Genesee Valley Citizens for Peace
Founded 1972 “Human Race Not Arms Race”
PO Box 363 Geneseo, NY 14454
<www.gvcp.org> 585-624-3673
February 12, 2017
Dear GVCP Member:
The next regular GVCP Meeting is Sunday, February 26th, at 20 Ivy Lane, Geneseo. *NOTE CHANGE OF LOCATION*
1:00 PM (Cookies/milk/coffee), 1:30 PM (Meeting). New members are welcome!
This Month’s Letter: Support the Lieu-Markey Bill
The Trump era is less than a month old, and the number of outrages he has already committed is staggering. Trump has already declared war on human rights, freedom of speech, freedom of religion, women’s rights, educational rights, and environmental rights. In the list, however, we must remember Trump’s nuclear weapons policy, which has life and death implications for billions of people.
Russian President Putin called President Trump to suggest extending talks on the New START Treaty to reduce nuclear arsenals, Trump didn’t know about the treaty. Once an aide informed him about the treaty, Trump dismissed it as a bad deal negotiated by President Obama. Instead of considering the reduction of nuclear weapons, Trump has stated, “Let it be an arms race.” [Some of this information is adapted from a mailing by Jon Rainwater of Peace Action.]
There are many areas in which peace activists can play an important role in achieving peace. One of them is to support new legislation by Representative Ted Lieu and Senator Ed Markey. It’s the ‘‘Restricting First Use of Nuclear Weapons Act of 2017.’’ The law prohibits the first use of nuclear weapons without a declaration of war by Congress. (HR669 & S200.) Granted, this bill still accepts first use of nuclear weapons as an option. However, at least it takes the President’s finger off the nuclear trigger. We need to support this legislation.
Write to our Senators and your Representative, telling her/him to support the ‘‘Restricting First Use of Nuclear Weapons Act of 2017.’’
Sen. Charles Schumer Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand Rep. Chris Collins
100 State Street 100 State Street 128 Main Street
Rochester, NY 14614 Rochester, NY 14614 Geneseo, NY 14454
Phone: (585) 263-5866 Phone: (585) 263-6250 Phone: (585) 519-4002
Fax: (585) 263-3173 Fax: (585) 263-6247 Fax (585) 519-4009
(Check websites to send messages by electronic mail and for addresses of other reps.)
Peace,
Arnie Matlin for GVCP
GVCP is proud to be a chapter of Peace Action New York State