Sunflower Newsletter: July 2016

Ten Worst Acts of the Nuclear Age

by David Krieger

The ten worst acts of the Nuclear Age described below have set the tone for our time. They have caused immense death and suffering; been tremendously expensive; have encouraged nuclear proliferation; have opened the door to nuclear terrorism, nuclear accidents and nuclear war; and are leading the world back into a second Cold War. These “ten worst acts” are important information for anyone attempting to understand the time in which we live, and how the nuclear dangers that confront us have been intensified by the leadership and policy choices made by the United States and the other eight nuclear-armed countries.

To read more, click here.

The Pentagon’s Real Strategy: Keeping the Money Flowing

by Andrew Cockburn

After 15 years of grinding war with no obvious end in sight, U.S. military operations certainly deserve such obloquy. But the pundit outrage may be misplaced. Focusing on Washington rather than on distant war zones, it becomes clear that the military establishment does indeed have a strategy, a highly successful one, which is to protect and enhance its own prosperity.

Ongoing and dramatic programs to invest vast sums in meaningless, useless, or superfluous weapons systems are the norm. There is no more striking example of this than current plans to rebuild the entire American arsenal of nuclear weapons in the coming decades, Obama’s staggering bequest to the budgets of his successors.

To read more, click here.

U.S. Conference of Mayors Unanimously Passes Nuclear Disarmament Resolution

The United States Conference of Mayors (USCM), for the 11th consecutive year, adopted a strong resolution in support of nuclear disarmament. The USCM “calls on the next President of the United States, in good faith, to participate in or initiate… multilateral negotiations for the elimination of nuclear weapons as required by the 1970 Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty.”

The resolution commends President Obama for visiting Hiroshima and concluding negotiations with Iran, but notes that “the Obama Administration has laid the groundwork for the United States to spend one trillion dollars over the next three decades to maintain and modernize its nuclear bombs and warheads, production facilities, delivery systems, and command and control,” and that “federal funds are desperately needed in our communities to build affordable housing, create jobs with livable wages, improve public transit, and develop sustainable energy sources.” The USCM “calls on the next President and Congress of the United States to reduce nuclear weapons spending to the minimum necessary to assure the safety and security of the existing weapons as they await disablement and dismantlement, and to redirect those funds to address the urgent needs of cities and rebuild our nation’s crumbling infrastructure.”

Jackie Cabasso, “U.S. Conference of Mayors Unanimously Adopts Resolution,” Mayors for Peace, June 28, 2016.

Largest Concentration of Nuclear Weapons Just 20 Miles from Seattle

For the next eight weeks, fourteen Seattle busses will warn the city’s public of their close proximity to the largest nuclear weapons complex in the United States, Naval Base Kitsap. The bus advertisements ‒ purchased by local peace group, Ground Zero for Nonviolent Action ‒ were produced to bring public attention to the construction of a new underground nuclear storage complex. Located at the Strategic Weapons Facility, Pacific (SWFPAC), the new complex was constructed only 20 miles from downtown Seattle.

Though construction of the facility was completed in 2012, the cost of the facility ‒ $294 million ‒ and its explosive power ‒ over 14,000 Hiroshimas ‒ has escaped public attention. The underground complex was designed to better protect nuclear weapons that were before stored in aboveground igloos and bunkers.

Hans Kristensen, “Navy Builds Underground Nuclear Weapons Storage Facility; Seattle Busses Carry Warning,” Federation of American Scientists, June 27, 2016.

Scientists Call for End to Hair-Trigger Alert

Over 90 prominent scientists, including many Nobel Laureates, have sent a letter to President Obama, calling for action on nuclear weapons. The coalition of scientists is urging President Obama to take U.S. land-based missiles off “hair-trigger alert,” which enables their rapid launch. Keeping these weapons on hair-trigger alert allows for potentially reckless behavior, a lack of time constraints leading to swift and impulsive decision-making. The letter, sent on June 21, categorizes the risk of hair-trigger-alert as “unacceptably high.”

