Nuclear Weapons & Global Security Update - Summer 2008
Contents
- Summary
- Nuclear Threat Campaign Hugely Successful
- Putting Congress on Notice: No Weaponizing Space
- Twentieth International Summer Symposium on Science and World Affairs
Program Updates
Clean Energy
Clean Vehicles
Food and Agriculture
Global Warming
Nuclear Weapons and Global Security
Scientific Integrity
Summary
A UCS advertising campaign urging Senators John McCain and Barack Obama to “get serious” about reducing the threat of nuclear weapons generated hundreds of media stories after it was pulled from the Minneapolis and Denver airports for being "too scary." In addition, thanks to some 25,000 letters sent to the U.S. Senate, and targeted grassroots lobbying by UCS supporters, Congress was put on notice that citizens vigorously oppose the weaponization of space. UCS also continued its long-standing effort to develop and strengthen the “technical” arms control and security field by hosting its 20th International Summer Symposium on Science and World Affairs in Boston this summer.
Nuclear Threat Campaign Hugely Successful
Pressing both presidential candidates to keep their word by supporting policies for a world free of nuclear weapons, UCS launched a hugely successful advertising campaign in conjunction with the Democratic and Republican presidential conventions in late August and early September. The campaign urged both candidates to “get serious” about reducing the nuclear threat and involved ads in area restaurants and bars, online ads at political web sites, underwriting on the National Public Radio-affiliates, and large billboard posters at both the Denver and Minneapolis-St.Paul airports. Characterized as “scary” and “political” the airport posters were taken down in both cities resulting in huge media attention to the controversy and the efforts to censor our critical message. Media coverage included the New York Times and several Associated Press stories that appeared in numerous papers.
Putting Congress on Notice: No Weaponizing Space
This year is the 25th anniversary of President Reagan’s famous “Star Wars” speech in which he proposed an unrealistic “perfect shield” against long-range missile attack by basing weapons in space.With recent anti-satellite tests conducted by both the United States and China, some lawmakers and space weapons advocates have resumed the call for the United States to aggressively pursue the deployment of weapons in space. UCS, with the help of thousands of supporters, has responded forcefully to oppose space weapons—specifically, funding for the Bush administration missile defense space test bed. The test bed program would begin the process of putting weapons in space and would therefore have important long-term implications. While Congress has yet to complete its annual spending bills, we are confident that funding for the test bed will be denied by Congress for the second year in a row.
Twentieth International Summer Symposium on Science and World Affairs
UCS has played a leading role in developing the technical arms control and security profession by nurturing the careers of – and bringing together—thousands of young scientists interested in achieving technical and scientific expertise on a range of critical security issues, such as missile defense, space technology and nuclear weapons. This summer, UCS’ Global Security Program hosted its 20th International Summer Symposium on Science and World Affairs, which brought scientists from around the world to Massachusetts to hear technical presentations and symposiums on a range of security issues. Participants came from Argentina, China, Germany, India, Mongolia, the Netherlands, Norway, Pakistan, Russia, South Korea, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States. Held in locations like Beijing, Berlin, and Beijing, past symposiums have led to the establishment of the first independent arms control research center in Russia, based at the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, and the first program on peace research and education in Pakistan, among other accomplishments.
