Page 59 - Demo

Today Is The Best Day To Demand A Ban On Nuclear Testing In U.S.BY BEN MILLERAs reported in the New York Times on October 1, 1986: Mercury, Nevada, Sept. 30 %u2014 139 people, including Carl Sagan, the Cornell astronomer, were arrested today at the nuclear test site in a protest against the nation%u2019s continued underground testing of nuclear weapons in the fact of a Soviet moratorium.It was the 10th protest at the Nevada Test Site here since 1982, but the first to be organized by prominent professionals not affiliated with peace or antiwar groups. The protest was organized by the American Public Health Association, a 50,000-member organization consisting of health care administrators and professionals, in conjunction with American Peace Test, a group opposed to the weapons testing.On Monday night Dr. Sagan told theassociation members, gathered in Las Vegas for their national convention, that a ban on testing to match the Soviet initiative would be the most effective way to slow the arms race and that the majority of Americans supported such a move.Brooklyn Heights Sane has been working with other peace organizations to achieve a Test Ban Treaty to prevent the development of more destabilizing nuclear weapons by the nuclear countries. A Test Ban Treaty would prevent the development of the Star Wars program. Our organization at its table at the Atlantic Antic collected 340 signatures for the Test Ban and mailed them to President Reagan. This was in our continued effort to urge him to join the Soviet Union in its unilateral halt to underground testing. The Russians declared a moratorium on testing August 6,1985.Recently, the House of Representatives passed legislation to halt underground testing above 2 kilotons if joined by the Soviet Union. On Monday, September 29, 1986, former President Jimmy Carter told the American Public Health Association that the failure of the United States to join in a nuclear test ban was %u201can embarrassment and a serious mistake.%u201dPresident Reagan is going to Iceland shortly to meet with Mr. Gorbachev for a %u201cmini summit%u201d to prepare for a %u201cregular summit%u201d later in the year in Washington. This gives us a historic opportunity to pressure President Reagan to join the Soviet Union in calling a halt to further underground testing. We certainly do not need more or better nuclear weapons. We now have enough to kill all of us at least ten times. I feel that it is uneconomical to kill anyone more than once.We can use the money saved to feed thehungry and build housing for the homeless.Senator Mark 0. Hatfield stated in his oped piece to the New York Times on April 15, 1986 %u201cThe apologists for the Nevada tests ate inviting dangerous bravado from the nuclear warfighters in the Pentagon. The Administration is being allowed to glue the pedal to the floor and, by refusing a test ban, to run through the one roadblock to an unlimited buildup.%u201dPresident Reagan keeps insisting that he wants to end the nuclear arm s race. Our voices are needed now to let him know that we want an end to the nuclear arm s race.Write to President Ronald Reagan, The White House, Washington, D.C. 20500.Vietnam Veterans Are Fasting To Protest Policy In Central AmericaBY DONNA MEHLEThe national media has ignored 4 veterans of war who are fasting open-endedly to protest .ae Reagan administration%u2019s contra war in Nicaragua and to challenge the American people%u2019s complicity in the face of our government%u2019s policy. As a Brooklynite working for peace in Central America, I am turning to the local press to get the word out on these men.On September 1, 1986, Vietnam veterans Charles Litke and George Mizo began fasting in Washington D.C., and were joined on September 15th by veterans Brian Willson and Duncan Murphy. All of these men havestruggled to reverse U.S. policy in Central America for many years in a variety of ways. They feel that they have done everything possible to stop the flowing of Mood, and have prayerfully crane to the decision to fast, if necessary until death, in order to awaken our country%u2019s conscience.At a press conference in the Senate office building on September 15th, Duncan Murphy expressed his reason for undertaking this life-risking action: %u201cIn 1945 I was among those who helped to liberate the concentration camps. At that time I made a vow to prevent those atrocities from ever happeningagain. Forty years later I went to Nicaragua and hear of the same atrocities from the lips of contra victims.%u201dI heard these men speak in New York City on September 22nd at the Community Church. Inspired by the depth of their commitment, I pledged to spread the word about the fast and about our moral responsibility to stop this war. The veterans have announced they would end their fast %u201conly when you, the American people, speak out loudly and clearly that you will not tolerate leaders that are willing to sacrifice the lives of the Nicaraguan people for questionable nationalinterests.%u201d Furthermore, the vets have asked us to write and tell th an what we are doing to stop the contra war: %u201cWe promise to listen and respond and stop the fast when we know there is hope for change within the not-toodistant future.%u201dConcerned Brooklynites should contact the vets at Veterans Fast for life, PO Box 53271, Temple Heights Station, Washington DC, 20009, 202-462-5907.We must act now %u2014 the lives of Nicaraguans hang in the balance.Donna Mehle lives o n Park Place.m mDebate Set For Park SlopeThe Park Slope Civic Council is sponsoring a debate between the Slope/Bay Ridge Republican State Senator, Chris Mega, and his Democratic opponent, Joe Montalto, Oct. 15.Mega, who was initially elected to the 23rd Senate District seat in 1978, was defeated by Montalto in 1982. Montalto then lost a rematch in 1984 and Mega went back to Albany.The debate is scheduled to begin at 7:30pm in the Methodist Hospital Auditorium located on 6th St. at 7th Ave.Raise Funds For Sister CityThe Brooklyn Sister City Project will hold a fundraising canvass Oct. 18 seeking to raise about $2,000 to send to San Juan de Rio Coco, Nicaragua to help expand a clinic there into a hospital.Project organizers are asking canvassers to attend one of three training sessions: Oct. 12 in Brooklyn Heights at 11am, Oct. 15 in Park Slope at 7pm; and Oct. 16 in Boerum Hill at 7pm. The sessions will last approximately two hours. The canvass itself will begin at 9:30am and finish at 3pm. For more information, call 797-3946 or 852-3179.House Drug Plan Is SuperiorNorth Brooklyn Congressman Ed Towns (11th District) says that the bill passed two weeks ago by the House of Representatives to fight drugs is %u201csuperior%u201d to the plan proposed by President Reagan.