Ban the bombs…all of them.
Nuclear weapons: The United States is the only nation in the world that has dropped atomic weapons onto a civilian population. Right now it has a stockpile of about 5,000 nuclear weapons, many of which can be launched within 15 minutes.
Cluster bombs: The U.S. dropped thousands of cluster bombs (weapons that kill large numbers of civilians, even after an armed conflict has ended) in Southeast Asia, Afghanistan, and Iraq. An international Convention on Cluster Munitions, sponsored by the United Nations, entered into force in 2010, yet the U.S.–along with Russia, China, and several other states–has been unwilling to sign the agreement. (See Feickert and Kerr [opens in pdf]).
Landmines: The U.S. refuses to join its NATO allies and many other nations in banning the use of landmines.
Drones: In secret meetings, the U.S. identifies individuals around the world as threats, then uses drones to kill them without trial or benefit from counsel.
Illicit arms sales: A recent effort by the United Nations to establish an Arm Trades convention to help stop the illicit international sales of weapons failed in part because the U.S. government refused to sign off on the draft treaty. The National Rifle Association proudly takes responsibility for killing the agreement.
What can you do to help stop the U.S. government from acting like the world’s chief thug?
You can read The Partnership: Five Cold Warriors and Their Quest to Ban the Bomb by Philip Taubman (see review).
You can support and volunteer for non-profits that strive to move the U.S. away from its preoccupation with power and destruction towards one of conflict resolution, reconciliation, social justice, and cooperation.
Engaging Peace, Inc. is one such organization, and we welcome your support in the form of reading and commenting on the blog, subscribing to the newsletter, as well as your financial donations.
In addition to Engaging Peace, here are some other groups you may want to learn about:
- Council for a Livable World
- Human Rights Watch
- War Resisters League
- Cluster Munition Coalition
- Union of Concerned Scientists
Please get involved in working to end the country’s headlong rush down the road to death for all.
Kathie Malley-Morrison, Professor of Psychology