United for Peace and Justice has declared August Nuclear Free Future Month – a month of education and action for a world free of nuclear weapons and nuclear power! Visit www.nuclearfreefuture.org to endorse the Call to Action, access or add to a calendar of events, and view a variety of action ideas and educational resources.
Start the month by casting your vote in the New Priorities Network budget poll! Tell the President and Congress what you think of the alternatives for our nuclear future that have been offered in three budget blueprints: the Obama budget, the Congressional Progressive Caucus People’s Budget and the Ryan (GOP) budget. As we approach the August 6th and 9th anniversaries of the U.S. atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945, consider how the three budgets deal with nuclear weapons.
Obama budget: Well over $185 billion by 2020 to maintain and modernize U.S. nuclear weapons systems, including construction of three new warhead production facilities and an array of new delivery systems. The FY 2012 budget request includes $7.63 billion for maintenance and modernization of nuclear warheads – the largest amount ever; $197 million for research and development of a new long-range nuclear bomber; $2.6 million for a future Intercontinental Ballistic Missile; and $1.07 billion to develop a new ballistic missile submarine slated to be in operation through 2080.
The People’s Budget: Reduce the U.S. nuclear arsenal, cancel the Trident II missile, limit modernization of nuclear weapons infrastructure and research, and selectively curtail missile defense and space programs.
Ryan Budget: Fully fund modernization of the infrastructure that builds and maintains the nation’s nuclear weapons systems.
And, as the earthquake and tsunami-damaged Fukushima reactors continue to spew deadly radiation into the atmosphere, the ground and the ocean, let’s look at how the three budgets deal with nuclear energy.
Obama budget: The FY 2012 budget request provides $36 billion in taxpayer loans for new nuclear reactors.
The People’s Budget: Eliminate subsidies for new nuclear power plants.
Ryan Budget: Encourage the development of American-made energy sources, including nuclear.
Which budget would you choose? Vote now and join the more than 15,000 people who have already cast their ballots! And please share the poll with community groups, family, coworkers and friends. The results of this poll will be sent to members of Congress, the media, and everyone who participated in the poll who provides an (optional) email address. The greater the numbers, the bigger the impact!
Want to do more? Enroll your mayor in Mayors for Peace! A great new recruitment tool, a Dear Colleague letter signed by 15 mayors, is now available for your use. Click here for more information and a recruitment kit! Help us make Nuclear Free Future Month a month-long success!!
Support Nuclear Free Future Month. Seek peace, be part of the solution. No Nukes! No Wars!
PS: Please donate to this effort here!
