Nuclear Zero Town Meeting: Summary
October 14, 2009
Sponsor: Brooklyn For Peace
Co-sponsors: Peace & Social Action Committee of Brooklyn Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers); Abolition 2000 — NY Metro; Peace Action New York State; Peace Boat; Nuclear Age Peace Foundation — NY; Lawyers Committee on Nuclear Policy; United for Peace and Justice — NYC
Speaker: John Burroughs, Executive Director, Lawyers Committee on Nuclear Policy
Global versus Regional Focus
There was considerable discussion of the relationship between global approaches to the abolition of nuclear weapons and regional strategies, especially the creation of Nuclear Weapons Free Zones under Title VII of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
On global abolition of nuclear weapons, John Burroughs noted the work of his own organization at the United Nations and the World Court; the current initiatives of the Global Zero organization; and work on strengthening the Non-Proliferation Treaty, securing US ratification of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, and creation of a Fissile Materials Cutoff Treaty. He was positive about the direction taken by the Obama Administration: the President's nuclear agenda, his speeches in Prague (April) and at the United Nations (September), and the UN Security Council Resolution 1887 (September).
On creation of Nuclear Weapons Free Zones, Bob Alpern noted that the BFP Nuclear Zero Committee was focusing on proposals for a Middle East NWFZ involving both Israel and Iran as part of a "grand bargain" promoted by the US: one scenario for such a Zone is described by John Cirincione in his book Bomb Scare (pp. 149–154). John Burroughs noted the importance of a Middle East NWFZ in the diplomacy of the Arab nations. However, he was skeptical that discussions of a Middle East zone could be a "principal" road to global Nuclear Zero, and he warned that the Arab states welcomed Israel's nuclear "opacity": attention to Israel's nuclear arsenal might inflame Arab public opinion and create pressure for development of Arab nuclear arsenals. Burroughs also noted the potential importance of other Nuclear Weapons Free Zones, for South Asia (including India & Pakistan) and Northeast Asia (including Japan).
Grassroots Organizing
There was considerable discussion about how to focus grassroots organization on nuclear policy. Rusti Eisenberg noted that Brooklyn Parents for Peace had originated in protests over the proposed homeport on Staten Island. Discussion focused on tying grassroots mobilization to the terrorist threat, linkage to other &quyot;weapons of mass destruction," and linkage to other global issues (e.g. climate change).
On mobilization tied to a possible terrorist threat, there was general agreement that the public response would more likely be counterproductive panic not constructive engagement. In addition, John Burroughs discounted the possible use of nuclear weapons by terrorists compared to their potential use in international conflict.
On mobilization based on linkage to other weapons of mass destruction (WMDs), John Burroughs noted that the scale of potential destruction by nuclear weapons placed them in a different class from chemical and biological WMDs. On the other hand, he noted that universal conventions abolishing the use of chemical and biological WMDs were models for a potential similar convention on nuclear weapons.
On mobilization based on linkage to other global issues, a strategy favored by many peace groups and by John Burroughs, there was little discussion. Some comments seemed to reflect confidence that the nuclear threat could stand alone as a focus for organizing, if advocates simply did the hard work of door-to-door canvassing, media outreach, and petitioning and event-making keyed to predictable dates on the diplomatic calendar (for example, events leading up to the United Nation's Non-Proliferation Treaty Review in Spring 2010).
Meanwhile, some note was taken of the split in the community of NGOs involved in nuclear policy, between groups on the left involved in mass mobilization and groups in the center and right,(for example, Nuclear Threat Initiative) which are involved in elite networking.
Action Agenda
Regarding actions that could be taken by Brooklyn For Peace and by individuals on their own, John Burroughs focused on two opportunities:
- signing and gathering signatures for a
Petition to the President that is being circulated by many peace groups
- working with progressive members of Congress to ensure that the Obama Administration's efforts to reduce America's nuclear stockpile and secure ratification of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty before the NPT Review, next Spring, are not compromised by riders and conditions that perpetuate the Nuclear/Industrial Complex.
Note: Bob Alpern noted that the meeting did not include any discussion of the dangers and benefits of "peaceful use" of nuclear energy. Cheryl Wurtz remarked that most Peace groups oppose peaceful use based on potential for weaponization and problems in the disposal nuclear waste.
Notes recorded by Bob Alpern
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