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More Useful Resources for the 2018 Topic: Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons: Achievements, Aspirations and Challenges Ahead

**Useful Resources Updated 3/1/2018**

Putin’s Irresponsible Nuclear Boasts

Arms Control Association by Daryl G. Kimball on March 1, 2018

Provides context to Putin’s announcement of Russia’s continued development of nuclear weapons systems, as well as the tensions between US-Russia relations. Kimball also discusses the risk that existing arms control agreements between the two nations will fall through and a new arms race will be initiated. The two global superpowers of US and Russia now seem to be moving in the opposite direction of the Ban Treaty, and are in danger of initiating an arms race.

Putin boasts of new Russian nuclear weapons

ABC Segment on Russia’s new nuclear weapons.

A Dangerous Retreat From Disarmament Diplomacy

Arms Control Association,  Daryl G. Kimball, Executive Director

This article explains the Trump administration’s break from the traditional US position that advocates arms control. It also considers plans to rebuild the US nuclear arsenal, and the lack of US commitment to New START, which will expire in three years. As with the article Putin’s Irresponsible Nuclear Boasts, this article points out the trend away from arms controls and disarmament, and towards a nuclear arms race.  

Core Group of Negotiators for the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons Voted “2017 Arms Control Persons of the Year”

Arms Control Association, Press Release
 

The disarmament negotiation teams of Austria, Brazil, Ireland, Mexico, New Zealand, South Africa, and Costa Rica were voted Arms Control Persons of the Year for their role in the adoption of the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons this year. Over 2,500 supporters from 90+ countries (a record number!) voted in this year’s contest.

Reading G20 Reactions to the Nuclear Weapons Ban Treaty

Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

Written by  CIF Alum and former CNS undergraduate intern Thu-An Pham! This article discusses various nations’ reactions to the Ban Treaty and includes questions for proponents and opponents of the Ban Treaty to consider.

The Challenge of Nuclear Weapons 

The Choices Program, Brown University 

The curriculum The Challenge of Nuclear Weapons gives students the tools they need to consider the questions that surround the future of nuclear weapons. Part I introduces students to the history of nuclear weapons and the concept of deterrence. Part II examines some of the arguments for and against nuclear weapons, and then looks at three challenges: the leftover arsenals of the Cold War, proliferation, and the threat of nuclear terrorism.

2018 Nuclear Posture Review Resource 

Federation of American Scientists

Analysis and perspectives on the 2018 Nuclear Posture Review organised by topic such as “The Role of US Nuclear Weapons,” and “Assumptions About Adversaries.” The page includes links to analysis written by experts in the nonproliferation field. 

Donald Trump Is Playing a Dangerous Game of Nuclear Poker

Time

Great article, offers an in-depth analysis of the Trump administration’s approach to nuclear policy as well as context relating to previous U.S. policy relating to nuclear politics. 

Exclusive: U.N. chief plans major disarmament push but U.S. Skeptical 

Reuters

The U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is reportedly plans to launch an infinitive centering on disarmament of various  kinds of weapons, including nuclear weapons. The U.S. response to the initiative includes an anonymous U.S. official who referred to the goal of nuclear disarmament as “aspirational.”

Podcast: Things That Go Boom

Public Radio International

From their website: One year ago, Donald J. Trump became the President of the United States. Since then, it seems like the world has exploded. North Korea, Russia, Charlottesville. The threats are all around. Enter Things That Go Boom, a new podcast from PRI and Inkstick Media. Hosted by Laicie Heeley, Things That Go Boom digs deeper into US foreign policy and the ins, outs, and whathaveyous of what keeps us safe.

Celebrating 15 Years of Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Education 

UNODA Occasional Papers – No. 31, December 2017

This edition of the Occasional Paper celebrates the fifteenth anniversary of the United Nations Study on Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Education, which was presented to the United Nations General Assembly in 2002. It contains contributions by experts from around the world which showcase fresh perspectives, new ideas and innovations in disarmament and non-proliferation education. Contributors from CNS include Dr. William Potter, Founding Director, and Masako Toki, Education Project Manager. 

 The Experts on the new Nuclear Posture Review

Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists
 
This article includes experts’ opinions on the 2018 Nuclear Posture Review (NPR)released by the Trump Administration. The NPR focuses on increased spending on the nuclear arsenal, which has been criticized by experts outside of the administration. A variety of experts have contributed their thoughts to on the NPR. 
 

