A Nuclear Free Future
WHEREAS, the catastrophic humanitarian and environmental consequences of any use of nuclear weapons would be long-lasting, global, and irreversible;
WHEREAS, nuclear weapons pose an existential threat to humanity, and their continued existence increases the risk of nuclear detonation by accident, miscalculation, or design;
WHEREAS, the United Nations Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), which entered into force on January 22, 2021, fills a critical gap in international law by creating a legally binding instrument to prohibit the development, testing, production, possession, stockpiling, transfer, and threat of use of nuclear weapons;
WHEREAS, the TPNW complements the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) by strengthening the non-proliferation norm and fulfilling the obligation to pursue effective measures for nuclear disarmament;
WHEREAS, the TPNW places human beings at the center of disarmament by providing for victim assistance and environmental remediation for communities harmed by nuclear testing and use;
WHEREAS, the TPNW aligns nuclear weapons with other weapons of mass destruction, such as chemical and biological weapons, which are already subject to comprehensive bans;
BE IT RESOLVED, that we officially endorse the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW);
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that we urge the federal government to sign and ratify the TPNW, and to make nuclear disarmament a centerpiece of national security policy;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that we call for the immediate halting of modernization programs designed to extend the lifespan of nuclear arsenals, and instead redirects those resources toward human needs, including public health, education, and climate action;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that we advocate for taking nuclear weapons off high-alert status, adopting a "no-first-use" policy, and ending the sole authority of any single leader to initiate a nuclear strike;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that we commit to educating the public on the catastrophic risks of nuclear weapons and the urgent necessity of global, verifiable abolition.
