The Author of Nuke-Free World

Background: Why Change Nuclear Policy?

Evaluating Your local Representatives

Your Representative's Score

General Organizing Notes

Links (other helpful organizations)

More coming soon!

Background: Why Change Nuclear Policy?

How did nuclear “war-fighting” doctrine, rejected by Presidents Reagan, Bush and Clinton, become the centerpiece of the new administration’s official nuclear weapons policy?...This is the question asked by William D. Hartung of the Arms Trade Resource Center. “The answer lies with the undue influence exercised upon the Bush administration by former defense industry executives, many of whom are now in policy-making positions at the White House and the Pentagon.” --From the Executive Summary of “About Face: The Role of the Arms Lobby In the Bush Administrations Radical Reversal of Two Decades of U.S. Nuclear Policy”

You can read more of this Special Report and the details of defense industry lobbying and campaign contributions at worldpolicy.org

Note: Of course, the appointment of these defense industry executives was itself a reflection of the neo-conservative thinking that the U.S. should use force to dominate the world. This doctrine, which can be found at newamericancentury.org in the 1997 Statement of Principles, or in the more detailed Rebuilding America’s Defenses, became the basis for Bush’s Nuclear Policy Review. You will note that many of the group that signed the Statement of Principles became important members of the Bush Administration.

Politics vs Procedures: Implementing the NPT Disarmament Diplomacy, (Mag.) March-April 2002

conclusion--“Ultimately, though, fulfilment of the NPT requires political action, not procedural discussions, and for that civil society has to work harder outside diplomacy in order to create the conditions for diplomacy to work.” [That’s our cue, we’re ON! ]

1. Study the incumbent representative's voting record. Organizations that evaluate  and list Congressional  voting records on peace issues are listed in Resources. If your incumbent representative has a score of 80% or better, make an appointment to visit them and find out how you can help their reelection.

2. If your incumbent has a score of less than 80%, arrange to visit them and find out why. Perhaps you can work with them or an aide to change their mind on this issue.

3. If your incumbent's score is 40% or lower, you will probably have to work for their replacement. Where possible, support a major party candidate whose opinion agrees with yours on this vital issue. If no one is available or running, try to find an articulate person to callenge the incumbent in the next election.

Your Representative's Score

Incumbent Records
The first step is to evaluate the incumbent and their record on nuclear weapons. Here are some of the resources available:

Peace Action
The Peace Action Education Fund (PAEF) works to build an informed citizenry on issues of nuclear weapons, military spending, and foreign policy. See how your incumbent voted on 12 critical issues in 2005. Go to www.peace-action.org then to Voting Record of the year you want.

Council for a Livable World
Advocates elimination of WMD. The Council’s central mission is to organize financial support for congressional candidates that are pro-arms control. Their ratings of incumbents and candidatess indicates the degree to which they support the aims of the Council. Go to
www.clw.org/resources/votingrecords/house/2004.pdf

Citizens for Global Solutions
Citizens for Global Solutions believes that countries can best solve global problems by working together to find global solutions. Produces
Congressional Report Card that summarizes Representative votes on ten international issues including two on nuclear weapons. See how your
Representative measures up at: globalsolutions.org/hill/reportcard/

General Organizing Notes

If possible, stick with the nuclear issue. The more issues you have the fewer people will agree. Make it easy for people to participate. Always keep your purpose in mind: to change US nuclear weapons policy from hair-trigger alert and first use to working for worldwide nuclear disarmament.

There are substantial advantages to political action. For example, once you have a candidate on the ballot, that person can demand equal time, which gets your message out to many people you could not otherwise reach; all candidates must adjust their positions to overcome the challengers point of view; and even if you do not win the threat of your campaign costs the pro‑nukes incumbent money and effort. Finally, if your candidate is articulate, he or she will become a recognized voice on nuclear issues in the community.

Part of every dollar spent on nuclear weapons is used to lobby for more. Lobbyists for corporations in the nuclear business generously court many of our representatives in congress. By politically representing the health, safety and other needs of families in your area, you can balance out the undue influence of these Washington lobbyists.

When one thinks of the time and money required for people to attend a distant mass demonstration, the same amount of effort by a few people could get a candidate on the ballot with far more impact on the community, their representative and on a critical budget vote in the congress. Finally, participating in a political campaign is an exciting and empowering experience for concerned people at a time when our democracy is in trouble.

The following organizations provide a wealth of supporting information:

Wellstone Action Fund
Wellstone Action Fund was created to honor Senator Paul Wellstone and his wife who died in a plane crash in 2002. For inspiration read the short bio of Paul Wellstone. The site is a fitting memorial to this outstanding Senator. "Our goal is to help enable social change in the United States by training a new generation of leaders...promoting citizen participation and action." This is a large and valuable site. You may want to go straight to Action Planing to Win on Issues at: wellstone.org/organizing_corner

Natural Resources Defense Council
This excellent environmental site is also a fine source of nuclear wesapons information. Go to Nuclear Weapons Waste and Energy. Then pick the subjects of interest. NRDC has payed a role in nuclear policy for over 25 years. This is particularly good, in-depth information for people who may be speaking in public about the U.S. nuclear war plan. nrdc.org/nuclear/default.asp

Nuclear Policy Research Institute
"NPRI was established to educate the American Public...about the greatest single threat to our country's...public health, namely the profound medical, environmental, political and moral consequences of perpetuating nuclear weapons, power and waste. NPRI is led by Dr. Helen Caldicott, who for the last thrity-five years has led an international campaign to end the nuclear age." nuclearpolicy.org

Center for Arms Control
The Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation is dedicated to enhancing international peace and security and protecting the American people from the threat of weapons of mass distruction. Up-to-date information on Congressional actions, budgets and more. armscontrolcenter.org

Nuclear Age Peace Foundation
NAPF is active in the education and advocacy of weapons policy. With many meetings and publications the foundation offers much good information. WagingPeace.org covers current developments in policy and a large archive of articles on nuclear weapons policy and related issues. napf.org