September, 23 2016, 12:15pm EDT
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Contact Paul Kawika Martin at 951-217-7285, or,email Paul,.,Contact Jon Rainwater at 510-469-3700, or,email Jon,.
Peace Action Praises UN CTBT Resolution; Urges Republican Senators to Ratify
Peace Action, the nation's largest peace organization, made the following statement in response to today's first-ever CTBT resolution (number 2310) passed by the UN Security Council. Their Senior Director for Policy and Political Affairs, Paul Kawika Martin, said:
WASHINGTON
Peace Action, the nation's largest peace organization, made the following statement in response to today's first-ever CTBT resolution (number 2310) passed by the UN Security Council. Their Senior Director for Policy and Political Affairs, Paul Kawika Martin, said:
"Peace Action praises the UN Security Council for highlighting the importance of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) which only a small handful of countries, including the U.S., refuse to ratify. Yet, the U.S. cannot expect other countries to refrain from nuclear testing, acquiring nuclear weapons or upgrading nuclear weapons and their delivery systems if the U.S. Senate (especially Republicans) refuses to ratify the CTBT and the U.S. government plans a wasteful, one trillion dollar spending spree on the U.S. nuclear arsenal. Republican Senators have blocked CTBT ratification, thus making the world and Americans less safe. Even worse, some Republicans have threatened blocking funding of the CTBT Organization which effectively monitors and deters nuclear tests. Instead of stopping critical CTBTO funds, Republicans should stop nuclear testing by ratifying the treaty.
"Another two decades cannot pass before the CTBT enters into force. This requires the U.S to lead by ratifying and pressuring the other seven countries needed to ratify as well."
Peace Action is the United States' largest peace and disarmament organization with over 100,000 members and nearly 100 chapters in 34 states, works to achieve the abolition of nuclear weapons, promote government spending priorities that support human needs and encourage real security through international cooperation and human rights.
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