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Wednesday, March 16, 1983
7
Daily Nebraskan
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By Chris Burbach
The patient is infected by rapidly
spreading lethal microbes. Though term
inally ill, the patient could be saved by
drastic action. Without that action, the
patient has less than two years to live.
According to physician-turned-crusader
Dr. Helen Caldicott, the patient is the
planet Earth, the lethal microbes are
nuclear weapons, and the drastic action
needed is nuclear disarmament.
"We're living on borrowed time -like
a cancer patient," Caldicott said.
Caldicott described in detail the med
ical effects of a 20-megaton nuclear exp
losion. She said people within six miles
of the blast would die instantly, many
by vaporization. Most people within 20
miles would die because of the blast and
accompanying winds up to 500 miles an
hour.
The aftermath of a nuclear explosion
would include fallout, partial and possibly
total destruction of the ozone layer and
soil and water contamination, Caldicott
said.
"It's possible that we now could destroy
most of the life on this planet," Caldicott
said.
She said there is no such thing as a
limited nuclear war, that any nuclear
exchange would escalate to global
conflict.
The most dangerous weapons are
tactical nuclear weapons, particularly
cruise missiles planned for Western Europe,
Caldicott said, because the presence of
such weapons near Soviet borders could
force the Soviets into a first strike warning
system. She said such a system would rely
totally on computers, which would
automatically launch missiles in response
to a perceived attack.
Computers can and do make mistakes,
she said, citing a near nuclear war in 1979.
American computers signaled a nuclear
attack and American forces prepared to
respond. However, it was discovered that
a war game cartridge had been fed into
the computer system.
"We were six minutes from nuclear
she said.
The American people must use their
democracy and force their government to
pursue bilateral disarmament, Caldicott
said.
"Everyone's looking to America.
America's going to save the world," she
said.
war,
Before the nuclear arms race, the
United States was invulnerable, she said.
"I consider that (the arms race) an
unpatriotic thing we have done."
"The splitting ot the atom has changed
everything save man's mode of thinking,"
Caldicott quoted Albert Einstein as say
ing. Americans must force themselves to
think about a nuclear holocuast so that
it can be avoided, she said.
Wolz, Wallace clarify WA views
Caldicott spoke at First United
Methodist Church, 2723 N. 50th St.
Friday night as part of "A Peacemaking
Workshop." The workshop was sponsored
by several Nebraska churches and peace
groups.
Caldicott, a native of Australia, gave
up her teaching position at Harvard
Medical School several years ago. She
organized and currently is president of
Physicians for Social Responsibility, a
non-profit organization of doctors that
seeks to educate the public about the
medical dangers of nuclear war.
A phone conversation between Bob Wolz, Residence
Hall Association president-elect, and Matt Wallace, the
Reach Party's ASUN presidential candidate, Friday
was not meant to be a threat, Wallace said.
According to Wolz, Wallace called him and asked
why his Progressive Party had endorsed the Action Party
in the election. Wolz told the Daily Nebraskan that the
party's executive officers chose to endorse Action because
they believed Action has addressed issues relevant to
residence hall students.
"We were offering our personal opinions of the parties
that were running, assuming our constituents respected
our opinion," Wolz said, "f teel it was our right and res
ponsibility to do that."
Landfe bill views. . .
Continued from Page 1
LB5, the bill that would have put the university under
the Legislature's control had it not been killed, received
a hearty endorsement from Landis.
Landis said the sense of neglect the university is
entitled to feel under the regents would be mitigated
if the Legislature took control. He said the Legislature
sees the university as aloof and as a "fat cat", he said
the university does not deserve. This is because no one
in the Legislature, except the Lincoln senators, feel
responsible for the university, he said.
The breakfast was not without entertainment. Landis
closed the breakfast with a demonstration of how to
properly knot a bow tie.
Mavo fun AND studij!
If you want to take to the slopes-or the beach
yet get a head start on classes during the break:
If you're having trouble fitting your class and
work schedules together, or need courses for
graduation:
If you must leave campus for some reason next
semester, but want to continue your education:
College independent study, offered by the Uni
versity of Nebraska-Lincoln Division of Continuing
Studies, may be for you. For information call
472-1926, or visit room 269 in the Nebraska
Center for Continuing Education, 33rd and
Holdrege.
KG
- Campus
UNL does not discriminate in its academic, admissions
or employment programs and abides by all federal reg
ulations pertaining to same.
He also said that in their conversation, Wallace warned
him that such an endorsement could jeopardize the
relationship between ASUN and RHA.
"I never said (in his phone conversation with Wolz)
we wouldn't work with them. I never threatened him.
I merely disagree with his policy," Wallace said
Wolz said he believes it is the responsibility of the
ASUN president to represent the entire student body
and "not exclude any organizations or individuals based
on their endorsements in the campaign."
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Contact nearest VA office
(check your phone book) or
a local veterans group.
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