The policy of hair-trigger alert can be traced back to the Cold War. It was, in its time, a practice used for immediate retaliation for Soviet attacks against the U.S. and vice-versa. When the fear of a first-strike attack was in the minds of all, a swift response would have been necessary (as was claimed at the time). However, the outdated practice is now the cause for growing concern. There have been a wealth of problems associated with hair-trigger alert — false alarms, human error, and technical failures all being cited as causes for near-use. Ambiguity associated with sensors is also great reason for concern, both Russia and the U.S. coming frighteningly close to launching based on misinterpreted data.

Lisbeth Gronlund, “Top Scientists Call for Obama to Take Nuclear Missiles off Hair-Trigger Alert,” Union of Concerned Scientists, June 22, 2016.

Brexit Vote Will Not Affect U.S.-UK Nuclear Weapons Partnership

The United Kingdom’s decision to leave the European Union will not affect the UK-U.S. nuclear relationship, according to Vice Adm. Terry Benedict, director of the U.S. Navy’s Strategic Systems Programs. He expressed no concern regarding the recent vote and is confident that nuclear weapons collaboration will continue.

The U.S. and UK have maintained a “special relationship” for decades. The two countries claim that this special relationship permits them to share nuclear weapons systems and technology. The U.S. currently leases Trident II D5 missiles to the UK to use on its Vanguard class nuclear-armed submarines.

The two navies are currently working on developing missile compartments for planned replacement nuclear-armed submarines. The new submarines would be deployed through the 2080s.

Otto Kreisher, “Benedict: UK Exit from European Union Won’t Hinder Nuclear Sub Collaboration,” USNI News, June 24, 2016.

Biden Says Japan Could Go Nuclear “Virtually Overnight”

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden told Chinese President Xi Jinping that Japan has the ability to develop nuclear weapons overnight. This statement was made as a tactic to urge President Xi to influence North Korea to halt its nuclear weapons program.

In response, Japanese Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiroshige Seko said at a news conference in Tokyo that Japan “can never possess nuclear weapons.” Seko said the three non-nuclear principles of not producing, possessing or allowing nuclear weapons on Japanese territory are an important basic policy of the Japanese government.

“Japan Could Get Nuclear Weapons ‘Virtually Overnight,’ Biden Tells Xi,” Kyodo, June 24, 2016.

North Korea Conducts Missile Tests

In June, North Korea conducted two controversial missile tests. The first launch failed, while the second missile landed 400 kilometers from the launch site, sinking into the ocean near Japan’s exclusive economic zone, which extends 200 nautical miles from the Japanese coast.

Believed to be a Musudan intermediate-range ballistic missile that can fly up to 4,000 kilometers, this weapon could strike Japan or Guam. B-52 strategic bombers capable of carrying nuclear weapons are hosted by the U.S. military in Guam. The Japanese Defense Ministry states that the Musudan can fly faster than the previous-generation Rodong mid-range ballistic missile, raising concerns that its defense may not be able to intercept the Musudan in the event that Japan is targeted.

The UN Security Council released a statement condemning the tests, saying, “The members of the Security Council deplore all DPRK ballistic missile activities noting that such activities contribute to the DPRK’s development of nuclear weapons delivery systems and increase tension.” The permanent five members of the UN Security Council (United States, Russia, United Kingdom, France and China) regularly test nuclear-capable missiles without UN Security Council comment.

“N. Korea Missile Landed ‘In Target Zone’ Outside EEZ,” The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 24, 2016.

TEPCO Head Apologizes for Fukushima Meltdown Coverup

Over five years after the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant crisis began, TEPCO President Naomi Hirose publicly apologized for his predecessor’s order to not use the phrase “core meltdown” in March 2011. A report revealed that TEPCO’s then-President Masataka Shimizu told the vice president to instead use the euphemistic phrase “core damage” to describe the conditions of the crippled reactors. TEPCO continued to use the less serious phrase “core damage” for two months, until finally using the term “meltdown” in May 2011.

