NH #716: SPECIAL: UN Meetings on Treaty to Prohibit Nuclear Weapons Condemns "Deterrence" as a Dangerous Myth

This Week’s SPECIAL on the United Nations Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons – Third Meeting of States Parties March 2-7, 2025

Posing with the iconic gun sculpture in front of UN headquarteers in New York.

The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) held its Third Meeting of States Parties (3MSP) at the United Nations March 3-7, 2025, with a preparatory Campaigners Forum on March 2. Almost 1,000 representatives from 53 States Parties (countries that have signed and ratified), 31 Observer states, and 163 Civil Society organizations from around the world attended. 350 Campaigners (another term for “activists” but with less of a knee-jerk reaction to it) attended the Campaigner Forum on Sunday in advance of the official UN meetings. .

I attended on full press credentials (a rare accomplishment for a podcaster) and collected more than 60 interviews. No matter who I spoke with, each individual offered many insightful if not profound observations on the nature of nukes, why we need to rid ourselves of them, and what we’re all doing in our individual spheres to bring that about. The power and importance of this gathering cannot be over-stated.

This episode covers the Campaigners, who ranged in age from high schoolers in their teens to veterans in their 80’s. It also shares information on programs that anyone can participate in that will help build the case against nuclear, including:

• From Dimity Hawkins, the Nuclear Truth Project, which created Protocols for working with affected communites, focusing on Rights, Respect and Reciprocity. Essential guidance for those working with Hibakusha, First Nations and Indigenous people, and anyone working towards nuclear truth and remedy within, alongside, or in relation to victims/survivors and their communities. To learn the specifics and download a copy of these Protocols, visit their website: nucleartruthproject.org/protocols

UN breakout panel on the Nuclear Truth Panel. Dimity Hawkins, second from left.

• From Rachel Clark, we learn of Project 1030, a plan to test and map actual radiation contamination levels across the U.S. They are looking for people who use wood stoves or burn wood in fireplaces to share the ashes for testsing by radiation laboratories in Japan. The 2025 campaign deadline is May 31. Learn more by visiting Project 1030 on Facebook and if you decide to learn more and participate (there is a fee of $50 per sample tested to cover the lab expenses), go to: PROJECT 1030

Richard Miller map of areas crossed by two or more radioactive clouds from fallout during the era of nuclear testing in the American southwest.

• ICAN has produced an excellent pamphlet that breaks down Five Myths of Nuclear Deterrence in easy-to-understand arguments. Great for the next time you run into a relative or friend who claims that “we need nukes for deterrence!” (HINT: We don’t.) Access the information and download at the ICAN site: 5 MYTHS OF NUCLEAR DETERRENCE. Essential reading for anyone who opposes nuclear weapons! (PDF link not working; use this url instead: https://www.icanw.org/deterrence_myths )

A Look Back at 2MSP, November-December, 2023

I was privileged to cover the Second Meeting of States Parties at the UN, held November 27 to December 1, 2023 at UN Headquarters in New York City. Two Nuclear Hotseat episodes resulted, with several additional drop-ins of interview in various others. The main ones are:

• NH #648: TPNW SPECIAL: UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons: Nuclear Hotseat Looks Back
• NH #650: EXCLUSIVE REPORT: Int’l Activists Gather in NYC for UN 2nd Meeting of States Parties on Nuclear Weapons Ban Treaty (TPNW)
• NH #651: TPNW SPECIAL, Pt. 2: US Congressman, Int’l Gov’t Reps Support Nuclear Weapons Ban Treaty at UN