We are pleased to announce that leading expert on nuclear weapons policy, and Ploughshares Fund president Joseph Cirincione is coming to Seattle to speak at UW, World Affairs Council, and Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility events.
All events are open to the public.
- Feb. 28: "The Failure of US Nuclear Policy," 2:30pm at Thomson Hall, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
- March 1: "Policy and Politics of US Nuclear Weapons Today," Noon at Seattle Foundation
- March 2: "The New Moment: Our Chance to Change US Nuclear Policy," 7pm at Mountaineers Seattle Program Center. Hosted reception at 5:30pm
With a growing momentum for anti-nuclear sentiments in the lead-up to the presidential elections, and with opportunities for Washington state to take the lead on action, advocacy and diplomacy, Seattle will be host to three in-depth discussions in three days exploring the topic of nuclear security. All events are open to the public.
Joseph Cirincione, one of America’s leading experts on nuclear weapons policy, will be the keynote speaker for all three events, hosted by the University of Washington, the World Affairs Council and the Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility, respectively. Mr. Cirincione is the president of Ploughshares Fund, the largest US philanthropic organization focused exclusively on nuclear security. In just this past month, Mr. Cirincione’s expertise has been called upon as a source by the New York Times, the Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, and MSNBC, among many other major media outlets covering the increasingly urgent issue of nuclear security. "The world is in a precarious place when it comes to the possibility of nuclear disaster," wrote Mr. Cirincione, in his most recent editorial, published in the Tennessean, following several packed events in the Nashville area. "Trump foreign policy offers much bluster but few real gains."
Why Seattle?
The Puget Sound region is home to one-third of deployed US nuclear weapons. According to Mr. Cirincione, if Washington state were a sovereign nation, it would be the third largest nuclear weapons state in the world. Seattle is viewed as a logical target because of the city’s dense population, booming high-tech industry, nearby military bases and relative proximity to North Korea, the Seattle Times reported.
A New Moment
"Fortunately, Washington state is stepping up to the challenge," said Mr. Cirincione. "Not since Senator Scoop Jackson have we seen a Washington state politician with such a powerful role in shaping our nation’s nuclear policy. House Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smith (D-Wash) is leading the way with his call for a reset of our nuclear policy and comprehensive hearings on this policy. Smith and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) have introduced 'No First Use' legislation that would prohibit any president from ever using a nuclear weapon first. Their three principles, 'no new nuclear weapons, more international arms control, and no first use,' is a welcome antidote to Trump’s dangerous policies, as the New Yorker magazine stated."
While nearly every nuclear challenge is getting worse, Mr. Cirincione’s discussions will explore concrete chances to make positive changes to US nuclear policy, now. The public and media are welcome to join the discussion.
We hope you can join us at one of these events!
Photo: Seattle skyline from Kerry Park. Wiki / CommunistSquared (cc)
See you with Joe @Cirincione in #Seattle at a series of talks on #nuclear weapons issues.
