The Vision of Reykjavik: Steps Toward A World Free of Nuclear Weapons

You are invited to a series of classes taught by MVPJ Steering Committee member Richard Duda.

What:       A discussion class on how we can reduce the tremendous risk of nuclear weapons
Who:        Dick Duda and Ray Schuster
When:      Four Tuesdays: April 5, 12, 19 and 26, 7:00-9:00 PM
Where:     Unitarian Universalist Church of Palo Alto, 505 East Charleston Road, Palo Alto

The purpose of this class is to recover the Vision of Reykjavik - the vision of a world free of nuclear weapons.  We will do this by (a) refreshing our memories about nuclear weapons and their history, (b) bringing us up to date on how nuclear proliferation and the emergence of terrorist groups is changing the equation, and (c) addressing the commonly voiced objections to trying to do anything.  The main thrust will be in providing the information needed for thinking about the issue, and identifying the things that each of us can do to help reduce the nuclear risk.

Click here to download a poster for the event (and post it somewhere!!).

Click here to read more for more details.

The Vision of Reykjavik: Steps Toward A World Free of Nuclear Weapons

Richard Duda and Ray Schuster
Unitarian Universalist Church of Palo Alto, 505 East Charleston Road, Palo Alto, CA
Four Tuesdays in April: April 5, 12, 19 and 26, 2011,7 PM to 9 PM

We have lived under the threat of nuclear weapons for 65 years.  During that time we have witnessed advances and retreats in the effort to control the genie that nuclear physicists let out of the bottle. In 1986, Reagan and Gorbachev met at Reykjavik, Iceland, and came amazingly close to agreeing to eliminate all nuclear weapons. But starting in the mid 1990's, a decade of serious decline set in, as first India, then Pakistan, and then North Korea went nuclear. Yet, we have recently enjoyed a new turn around, with Obama's public commitment to a world free of nuclear weapons, the Senate's recent hard-fought ratification of the New START treaty, and conservative politicians now calling for reviving the vision of Reykjavik.  Thus, there are now reasons once again for hope.

The purpose of this class is to refresh our memories about the facts about nuclear weapons, to bring us up to date on how nuclear proliferation and the emergence of terrorist groups is changing the equation, and to address the following commonly voiced objections to trying to do anything:

1.  Nuclear weapons have prevented World War III for over 60 years. (If it ain't broke, don't fix it.)

2.  Getting rid of all nukes is impossible, so the goal is counterproductive.

     (Don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good.)

3.  Even if all nukes were eliminated, the knowledge of how to build the bomb will always be with us. (You can't put the genie back in the bottle.)

4.  Small countries have no choice - it is their only defense against more powerful neighbors.

5.  Our allies depend on our "nuclear umbrella." If we disarm, they will just build their own nukes.

6.  Any president who entertains the absurd goal of "zero" loses credibility, making war more likely.

7.  The problem is so large and complicated, there isn't anything that anyone can do about it.

These questions will be addressed in four meetings. Attendees will be expected to read two or three short background papers before each meeting. Each meeting will include an introductory lecture,the showing of an excerpt from a relevant DVD, a discussion of the background papers, and free time for an open discussion. For those who are interested, things that one of can do to help reduce the nuclear risk will be suggested, but the main thrust will be in providing the information for thinking and talking about the issue.

Registration appreciated:  Email: eventsignup@uucpa.org Phone: 650-494-0541

Childcare usually available with two week notice; email childcare@uucpa.org

Agenda

Meeting 1-    April 5                                                                                       Fireside Room

                     Where are we and how we got here

                     DVD:  Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb

 

Meeting 2- April 12                                                                                        Fireside Room

                     Is a world free of nuclear weapons desirable?

                     DVD:  The Myth of Nuclear Deterrence

 

Meeting 3- April 19                                                                                                  Room 9

                     Is a world free of nuclear weapons achievable?

                     DVD: Nuclear Tipping Point, Part 1

 

Meeting 4- April 26                                                                                        Fireside Room

                     How we might realize the Vision of Reykjavik

                     DVD: Nuclear Tipping Point, Part 2

 

Reading List

 

Attendees are expected to come prepared to each meeting by having made a good faith effort to read the background material. Paper copies will not be provided, but all of the papers are available on the web. CD-ROMs containing all of the papers, plus additional resources, will be distributed at the first meeting, and, if desired, can be obtained in advance from Dick Duda (d_duda@uucpa.org).

 

Readings before Meeting 1

Martin Taggart, "Do nuclear weapons still have a role in international relations in the post-Cold War era?" International Relations, May 10, 2008.  (4 pages)

      http://www.e-ir.info/?p=461

 

Philip Taubman, "The trouble with zero," New York Times, May 9, 2009.  (4 pages)

      http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/10/weekinreview/10taubman.htm

 

Jonathan Schell, "Reaching zero," The Nation, April 19, 2010.  (9 pages)

      Click Here

 

Readings before Meeting 2

George P. Shultz, William J. Perry, Henry A. Kissinger and Sam Nunn, "A world free of nuclear weapons," Wall Street Journal, Jan. 4, 2007.  (4 pages)

      Click Here

 

Harold Brown and John Deutch, "The nuclear disarmament fantasy," Wall Street Journal, 11/19/2007.  (5 pages)

      Click Here

 

Jacqueline Cabasso, "Rhetoric vs. reality: disarmament policy in the age of Obama," NGO Committee on Disarmament, Peace & Security, Sept. 14, 2010.  (4 pages)

      Click Here

 

Readings before Meeting 3

Bruno Tertrais, "The illogic of zero," The Washington Quarterly, v.33, n.2, Apr 2010. (14 pages)

      Click Here

 

Barry M. Blechman, "Why we need to eliminate nuclear weapons-and how to do it," Elements of a Nuclear Disarmament Treaty: Unblocking the Road to Zero, The Henry L. Stimson Center, Washington, D.C., 2010. (26 pages - read 8 to 18)

      Click Here

 

Readings before Meeting 4

Anon., "Talking about nuclear weapons with the persuadable middle," Stanley Foundation, U.S. in the World Initiative, Nov. 2009.  (24 pages - read 1 to 15)

      Click Here

 

Nathan Pyles, "Building political will: Branding the nuclear-free-world argument," Nonproliferation Review, Vol. 15, No. 3, , pp. 441-458, Nov., 2008.  (18 pages)

      Click Here