LAVP believes we have an unprecedented opportunity to free the world from the catastrophe that nuclear weapons threaten to bring down upon us, our children, and our grandchildren. The journey to a nuclear-free world is not easy, but it is well worth our efforts.
As part of our continuing work on promoting nuclear disarmament, Los Altos Voices for Peace is co-sponsoring a talk by Dr. Pavel Podvig on Russian views on the topic. Between them, Russia and the United States have more than 95 percent of all the world's nuclear weapons, so any progress toward nuclear disarmament would require significant reduction of the Russian nuclear arsenal. The talk will review the current status and prospects of the Russian nuclear forces, attitudes toward nuclear disarmament, and the issues that are on the agenda of the U.S.-Russian disarmament dialog -- a new arms control treaty, missile defense, and nuclear nonproliferation.
Dr. Podvig, who is currently acting associate director for research at Stanford's Center for International Security and Cooperation, is one of the formal endorsers of the celebrated 2008 Wall Street Journal op-ed by Shultz, Perry, Kissinger, and Nunn: "Toward a Nuclear-Free World."
Dr. Podvig received his degree in physics from the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MIPT), and his PhD in political science from the Moscow Institute of World Economy and International Relations. Since 2001, he has been a member of the Board of Directors of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. He is the editor of the book Russian Strategic Nuclear Forces (MIT Press, 2001). In recognition of his work, the American Physical Society awarded him the Leo Szilard Lectureship Award of 2008. His current research focuses on the Russian strategic forces and nuclear weapons complex, as well as technical and political aspects of nuclear nonproliferation, disarmament, missile defense, and U.S.-Russian arms control process.
| Title: | A Russian Perspective on Nuclear Disarmament |
| Speaker: | Dr. Pavel Podvig |
| Date: | Thursday, September 17 |
| Location: | Unitarian Universalist Church of Palo Alto, 505 E. Charleston road, Palo Alto, CA |
| Cosponsors | Action Council, Unitarian Universalist Church of Palo Alto |
| American Muslim Voice | |
| Buddhist Peace Fellowship, West Bay Chapter | |
| Board of Directors, Humanist Community in Silicon Valley | |
| Council of Churches of Santa Clara County | |
| Los Altos Public Library | |
| Multifaith Voices for Peace and Justice | |
| Peninsula Branch, Women's International League for Peace and Freedom> | |
| Peninsula Peace and Justice Center |
LAVP has been sponsoring or co-sponsoring public events to inform the local community. To date, four events have been held:
| Title: | A World Without Nuclear Weapons? |
| Speakers: | Siegfried Hecker |
| Jacqueline Cabasso | |
| Robert Gaunt | |
| Date: | Tuesday, November 18 |
| Location: | Hillview Community Center, 97 Hillview Ave., Los Altos, CA |
On November 18, 2008, we sponsored a panel discussion at which Dr. Siegfried Hecker, Ms. Jacqueline Cabasso, and Dr. Robert Gauntt helped to enlighten the community on the current situation.
| Title: | Nuclear Weapons, Disarmament, and Deterrence: The Moral Issues |
| Moderator: | Diana Gibson |
| Speakers: | Amy Morgenstern |
| Rick Mixon | |
| Robert Gauntt | |
| Date: | Wednesday, April 22 |
| Location: | Unitarian Universalist Church of Palo Alto, 505 East Charleston Road, Palo Alto, CA |
On April 22, 2009, we co-sponsored a second panel discussion at which Rev. Diana Gibson, Rev. Amy Morgenstern, Rev. Rick Mixon and Dr. Robert Gauntt focused on the moral issues surrounding the whole concept of nuclear deterrence.
| Title: | Soaring, Nuclear Weapons, and World Peace |
| Speaker: | Martin Hellman |
| Date: | Wednesday, May 27 |
| Location: | Los Altos Library, 13 S. San Antonio Road, Los Altos, CA |
On May 27, 2009, we sponsored a talk about the risks of nuclear weapons and ways to defuse those risks. The presentation was given by Dr. Martin Hellman, who is an Emeritus Professor at Stanford University, an experienced glider pilot, and an expert on the analysis of the nuclear risk. He summarized his presentation as follows: "Nuclear weapons are the elephant in the room that most people would prefer to ignore. This talk approaches the subject from the much more appealing perspective of soaring. While flying gliders and nuclear weapons may seem to have nothing in common, this talk draws on the speaker's knowledge in both areas to unmask complacency as a fundamental risk in both endeavors. The talk then adds a hopeful dimension, with efforts to defuse the nuclear threat creating a more peaceful world."
