From: Nigel.Allen@bbs.oit.unc.edu (Nigel Allen)
Subject: Americans Overwhelmingly Favor Halting Nuclear Weapons Testing
Organization: Echo Beach, Toronto
Date: Sun, 26 Jul 1992 00:30:31 GMT

Press release from Physicians for Social Responsibility

 Americans Overwhelmingly Favor Halting Nuclear Weapons Testing 
 Contact: Daryl Kimball or Emily Green, 202-785-3777, both of 
          Physicians for Social Responsibility 
 
   WASHINGTON, July 23 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Nearly 90 percent 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 percent would call for an immediate halt to 
U.S. testing.  Less than 10 percent, 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 percent 
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 United States 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 
United States does not agree to a halt. 
   "With congressional passage of a one-year test moratorium, the 
U.S. could demonstrate 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 
Responsibility, 202-785-3777 or 202-363-6532 (home); 
   -- Dr. Robert K. Musil, director of policy and programs, 
Physicians for Social Responsibility, 202-785-3777 or 301-493-4571 
(home); 
   -- Daryl Kimball, associate director for policy, Physicians for 
Social Responsibility, 202-785-3777 or 202-483-1994 (home); 
   -- Dr. Daniel Ellsberg, senior arms control analyst, Physicians 
for Social Responsibility and founder and director of PSR's Manhattan 
Project II, 202-785-3777. 
 
   Founded in 1961, PSR is a national organization of over 25,000 
health professionals and supporters in more than 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. 
 -30- 

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