Mr. Hirose said, “It is extremely regrettable. People are justified in thinking it as a coverup.”

TEPCO’s internal manual considered a meltdown as damage to more than five percent of the fuel. However, TEPCO initially did not address it as a meltdown even when the March 2011 report indicated that the event damaged 25 to 55 percent of the fuel rods.

“Tepco Head Apologizes for 3/11 Ban Issued on ‘Meltdown’,” Kyodo, June 21, 2016.

California’s Last Nuclear Power Plant to Close by 2025

Pacific Gas & Electric Co. (PG&E) has announced that it will close the two reactors at the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant and, in their place, will develop more solar, wind, and other clean power sources. Located along the ocean cliffs of Avila Beach, Diablo Canyon has provided electricity for more than 1.7 million homes in Central and Northern California.

Various groups such as Friends of the Earth collaborated with PG&E to reach an agreement that the power plant will be closed after the current operating licenses expire in November 2024 and August 2025. This deal will contribute to California’s goal of generating 50% of electricity from renewable sources by 2030.

Ivan Penn and Samantha Masunaga, “PG&E to Close Diablo Canyon, California’s Last Nuclear Power Plant,” Los Angeles Times, June 21, 2016.

Five More Added to Drug Probe at Air Force Nuclear Base

Five more airmen are under investigation for illegal drug activity at F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming. The total number of airmen under investigation for illegal drug activity has now reached 19.

All airmen under investigation are members of the 90th Missile Wing at F.E. Warren Air Force Base. The base manages 150 Minuteman III Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles. Sixteen of the airmen are responsible for securing Minuteman III missile fields in Wyoming, Colorado, and Nebraska as well as transportation oversight of the missiles.

Robert Burns, “5 Added to Drug Probe at Air Force Nuclear Base,” Associated Press, June 15, 2016.

Fifty Years Later, U.S. Air Force Still in Denial Over Palomares Nuclear Accident

In 1966, an aircraft accident above the Spanish coast set four hydrogen bombs plummeting into the small farming village of Palomares. The U.S. Air Force – responsible for the B-52 bomber handling the weapons – would waste no time making sure “one of the biggest nuclear accidents in history” was swept under the rug. Though many of the 1,600 veterans recruited for the cleanup would go on to report the agonizing effects of plutonium poisoning – cancers, blood diseases, tremors, neurological disorders – they would find themselves cleansed from Air Force medical records.

Fifty years later, many veterans report segments of their medical documentation missing and have begun speaking out. Accounts of Geiger counters showing high levels of radioactivity at the site have emerged, and many veterans report having been instructed to pick up radioactive fragments with their bare hands. Though their stories and suffering bodies remain potent evidence of the fallout released during the 1966 crash, many veterans still find themselves barred access to medical treatment, by an Air Force that disputes their claims of exposure.

The Spanish people of Palomares have also been affected by the accident. The area is still contaminated by plutonium released during the 1966 crash. Although in 2015 the United States agreed to clean up the remaining plutonium, currently no plan of action exists and all operations remain at a standstill.

Dave Philipps, “Decades Later, Sickness Among Airmen After a Hydrogen Bomb Accident,” The New York Times, June 19, 2016.

Nuclear Security Firm Employed Orlando Shooter

Omar Mateen, the man who killed 49 people at a Florida nightclub last month, worked for the company G4 Security Solutions (G4S) for nine years. G4S is a private security firm that has “partnered with more than 90 percent of U.S. nuclear facilities.” The firm employed Mateen for nine years, arming him with a gun despite warnings from co-workers that he claimed connections with Al Qaeda, Hezbollah, and the Boston Marathon bombers. Mateen also landed himself on the FBI’s terrorist watch list for threatening a local sheriff. Though G4S was ordered to fire the unstable security guard, Mateen was instead transferred to another post where he retained his license to carry a gun.

