Reducing the Threat of Nuclear War: Social and Economic Costs of the Current Nuclear Weapons Buildup

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21Jan2023

From 1:00 PM until 6:00 PM

At Zoom Conference - Register to Attend

The 2023 “Reducing the Threat of Nuclear War” Conference will be held virtually on Saturday January 21, 1-6 pm (Eastern). This annual gathering is one of the major national conferences addressing this acute problem.   Given the tragic events in Ukraine, tensions with China over Taiwan, and provocations from North Korea, we need to accelerate effort toward clear analysis, peaceful resolutions and nuclear disarmament. The subtheme this year will be “The Social and Economic Costs of the Nuclear Weapons Buildup”. Particular attention will be given to the destructive effect of excessive weapons spending on human needs.  Attendees should sign up for one Breakout in the first set (3 pm) and one in the second set (4:30 pm).

RegisterRegister to attend.

 

1:00 pm Welcome and Tasks of the Day – Jonathan King:

1:05 pm Threats (Susan Mirsky, Chair):

  • Ukraine, Taiwan and North Korea – Phyllis Bennis (Institute for Policy Studies)
  • Dangers of First Use – Elaine Scarry (Campaign for Peace, Disarmament and Common Security);
  • Nuclear Winter -Alan Robock (Rutgers University);
  • Extraordinary Costs of Nuclear Weapons Upgrades – William Hartung (Quincy Institute).

2:00 pm –Social and Economic Costs of the Nuclear Weapons Buildup (Rosemary Kean, Chair):

  • Poverty as a Byproduct of the War Economy Shailly Gupta Barnes (Kairos Center and Poor Peoples Campaign);
  • Starving Public Health -Deborah Burger (National Nurses United);
  • Unmet Housing Needs – MA State Rep Mike Connolly;
  • Weapons Budgets Undermined the Pandemic Response- Jonathan King (MIT & Fund Healthcare not Warfare).

2:55 pm Break.

3:05 pm  First Set of Breakouts (Full descriptions lower down): A) Advancing Back from the Brink: B) Resisting a New Cold War with China: C) Cutting Budgets for Nuclear Weapons: D) Addressing the Housing Crises: Build Homes Not Bombs: E) No Wars No Warming: F) Promoting ND in the Congressional Progressive Caucus and Progressive Organizations: G) Supporting Veterans: H) Contacting Young People to Advocate for Peace.

4:00 pm Keynote Addresses:

  • Jeremy Corbyn (invited)
  • Archbishop of Santa Fe John C. Wester (Invited)
  • Representative Ayanna Pressley (Invited)

4:30 pm Second Set of Breakouts (Detailed descriptions lower down): I) Interplay of Racism and Militarism at Home and Abroad: J) Promoting the TPNW within the US: K) Promoting Peace Between the Koreas: L) Pressing for Negotiations in Ukraine: M) Divestment and Direct Action focused on the Nuclear Weapons Industry: N.  Collaborating with Nurses, Public Health Professionals and Healthcare Workers -Fund Healthcare Not Warfare: O) Campus Education and Organizing- Invest in Minds not Missiles: P) Promoting Peace in Municipal and State Legislatures: Q) Engaging Communities of Faith /Promoting Pope Francis’ Encyclical.

5:30 pm  Opportunities for Progress (Marcy Winograd, Chair):

Poor People’s Campaign – Rev. Liz Theoharis;

Mobilizing Nurses and Frontline Health Workers  -Sandy Eaton (Mass Nurses and MassCARE);

Broadening our Reach: Medea Benjamin (CodePINK).

Next Steps: Cole Harrison (MAPA),

6:00  pm Adjourn.

Breakouts Details: Two sets, allowing participation in two Breakouts:

