Today the Preparatory Committee (PrepCom) for the 2015 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) wraps up the first of three meetings leading up to the 2015 NPT Conference. 

It is an appopriate time for a serious reminder that, even with the overarching (yet important) emphasis of many of the nuclear powers on terrorists getting their hands on nuclear weapons or materials, the greatest probability of a disaster related to nuclear weapons is still an exchange of these horrific weapons between the existing nuclear powers.

One influential Republican in Congress is not too happy that we won our campaign to zero out funding for a new nuclear bomb factory.

And rumor has it he is scheming to turn back the clock to the Cold War arms race. The good news is, he isn’t the only one who knows how to scheme.

Congress will be voting soon on the bill that authorizes all defense spending for 2013. If what we are hearing is true, there’s a major battle brewing over nuclear weapons spending this summer.

On one side, we have a push from Rep. Mike Turner (R-OH) to put money for a new bomb factory back in the budget. On the other, we have several possible amendments to chip away even more money from the bloated nuclear weapons complex.

After months of planning an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) is readied for test launch.  Air force aircraft and navy vessels work to clear the areas where the jettisoned stages of the missile will come down, as well as to keep a safety zone should the missile fail during one of its launch phases.  Countdown begins…

There has been no international outcry over the planned test launch of the missile that, under normal operational deployment would carry a thermonuclear warhead.  There is no discussion anywhere by the news media about the test and its implications regarding international efforts to control the proliferation of nuclear weapons and move the world towards disarmament.

with Rep. Pete Stark (D-CA), a leader on peace issues and one of Peace Action West’s 2012 endorsed candidates

Last week, Katie and I spent the week in Washington, DC, bringing Peace Action West’s priorities to Capitol Hill and connecting with other organizations from around the country that are doing wonderful work to rid the world of nuclear weapons.

Here’s a quick update on the top issues we talked about in our meetings with more than 25 different congressional offices:

Chipping away at the bloated nuclear weapons budget

Here is a scene (see photo below) we would be highly unlikely to see in the U.S.  Folks across the Big Pond have been engaging in a spirited debate on the (crazy) idea of a Trident replacement. 

Wouldn’t it be great to get some serious money behind a campaign like this to stop the next generation of ballistic missile submarines right here at home??? 

Just think!!! A new generation of U.S. Trident subs (that will cost nearly $100 billion just to build) sailing the seas until the year 2082 (we should all survive so long without a nuclear war breaking out).