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Press Release Archive - 2003As US boycott nuclear testban NGO's call for boycott of the US products
Brussels - Vienna September 3, 2003. Since 1945 there have been 2051 nuclear tests on our planet. This adds up to an average of one nuclear explosion every 10 days for the past 58 years. As the US boycott the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Conference (CTBT), which starts today in Vienna (Austria), a growing coalition of NGO's is calling consumers to stop buying American (1). Government representatives from around the world are gathering in the Austrian capital for the purpose of examining ways and means to accelerate the Treaty's entry into force. The Conference is expected to renew global awareness of the Treaty and encourage States who have not already done so to sign or ratify it. To date 168 countries signed the CTBT, while 104 of the signatories have ratified it. The five official nuclear weapon states have signed the treaty. Britain, France and Russia also ratified it, while China is waiting for Washington to ratify the treaty. India, North-Korea and Pakistan are also hold-out states and even did not sign the CTBT. Next to the US also North Korea decided to stay away from the Conference in Vienna. Pakistan and India will join as observers. Since 1945 there have been 2051 nuclear tests on our planet. This adds up to an average of one nuclear explosion every 10 days for the past 58 years. These atomic tests have caused enormous human suffering in the form of cancers, birth defects and social upheaval, and environmental destruction without precedent. The effects have been felt especially by Indigenous People, who have seen their lives and homelands sacrificed for what officials have misleadingly called safe nuclear tests and activities. We need to prevent any new atomic tests in the future. Today we need to sent a very strong signal to Washington whose military industrial complex is the motor of the arms race. The US boycott of the Conference is not a surprise as the Bush administration is pushing ahead with research and development of a new generation of nuclear weapons. The US Department of Energy (DoE) is making preparations for a new campaign of nuclear tests at the Nevada Test Site. In 2002 and 2003 the DoE asked for money to reduce the time necessary to resume underground nuclear testing at the Nevada nuclear test site. Insiders fear the US will announce resumption of testing within the next two years. This will be the start of a new nuclear arms race. A growing coalition of NGO's is calling for a consumers boycott of certain US products. Pol D'Huyvetter, spokesperson of For Mother Earth who initiated the boycott declared: 'Today, we want to offer consumers worldwide a tool to express their opposition to unilateral US policies, including its intention to resume testing. The boycott is the perfect daily instrument which is very easy to use as there are always local alternatives.' The campaigners refer to the success of the boycott of French products in 1995 when President Chirac had to cut tests down from eight to six. Today, the French test-site is permanently closed. Although the US was the first state to sign the CTBT in 1996, today US is moving away from the CTBT. Bush has declared that he will not seek the approval of the Senate for the ratification of the CTBT. In November 2002 in the UN General Assembly the US was the only country voting against keeping the CTBT on the UN agenda. On August 7th 2003 Mr. Colin Powell declared that the US 'has no intention of testing nuclear weapons' at this time. However Mr. Powell continued by stating 'but we can't rule it out forever'. (1) NGO's participating http://www.motherearth.org/USboycott/index_en.php#signed More information:For Mother Earth background info, graphics, action alert, model letters for government officials, ... http://www.motherearth.org/nuke/ctbt1.php Contact: Pol D'Huyvetter phone +32-495-280259 pol@motherearth.orgCTBTO Website of Conference http://www.ctbto.org/ Belgian "Boycott Bush" actions close Esso and Texaco petrol stations
The boycott organisers (including Attac, America Watchers, For Mother Earth and Christian Movement for Peace) declare that the US has been acting as a rogue state ever since George W. Bush was elected president. With the boycott of certain US products the growing coalition of NGO's wants to force the US government to once again join the international community, complying with the rules of the United Nations and international law. Using hazard warning tape and banners, the non-violent campaigners successfully closed Esso and Texaco petrol stations in Antwerp, Arlon, Bruges, Brussels, Gent, Hasselt and Namur. In most cases the employees of the petrol-stations understood the motivations of the campaigners, and dialogue was possible. Motorists who received flyers calling on them to boycott US oil companies reacted most of the time with a smile and a thumbs-up. With these new boycott actions, the organisers condemn the illegal war against Iraq and ongoing occupation of the country. These actions follow the statement of Paul Wolfowitz whose open acknowledgement that oil was the main reason for the military operation in Iraq, sparked anger with many people. Wolfowitz admitted that although weapons of mass destruction were presented as the main cause for war, they were only a 'bureaucratic excuse' to get support for the military campaign. The recent news coverage of falsified reports about Iraq's of Weapons of Mass Destruction undermine any last legal ground for the US attack which claimed thousand of civilian victims. Therefore the boycott campaigners demand the immediate withdrawal of the US occupying forces from Iraq. They also demand that the US: 'There is blood of thousands of innocent victims on the logos of Esso
and Texaco. Both US multinationals Ëwho together donated 2 million US
dollars to the 2000 Bush election campaign- are driving forces behind
the policies of the Bush administration. As Bush ignored the UN and
the international public opinion, today the boycott is the most effective
model of action we can offer to any citizen. Everybody can easily register
his or her opposition to the US foreign policy by boycotting our list
of US products, or all US products. Money is the language which was
used by the US to coerce nations into their coalition. The boycott is
a language they understand in Washington.' declared Pol D'Huyvetter,
spokesperson for For Mother Earth. International Anti-war Boycott DayBrussels, 15th April 2003 - In Brussels and Antwerp, peace activists
shut down an Esso petrol station. For the third time in as many weeks,
For Mother Earth targetted Esso and Texaco petrol stations, in protest
against the role of Exxon-Mobil and Chevron-Texaco in US policy.
