Council: Front and Center April 11

Center National Advisory Board member Frank von Hippel publishes in The Huffington Post

There’s a little known nuclear arms race taking place in East Asia and the world must start paying attention. Read the op-ed by Frank von Hippel to learn more about the dangers of plutonium stockpiling. 

Council Board Member Jim Walsh Pens New York Times Op-Ed

To stop North Korea’s nuclear program, the international community must take effective action against the hermit state’s shell trading companies, which find ways around sanctions to keep cash and supplies flowing. Jim Walsh, Council board member and MIT research associate, outlines the problem in The New York Times.

Council Board Member Aron Berinstein presents at MIT

Aron Berinstein, a Council board member and MIT professor of physics emeritus, recently presented at the Reducing the Dangers of Nuclear War conference at MIT. His presentation covered how nuclear modernization reduces, not improves, US national security. Check out the conference agenda to learn more about Aron. 

Center cited by Canadian Broadcasting Corporation

The Center’s reach goes beyond the United States. The
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), Canada’s national public radio and television broadcaster, cited the Center’s factsheet on the number of global nuclear weapons. Check out the article on nuclear security.

Council’s endorsement of Val Demings mentioned in Florida Politics

Val Demings, a former Orlando police chief now running for Congress in Florida’s 10th District, was recently endorsed by the Council. Read why Val’s remarkable career will make her an excellent addition on Capitol Hill.

Obama and Biden endorse Russ Feingold and Tammy Duckworth

Exciting news out of Wisconsin and Illinois: President Obama and Vice
President Biden have endorsed Council-endorsed Senate candidates Russ Feingold and Tammy Duckworth. Learn about Russ and Tammy and their beliefs on promoting diplomacy and reducing nuclear weapons around the world. 

Deborah Ross close behind in North Carolina

A new poll shows that Council-endorsed Deborah Ross is close behind North Carolina Senator Richard Burr, a leading hawk in Congress. See how Deborah’s vision for a livable world makes her the best candidate in the
race.

Senior Fellow John Isaacs pens op-ed on Pentagon nuclear spending

With a $1 trillion plan to modernize and maintain the
US nuclear weapons arsenal, the defense establishment has used creative tactics to market the campaign. Senior Fellow John Isaacs explains the varying Pentagon justifications for nuclear modernization.

The costs and constraints of nuclear modernization

The United States is planning to spend up to $1 trillion to overhaul its nuclear arsenal by rebuilding each leg of the nuclear triad and aspects of its accompanying infrastructure. The Center digestibly breaks down the numbers in its one-page factsheet.

F-35 Joint Strike Fighter: expensive and plagued by challenges

With a $1 trillion price tag and numerous operational and structural challenges, the F-35 is known as “the plane that ate the Pentagon.” The Center runs through the numbers and shortcomings in its latest factsheet.

Science behind nuclear winter given a new purpose

Prominent astronomer and former Council board member Carl Sagan began warning the public about the immense dangers of nuclear war in 1983. That year, Dr. Sagan and his colleagues found that even a limited nuclear exchange could devastate the entire planet. The resulting fires, dust, and smoke could darken the skies and bring an era of dangerous global cooling – a
phenomenon known as nuclear winter. Watch this video from The New York Times that explains the dangers of nuclear winter and the role Dr. Sagan’s science plays today with global warming research.