Berkeley Library RFP Asks For Nuclear Free Vendor

beefsprocket writes "RFID tags are not new to libraries. Neither is 3M as one of the larger providers of the Checkpoint circulation and self-checkout system. What is new is a library discarding their current working system used for over 500,000 items because the vendor refuses to submit a required Nuclear Free Disclosure Form (PDF). The specific form is required for anyone wishing to do business with the City of Berkeley per the Nuclear Free Berkeley Act of 1986. This reverses a 2008 exemption that the Library applied for to be able to work with 3M."

Re:This is just as bad...

[dafing]

I agree with many of the things you have said, but would like to mention again the Rainbow Warrior. When that was sunk, by the French, presumably to prevent it being used to protest their nuclear tests "in the neighbourhood", it strengthened NZ public opinion almost infinitely against Nuclear anything.

The Sinking Of The Rainbow Warrior was a life changing experience for many NZers, the feeling that we were invaded by a secret service from a much larger country, that they would come here and blow up a peaceful ship that protested their nearby explosions... very, very, very bad PR for all things Nuclear.

Right, so a country of 4 million odd, standing up against a country of 300 million odd, a country that, "pound for pound" has us beat many times over, a country that declares itself "the only superpower" in the world, that invades other countries of the slightest of pretences....we stand up and say "we dont want your, in our opinion, dangerous shit in our ports", and thats cowardly?!?

Nuclear WEAPONS free...

[Idarubicin]

Before we get too much further into hyperventilating about Berkeley's hypocrisy, perhaps it would be wise to actually read the RFP, neh? The City of Berkeley doesn't bar all contractors who do work that involves any nuclear technology, and they're not being hypocritical about taking dirty, nuclear-powered electricity. The restriction they impose is on contractors who do work to design, build, and construct nuclear weapons.

Here's a copy (PDF) [berkeley.ca.us] of the form in question.

The RFP also demands that contractors pay all of their employees a decent living minimum wage ($12.20 with medical benefits, or $14.23 without), and that domestic parters of workers receive the same benefits as are available to workers' spouses. There's even a provision that paper reports to the city be printed double-sided on recycled paper.

The people of Berkeley are holding companies to higher ethical standards by the only means that are effective -- cash and contracts.