Global No First-Use campaign grows

Posted: 6th May 2021

UNFOLD ZERO Newsletter

The USA, Russia and some of the other nuclear-armed States maintain the option of the ‘first-use’ of nuclear weapons, i.e. the possibility to launch a nuclear strike in a wide range of circumstances, rather than just possessing them to deter a possible nuclear attack. This is very dangerous, and could result in nuclear war by miscalculation, accident or crisis escalation.

There is a growing movement – including events, appeals and legislative initiatives – for the USA and other nuclear armed states to adopt ‘no-first-use’ policies in order to reduce the risk of nuclear war and to pave the way for nuclear disarmament. (India and China have already adopted such policies). We encourage you to support the appeals and participate in some of the many events, especially those suitable to your country/region and time-zone.

A special invitation is extended to nuclear risk-reduction and disarmament campaigners to join the Global NFU campaign and strategy meeting on May 26/27.

Suggested reading:
Revisiting the case for no first use of nuclear weapons, by Hon Gareth Evans (Chair of the Asia-Pacific Leadership Network for Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament and former Foreign Minister of Australia), published by the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, May 5, 2021. The article is based on the presentation Mr Evans made at the April 29 event.