Taking Action to Stop a New Nuclear Arms Race

Update 12/3/2018: Watch Rep. Adam Smith's video address to the conference above.

Ploughshares Fund, together with the University of Washington’s Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies, and Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility presented a joint conference focused on the urgency of US and local nuclear weapons issues.

Gathering at the University of Washington on December 3, 2018, experts discussed the future of nuclear policy and highlight how the state of Washington is taking the lead on action, advocacy, and diplomacy. Rep. Adam Smith, representing Washington's 9th Congressional District, addressed the conference via pre-recorded video message. You can watch the full video of his remarks above.

The panel of nuclear policy experts included:

• Ben Rhodes, Author and former Deputy National Security Advisor to President Obama
• Lilly Adams, Washington Against Nuclear Weapons Coalition
• Bruce Amundson, Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility
• Joe Cirincione, President of Ploughshares Fund
• David Anitok, Marshallese Community Organizer and Advocate
• Amy Hagopian, Associate Professor, UW, Department of Global Health and Director, Community Oriented Public Health Practice

The event was moderated by Hagopian, with special remarks by Reşat Kasaba, Professor and Director of UW, Jackson School.

“Washington state Representative Adam Smith, the incoming Chair of the House Armed Services Committee, will be the most nuclear-savvy chair of that committee in history,” said Joe Cirincione, Ploughshares Fund President and a former HASC staffer. “He has already laid out an ambitious agenda for reforming our nation’s nuclear policy in ways that will make it more rational and more affordable.

But he is going to be hammered by defense contractors and nuclear hawks. He will need the full support of the community to advance his sensible priorities.”

“The Puget Sound region is home to one-third of deployed US nuclear weapons,” said Bonnie Fisk, Senior Development Officer at Ploughshares Fund and co-organizer of the conference. “Washington state’s leadership will be essential in stopping a new nuclear arms race and reigning in the nearly $2 trillion remake of the US nuclear arsenal,” she added. “This is a crucial time to get momentum going for what is sure to be a protracted battle-- one that could form the nuclear policy for the next administration.”