mission of the Nevada Desert Experience (NDE) is to proclaim the immorality of weapons of mass destruction and to stop nuclear Cindy Pile, Louie Vitale and Stevi Carroll weapons testing through a campaign of prayer, dialogue and non- led the workshops. Participants came from Catholic Worker Communities in Philadel- violent direct action. NDE is mobilizing people of faith to work toward nuclear abolition, including our immediate goals of ending subcritical phia, Los Angeles and the Bay Area. Four members of the board of the Episcopal nuclear tests at the Nevada Test Site and curtailing the Stockpile Stewardship Program. Peace Fellowship came from Michigan, North Carolina, California and Pennsylva- nia. Local supporters Sr. Virginia Corley, OP and Peggy Devitt were among those who assisted generously with the logistics. The St. Barbara Youth Group in Santa Ana, CA sent the beautiful yellow banner. On Sunday, August 9, the 53rd anniver- sary of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki, ADW 98 participantsjoined for a traditional Western Shoshone morn- ing sunrise service. Afterward, Cindy Pile led a morning prayer service . During the service, Erik Thompson and Cynthia of the Desert "exploded radiated dustn (flour) on our prayer circle. Those of us downwind from the flour were "deadn. It was a dra- matic liturgy. There were 28 arrests. After- ward, participants gathered at the Francis- Hundreds of saucer shaped nuclear bomb craters create a "moonscapen terrain at can houses, resting and sharing stories. . 925 nuclear weapons tests have been detonated at the Nevada Test Site. Healing Global Wounds presents: Come to "Love Your Mother" 1999 Spring Healing Global Wounds Gathering at the Nevada Test Site, Mother's Day, May 7-10,1999 In 1870, women in the U.S. proclaimed the first Mother's Day. Far from the sentimental Sunday of Hallmark cards and hothouse roses, with male relatives struggling with a restaurant tab or the patio barbeque in order to get mom out of the kitchen one day a year, the original proclamation was a powerful call for women worldwide to unite in nonviolent resistance to a world of warfare. 129 years later, we invite all people of the four directions to answer that original call. For more information write after Christmas to: Healing Global Wounds, P 0 Box 420, Tecopa, CA 92389.

DESERT VOICES Franciscan Friars of California NEVADADESERTEXPERIENCE P. 0. BOX 4487 LAS VEGAS, NV 89127-0487

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

One Step, Then Another Palm Sunday Weekend, March 26-28, 1999 at St. James Church in Las Vegas On Palm Sunday, March 28, LDE participants will gather with the Holy Week walkers at the DOE headquarters in North Las Vegas for an early prayer service. The 65 mile Holy Week Walk commences with the prayer service and will arrive at the Nevada Test Site on Good Friday, April 2. Upon arrival, there will be the traditional Nuclear Stations of the Cross at the Mercury gate followed by the setting up of a small peace encampment through Easter Sunday morning, April 4. For more information about LDE XVIII, please fill out the coupon below: Name: Address: City: State: Zip: Phone(s): I am interested in LDE XVIII, please send me information about: - - LDE Weekend, Mar. 26-28, "One Step, Then Another" ($20, $30 after Feb. 28) - Annual Holy Week Walk, March 28-April 2 ($25, $35 after Feb. 28) - Peace Encampment and Easter Liturgy, April 2-4 ($15, $20 after Feb. 28) - LDE Vigil for campers, Ash Wednesday, Feb. 17 thru Holy Week Send to: Nevada Desert Experience, PO Box 4487, Las Vegas, NV 89127