WomenPowerPeace

It is about so much more than "Peace"...

First, I was surprised this morning by the Nobel Peace Prize itself: going to President Obama. What? Who? He hasn't been in office for a year yet. He's still presiding over those wars and all.

Next up, surprised by the reaction from various sides. Yay: He's moving us forward on the path toward nuclear disarmament. Boo: He's still presiding over those wars and all.

And now... I believe it was a wise and risky choice. It wasn't just about Obama the man; it was about his vision, and his leadership, and the sea change that he represents. It was about a new world order; as he himself put it in his remarks, it was about a "call to action."

And the action -- is for a new world. It's hard for us, I think, in the U.S., to understand how Obama has shifted the entire global landscape. In his speech at the UN, he removed the U.S. as the military superpower; and made us citizens in the world. We are now cooperating (!) with other countries (!) to establish peace and prosperity and democracy. He named those four pillars for a more secure world: and then he named the actual things that would have to happen to establish those pillars.

And to rid the world of nuclear weapons. And that may be the issue that compelled the Prize committee most. So the Prize is about the urgent, overwhelming need for us to take the hard, necessary steps toward stopping proliferation and dismantling the nuclear stockpile.

From Joe Cirincione's post...

The Nobel Prize is recognition of the international support for a new direction, for a new strategy of how to prevent new states and terrorists from getting the bomb and how to prevent any of the existing bombs from being used.

Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/joe-cirincione/its-about-the-bomb-not-ob_b_315446.html

Because it's only a matter of time until someone uses one. How could we not be heading toward that end? So the committee, and Obama himself, have used this moment to put out the call -- we must act.

(And also? It is fair to say that he didn't make the world he's now dealing with. Yes, he's the commander in chief while we've got two wars and hundreds of military bases around the world. But he has done what no President has done before: made real steps to challenging the military-industrial complex, starting with the end of the F-22. He has begun the hard work of converting our economy from a giant military machine... It's a start. If we aren't compelled to wage war, maybe we won't...)

Martha Coakley and me...

Oh, that was a hideous time in my life... I had just gone back to working full time, and my baby was just over a year old and still breastfeeding. And I was trying to keep it together and exercise and eat right and give the other kid the attention she deserves and get enough sleep and and and...

When I got conscripted onto a jury for a mass murder case that went on for weeks... Seriously. Every day I'd go sit and listen to the details of a man shooting his coworkers, and look at the autopsy photos, and try not to focus on the family members sitting there with grief and anger all over their faces; and then leave and go to work and try to keep up; and go home and try to let it go; and avoid all media exposure...

I did consider taking up smoking. For the nicotine; and for the outside time. Smokers were the only ones allowed out of the building...

So why am I telling you this? Because there was a simple pleasure at the core of all this. And that was watching the prosecutor in action.

Martha Coakley. I didn't know anything about her, but then there she was, every day. I went to Harvard and all that, but this was the first time I really felt like I was watching a woman with real power in action. She was careful, methodical; unflappable; intelligent, probing; polite but relentless. She had all her ducks in a row, and she played them one by one. She knew just what she was doing. How often do you get to watch someone work who's at the top of their game? It was like watching a professional athlete or a great actor...

I'm telling you because I'm really glad she's running for the U.S. Senate seat. Because she will make a great Senator. She will have the kind of integrity and smarts and character that Ted Kennedy had. She will be a woman taking a rightful seat at the table of power. She will make a difference.

I hope you join me in donating to her campaign; and in supporting her as much as you can.

Oh, hey, President Obama at the UN: Thanks again!

Thanks for putting nuclear weapons front and center in your first speech at the United Nations.

Thanks for bringing a new perspective about the U.S. in the world -- as a responsible citizen of a global community rather than a military superpower.

Thanks for these 4 pillars:

1.      non-proliferation and disarmament,

2.      the promotion of peace and security

3.      the preservation of our planet

4.      a global economy that advances opportunity for all people.

Thanks for mentioning real things that will move us toward these goals:

• NPT (Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty)
• CTBT (Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty)
• START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty)
• NPR (Nuclear Posture Review)

It looks like alphabet soup, but it's not. It's vital to getting rid of those things that could, you know, end life on the planet. (WAND has a new action guide that explains some of these things in nice, clear terms (we think): Nuclear Action Guide.)

So I thank you, and my kids thank you, and my dog.

Not THAT NPR -- Nuclear Posture Review

So this NPR -- it's about the U.S. policies toward nuclear weapons. We recently got good news about Obama insisting that the U.S. have a new attitude about the damn things...

Obama has rejected the Pentagon's first draft of the "nuclear posture review" as being too timid, and has called for a range of more far-reaching options consistent with his goal of eventually abolishing nuclear weapons altogether, according to European officials.

