The New START Treaty between the United States and Russia is a step forward for reducing nuclear arsenals. Now that the treaty is in place, we must make sure that momentum toward the total elimination of nuclear weapons continues.
We call on Presidents Obama and Medvedev to follow up on the New START Treaty with these steps:
- Reduce the total number of nuclear weapons -- strategic, tactical and reserve -- to under 1,000 on each side;
- Make a binding commitment to "No First Use" of nuclear weapons and to never use nuclear weapons under any circumstances against non-nuclear weapon states;
- De-alert all nuclear weapons so that there will be no use by accident, miscalculation or in a fit of anger;
- Place limits on missile defense systems and ban space weapons; and
- Commence multilateral negotiations for a Nuclear Weapons Convention.
Please send a message to the U.S. and Russian presidents, telling them that you expect continued progress toward a nuclear weapon-free world.
Dear Presidents Obama and Medvedev,
I am one of many who is pleased about the ratification of the New START Treaty. I am writing to request that these steps be taken to further strengthen global security.
I would like to see the following next steps taken toward nuclear disarmament:
- Reduce the total number of nuclear weapons -- strategic, tactical and reserve -- to under 1,000 on each side,
- Make a binding commitment to "No First Use" of nuclear weapons and to never use nuclear weapons under any circumstances against non-nuclear weapon states,
- De-alert all nuclear weapons so that there will be no use by accident, miscalculation or in a fit of anger,
- Place limits on missile defense systems and banning space weapons, and
- Commence multilateral negotiations for a Nuclear Weapons Convention, which would ban all nuclear weapons worldwide in a phased, verifiable, irreversible and transparent manner.
Thank you for your leadership.