In Greece the Ecologists Greens have supported the goals of the Internationalday
of boycott by circulating the information in mass media, by e-mails,thousand
of brochures in Athens, Thessaloniki and other smaller cities and 3happenings
in central streets. Monday 14th April 2003 Boycott US movement grows
|
| In Ghent and Brussels, an Esso and a Texaco petrol station
were closed today by groups of peace activists. These latest actions were organised by For Mother Earth and Attac
Flanders, aswell as French speaking and Arabic peace organisations.
The action involveddialogue with the workers in the petrol stations,
as well as spreadinginformation to customers who were turned away
from the pumps. Thepeacecampaigners state they do not target the
people working in USmultinationals and have contacts with trade
unions to discuss thedevelopments as the boycott movement opposing
the war grows. The organisers of the action are calling for a
boycott of a number of US companies who are related to the war
against Iraq. Also today, in the Netherlands, three Esso petrol stations were
closed with symbolic blockades. The anti-war boycott movement is making a strong statement against the unilateral politics of the Bush administration, also shown in their opposition to the International Criminal Court, the Kyoto protocol, and the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. |
More photos |
The action involved dialogue with the workers in the petrol stations,
as well as spreading information to customers who were turned away from
the pumps.
The organisers of the action are calling for a boycott of a number of
US companies who are related to the war against Iraq.
The Esso flags were lowered to half-mast, as a sign of respect for the
dead.
Also today, in the Netherlands, three Esso petrol stations were closed
with symbolic blockades.
Around the world, a growing number of critical consumers are refusing
to buy products such as McDonalds, and restaurants are removing Coca-Cola
and Pepsi from their menus.
The anti-war boycott movement is making a strong statement against the
unilateral politics of the Bush administration, also shown in their
opposition to the International Criminal Court, the Kyoto protocol,
and the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.
Wednesday 26th March 2003
More photos |
No money for the war - boycott the US war economy Brussels, March 26th 2003 - This morning Members of the European Parliament blocked an Esso petrol station in Brussels with a banner saying "No money for the war - boycott the US".
The non-violent action was organised by For Mother Earth, an international campaign for disarmament, the environment and human-rights. The activist also blocked a Texaco petrol station further down the road. |
The Members of the European Parliament joining the action were Bart Staes (Efa/Greens, Belgium), Nelly Maes (Efa/Greens, Belgium) and Miquel Mayol (Efa/Greens, Spain). Also Belgian MP's Isabel Vertiest and Jan Roegiers and activists from across Europe joined the symbolic blockade.
As both the UN and the public opinion has been put aside by the US, the organisers are stepping up pressure by joining the worldwide movement for an economic boycott: "By buying US products today consumers contribute their money for the bombs and bullets which hit Iraq and its people." declared MEP Nelly Maes who is outspoken about the need for a boycott. The peace campaigners organised the visual and strong symbolic action at both an Esso and Texaco petrol station and -shop in Brussels.
Spokesperson Pol D'Huyvetter of For Mother Earth stated: "Our message is clear. Stop giving your money. Use your wallet to boycott this US war violating the UN. The global call for boycott is not an action against the American people, nor pro-Saddam. The boycott is coordinated with participation and support of US peacegroups. Important is that consumers wordwide can participate every day in this non-violent action and use their power as a consumer. Today we stop financing the bombs which hit innocent people in Baghdad."
Both petrol stations were blocked efficiently and peacefully for 90
minutes. This unannounced non-violent action of For Mother Earth involved
close dialogue with the workers of the petrol station. After blocking
the station with red and white tape the campaigners held a "die-in"
in front of the pumps of the Esso station, with people laying on the
ground covered with red paint to symbolise the real horror of war.
The petrol stations were covered with signs and posters saying "Boycott
the War".
For Mother Earth is targetting a range of companies which are directly
linked to the US petrol-economy and/or financed the election campaign
of George W. Bush. Exxon Mobil donated $1.200.000 for the election campaign
of Bush, while Chevron Texaco gave $800.000. Worldwide Esso- and Texaco-shops
are filled with US products also targetted by the boycott campaign.
In the shops consumers can for example buy Coca Cola (donated $610.000)
- or cigarettes of Philip Morris (Marlboro, L&M), one of the top three
donors with $2.900.000.
List http://www.motherearth.org/USboycott/donors_en.php
The boycott is part of a growing international boycott movement linking
US companies to the policy of the Bush administration.
An overview can be found on http://www.motherearth.org/USboycott/global_en.php
Last update : October 2004 • Campaign and Press Enquiries