Here's some official language from WAND:

The Nuclear Posture Review (NPR) is a document that provides a framework for U.S. nuclear strategy. Since the end of the Cold War, Congress has mandated that each President issue a new NPR at the beginning of the administration’s term. President Obama is expected to issue a new NPR in 2009.

This NPR will be the third since the end of the Cold War. It should be dramatically different from the previous two. The Clinton NPR essentially ratified the Cold War status quo (despite the need to reconsider nuclear policy in light of the Soviet Union’s collapse). The Bush NPR basically undermined U.S. nonproliferation credentials.

Since President Obama has the ultimate responsibility for the NPR, the arms control community is looking for signs that it will align with his goal of “a world without nuclear weapons.” This NPR will include such things as the plans and policies for the role of nuclear weapons, international security strategy, the size and composition of U.S. nuclear forces, and the steps necessary to maintain safety and reliability of the current stockpile.

This is the moment of opportunity to move away from a Cold War paradigm, and to adjust our policies for a world where the real nuclear dangers have shifted away from the Soviet Union. WAND joins with other organizations in the peace and security community in advocating that the goals of this NPR should be:

•    to recalibrate the U.S. nuclear deterrent in light of existing and emerging threats,
•    to strengthen the U.S. hand in negotiations on improvements to the global nuclear nonproliferation regime, and
•    to send a clear signal to the world that the U.S. is charting a new, multilateral course.

Changing course on world view... the beginning of the real end of the Cold War

You may not remember the Cold War. It wrapped up nearly 20 years ago, in 1991. The wall came down, the fingers came off the triggers of the nuclear arsenal, the divide between Communists and Capitalists just kinda melted away.

But while the rest of us sorta forgot about it, there was a huge military industrial machine that had been built on the structure of that war -- and it wasn't gonna fade away on its own. In fact, our government has been funding that war ever since. We've been continuing to research, develop, and build weapons systems that were originally intended, dozens of years ago, to fight against the Soviet Union.

You could think it's pretty silly, but that's YOUR tax dollars going to those defense contractors. And they're getting fatter and richer every day. So they're not gonna let that money get away without a fight. They've been very clever about preventing us from dismantling the big machine. They spread jobs all over the country, they spend loads on lobbyists and Congressional campaigns.

So when Obama and Gates are willing to stand up and take them on: It's a big deal.

The end of the F-22? A big BIG deal. And a tough battle.

And now? A dramatic change in course on missile defense. It's pretty great: a realistic assessment of the world situation; a hard look at our resources and the technology; and an end to Cold War perceptions...

It is a long way from the impermeable shield that President Reagan described in glowing terms in 1983, an announcement that turned into a diplomatic triumph even while it was a technological flop. Ever since, missile defense has always been more about international politics than about new military technology.

Labor Day

Dear Labor movement --

Thanks for the holiday. Also, the weekend; the 40-hour work week; worker's comp; OSHA; and so much more. You know how much we love you.

Now if you could help us retool the economy, so we're not building F-22s, but rather alternative energy technology thingies -- that would be swell.

Sincerely,

The peace movement

At the movies

"In the Loop" -- Funny, biting satire from British filmmakers who find us all amusing -- Americans, Brits, men, women, politicians, aides. Also did we mention it makes the runup to a craaazy war seem plausible?

"Band Slam" -- A passing fair way to spend 2 hours with your kids. Intriguing characters, smart music talk, a couple mysteries -- almost compensates for the wildly miscast Vanessa Hudgeons, whose hair remains magically lustrous and curly.

"500 Days of Summer" -- Loses the charm of turning the romantic tables -- he wants a commitment and she doesn't! gasp! -- by making her an absolute blank of a beautiful girl. She is gorgeous, but she apparently has no ambition, no inner life, no career...

"The Proposal" -- Hey, Sandra Bullock, love ya! And love that you have ambition, an inner life, and a career (and no boobs! thanks for that!). But but but... Anyway, could be worse.

"Up" -- See it, no matter your age, but be prepared to bawl and laugh and cringe...

"G-Force" -- Do not bother, no matter your age; you may well bawl, but for different reasons.

Ted Kennedy: One person making a difference

by Susan Shaer, WAND Executive Director

WAND believes that one person can make a difference.  Today, as we honor the life of Ted Kennedy, I must note that he makes this maxim true. The difference he made is nothing short of phenomenal. 

Everyone is recalling the bi-partisan efforts he led.  The landmark legislation, the truly remarkable leadership, the dramatic speeches....such a list!  Each memory piled on by those he touched adds even more: how personal his politics were.  How he treated everyone, no matter their status in life, and tried to improve their lot.  ONE person making A BIG DIFFERENCE.

Ted Kennedy was a champion of so much that was positive.  He also was a champion of changing so much that was wrong.