Although G4S claims they were unaware of Mateen’s presence on the FBI’s terrorist watchlist, this is not the first time that the company has been charged with security negligence. In 2006, G4S guards at the Turkey Point Nuclear Generating Station in Florida were reported sleeping on the job. A year later, 12 security guards from the company were videotaped sleeping at the Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station in Pennsylvania. In 2012, the Y-12 National Security Complex  ‒ “protected” by G4S security guards ‒ was broken into by three peace activists, including an 82-year-old nun. Investigations following the incident found broken security cameras, and that G4S guards ignored all alarms that sounded.

Eric Schlosser, “The Security Firm that Employed the Orlando Shooter Protects American Nuclear Facilities,” The New Yorker, June 27, 2016.

Amidst Opposition, Long Range Standoff Warhead Moves Ahead

Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA), Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee, attempted to amend the 2017 defense authorization bill by proposing a $75.8 million cut to the proposed Long Range Standoff Warhead (LRSO). Unfortunately, his efforts were undercut by Democrats and Republicans alike, with his amendment failing 159-261.

There is also important opposition to the LRSO in the Senate. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) recently published an op-ed in The New York Times entitled “A Nuclear Weapon That America Doesn’t Need.” In it, she raised three questions that should have been addressed in the initial stages of LRSO research and development: Does the military need a new cruise missile? What role will it serve? What are the costs? Critical analysis of the LRSO plan is crucial, seeing as investment itself could be interpreted as aggressive rather than an act of deterrence.

Feinstein called on “Defense Secretary Ashton Carter to…provide Congress with an analysis of alternatives to this missile. In particular, we want to know if the Defense Department has studied whether existing nuclear and conventional weapons are sufficient to strike enemy targets. He should also certify that the sole objective of the weapon is nuclear deterrence. We want to eliminate any ambiguity that this new missile would be an offensive weapon. And he should provide a public cost estimate. If taxpayers are expected to foot the bill, the price should not be shrouded in secrecy.”

Joe Gould and Aaron Mehta, “After Nuclear Missile Loss, Dems Vow to Keep Fighting,” Defense News, June 25, 2016.

Strategic Deterrent Coalition Meets in New Mexico

Admiral Cecil D. Haney, Commander of U.S. Strategic Command, promoted the $1 trillion “modernization” of the U.S. nuclear arsenal at the 2016 Strategic Deterrent Coalition Symposium in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Speaking to over 250 academics, military officials, contractors, and defense employees, Haney cited the age of current U.S. nuclear weapons as problematic. “We’re fast approaching the point where having an effective nuclear deterrent will be put at risk [if the weapons are not modernized],” he said.

Haney called for a robust nuclear modernization program in response to the actions of Russia, China, North Korea, Iran, the Islamic State and al-Qaeda. He did not address whether he thinks that U.S. nuclear modernization is spurring a nuclear arms race with the other nuclear-armed nations, nor whether he believes that nuclear weapons can effectively deter non-state actors such as ISIS and al-Qaeda.

Charles Brunt, “U.S. Must Maintain Nuclear Capability, Commander Warns,” Albuquerque Journal, June 22, 2016.

Marshall Islands’ Lawsuits Get Coverage in France

France is one of the nine nuclear-armed nations sued by the Republic of the Marshall Islands at the International Court of Justice for breaches of international law that require negotiations for an end to the nuclear arms race and nuclear disarmament. France does not accept the compulsory jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice, and has thus far declined to accept the jurisdiction of the Court in this particular case.

For French-speaking readers of The Sunflower, Jean-Marie Collin, director of the French section of Parliamentarians for Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament, has written an excellent article in Le Monde Diplomatique, a widely-read journal in France about diplomacy and international affairs.

Jean-Marie Collin, “La Bombe Juridique des Iles Marshall Contre les Puissances Nucléaires,” Le Monde Diplomatique, June 2016.