| Title: | Reducing the Danger of Nuclear Weapons |
| Speaker: | William J. Perry |
| Date: | Thursday, July 16 |
| Location: | Unitarian Universalist Church of Palo Alto, 505 E. Charleston Rd., Palo Alto, CA |
On July 16, 2009, we co-sponsored a talk by former Secretary of Defense Dr. William J. Perry. He spoke both about his own experiences with reducing the world's nuclear arsenal, and about the critical nature of the problems and opportunities that are now before us.
Co-sponsors for the several events:
We are also working on other ways to promote this goal. Check back here for more information on LAVP activities related to this cause. There are things you can do too. We all need to be involved!
Since 1945, nuclear weapons have posed the threat of a horrendous war between superpowers. Now we face the possibility of terrorists gaining possession of nukes. On April 6 in Prague, President Obama announced the U.S. goal of completely eliminating all nuclear weapons. This has been met with both high praise and deep skepticism – though perhaps the most typical response has been a yawn.
Several concerned organizations have are promoting thoughtful petitions. Investigate the following:
Pick the topic that means the most to you and write:
Write an article or letter to the editor of the newspapers that you read:
Almost no one talks about nuclear weapons. As a result, the media rarely covers the issue, and most of our elected representatives don't pay it much attention. To break that vicious circle, Marty Hellman notes: “Individuals with courage and foresight are needed to start the process of demanding that this issue be given the attention it deserves.”
Ridding the world of nuclear weapons will be no harder than ending slavery or getting women the vote. Both of those seemingly impossible goals were realized. This one can too -- provided that enough of us participate.
Hans Blix, Why Nuclear Disarmament Matters (MIT Press, 2008).
Jonathan Schell, The Seventh Decade: The New Shape of Nuclear Danger (Metropolitan Books, Henry Holt, 2008).
Joseph Cirincione, Bomb Scare: The History and Future of Nuclear Weapons (Columbia University Press, 2007).
George P. Shultz, William J. Perry, Henry A. Kissinger and Sam Nunn, "A World Free of Nuclear Weapons," Wall Street Journal, 1/4/2007.
The first of the celebrated op-eds.
George P. Shultz, William J. Perry, Henry A. Kissinger and Sam Nunn, "Toward a Nuclear-Free World," Wall Street Journal, 1/15/2008.
The second of the celebrated op-eds.
George P. Shultz and William J. Perry, "Toward a Nuclear-Free World," presentation at the Commonwealth Club of California, 4/2/2008.
Hear Shultz and Perry speak.
Sarah J. Diehl, "Four Statesmen Promote Revitalized Interest in Nuclear Disarmament Efforts," WMD Insights, October, 2008.
The impact of the celebrated op-eds.
Sam Nunn, "A World Free of Nuclear Weapons: An Interview With Nuclear Threat Initiative Co-Chairman Sam Nunn," Arms Control Today, March 2008.
An insightful interview.
David Cortright, "Overcoming Nuclear Dangers," The Stanley Foundation, 11/2007.
A thoughtful, serious overview.
Merav Datan, Felicity Hill, Jürgen Scheffran, Alyn Ware, et al., "Securing Our Survival (SOS): The Case for a Nuclear Weapons Convention, International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War, Cambridge, MA, 2007.
Builds the case for a nuclear weapons convention; highly recommended.
John Burroughs et al., "Nuclear Disorder or Cooperative Security?," Civil Society Review of the Report of the Weapons of Mass Destruction Commission, May 2007.
Response to Hans Blix's Weapons of Mass Destruction Commission report.
Robert Gates, "Nuclear Weapons and Deterrence in the 21st Century," Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, October 28, 2008.
The hard-line view.