00:44:40 Theresa Reuter: the Nuclear ban treaty 00:45:15 Ann Frisch: You are welcome to join the Rotary Club of Abuja the Ambassadors to discuss broader human security by an organization that has proven strategies: Nonviolent Peaceforce. Sunday 28 Feb. 8 am Central US https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88127248469?pwd=SDEvNERLWWxGSEZYTkJRZHZXNFpzdz09 Meeting ID: 881 2724 8469 Passcode: Ambassador 01:01:33 Robin Harper: Because war and nukes are insane, to stop them you must understand how our DNA drives our personalities and politics. Tribes needed a variety of stable personalities to thrive and compete, including some that cause big trouble in our post-tribal world: • super-confident narcissists were ideal tribal war leaders, but now divert resources to stupid wars • arrogant, closeminded, conformist conservatives support narcissist’s policies • collective narcissists in big numbers unthinkingly support the individual narcissist in suppressing the perceived dangerous out-groups These personalities are immune to science and logic, so target political reforms at the few remaining moderates 01:17:16 stan becker: Could you elaborate on the chances that Japan, The Netherlands and/or Australia breaking ranks and are there countries under Russian umbrella that might break rank too? 01:17:17 John McKusick: Dr. Gerson, would you please summarize the variables/factors that determine how close we are to a nuclear war/conflict which is now at 100 seconds to midnight? 01:17:38 Stephen Slaner: Question: do you see any possibility of linking up the anti-nuclear and climate movements? 01:17:51 gwen Dubois, she/her: some of us believe Back from the Brink campaign is a vehicle for nuclear state disarmament and reducing risk of nuclear war as the Treaty grows stronger with more and more ratifications 01:17:52 John Whitehead: While the United States and Russia are obviously the countries of greatest concern, would it be fair to say that _any_ use of nuclear weapons by _any_ nation poses a serious danger to humanity (because of the environmental consequences of nuclear weapon use)? 01:19:30 David Borris: 88 signatories - 54 parties 01:19:56 TIMMON WALLIS: Thanks, Joseph, for the comprehensive history and overview of the ban treaty and how we got there. You talked about NATO and other allies potentially signing the treaty and putting pressure on the US to rethink their dependence on these weapons by doing that. But you didn’t mention how the treaty potentially impacts the companies involved in this business, many of whom have operations, not to mention investors, in those countries that have already ratified. Since these companies are the ones lobbying congress and the president to keep these suicidal weapons indefinitely, can’t we use the treaty to put pressure on these same companies here in the US, through divestment campaigns, etc? 01:20:03 Terry Fitzgerald: It is important that nuclear weapons have actually been used several times in history, not just at Hiroshima and Nagasaki — just the same as If a robber points a gun at a victim and demands money, he has used a gun. 01:20:15 Carol Nezzo: No Q & A at the bottom of my screen. Where are guidelines for outreach to city councils/individuals? 01:20:32 Tasnuva Khan: Is there a strategy to work with Climate Activist groups in a collaborative effort? Especially the younger generations led movement "Sunrise Movement" Green New Deal Coalition, etc. 01:20:46 Terry Fitzgerald: Max is breaking up because nuclear weapons are more profitable than reliable internet connection to the citizens of the US 01:20:46 Ann Frisch: Question; there are 80 Rotary Clubs in Russia. US and other Rotarians know them as friends and partners. We have even had one meeting about the nuclear threat at their suggestion. What are your suggestions about working directly with Russians. 01:25:05 TIMMON WALLIS: Yes, this is also about being a “solidarity” movement with all these other countries that are demanding the abolition of nuclear weapons. How do we support them and encourage them? 01:29:11 TIMMON WALLIS: New York City Council is about to divest its city pension fund from nuclear weapons, which will be huge, and if NY can do it, why not every other city in the country! 01:29:25 Jean Cushman: Can you give a list of the companies? 