Anyone who labors for nuclear disarmament knows that Senator Kennedy followed his brother's legacy to end brinkmanship and clear the air for peace.  Ploughshares Fund President Joe Cirincione reminded us of a speech before the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in 2004, where Kennedy stated, "Any discussion of nuclear weapons must start with one basic fact. These weapons have the power to destroy everything humanity has ever created across the centuries.... If there is one thing the world today should be able to agree on, it's that nuclear weapons should never again be used and nuclear war should never again be fought."

We knew we could count on him.  His word was his bond, so we knew he would take his strong position and fight to rid the world of nuclear weapons.  We lost a vote for leadership on this issue; but we have his words, and hope they echo through the halls of Congress and across the country so the world can be free of the nightmare that these weapons could bring.

My Remembrance of Mr. Cronkite, by Susan Shaer

Celebrities don't thrill me.  I'm not keen to meet them, and if they do well for a cause, especially mine, I'm delighted, but never yearn for a personal photo.  In fact, I would not cross the street to shake a hand or ask for an autograph.  Invading their space like that feels like, well, invading their space.

Having established my street cred as one who lacks interest in the celebrity aura, let me tell you about sitting next to Walter Cronkite.

It was Marlo Thomas' house.  Yep, a celeb all right, but a sweetie and long time pro nuclear disarmament advocate on WAND's advisory board, so no heebie jeebies.

Dr. Helen Caldicott was there.  In fact, the event was for her new book.  Helen is a celebrity in her own right, and she attracts celebs on her own, but she is WAND's own historical "first lady," so no sweat.

The main speaker was Sister Helen Prejean, the woman of "Dead Men Walking" book and movie fame.  Truly an inspiring woman.  Fluid and magical in her speech.  Spell-binding.  But definitely as an anti death penalty advocate and of the Catholic sisterhood, entirely approachable.

Susan Sarandon, seated next to me, star of the movie “Dead Men Walking,” beautiful, tiny, and oozing Prejean-adoration, felt just like a gal-pal than an honorable.  After all, she is “Thelma.” (Or is she Louise?)  No  matter.

Seated on my other side, Walter Cronkite.  My heart slowed to a murmur.  I was transfixed and barely able to concentrate on Sister Prejean’s introduction of Helen Caldicott.

I concentrated on breathing in and out without making any noise to disturb his historical/journalistic/I-was-there-at-the-creation quality.  I tried to think of what to say when the talking stopped.  Ever do that?  Impossible.  You think of the best words much later.

The event over, he stood and offered his hand to shake.  “And what brings you here?”  Clearly knowing I didn’t fit in with this crowd that also included Paul Newman.  I told him about WAND as fast as I could so I wouldn’t bore him and make him turn away.  I used one of my slickest lines, “We try to make it uncomfortable for Members of Congress who have a love affair with nuclear weapons.”

The god of all things news-worthy smiled and said, “Keep it up; we need you.  The whole world needs you.”

And then he turned to acknowledge another guest, and my Walter Cronkite moment was over.

When he died, I thought how sad that he left before we could pronounce nuclear weapons obsolete and unnecessary.  Yet I was comforted to know that I am still working on some change that the whole world needs.  Why?  Because Walter Cronkite said so, that’s why.

 

F-22 on its way to the Cold War graveyard -- at last!

At the end of a wacky face-off -- the Air Force aligned with the grassroots on one side; unions aligned with Congress on the other -- the forces of good finally won out. The F-22 has gotten closer to the Cold War graveyard where it will one day be put to rest.

While everyone with good sense agrees that the aircraft is expensive, unreliable, and unnecessary, the incessant drumbeat for "jobs" made it difficult for many Members of Congress to turn down the program. Defense contractors have cleverly scattered the production of the F-22 far and wide across Congressional districts. In New England, even usually progressive Democrats were reluctant to vote Nay -- the pain of losing jobs is too great.

The swell of grassroots opposition certainly helped sway some of these Members, and we thank everyone who rallied to reach out to Congress.

This is just the beginning of what we hope will be a long and sometimes painful reorienting of our economy. Since the end of WWII, the government has been heavily investing in the military industrial complex; we now have a technological marvel of a war machine. Sadly, this has not only warped our national priorities; it's also made us less secure as a country. We're still gearing up to fight the Soviet Union, and are increasingly weakened in the real defense landscape of today.

Marie Rietmann reports from Capitol Hill: "All entities have acted on the F-22 except Senate defense approps. This may be a problem; for example, Sen. Chris Dodd (CT) has pledged to not give up the fight for it. His last chance this year would be an amendment to defense approps when it comes to the Senate floor sometime after August recess. It would be fine for friends of WAND to tell Senators not to support more F-22s in the defense appropriations bill."