%u201cPresident Reagan continues to treat treatment and education of drug abusers as a low priority, while we in the House realize these programs should be our highest priorty,%u201d says Towns. An amendment written by the Congressman requiring a study of drug abuse treatment programs was adopted as part of the House bill.A Way To End CorruptionState Comptroller Edward Regan has called for an end to the New York City Board of Estimate%u2019s power to approve contracts as one way of preventing further scandals and corruption in city government.The GnmntrnlW whn is farina reflectionsaid that the Board of Estimate members have neither the time nor the resources to review all the contracts properly that are brought before them.From 1963 to 1971, the power to award these contracts was given to the Mayor. As a result of state legislation and court decisions, the authority was returned to the Board. Regan says the board%u2019s authority was a clear breach of the principle of separation of powers.Green Honored A t Sheila'sFt. Greene Assemblymember Roger Green will be honored Oct. 20 at Sheila%u2019s Restaurant in Ft. Greene, Brooklyn for his contributions to the women of New Hbrk State.Green has sponsored three major pieces of legislation for women including: free or lowcost prenatal care programs, a women raid minority business enterprise program and a budget amendment that provided for the construction of a Brooklyn Children%u2019s Psychiatric Hospital.The organizing committee indudes Bedford-Stuyvesant/Ft. Greene/South Brooklyn State Senator Velmanette Montgomery. The tribute will begin at 6pm and the public is invited to attend. The restaurantSenator A1D%u2019Amato has announced the formation of %u201cDemocrats for D%u2019Amato,%u201d a coalition of registered Democrats holding elected office, working in business and representing labor groups.%u201cI am flattered and honored that many Democrats throughout the State are supporting m e,%u201d said D%u2019Amato. The Democrats supporting him assert that his opponent, Mark Green, is too liberal and %u201cdoes not reflect the spirit nor the direction%u201d of the party.%u201cI believe that the record low voter turnout in the Democratic primary demonstrates that large numbers of Democrats are pleased with my efforts during these past six years,%u201d D%u2019Amato added.Prominent local Democrats joining the Senator included: former Slope/Bay Ridge Congressmember Leo Zeferetti; Ft. Greene/Greenpoint Assemblymember Joe Lentol; Williams Banks, executive director of the Amboy Foundation for the Homeless and Colony South Brooklyn Houses and a political ally of Rep. Ed Towns; NancySohm i/tt a ftreennnint m m m im itv learierSpecial Assistant to the Mayor Herb Rickman; former Housing Commissioner Anthony Gliedman, a resident of Flatbush; Yisroel Rosenfeld, Crown Heights Jewishis at 271 Adelphi St. A contribution to Green%u2019s re-election bid is requested of $35. Telephone 797-5372 for more information.Housing Fund Hearing SetSlope/South Brooklyn City Councilmember Stephen DiBrienza%u2019s resolution calling on Congress to pass legislation that would allow the City of New York to use emergency housing money for permanent housing for homeless families will have a hearing Oct. 9 at 1:00pm in the City Hall Committee Reran.Federal law now prohibits the use of this money for anything other than temporary shelters such as welfare hotels. South Brooklyn Congressman Chuck Schumer is already a sponsor of the legislation and has been invited to testify before the committee.Wants Administration ChangeGreenpoint Assemblymember Joe Lentol is sponsoring legislation designed to create an independent Office of AdministrativeCommunity Council; Community School Board 14 member Vicki Delgado; Rev. Hecto r C n n ia lm P a stn r St Anthnnv%u2019s ChurchAnna Gonzalez, Chairperson of Community School District 32; and Amalia Betanzos, chairperson, National Puerto Rican Coalition.Hearings. The hearings are required before state boards for a number of reasons B iel uding tax and equalization rh%u00bbflgnggq professional licensing and f ttiw vhda&kms, disputes over welfare benefits, liquor licensing and judicial censure.Currently, these cases are decided by an administrative law judge employed by the agency being challenged. The right to appealto a court is only allowed after the administrative hearing. Lentol says his biD would separate administrative judges from the agencies. %u201cThe appearance of lack of due process is as important to our state as the reality of due process,%u201d he says.Hold Party fo r GOP BiddersLocal Republican dubs will be holding a wine and cheese party Oct. 12 for some local candidates. They include: Nat Hendricks, 11th Congressional District; PM Kearney, 25th Senate District; and Joseph Voyticky, 57th Assembly District The party will be Mild at 79 Hoyt S t and a $25 rWmHwn is requested.Senator Ai D'Am aio is c o n g ra tu la te d byform er S lope/B ay R idge C o n g ressm em b erLeo Z e ffe ritti, w hen approxim ately tw odozen u e m o crais from ri%u00ab w Yui k C iiy endorsed the R epublican S e n ato r's bid fo r reelection against their ow n D em o cratic can %u00addidate, M ark Green.Democrats For D %u2019Amato Give Their Support A t A Brooklyn MeetingOctober 9,1986, THE PHOENIX, Page 31