20th Anniversary of World Court Advisory Opinion

July 8 will mark the 20th anniversary of the Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the illegality of nuclear weapons. The 1996 Advisory Opinion has played a large role in the Marshall Islands’ cases against the United Kingdom, India and Pakistan that are currently before the ICJ.

The Advisory Opinion states in part, “There exists an obligation to pursue in good faith and bring to a conclusion negotiations leading to nuclear disarmament in all its aspects under strict and effective international control.” To read the full opinion, click here.

In Sydney, Australia, from July 6-8, there will be an International Peoples Tribunal on the Nuclear Powers and the Destruction of Human Civilization. The tribunal will examine nuclear weapons policies of the nine nuclear-armed countries, outline the risks and consequences of nuclear weapons use, and apply current law to these policies to determine legality.

July’s Featured Blog

This month’s featured blog is chomsky.info. While not a blog in the traditional sense, the site contains links to numerous recent articles by Noam Chomsky, including “Rogue States and Nuclear Dangers,” and “The Doomsday Clock, Nuclear Weapons, Climate Change, and the Prospects for Survival.”

Noam Chomsky is a member of the NAPF Advisory Council, and will receive the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation’s 2016 Distinguished Peace Leadership Award in Santa Barbara on October 23.

Click here to visit the site.

This Month in Nuclear Threat History

History chronicles many instances when humans have been threatened by nuclear weapons. In this article, Jeffrey Mason outlines some of the most serious threats that have taken place in the month of July, including the July 28, 1957 incident in which two Mark V hydrogen bombs on board a U.S. Air Force plane were intentionally dropped in the Atlantic Ocean 50-75 miles off the coast of Atlantic City, never to be recovered. The plane was experiencing mechanical trouble and had to shed weight in order not to crash.

To read Mason’s full article, click here.

For more information on the history of the Nuclear Age, visit NAPF’s Nuclear Files website.

The Employment Implications of Canceling Trident Replacement

The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) has published a new report about the employment implications if the United Kingdom decides not to replace its Trident nuclear weapons system. The report, written by economist Michael Burke, reveals the significant potential for industrial development and jobs creation in the UK if the £205 billion planned for Trident is invested elsewhere in the economy.

The report states: “It is also argued that the current [nuclear weapons] system and its replacement provide civilian jobs, some of them highly-skilled and well paid, many in deprived areas where alternative employment of the same quality is scarce. While this is true, the extent of this job creation is tiny relative to the sums involved. In effect, they are among the most costly jobs in history.”

To read the full report, click here.

Nuclear Heartland: A Guide to the 450 Land-Based Missiles of the United States

Buried beneath the “Land of the Free” are 450 land-based nuclear missiles that hold American democracy and the future of humanity hostage. Hidden from the public eye, the dangers of the Nuclear Age are eclipsed by a perception of safety – ushered into the American consciousness by a small group of beneficiaries. Twenty-seven years after its initial release, Nukewatch’s Nuclear Heartland, revised edition, serves as a chilling reminder that hundreds of indiscriminate weapons still lurk beneath the surface of American soil. These “metal gods” wait patiently out of sight for a signal that would plunge our world into a state of total destruction.

To read the full book review by NAPF summer intern Ricky Frawley, click here.

NAPF 2015 Annual Report Now Available

The Nuclear Age Peace Foundation’s 2015 Annual Report is now available online. The report includes an interview with 2015 summer intern McKenna Jacquemet, a recent graduate of Hendrix College, who talks about how her experience at NAPF has helped to shape her future. The report also summarizes NAPF’s advocacy and outreach programs, including the Peace Leadership Program, public events, and our work at the United Nations and the International Court of Justice.

To download a copy of the report, click here.

