Support Negotiations for a Global Treaty Prohibiting Nuclear Weapons;
Support Taking Nuclear Weapons Off Hair-Trigger NOW
Support Negotiations for a Global Treaty Prohibiting Nuclear Weapons;
Support Taking Nuclear Weapons Off Hair-Trigger NOW
Whereas, one of the primary goals of the United Nations is to “End the Scourge of War.”
Whereas, on the path to this noble and critical goal, the global community must take other important steps such as prohibiting the use of weapons of mass destruction and eliminating them.
Whereas, chemical and biological weapons of mass destruction have already been made illegal but nuclear weapons are still legal and in the arsenal of several nations.
Whereas, several elder statesmen, including former Secretaries of State Henry Kissinger and George Shultz, one time Defense Secretary William Perry and former Senator Sam Nunn have called for a ‘World Free of Nuclear Weapons” even though they were once part of the nuclear weapons establishment.
Whereas, the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) was meant to prevent non-nuclear nations from acquiring them and put nuclear nations on a path to eliminating them.
Whereas, the NPT has failed to produce good faith negotiations where the nuclear powers lay out a path to the elimination of their nuclear weapons and in fact the United States is planning a trillion dollar upgrade of their nuclear arsenal over the next 30 years.
Whereas, given these failures, the nations of the world, acting through the United Nations General Assembly, voted overwhelmingly on December 23, 2016 to launch negotiations in New York in 2017 on a treaty prohibit nuclear weapons. (113 in favor; 35 opposed; 13 abstaining)
Whereas, a treaty prohibiting nuclear weapons is not meant to replace the NPT but is meant to complement it, hopefully providing the impetus for nuclear nations to carry out their nuclear disarmament obligations under the NPT.
Whereas, as the world seeks a path towards eliminating nuclear weapons, it must take steps to ensure that nuclear weapons are never used.
Whereas, removing nuclear weapons from hair-trigger alert (which allows only one person, the President of the United States, the ability to initiate the launch of nuclear missiles in a matter of minutes without the consultation of others or the approval of Congress) is a critical step in preventing the use of nuclear weapons.
Therefore, Resolved, the United Nations Association of Greater Milwaukee supports the negotiations for a treaty prohibiting nuclear weapons.
Further Resolved, the United Nations Association of Greater Milwaukee signs onto the petition circulated by Ploughshares, an organization of arms control experts dedicated to making the world safe from the threat of nuclear weapons, urging President Obama to remove nuclear weapons from hair trigger alert and will continue this effort with President Trump, if President Obama fails to act.
Support Taking Nuclear Weapons Off Hair-Trigger NOW
Whereas, one of the primary goals of the United Nations is to “End the Scourge of War.”
Whereas, on the path to this noble and critical goal, the global community must take other important steps such as prohibiting the use of weapons of mass destruction and eliminating them.
Whereas, chemical and biological weapons of mass destruction have already been made illegal but nuclear weapons are still legal and in the arsenal of several nations.
Whereas, several elder statesmen, including former Secretaries of State Henry Kissinger and George Shultz, one time Defense Secretary William Perry and former Senator Sam Nunn have called for a ‘World Free of Nuclear Weapons” even though they were once part of the nuclear weapons establishment.
Whereas, the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) was meant to prevent non-nuclear nations from acquiring them and put nuclear nations on a path to eliminating them.
Whereas, the NPT has failed to produce good faith negotiations where the nuclear powers lay out a path to the elimination of their nuclear weapons and in fact the United States is planning a trillion dollar upgrade of their nuclear arsenal over the next 30 years.
Whereas, given these failures, the nations of the world, acting through the United Nations General Assembly, voted overwhelmingly on December 23, 2016 to launch negotiations in New York in 2017 on a treaty prohibit nuclear weapons. (113 in favor; 35 opposed; 13 abstaining)
Whereas, a treaty prohibiting nuclear weapons is not meant to replace the NPT but is meant to complement it, hopefully providing the impetus for nuclear nations to carry out their nuclear disarmament obligations under the NPT.
Whereas, as the world seeks a path towards eliminating nuclear weapons, it must take steps to ensure that nuclear weapons are never used.
Whereas, removing nuclear weapons from hair-trigger alert (which allows only one person, the President of the United States, the ability to initiate the launch of nuclear missiles in a matter of minutes without the consultation of others or the approval of Congress) is a critical step in preventing the use of nuclear weapons.
Therefore, Resolved, the United Nations Association of Greater Milwaukee supports the negotiations for a treaty prohibiting nuclear weapons.
Further Resolved, the United Nations Association of Greater Milwaukee signs onto the petition circulated by Ploughshares, an organization of arms control experts dedicated to making the world safe from the threat of nuclear weapons, urging President Obama to remove nuclear weapons from hair trigger alert and will continue this effort with President Trump, if President Obama fails to act.