Alerts call attention to President Bush's visit to Charleston, Sudan, legislation.

In its most recent action alert, the General Board's Brethren Witness/Washington Office is inviting Brethren attending Annual Conference to join in a march against the war on terror as President Bush plans to visit the city on July 4. In other alerts, the office has called attention to Sudan, new nuclear weapons, and selective service legislation in Pennsylvania.

President George W. Bush will speak at 4th of July celebrations in downtown Charleston, W.Va., at the same time Brethren gather in the city for Conference. The Brethren Witness/Washington Office is coordinating efforts with local peace groups to make possible an opportunity for Brethren to express opposition to the "war on terror," a release from the office said. Conference-goers may stop by the Brethren Witness/Washington Office booth for details.

What may be a final round of peace talks between Sudan's government and southern rebels began June 27, the office reported, with the goal of a permanent ceasefire. An action alert encouraged Brethren to "remain watchful and prayerful for a true presence of peace for our friends of this central African nation.... Only the details of a comprehensive cease fire and how to implement the agreements for the south remain to be sorted out," the report said. Final negotiations were to begin June 22. The civil war between the mainly Arab and Muslim government in the north and the mainly black African and Christian rebel groups in the south has claimed at least 1.5 million lives. Violence continues in western Sudan, in the Darfur region, where militias linked to the government are carrying out what may be an attempt at genocide of the black African population. New Sudan Council of Churches leader Haruun Ruun will be at Annual Conference this week to speak on continuing challenges to peace in Sudan.

The office also issued an alert calling for support of an amendment to the defense authorization bill that would cut funds for new nuclear weapons, popularly called "mini nukes" or "bunker busters." The Kennedy-Feinstein Amendment would have eliminated funding for the Robust Nuclear Earth Penetrator (RNEP), the first of a new generation of nuclear weapons made possible by a new administration policy to reinforce the importance of nuclear weapons and lower the threshold for their use, the office reported. The defense authorization bill has passed the House and Senate, providing full funding for the RNEP, the office reported. "The energy and water appropriations bill passed the House on Friday and provides no money for the RNEP. The last step is the Senate energy and water appropriations bill, which will be marked up sometime in July. We hope to again cut the RNEP funds in the Senate subcommittee," said director Phil Jones.

Pending legislation in Pennsylvania would link automatic selective service, or draft, registration to driver's license applications. In an Action Alert, the Brethren Witness/Washington Office reported on an important development in the House version of the bill, a check box on driver's license forms allowing applicants to signify that they do not consent to register for selective service. The Washington Office urges Pennsylvania Brethren to contact House and committee leaders to keep the check box in the bill. "We have definitely had an impact on this bill," Jones said.

To receive Action Alerts or the office newsletter, send contact information including name and address or e-mail address to the Brethren Witness/Washington Office, 337 N. Carolina Ave., SE, Washington, DC 20003; 202-546-3202 or 800-785-3246; or e-mail washington_office_gb@brethren.org.