Paths to Zero

Written by FAS President Dr. Charles Ferguson

Views on nuclear weapons are often linked to strong emotions. On August 6, 2010, the text announcing my podcast on nuclear security issues to FAS members and on the FAS Website used a strong, emotionally charged word to describe the August 6, 1945 atomic bombing of Hiroshima. That word was “unconscionable.”

An FAS member wrote to me expressing her disagreement with the use of that word because it is:

Friends,

Like you, I value a secure world that is free from use of nuclear weapons. Through your generous support, FAS staff are helping to create that world. At the beginning of May, FAS commenced its campaign to take the lead in educating policymakers, the press, and the public on all aspects of reducing the risks of further nuclear proliferation, the new START agreement, the road toward deeper nuclear arms reductions, and the Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference. Nearly one month in, we are seeing fruitful results. To highlight four notable accomplishments:

Friends,

Thank you for your interest in the work of the Federation of American Scientists (FAS).

Two weeks ago, the Obama administration released the total number of nuclear warheads in the U.S. stockpile — 5,113 — a number that was classified for decades. In February 2009, FAS expert Hans Kristensen published an estimate that now turns out to have been only 87 warheads off. Over the past two weeks, Kristensen’s estimate and FAS efforts on nuclear security have gained widespread recognition in the mainstream media.

Friends,

Thank you for your interest in the work of the Federation of American Scientists (FAS).

Last week, the Obama administration released the total number of nuclear warheads in the U.S. stockpile — 5,113 — a number that was classified for decades. In February 2009, FAS expert Hans Kristensen published an estimate that now turns out to have been only 87 warheads off. Over the past week, Kristensen’s estimate and FAS efforts on nuclear security have gained widespread recognition in the mainstream media.

Friends,

The world stands at a critical moment in nuclear security. Last year, President Obama committed his administration to seeking “the peace and security of a world without nuclear weapons.” Between the negotiation of a new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) agreement; a historic, unprecedented White House nuclear security summit; renewed efforts to end nuclear testing worldwide through enactment of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT); and the current Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference, the international community has revitalized the idea of a world free of nuclear war and nuclear terrorism.

At 1:30 this afternoon, thousands of people gathered in Times Square to rally and march for a world without nuclear weapons. Despite an attempted car bomb attack the night before in Times Square (and the 90 degree heat during the day), people still showed up in huge numbers, and carried on with nothing to fear.