I have posted information here on the planned “Divine Strake” test, scheduled for detonation at the Nevada Test Site Friday, June 2nd.
This test is a mass of ammonium nitrate and fuel oil ( ANFO or AN/FO). The purpose of the test is to gather sismic data about the effect of this size blast on limestone and granite, and particularly on tunnel structures that lie beneath the blast. As a fellow activist explained it to me, the stated use for this data in the Defense Threat Reduction Agency budget document is to “develop a planning tool that will improve the warfighter’s confidence in selecting the smallest proper nuclear yield necessary to destroy underground facilities while minimizing collateral damage.”
Interestingly enough, U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch has publicly announced that he is “upset” about the test and since he is a great “stopper,” he could get it stopped since he this happens when he wants something stopped. (a couple of weeks ago he was in favor of this test…..)
I am part of a planning team planning an international day of action at the test site on Memorial Day weekend. The coalition involves indigenous groups and other activist and environmental groups. It’s exciting being part of this very huge action which will involved some very internationally recognized activists. I’ll be posting the press release and the details here when we finalize it this weekend.
Deanna Dee-Dee Taylor 