Paul K. Chappell to Speak on Ethical Realities of War at Chautauqua Institution

Paul K. Chappell, NAPF Peace Leadership Director and West Point graduate who served as a captain in Iraq, has been invited by the Chautauqua Institution to be the final speaker for their week-long summer series on “The Ethical Realities of War.” This closing lecture will take place in Chautauqua, New York, on the afternoon of August 19, 2016 in the Hall of Philosophy, an outdoor venue that can seat up to 1,400 people.

To read more about this prestigious event, click here.

Noam Chomsky to Receive NAPF Distinguished Peace Leadership Award

Noam Chomsky, one of the greatest minds of our time, will be our Distinguished Peace Leadership honoree at this year’s Evening for Peace on Sunday, October 23, in Santa Barbara, California.

We’re calling the evening NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH because that’s what Chomsky is about– truth. He believes humanity faces two major challenges: the continued threat of nuclear war and the crisis of ecological catastrophe. To hear him on these issues will be highly memorable. Importantly, he offers a way forward to a more hopeful and just world. We are very proud to honor him with our award.

The annual Evening for Peace includes a festive reception, live entertainment, dinner and an award ceremony. It is attended by many Santa Barbara leaders and includes a large contingent of sponsored students.

For more information and tickets, click here.

Sadako Peace Day on August 9

The Nuclear Age Peace Foundation will host its 22nd Annual Sadako Peace Day commemoration on Tuesday, August 9 at 6:00 pm at La Casa de Maria in Santa Barbara, California. The event, featuring music, poetry and reflection, remembers the victims of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and all innocent victims of war.

Sadako Sasaki was a two-year-old girl living in Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, the morning the atomic bomb was dropped. Ten years later, she was diagnosed with leukemia. Japanese legend holds that one’s wish will be granted upon folding 1,000 paper (origami) cranes. Sadako set out to fold those 1,000 cranes, writing, “I will write peace on your wings, and you will fly all over the world.”

Students in Japan were so moved by her story, they began folding cranes, too. Today the paper crane is a symbol of peace. A statue of Sadako now stands in Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. And to this day, we honor Sadako’s fervent wish for a peaceful world. For more information, click here.

Take Action: The Olympics Are for Peace

In support of the mayor and people of Hiroshima, the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation has initiated a petition to Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee, asking him to allow a minute of silence at the opening ceremony of the 2016 Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro.

The opening ceremony will be at 8:00 pm on August 5. In Japan, it will be 8:00 am on the 6th. At 8:15 am on the 6th, the people of Hiroshima will observe one minute’s silence in memory of the victims of the atomic bomb that exploded over their city that day and at that time, 71 years ago, killing 70,000 people immediately and 140,000 by the end of 1945.

Over 2,200 people from 41 different countries have already signed the petition. To add your name, click here.

“Hope for the Earth lies not with leaders, but in your own heart and soul. If you decide to save the Earth, it will be saved. Each person can be as powerful as the most powerful person who ever lived–and that is you, if you love this planet.”

— Dr. Helen Caldicott. This quote appears in the book Speaking of Peace: Quotations to Inspire Action, which is available for purchase in the NAPF Peace Store.

“President Obama ought to shed the straitjacket of the Washington national security playbook and implement both reforms. Taking the nuclear first-use and quick-launch options off the table would be controversial, but he would have reason and morality on his side.”

— Bruce Blair, in a June 22 article in Politico Magazine.

“How do we know what’s inside those launchers? All one needs to do is reprogram [the system], which is an absolutely inconspicuous task.”

— Russian President Vladimir Putin, explaining the danger and suspicion that he feels toward the United States’ recently deployed ballistic missile defense installation in Romania.

“We are groups of fasters who have decided to forego nourishment for at least 4 days, from August 6th, the anniversary of Hiroshima, till August 9th, the anniversary of Nagasaki, to express our total opposition to nuclear weapons, and to call for their complete abolition.”

— Part of the call from an international group of activists who will be fasting from August 6-9. For more information and to join them, click here.

Madeline Atchison
Will Brown
Ricky Frawley
Erika Ito
David Krieger
Carol Warner
Rick Wayman