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New START Community Call Summary
May 20, 2010
On May 13th, Council for a Livable World members participated in a conference call with Council Executive Director John Isaacs, and chairman of the Council’s sister organization, Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation, Lt. Gen. Robert Gard, Jr.
Isaacs is one of the leaders of the nation’s arms control community and has long been an expert on the workings of Congress. He has represented the Council on Capitol Hill since 1978. Gard’s current work focuses on nuclear non-proliferation, missile defense, Afghanistan, Iran, and other national security issues. Among other accomplishments, during his 31-year military career, Gen. Gard saw combat in both the Korean and Vietnam wars, and also served as Executive Assistant to two secretaries of defense.
The conversation with Gard and Isaacs covered this year’s “Nuclear Spring” and what is to come for New START in Congress.
Click here for a summary of the call or to listen to the full audio.
Alan Khazei Speaks to Council Supporters in MA
Apr 16, 2010
On April 1, 2010 Alan Khazei spoke to a gathering of Council for a Livable World and Center for Arms Control & Non-Proliferation supporters at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge, MA.
Khazei is a citizen activist with a long history of public advocacy for progressive causes. Khazei is the founder of City Year, a organization dedicated to fostering public service among young people, and Be The Change, Inc, a group the creates national public awareness campaigns to build momentum for citizen service.
He is a founding member of Global Zero, an international membership organization dedicated to building momentum and providing a pragmatic blueprint for the eventual and total elimination of nuclear weapons.
In 2009, Khazei was a candidate for the U.S. Senate seat left open by the passing of progressive icon Sen. Edward Kennedy and received the enthusiastic endorsement of Council for a Livable World. Although Khazei was defeated in the Democratic primary, the grassroots enthusiasm and support generated by his dark-horse candidacy earned him widespread recognition as an emerging figure in progressive politics.
Addressing Council and Center activists at MIT, Khazei noted that the current political and policy environments present us with unprecedented opportunities in our effort to rid the world of the scourge of nuclear weapons. In President Barack Obama we have a genuine advocate of a nuclear weapons free world in the oval office. At the same time, in the past several years a clear bipartisan consensus in support of this vision has also arisen, crystallized most clearly in the statements of the “Four Horsemen” – former Secretaries of State Henry Kissinger, George Schultz, Secretary of Defense William Perry and Senator Sam Nunn – and their unambiguous call for nuclear disarmament.
The Next Generation Speaks: Briefing on Critical U.S. Nuclear Weapons Policy Initiatives
Apr 14, 2010
Invitation: Nuclear Weapons Policy Conference Call for Youth/Student Leaders
4/20/10
Are you a member of your school’s debate team that has focused on U.S. nuclear weapons policy this year? Or a member of a campus-based group working on peace and security issues? Or simply a young person concerned about the future and wanting to be more involved?
You are cordially invited to participate in a national conference call,
- The Next Generation Speaks – A Briefing and Discussion on Critical U.S. Nuclear Weapons Policy Initiatives
To RSVP, please contact Sean Meyer at the Union of Concerned Scientists at smeyer@ucsusa.org or 617-301-8065. Please provide your full name, school and email address.
This call is hosted by the Union of Concerned Scientists and co-sponsored by the Center for Arms Control & Non-Proliferation; Women’s Action for New Directions and the Two Futures Project.
The purpose of the call is to engage and inform young people on a range of timely, critical nuclear weapons issues and related events, including the recently completed START nuclear reductions agreement with Russia, the May Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference, the Administration’s Nuclear Posture Review and prospects for the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT).
President Obama’s Deputy National Security Advisor, Ben Rhodes will join the call to provide his perspective on the policy landscape for critical and current nuclear weapons issues. In addition, there will be brief presentations by other experts, including senior policy experts and national nuclear weapons advocacy organizers.
There will be plenty of time for discussion and Q&A, and a portion of time devoted to discussing how youth can get involved both nationally, on-campus and in their communities.
RSVP – smeyer@ucsusa.org or 617-301-8065. Please provide your full name, school and email address.
You will receive a confirmation email with the call-in information. We look forward to your participation.
Fantastic Opportunity for Students/Young Professionals
Mar 18, 2010
Fantastic opportunity for fellow young professionals to get involved in nuclear security work and travel the country, from our friends at Global Zero.
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GLOBAL ZERO: A WORLD WITHOUT NUCLEAR WEAPONS
Now through May, we have an opportunity to dramatically expand the Global Zero movement - by bringing a critically acclaimed new film, COUNTDOWN TO ZERO, to campuses, churches, conferences, and camps around the United States. To do this, we need your help. Actually, we need you.
APPLY TO BE A GLOBAL ZERO ROADIE NOW
We have filled several of these positions, but are still seeking Roadies! Applications are now being accepted on a rolling basis until all 12 positions are filled.
WHAT WE'RE DOING
Bringing celebrities, young people, world leaders, and community members to watch a critically acclaimed new film called COUNTDOWN TO ZERO - and join the Global Zero movement.
WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR
12 highly motivated, intelligent volunteers who are willing to be at the forefront of a growing global movement. You must be at least 18 years of age and have attained your high school diploma. Possession of a valid driver's license and clean record is preferred.
Grayson Goes on Offense
Mar 15, 2010
Ever the diplomat...