More Useful Resources for the 2017 Topic: The CTBT and its Roles for a World Free of Nuclear Weapons

NTI Nuclear Threat Initiative Tutorial on Nuclear Testing

The Nuclear Threat Initiative has recently produced a wonderful online tutorial on the history and consequences of nuclear testing. This is an excellent resource for this years project, please take a look. Additional  information can be found by clicking on the image below.

 

 

 

 

 

The CTBT at 20: Ambition on the Road to Success

This article was written by Dr. Lassina Zerbo, the Executive Secretary for the CTBTO, and gives a great overview of the current challenges and success the CTBTO faces in the coming years. This article was published by the Arms Control Association.

The Nuclear Test Ban: Technical Opportunities for the New Administration

This article, also published by the Arms Control Association, is written by Stephen Herzog and gives a great overview of the technical capabilities of the the CTBTO’s international nuclear testing monitoring stations around the globe.

The Doomsday Clock is now Two and a Half Minutes to Midnight

The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists have moved the hand on the Doomsday clock 30 seconds closer to the end of the world. Click on the link above to read more about it, or the image below to see the official publication. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More Useful Readings on Nuclear Vulnerability

See Inside the Underground Bunker That Could Launch a Nuclear War by Dan Sagalyn

Time for Russian Action by Richard Fieldhouse

Lets End the Peril of a Nuclear Winter by Alan Robock and Owen Toon

China May Put Its Nuclear Weapons on High Alert by Elliott Negin

Obamas Shop til you Drop by Tom Collina

William Perry Project

The Nuclear Threat More Complex and Unpredictable Than Ever

Back to the Nuclear Brink  by Daryl G. Kimball

Accidental Nuclear War: A Lifetime of Close Calls

Three Minutes To Midnight: Closer To Nuclear Conflict Than We Think by David Barno and Nora Bensahel

Former US Secretary William Perry Addresses Parliamentarians on Nuclear Threat and Relationship with Russia

Future of Life

Why you should care about nukes!

Beyond the Summit: New Approaches to Nuclear Security by Jerry Brown and Sec William J Perry

2015 Spring Conference Update!

The Critical Issues Forum (CIF) project team is planning to have the Spring 2015 students conference in Hiroshima, Japan to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Students from United States and Russia will join Japanese students to discuss nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation. We hope that this conference will not only educate our students but produce future leaders who will continue to increase the momentum toward a world without nuclear weapons. The conference is tentatively scheduled for April 2nd, 3rd, and 4th.

We will continue to post more information on our site as our Spring Conference approaches, so please visit us again!

Iran’s Nuclear Deal

As you all know, the Iranian comprehensive deal is currently being negotiated. This issue has managed to make it into the news almost daily for months. But how much substantial information is being conveyed through the news? What do you know about the Interim Deal? What do you know about the prospective comprehensive deal? Take this quiz, and if you come across a question you don’t know the answer to off the top of your head, take a few minutes before answering to look it up. Are you surprised by what you did and didn’t know?

We are fortunate to live in a world where information and ideas are easily spread. On the other hand, that also means that misinformation is just as easily spread. This video is an excellent source for those who want a deeper understanding of these negotiations between the P5 + 1 and Iran from three experts on the Middle East and Nuclear Nonproliferation. If you have the time, I really recommend you watch the whole thing, at least until the question and answer section.

Please feel free to post any reactions to the quiz or video below. Also, please feel free to post any questions you might have as well.

Test your knowledge on Iran’s nuclear program! Have a fun!

If you want to check how much you know about Iran’s nulcear program, try this brilliant quiz provided by the Ploughshares Fund! Enjoy!

Iran Nuclear Program Quiz

Iran’s nuclear program has a long and winding history full of unexpected partners and secret facilities. Test your knowledge to see if you can make sense of the world’s foremost nuclear challenge.

What do you think about Japan-India nuclear deal?

As you know, India is not a member of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT), and possesses nuclear weapons. But soon, Japan and India will conclude a civilian nuclear cooperation agreement. What is your opinion about this? Please take a look at Masako Toki’s new article for Bulletin of Atomic Scientists. 
Heavy lifting ahead in the Japan-India Nuclear Deal