A nuclear exchange between the US and Russia would incinerate hundreds of millions of people immediately, and lead to a Nuclear Winter which could slaughter an estimated 7 billion of the Earth’s 7.7 billion people, mostly through starvation. Building back civilization would require over 1,000 years [Daniel Ellsberg talk, 12/13/2020]. A U.S. nuclear first-strike against China would result in a similar catastrophe.
These are the stakes. As a step toward reducing the danger of Nuclear War, a coalition of groups has called upon Congress to legislate – and the President to declare – that the United States will neither initiate nor threaten to initiate the first use of Nuclear Weapons.
Confirmed Speakers:
- Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA-33), Original sponsor of H.R. 669 Restrict the first-use strike of nuclear weapons
- Ira Helfand (International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War)
- Elaine Scarry (Professor, Harvard University; Mass. Peace Action; CPDCS)
- Zia Mian (Princeton)
- William Perry (Sec. of Defense in Clinton adminisration.)
- Tom Collina (Ploughshares Fund; author)
- Joseph Gerson (CPDCS)
- John Burroughs (Lawyers Com for Nuclear Disarm) [accepted, but volunteered to cede to other speakers]
- Kennette Benedict (Bulletin of Atomic Scientists)
- Joe Cirincione (Quincy Institute) (D-MA)
- Special message from Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA)
Breakout Topics:
- Why No First Use Will Keep Us Safer
- Communications & Messaging
- Social Media / Street Theater / Artivism
- Congressional Strategy
- Recruiting/Organization Building
- Back From the Brink
- Stopping the Money Pit Missile and Reducing Nuclear Weapons Budgets
Declaring and legislating a No First Use policy would be a major step to help avoid:
- A US nuclear attack that escalates
- Russia or China attacking the US due to a false alarm
- Violating the US Constitution by a first strike act of war
- US threats of a nuclear attack which amount to bullying and blackmailing other countries, and which carry unacceptable risk of starting a general nuclear war.
With the support of a growing number of members of Congress, and President Biden’s 2019 statement that he has supported “No First Use” for twenty years, we have a real chance to take an important step toward reducing the risks of nuclear war in the next year by getting a No First Use policy declared and legislated into law!
Join us on May 15 at a conference to discuss and implement “Prohibiting the First Use of Nuclear Weapons.” Register to attend.
Cosponsors: Campaign for Peace, Disarmament and Common Security (CPDCS); Massachusetts Peace Action; Council for a Livable World; CodePINK; Chicago Area Peace Action; Peace Action New York State; Peace Action Maine; Nuclear Age Peace Foundation; Greater Boston Physicians for Social Responsibility [list in formation]