Florida Rep. Alan Grayson (Council-endorsee 2008) usually holds little back when it comes to his opposition, but his recent newsletter response to a visit by Sarah Palin goes beyond even those standards. A few highlights:
Palin, the former half-term Governor, current-nothing and future-even-less, charmed the all-Republican audience with her folksy folksiness and her homespun homespunnery. Atypically, Palin was wearing clothes that she had paid for herself. At the end of the event, she shared her recipe for mooseface pie.
In response to Palin's attack on Rep Grayson, Grayson actually complimented Palin. Grayson praised Palin for having a hand large enough to fit Grayson's entire name on it. He thanked Palin for alleviating the growing shortage of platitudes in Central Florida. Grayson added that Palin deserved credit for getting through the entire hour-long program without quitting. Grayson also said that Palin really had mastered Palin's imitation of Tina Fey imitating Palin. Grayson observed that Palin is the most-intelligent leader that the Republican Party has produced since George W. Bush.
Click here to read the rest.
Feingold Statement on START
Mar 09, 2010
Sen. Feingold (D-WI) issued a statement in support of START today--Highlights below. Full text after the jump.
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The United States and Russia maintain over ninety percent of the world’s approximately 23,000 nuclear weapons. Each of these weapons has the capacity to destroy an entire city; collectively, they can destroy the world. The mere existence of these weapons creates the risk of a nuclear accident, unauthorized use, and theft by a terrorist group. The size and structure of the American and Russian nuclear arsenals reflect an antiquated Cold War mindset that we must move beyond.
It is in the national security interest of the United States to reach an agreement with Russia to reduce the number of nuclear weapons and ensure that strong verification and transparency measures remain in effect. This is the core purpose and focus of the START follow-on agreement.
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Nor is there any reason to continue to develop new nuclear weapon technologies or warheads. Our brightest experts have concluded that we no longer need new nuclear weapons in order to maintain a credible deterrent. A recent report from the independent JASON Defense Advisory Group concluded that, as a result of our nuclear laboratories’ successful life-extension programs, the lifetimes of our nuclear warheads can be extended for decades.
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I want to commend the administration for its efforts to reinvigorate the nonproliferation regime by negotiating a follow-on to the START treaty. We must act now to address the spread of nuclear weapons and materials, which is one of the gravest dangers facing the United States.
Hat Tip to Utah CTBT Organizers!
Mar 08, 2010
Utah Sens. Hatch and Bennett will be key in approval of CTBT
Congrats to all those working for CTBT ratification in Utah, as the Utah state House just unanimously passed a resolution (HR-4) urging the U.S. Senate to ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty.
From the resolution:
"United States ratification of the CTBT would be a significant step towards preventing the spread of nuclear weapons, reducing nuclear weapons arsenals worldwide, and building confidence among nations that abolition of nuclear weapons can someday be achieved,
…further nuclear weapons testing is not necessary to maintain the integrity, effectiveness, and deterrence value of the existing United States nuclear weapons stockpile,
…as part of its recognition of the 50th anniversary of nuclear weapons testing at the Nevada Test Site, in the 2001 General Session, the 54th Legislature of the state of Utah expressed, 'the fervent desire and commitment to assure that such a legacy will never be repeated,'
…the House of Representatives of the state of Utah strongly urges the United States Senate to promptly give its advice and consent for ratification of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty."
As experts have identified, support from Utah’s two Republican Senators – Orrin Hatch and Bob Bennet – will be key in new efforts for Senate ratification of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. Both Hatch and Bennett voted against the agreement when it was first brought to the Senate in 1999. Though the primary concerns that led to that first failed vote no longer hold water, the Senators will be under significant pressure from Republican leadership not to break ranks with the party conservatives who will oppose the agreement.
Today’s unanimous vote is a giant leap in the right direction for both Utah and the country, and it demonstrates the truly bipartisan consensus that exists for a smarter nuclear weapons policy that addresses today's national security challenges.
From the Salt Lake City Tribune:
John Isaacs vs. Baker Spring on Nuke Reductions
Feb 17, 2010
Check out highlights of yesterday's debate in our summary online, or listen to the audio at the Project on Nuclear Issues at CSIS.
Isaacs and Heritage's Spring debate,“Further reductions in the U.S. nuclear arsenal are in the national security interest of the United States.”
In DC? Debate TONIGHT: John Isaacs vs. Baker Spring on Nuke Reductions
Feb 16, 2010
If you're in DC, join us TONIGHT for a debate between John Isaacs and the Heritage Foundation's Baker Spring. Details, including RSVP info below:
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PONI Debates the Issues: Nuclear Reductions
Resolved: further reductions in the nuclear arsenal are in the national security interest of the United States.
Date: Tuesday, Feb 16, 2010 | 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Location: Center for Strategic and International Studies, 1800 K Street, NW, Washington DC, 20006 CSIS B1 Conference Center
The CSIS Project on Nuclear Issues (PONI) will host the sixth event in a series of live debates that bring together top nuclear experts to debate key nuclear topics.
The debate will feature John Isaacs, Executive Director of the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation and Baker Spring, F.M. Kirby Research Fellow at the Heritage Foundation.
To RSVP, contact Chris Jones via e-mail <mailto:cjones@csis.org> or by phone at (202) 775-3234