01:29:39 Paul Kawika Martin-he/him/his-Peace Action: Joseph Gerson is heroically prolific in his progressive productivity! Jean is one of the best leaders and organizers in the Peace Action network. If you want an action step, this link will ask members of Congress to reduce Pentagon spending. As you know, Trump increased Pentagon spending and spending on nuclear weapons. We think downward pressure on the Pentagon must mean cuts to nuke spending especially on the so-called “GBSD,” the mad missiles that will cost at least $263b. For many years Joseph has led on the Global Day Against Military Spending. https://www.peaceaction.org/get-involved/action-alert-cut-pentagon-bloat/?emci=3c9e495c-0e67-eb11-9889-00155d43c992&emdi=f2b0a01f-1067-eb11-9889-00155d43c992&ceid=129742 01:32:01 Vijay Parameshwaran: Following up on the divetment question: according to ICAN's Don't Bank The Bomb project, 748 billion dollars have been invested in nuclear weapons development between 2017 and 2019, with international financial firms like Blackrock Capital and Citigroup being key players. How can we address this unfettered use of private capital in financing nuclear weapons? 01:32:10 Vijay Parameshwaran: *divestment 01:33:14 Coleman Harrison: Q: If we envision a democratic and progressive political majority in the US that wanted to change its national security and nuclear weapons policy, what would be a scenario with multiple stages and policy steps that would lead up to a US adoption of the TPNW? 01:34:01 Bob Rhudy: Jean, as your Quaker Baltimore Yearly Meeting's Peace and Social Concerns Committee co-clerk, thank you for your role in bringing Dr. Gerson and this critically important webinar to us . Bob Rhudy 01:34:43 Lillian Freudenberger: Sorry to leave. I have an 11:00 meeting. 01:35:10 TIMMON WALLIS: Of course nuclear weapons have been used as a threat, but that doesn’t mean the threat necessarily “works” - that is a question of psychology rather than a military question, and we can’t know what went through the minds of leaders in China, Russia or other countries when facing such threats. What we DO know is that historically, there is no evidence that any of these threats to launch nuclear weapons have had any impact on the behavior of the countries involved - see “Nuclear Weapons and Coercive Diplomacy” by Sechser and Fuhrmann: https://www.amazon.com/Nuclear-Weapons-Coercive-Diplomacy-Sechser/dp/1107514517 01:37:30 Max Obuszewski: I believe a better approach, rather than scaring people, is to make the point that nuclear weapons are making us unsafe because tax dollars are going to refurbish weapons which cannot be used while this funding should go towards stopping the pandemic, social services and mitigating climate chaos. 01:37:31 TIMMON WALLIS: and the US still LOST the Vietnam War, right? That just reinforces my point above. 01:38:33 Tasnuva Khan: How do you see the current situation with airstrikes in Syria. Could the alliance with Iran/Russia/Syria and US-Israel in proxy fight that could further hinder a re-start in talks for US-Iran Nuclear deal? 01:39:06 Michael Keller: The closest the world has come to nuclear war was the Cuban Missile Crisis. Can you talk about that near catastrophe? 01:39:50 TIMMON WALLIS: Unless we challenge the crazy and unproven belief that nuclear weapons are useful as a “deterrent” to force our adversaries to do what we want, we will not be able to get rid of these weapons, because that is what our politicians believe as the justification for keeping these weapons indefinitely 01:43:18 Art Milholland: We also live in a celebrity culture. I have not heard of any celebrities (imagine Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton Bruce Springsteen, etc) pushing TPNW. Are there any prospects? 01:44:18 Ahmad Gharanfoli: Trump said if we have Nuc, we we should not use it 01:44:51 Robin Harper: Why do you keep begging narcissist leaders to respond to logic, when psychologists tell you they will not? 01:45:33 TIMMON WALLIS: we can’t beg, we’ve got be using pressure! Political pressures but also economic pressures on the companies... 01:50:57 TIMMON WALLIS: and the Cuban Missile Crisis was resolved by backdoor diplomatic deal between Kennedy and Krushchev - because it was all about US missiles already in Turkey that threatened Soviets exactly as having missiles in Cuba threatened the US, so Kennedy agreed to withdraw missiles in Turkey in exchange for withdrawing Soviet missiles from Cuba 01:51:29 Paul Kawika Martin-he/him/his-Peace Action: Thanks again Jean and Joseph for this excellent event. And a big shout out to all the Peace Action leaders on the Zoom: Mike Keller, Gwen, Max, Sarah, Dat, Charlie, Cole, David Borris and more! And to our great colleague Timmon. 01:52:53 Tasnuva Khan: It's important to pay attention to the geopolitical tug of war with China and India and their competition to exert influence in the region (Bangladesh, Pakistan, Myanmar, etc) 01:54:27 John Whitehead: Thank you for this great talk! 01:54:33 TIMMON WALLIS: thanks!