Unfold Zero Newsletter

Posted: 11th January 2021

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Many of us have witnessed (from a distance) the disturbing assault on US democratic institutions last week, incited by a sitting president who cannot accept that he lost the election. It’s frightening to consider that for another 10 days, President Trump has the capacity to launch a nuclear war, if he so desires.

On Thursday, Rep Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the US House of Representatives, tried to take away the authority of President Trump to unilaterally launch a nuclear war on a whim, but she was not successful. (See Pelosi Wants to Keep Nukes Out of Donald Trump’s Hands. There’s Nothing She Can Do, Time Magazine, Jan 8, 2021).
 
In any case, the USA is not the only problem.There are nearly 14,000 nuclear weapons in the world possessed by nine countries. The leaders of these countries, many with bloated egos and instable characters like President Trump, threaten humanity with their capacity to initiate global annihilation.And even with stable leaders, a nuclear war could still be launched by accident or miscalculation or crisis escalation.

It’s time to take the fingers of all leaders of nuclear armed states off the button to prevent the possibility of nuclear war and to pave the way for nuclear abolition.

We invite you to endorse a Global Appeal to end the nuclear threat, abolish nuclear weapons and shift the weapons budgets and investments to support public health, COVID-19 recovery, the climate and sustainable development.
 

Risks of nuclear deterrence

“Deterrence owes more to national egotism than reality. Far from keeping nations safe, nuclear weapons threaten the continued existence of nations.” 
Cmdr Robert Forsyth, Retired Royal Navy Commander, Former Nuclear Submarine Commanding Office, UK. Endorser of the Appeal.

Presentation to UN and Member states on January 25, 2021

The appeal will be sent to the nine nuclear-armed governments and presented to the United Nations and UN member states on January 25, 2021 in conjunction with a global civil society event to commemorate the entry-into-force of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons and the 75th anniversary of UN Resolution 1 (1).

Click here to register for the event.
 

Importance of the Appeal

“This appeal is critical to the salvation of the planet and all life on it. Anything less is suicidal. Nuclear states in particular must put life before profits or power.” 
Rosemarie Pace, Pax Christi (USA).
Endorser of the Appeal.

What the appeal calls for

The appeal calls specifically on cities, parliaments and governments to:

1. Affirm that nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought, and therefore the nuclear armed States should stand down their nuclear forces and affirm policies never to initiate a nuclear war (no-first-use policies);
2. Commit to the elimination of nuclear weapons no later than 2045, the 100th anniversary of the United Nations;
3. Cut nuclear weapons budgets (if they are a nuclear-weapon State), end investments in the nuclear weapons industry (all governments), and redirect these investments and budgets to support the United Nations, COVID-19 management and recovery, drastic reductions in carbon emissions to protect the climate, and financing the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Click here to read more about the appeal and see the list current endorsers and quotes from endorsers. Click here to endorse.
 

Security through Peace

“Although national security is widely perceived to depend on military strength, more weapons do not provide more security. Peace within and among nations depends in part on replacing ignorance and unjustified fears with mutual understanding and trust.”
Representative Jasmine Krotkov. Member of the Montana State Legislature, USA.
Appeal endorser

Nuclear weapons are criminal

“At a time the world faces multiple upheavals including from the COVID-19 pandemic, weapons of mass destruction are totally abhorrent. Nuclear weapons are wasteful and having them should be seen as a criminal intent to wreak harms against humanity and the Planet.”
Nnimmo Bassey, Time Magazine Hero of the Environment 2009. Appeal Endorser.

No-first-use is one important measure

“Affirming a nuclear war can never be won and instituting a no-first-use of nuclear weapons policy are unilateral steps that President Biden can take which will immediately increase global security.” 
Hon Peggy Mason. President, Rideau Institute on International Affairs. Former Disarmament Ambassador for Canada. Appeal endorser.
 

Invest in people and the planet – not nukes

“It’s time to end the terrible waste of money and resources spent on creating and maintaining nuclear weapons and redirect to where its needed most, to the health and welfare of people and the planet.” 
Misha Coleman, Mayor of Yarra City, Australia. Member of Mayors for Peace. Appeal endorser.
 

WE need cooperation not nuclear threats

“In the world we are suffering from various threats such as poverty, global warming, pandemic, water shortage; there is no need for anymore threats! Instead of taking more lives we need collaboration to fix existing threats!”
Natasha Shokri, UNESCO Youth Peace Ambassador. Iran. Appeal endorser. Yours sincerely
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