Group I

  1. Advancing Back from the Brink –Joe McCabe (GBPSR); Dr. Ira Helfand (PSR). Reporter Susan Entin.
  2. Resisting a New Cold War with China: John Ratliff (Mass Peace Action); Joseph Gerson (Campaign for Peace, Disarmament and Common Security; Wei Yu (CodePINK); Reporter-Steve Gallant
  3. Cutting Budgets for Nuclear Weapons– David Borris (CAPA); Paul Shannon (AFSC); Savannah Wooten (People over the Pentagon); Sayre Sheldon WAND. Reporter-Louise Coleman
  4. Addressing the Housing Crises: Build Homes Not Bombs: Jodie Evans (CodePINK); Michael Kane (Alliance of HUD Tenants); Savina Martin (Ma Poor Peoples Campaign); State Rep Mike Connolly; Sr. Linda Bessom ( Pax Christi). Reporter
  5. No Wars No Warming: Ed Aguilar (CFPA); Rosalie Anders (MAPA); Vernon Walker (CREW-350MA ); Teddy Ogborn (CodePINK); Giselle Herzfeld) (Rocky Mt Flats Peace Center); Kenneth Chiu (Reverse the Trend). Reporter-Pat Hynes
  6. Promoting ND in the Congressional Progressive Caucus and Progressive Organizations – Elaine Scarry. (CPDCS); Jackie Cabasso (Mayors for Peace); Vicki Elson; Russell Freedman (PDA); Reporter- Cherril Spencer (WILPF) ; Reporter-Cynthia MacBain.
  7. Supporting Veterans: Bonnie Gorman (Veterans for Peace and MAPA); Gerry Condon (Veterans for Peace) Roger Quindell < (WI Vets for Peace); Jim Anderson (PANYS); Common Defense representative; Smedley Butler Brigade Rep. Reporter-.
  8. Contacting Young People Advocating for Peace. Nick Rabb (Tufts University); Peter Bergel (Oregon); Emma Pike (Nuclear Age Peace Foundation); Jack Tapanick (Tufts Univ); Emily Rubino (PANYS) Rep. Reporter MAPA Intern

 Group II:

  1. Interplay of Racism and Militarism at Home and Abroad: Rosemary Kean (MAPA) ; Liz Bejjalieh (CAPA); Vaughn Goodwin (MA PPC); Jeff Klein (Dorchester People for Peace); Reporter –
  2. Promoting the TPNW within the US – Timmon Wallis (Nuclear Ban -US); Dave Pack (Peace Action Kansas City); Sally Jones (PANYS); Molly McGinity (IPPNW);Ray Acheson (WILPF). Reporter Kathy Malley-Morrison
  3. Promoting Peace Between the Koreas – Colleen Moore (Women Across the DMZ); Mike van Elzakker  (MAPA); Seung Hee Jeon

(New England Koreans for Peace); Jeffrey Lewis (Middlebury Institute) Reporter-

  1. L. Pressing for Negotiations in Ukraine – Marcy Winograd (CODEPINK); Susan Mirsky (MAPA); Phyllis Bennis (IPS); Cole Harrison (MAPA) Frances Jeffries (Rotary). Reporter-Steve Slaner
  2. Divestment and Direct Action focused on the Nuclear Weapons industry – David Swanson & Greta Zarro (World Beyond War); Rev. Paul Dordal (PA); Susi Snyder (Don’t Bank on the Bomb); Shea Lebow (CodePINK); Bill Glassmire (Corvallis Divests from War) . Reporter-
  3. Working with Nurses and Public Health organizations -Fund Healthcare not Warfare. Dr. Bob Gould (APHA); Sandy Eaton (MassCARE); Catherine DeLorey (Fund Health not War); Cate Henning (MAPA);Reporter;
  4. Campus Education and Organizing- Invest in Minds not Missiles. Bob Redwine (MIT); Margaret Engel (PANYS), CAPA Student; Luissa Vahedi (APHA public health students); Reporter-Steve Slaner.
  5. Promoting Peace in Municipal and State Legislatures; MA State Rep Carol Doherty; Tara Currie (Brooklyn for Peace ); Dennis Carlone (Cambridge City Council); Danaka Katovich < (CodePINK); Reporter- Cherrill Spencer (WILPF).
  6. Engaging Communities of Faith /Promoting Pope Francis’ Encyclical -Mike Moran (Pax Christi); Keith Harvey (AFSC) ; Sofia Wollman (Peace Action Maine); John Bach (Quakers);). Reporter- Peter Metz (MAPA).

 Program Committee`(Institutions for affiliation only); David Borris (Chicago Area Peace Action); Joe Gerson (CPDCS); Dr. Bob Gould (APHA &PSR); Sandy Eaton (Mass Nurses & MasssCARE); Cole Harrison; (MAPA)  William Hartung (Quincy Institute); Jonathan King (MAPA & MIT); Susan Mirsky (MAPA); Bob Redwine (MIT); Paul Shannon (AFSC); Martha Speiss (Peace Action Maine); Trish Weinmann (MIT); Marcy Winograd (CodePINK).

Organizational Co-Sponsors: MIT Faculty Newsletter; MIT Radius; Massachusetts Peace Action; Campaign for Peace Disarmament and Common Security; Chicago Area Peace Action; Institute for People’s Engagement.

RegisterRegister here.  There is no charge to attend, but donations in support of MAPA’s nuclear disarmament work are welcome.

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