From: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu (Rich Winkel)
Subject: AMERICANS OVERWHELMINGLY FAVOR HALTING NUKE TESTING
Followup-To: alt.activism.d
Originator: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu
Organization: PACH
Date: Fri, 24 Jul 1992 23:14:37 GMT

/** psr.bulletins: 37.0 **/
** Topic: Poll favors N-test Moratorium **
** Written 11:12 am  Jul 23, 1992 by psrnatl in cdp:psr.bulletins **
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:                                  CONTACT:
                                            Daryl Kimball July 23, 1992
                                            or Emily Green
                                            (202)785-3777

AMERICANS OVERWHELMINGLY FAVOR HALTING NUCLEAR WEAPONS TESTING

Poll Shows Significant Increase In Support From Previous Years

WASHINGTON D.C. -- Nearly 90% of the American public now support
halting nuclear weapons testing either immediately or through
negotiations, according to a poll conducted this week by the ICR
Survey Research Group.  Of those in favor, 72% would call for an
immediate halt to U.S. testing.  Less than 10%, meanwhile, support
continuing nuclear testing, the official position of the Bush
Administration.

The poll, co-sponsored by Physicians for Social Responsibility and
the National Security News Service, reflects a significant
increase in opposition to nuclear testing from 1989.  A Roper
Center for Public Opinion Research poll at that time showed 67% of
the U.S. public favoring a U.S.-Soviet agreement to ban nuclear
testing.

"The vast majority of Americans clearly believe nuclear testing is
an unnecessary relic of the cold war" stated Julia Moore,
Executive Director of Physicians for Social Responsibility.  "The
American public, the House of Representatives, and most nations of
the world are now united in backing a moratorium and watching to
see what the U.S. Senate will do," Moore added.

The Nuclear Testing Moratorium Act, which would establish a
one-year unilateral moratorium, was approved by a vote of 237-167
in the U.S. House of Representatives on June 4.  A comparable
Senate bill has accumulated 53 cosponsors and may come to a vote
in the full Senate this week.

The U.S. is the only nation in the world still conducting frequent
nuclear weapons tests.  Both France and Russia have enacted
moratoria on their nuclear testing programs.  However, leaders of
both nations have indicated their intentions to resume testing if
the U.S. does not agree to a halt.

"With congressional passage of a one year test moratorium, the
U.S. could demonstrate the leadership necessary to lead the way to
a world-wide ban on nuclear testing and a serious effort to
control the proliferation of nuclear weapons," stated Moore.

The following experts are available for comment on the U.S.
nuclear testing program and the results of the upcoming Senate
vote:  Julia A. Moore -- Executive Director, Physicians for Social
Responsiblity.  202/785-3777 (w)  202/363-6532 (h)

Dr. Robert K. Musil -- Director of Policy and Programs, Physicians
for Social Responsibility  202/785-3777 (w)  301/493-4571 (h)
Daryl Kimball -- Associate Director for Policy, Physicians for
Social Responsibility  202/785-3777 (w)  202/483-1994 (h)

Dr. Daniel Ellsberg -- Senior Arms Control Analyst, Physicians for
Social Responsibility and founder and Director of PSR's Manhattan
Project II.  202/785-3777 (w)

- 30 -

Founded in 1961, PSR is a national organization of over 25,000
health professionals and supporters in over 120 chapters working
to prevent nuclear war, protect the environment, and reorder
national spending priorities.  It is the U.S. affiliate of
International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War,
recipient of the 1985 Nobel Peace Prize.

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