[asia-apec 321] Abolition 2000 '97 Conference WWW

[Pacific Impact]

Aloha:

Last week you received an invitation to join our discussions on the agenda
of the Abolition 2000 Conference being held in Moorea January 20 -28.  We
have uploaded a web site to host this discussion and provide more
information at:

   http://www.hookele.com/abolition2000

If you are unable to view the site please send your postings to our address
and we'll upload your message to the discussion.  Also send your letters of
encouragement if you are inspired through this week through our journal
postings and reports.  On the web site there is also a daily journal where
we'll be uploading stories, interviews, press statements, comments and
images.  For those on e-mail only - we'll be glad to send you postings,
just let us know.

WAYS TO PARTICIPATE ONLINE

1.  Join the online discussion group at:
http://hookele.com/abolition2000/abotalk

2.  Please try and keep the discussion to the agenda topics and reports

3.  Send E-mail support and comments on topic(s) to: freezone-tahiti at hookele.com

4.  Send faxes of support and comments on topic(s) to:  fax: +689 57 28 80
(this fax number may change once we're there and we'll post a note to that
effect).

5.  Become signatory to the Abolition Statement:

   http://hookele.com/abolition2000/abostatement.html

6.  Become a signatory of support for the Hiti Tau - resolution/declaration
which will be developed. (I'll provide more info on Hiti Tau, with ways you
can help, after we're present in Moorea.)

7.  Continue to return to the site each day to review discussions, list of
needs and reports from Abolition 2000 and Hiti Tau

8.  Distribute and activate your network on issues and resolutions you support


TOPIC FOR DISCUSSION

Decolonisation has been a hot topic/issue of discussion in preparation for
this conference.  The question raised in the earlier part of this month
which was raised by European and USA abolition members was: "Why Discuss
Decolonization?"  Soon you will find a thread archived in the Conference
Discussion Group with earlier comments by Abolition members and Pacific
Indigenous Peoples.  This discussion has been encouraged to continue for
growth and clearer understanding of our Pacific Issues.

AGENDA

HITI TAU is our Te Ao Maohi (Indigenous Peoples of Tahiti) host and will
open and close the conference and each day with appropriate protocol and
prayers.  Gabriel "Gaby" Tetiarahi is the head of Hiti Tau and will be
holding a conference at the same time as this conference.  Both conference
participants will join together for meals and will interact on common
agenda.

MONDAY - JAN. 20: ARRIVAL & REGISTRATION

TUESDAY - JAN. 21: PROTOCOL & SITE VISITS

WEDNESDAY - JAN. 22: OPENING CEREMONY of RECONCILIATION FOR NUCLEAR TEST
VICTIMS
    & PACIFIC NUCLEAR ISSUES

THURSDAY - JAN. 23: LINKING REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL NUCLEAR ISSUES
    CAUCUS: (a) Regional; (b) Indigenous Peoples; (c) Youth
        -    VISION - hopes and expectations for this conference
        -    review of Abolition 2000 Statement (point by point evaluation
of progress, problems, challenges)

FRIDAY - JAN. 24: ABOLITION 2000 WORKING GROUPS
    * Introductory reports from Abolition 2000 working group conveners
    - identify additional working groups (goal of day: action plans from
each working group)
    * Evening issue briefings (shipment of plutonium, ICJ opinion, lab
testing, etc.; videos)

SATURDAY - JAN. 25: BUILDING THE NETWORK - RESOLUTIONS & REPORTS

SUNDAY - JAN. 26: UNSCHEDULED TIME AND CLOSING CEREMONY
    *  Preparation for Monday press conference and Peace Vigil

MONDAY - JAN. 27: PRESS CONFERENCE & PEACE VIGIL IN PAPEETE (world invited)

PRESS CONFERENCE IN PAPEETE
    -  announcement of the results of the first independent health study of
        Polynesian test site workers and the outcome  of the Abolition 2000
meeting
    -  public signing of solemn declaration to mark the end of nuclear
testing and
        appeal for the abolition of nuclear weapons

DIRECT ACTION
    -  MARCH through Papeete with local youth, women's NGO(s) and church
        groups, trade unionists, etc.

*Exhibition of anti-nuclear artwork in Papeete (tentative)

TUESDAY, JAN. 28: SITE VISITS - FINAL NETWORK, STRATEGIC PLANNING - LOCAL
NEEDS/FUTURE

e n d
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"Background Information on conference coordination and organization"

* The Abolition 2000 Interim Management Group (IMG), which manages
the operation of the Network between meetings, will oversee the
agenda and program.  Its members will meet frequently to assess
how the conference is going and make adjustments as needed.  Judy
Rubenstein has been retained by the IMG as a facilitator and
"ombudsman" (a person who people with complaints can come to).

* Simultaneous French/English translation will be provided during
plenary sessions, and there will be rapporteurs for plenary
sessions.  We hope to produce daily reports, in French and
English, for distribution to delegates.  If possible, these daily
reports will also be posted on the internet.

* The Abolition 2000 conference will deal with information
sharing, development of coordinated strategies, and
administrative management of the Network over the next year. We
anticipate that resolutions and proposals dealing with both
substance and process will be put forward during the conference.
Delegates are encouraged to present written proposals and
resolutions to the IMG before the Saturday plenary session.

* The Abolition 2000 Statement is the "glue" that holds the
Abolition 2000 Network together.  It represents a kind of
"contract" among the nearly 700 non-governmental groups around
the world who have signed it, and it is the starting point for
our common work at this conference.
<http://hookele.com/abolition2000/abostatement.html>

* One day of the conference is devoted to working group meetings.
Abolition 2000 currently has 10 working groups. Additional
working groups can be formed based on participants' interests.
Existing working groups are: 1) Nuclear Weapons Convention;
2)Non-Nuclear Security Model for Europe; 3) Chernobyl and Nuclear
Power; 4) Media, Communication and Outreach; 5) CTBT and Beyond;
6) Fissile Materials; 7) Overcoming Nuclear Threats/Legal Issues;
8) Lobbying, Dialogue and Campaigning; 9) NPT PrepComs; and 10)
Newsletter.

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P A C I F I C   I M P A C T   P E A C E
Kekula P. Bray-Crawford <kekula at hookele.com>
Ho`okele Hawai`i - HAWAIIANAVIGATION Co.
1135 Makawao Ave. No. 103-122 - Makawao, Maui 96768 Ka Pae `Aina o Hawai`i Loa
Malama Ala a ka Manu
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