There are currently 17,000 nuclear weapons on Earth. How can we ever live peacefully and sanely on this planet with such a persistent and pervasive threat hovering over us?
Twenty years after the Cold War, maintaining vast arsenals of mass destruction – at a staggering cost of $1 trillion per decade globally – makes no sense, strategically or financially. Nuclear weapons undermine global stability. We need to reset our priorities, abandon outdated thinking on global security and set the world’s course to global zero.
21st century global security can’t be built on the Cold War idea of basing national security on the threat of mass destruction. The ability to completely annihilate populations, infrastructure and the environment doesn’t make us safer or more secure.
There is an organization doing something about it: Global Zero.
Global Zero has emerged as one of the most remarkable social movements in history.
Powered by a visionary group of 300 leaders and experts, and the relentless creativity, energy and optimism of young people and half a million citizens worldwide, Global Zero is challenging the 20th century idea of basing national security on the threat of mass destruction – and together they are making real progress on the road to global zero.
Global Zero leaders understand that the only way to eliminate the nuclear threat – including proliferation and nuclear terrorism – is to stop the spread of nuclear weapons, secure all nuclear materials and eliminate all nuclear weapons: global zero.
They have spent years building a nonpartisan, international community of influential political, military, business, civic and faith leaders – matched by a powerful global grassroots movement. And Global Zero is not tilting at windmills – they’ve got a plan that is backed by experts and leading newspapers worldwide. The challenge now is getting world leaders to act on it – and only an unprecedented international demand for zero can create the necessary political will to make it happen.
The only way to eliminate the existential nuclear threat is to stop the spread of nuclear weapons, secure all nuclear materials and eliminate all nuclear weapons: “global zero.”
There are nine countries that possess nuclear weapons today, including: (1) Russia with approximately 8,500; (2) the United States with approximately 7,700; (3) France with fewer than 300; (4) China with approximately 240; (5) the United Kingdom with fewer than 225; (6) Pakistan with 90-110; (7) India with 80-100; (8) Israel, which is believed to possess 80 weapons; and (9) North Korea, which is estimated to possess enough plutonium for up to 10 fission bombs.
Global Zero’s plan is backed by political leaders, military commanders and national security experts worldwide. And with the re-election of President Obama – a passionate supporter of Global Zero – 2013 could mark the beginning of the end of nuclear weapons. But not without strong, sustained and urgent support from the public, leaders and the media.
To find out more and to sign their petition, check out Global Zero’s website.
And watch the below short video with Naomi Watts and Valerie Plame Wilson speaking about how the money saved from cutting out nuclear weapons could be much better spent on education and other more important things: