| After an extended hiatus, I’m pleased to reintroduce Critical Mass, a special Global Zero communiqué to keep you up to speed on our work. Our small but mighty team has been active on several fronts: From an expansive reimagining of Global Zero’s organizational structure and strategy, to building new partnerships with cross-cutting advocacy organizations and communities impacted by the nuclear weapons complex, to exposing the true financial and opportunity costs of America’s nuclear modernization plans, to navigating a dramatically altered security environment in the wake of Putin’s invasion of Ukraine — we’ve had our hands full, to say the least.
We look forward to being in touch more regularly (but not too regularly) in the months ahead to share news from the ground and highlight opportunities to support and join critical initiatives.
Onwards,
Derek Johnson
Managing Partner, Global Zero |
| organizational UPDATES |
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| Netroots Nation |
| In August, Global Zero made a big splash at Netroots Nation, the largest annual progressive political conference in the United States. In addition to connecting and conspiring with other major advocacy organizations, political leaders, and social justice activists, Global Zero hosted a mainstage panel discussion featuring US Representative Katie Porter (D-CA). Global Zero Partner Mari Faines guided the conversation on the past and present impacts of nuclear weapons with Rep. Porter, Deputy Director of Emgage Iman Awad, and activist Samantha Miller, which was broadcast on C-SPAN. |
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| The Real Cost of ICBMs |
| Global Zero released a major new report, “The Real Cost of ICBMs: U.S. Economic Development Beyond Defense Spending.” In the report, GZ Associate Partner Emma Claire Foley takes stock of the economic impact of U.S. land-based nuclear missiles, turning a critical eye on defense industry talking points that cast it as a uniquely effective job creator. Building off of research that shows healthcare, education, infrastructure, and non-fossil fuel energy all create more jobs than defense given comparable levels of federal investment, she outlines three possible paths for replacing the economic impact of ICBMs. |
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| Open for Business |
| Just in time for the holidays, Global Zero launched a new online store with apparel, tote bags, and more. Wear it proud and show your support for the movement to abolish nuclear weapons! |
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| QUICK HITS |
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| THE INTERNATIONAL SECURITY ADVISORY BOARD |
| WASHINGTON, DC | OCT. 2022 |
| Global Zero Senior Advisor Jon Wolfsthal joined the International Security Advisory Board, which officially relaunched in October 2022. The board provides critical insights to the U.S. State Department on arms control, disarmament, and more. Global Zero’s co-founder, the late Dr. Bruce Blair, previously served on the board under the Obama Administration. |
| NAVIGATING THE CRISIS IN EUROPE |
| TALLINN, ESTONIA | SEP. 2022 |
| In September, Global Zero Managing Partner Derek Johnson traveled to Tallinn, Estonia for a special gathering of next-gen leaders in global security, hosted by the Munich Security Conference and Koerber Foundation, where he met with high-ranking representatives from the Estonian and NATO allied governments, the military, and academia to discuss the ways in which Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine has fundamentally altered the security landscape. |
| THE NUCLEAR NON-PROLIFERATION TREATY |
| NEW YORK, NY | AUG. 2022 |
| In August, Global Zero participated in the 10th Nuclear Non-Proliferation Review Conference in New York, in which government delegations from around the world gathered to assess progress on disarmament and discuss steps forward. Global Zero Partner Jessica Sleight spoke at an event hosted by the Nagasaki and Hiroshima Prefectures on nuclear weapons and sustainability, and Global Zero Partner Mari Faines shared her analysis on the intersectional impact of racism and gender politics and nuclear disarmament at the NPT Youth Convergence Event. |
| IN THE BELLY OF THE BEAST |
| LE VISTA, NE | JUL. 2022 |
| In July, Global Zero Partner Jessica Sleight participated in the 2022 United States Strategic Command (STRATCOM) Deterrence Symposium in Le Vista, Nebraska, to challenge conventional wisdom on nuclear deterrence and global security. |
| THE NUCLEAR BAN TREATY |
| VIENNA, AUSTRIA | JUN. 2022 |
| Global Zero participated in the Conference on the Humanitarian Impacts of Nuclear Weapons and the first meeting of state parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW). Our work in Vienna sought to explore opportunities to engage with leading TPNW countries to leverage the Global Zero Action Plan in support of developing a viable and serious TPNW process to engage nuclear-armed governments. Global Zero also contributed a working paper outlining pathways to achieve equitable, just, and restorative nuclear disarmament. |
| DEEP DIVES FROM THE TEAM |
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| JON WOLFSTHAL: WE NEVER LEARNED THE KEY LESSONS FROM THE CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS |
| THE NEW REPUBLIC | OCT. 11, 2022 |
| Global Zero Senior Advisor Jon Wolfsthal writes, “Putin says he’ll do whatever it takes in Ukraine. Biden is warning of ‘Armageddon.’ Sixty years after the U.S.-Soviet standoff over Cuba, why is nuclear war still an ever-present worry?” |
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| MARI FAINES: THE NUCLEAR POSTURE REVIEW IS THE SAME BUT WE AREN’T |
| INKSTICK | NOV. 1, 2022 |
| A message of resilience for the nuclear disarmament and abolition community from Global Zero Partner Mari Faines. |
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| EMMA CLAIRE FOLEY: BIDEN’S NUCLEAR POSTURE REVIEW MAINTAINS NUCLEAR STATUS QUO |
| BULLETIN OF THE ATOMIC SCIENTISTS | OCT. 28, 2022 |
| Global Zero Associate Partner Emma Claire Foley examines how Biden’s Nuclear Posture Review upholds an unacceptable nuclear status quo — and argues that we can, and must, do better. |
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