Congressman Garamendi Asks “Why does America need nuclear weapons?”

August 15th, 2024 in Action Alerts / Events / Weekly News Updates
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On August 13th, U.S. Congressman John Garamendi of California delivered a speech at the United States Strategic Command 2024 Strategic Deterrence Amidst Global Transformation Symposium in which he asked “Why?” as in “Why does America need nuclear weapons?” and mostly importantly asked, “How do we deter in a way that ensures there is a tomorrow worth protecting?  Must we continue a 50-year-old triad strategy without considering the alternatives?  Why, why are we stuck in a logic silo with the blast door closed?” To read Congressman John Garamendi’s (CA-08) full statement, 240813 Garamendi U.S. Strategic Command 2024 Deterrence Symposium Remarks 1

While the focus of the speech was about “Why the Sentinel is a Costly and Dangerous Mistake,” he began by describing the efforts in 1985 of Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev, whom he called “two cold warriors at the head of the world’s largest nuclear arsenals.”

Garamendi acknowledged their declaration that “nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought. That declaration was regularly repeated and reaffirmed by the leaders of all five Nuclear Weapon States in 2022. This recognition should be the start and end of every conversation on nuclear weapons.

“Nevertheless, nuclear powers, since the advent of the Cold War, instead seem to have concluded that deterrence requires more nuclear weapons of every kind than the adversary. … but ignores the most important question: WHY?

“Leadership requires the rigorous use of that three-letter word, Why. We must avoid blind adherence to yesterday’s decisions. In today’s discussion, that means asking what is sufficient for nuclear deterrence. Looking at past strategies and relying on past assumptions isn’t enough. Old cold-war mentalities will create unacceptable costs, rob us of alternatives, and place us in even greater danger. Instead, we must think boldly and not repeat the problems of our history. …

“So, let us ask a foundational question: Why does America need nuclear weapons? …

“Leaders like Reagan, JFK, Eisenhower, Carter, and Obama knew that nuclear weapons could end civilization and, with those heavy moral and ethical considerations in mind, negotiated significant safety measures and a serious reduction in nuclear weapons.

“These leaders demonstrated vision and commitment. They knew that war was not an option, so they had to create a vision for a safer future. Unfortunately, too many today shrug their shoulders and say the time for negations is not now. Which brings us to yet another question…Why not try? Over the next 30 years, we will spend almost 2 trillion dollars on our nuclear weapons… what if we spent just 1% on diplomatic and risk reduction efforts?”

To read Congressman John Garamendi (CA-08) full statement, 240813 Garamendi U.S. Strategic Command 2024 Deterrence Symposium Remarks 1

  1. Friday, August 16th at noon at the intersection of West Alameda and Sandoval for the weekly one-hour peaceful protest for nuclear disarmament. Bring your flags, signs and banners.  Join the weekly peaceful protest with Veterans for Peace, CCNS, Nuclear Watch NM, Loretto Community, New Mexico Peace Fest, Pax Christi and others.

 

 

  1. Tuesday, August 13th by 5 pm MT – Comment Period Extended to September 10, 2024 about the Second Five-Year Report about the DOE/Sandia Mixed Waste Landfill. For information about the hazards, leaks and threats of not removing the waste from the unlined Mixed Waste Landfill (MWL), visit the Citizen Action New Mexico website at:   https://www.radfreenm.org/index.php  

 To review the public notice and administrative information about the MWL, go to the New Mexico Environment Department:  https://www.env.nm.gov/hazardous-waste/snl-mwl-2/

 In your comments, provide your name and address and reference:  SNL – MWL Second Five-Year Report, December 2023.

Submit them to:

Neelam Dhawan, Acting Program Manager

NMED – Hazardous Waste Bureau

2905 rodeo Park Drive East, Bldg. 1

Santa Fe, NM  87505-6303

Email:  neelam.dhawan@env.nm.gov

Phone:  505-476-6000

 

 

  1. Saturday, August 10th through Saturday, August 31st – 2024 Oppenheimer Festival at SALA, 2551 Central Avenue, Los Alamos, NM. Schedules and tickets:  https://sala.losalamos.com/

 

 

  1. Wednesday, August 21st from 6 to 8 pm – Virtual educational webinar about DOE’s plans to double the size of the WIPP underground disposal site. Don Hancock, the Director of the Southwest Research and Information Center Nuclear Waste Program http://sric.org/ , and Doug Meiklejohn, the Water Quality and Land Restoration Advocate at Conservation Voters of New Mexico https://cvnm.org/ , will present about the DOE Planned Change Request, EPA’s decision making process, and how you can help stop WIPP expansion.  Zoom registration link:  https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZckdu2urzovG9HUHimFBKcTho4p_amGvt8L#/registration

The informational webinar will prepare you to provide public comments at the EPA’s Carlsbad and Santa Fe meetings.  Details below:

 

  1. On Monday, August 26th from 2 to 4 pm at the DOE’s Carlsbad Field Office, 4021 National Parks Highway, EPA will host its in person and virtual meeting about the DOE’s Planned Change Request meeting.  Zoom registration link:  https://usepa.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vJIsdeiqrTwpHUkjZ1z_djiz7fqgYMDqcc8

 

  1. On Wednesday, August 28th from 1 to 3 pm in the Canyon Ballroom at the Hilton Santa Fe-Historic Plaza, 100 Sandoval Street in Santa Fe, EPA will host an in-person and virtual technical meeting among experts about planned changed request.  The public is invited to observe.  Zoom registration link:  https://usepa.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vJIsdOyqqjosG2w3uwOoOk4UNSxZwyXxE2s

 

  1. On Wednesday, August 28th from 6 to 8 pm in the Canyon Ballroom at the Hilton Santa Fe-Historic Plaza, 100 Sandoval Street in Santa Fe, EPA will host an in-person and virtual public meeting and receive comments about DOE’s Planned Change Request.  Zoom registration link: https://usepa.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vJIsdumqrzIvHZWmhyQ_Jh7EBe1EcgTmi5Y

 

  1. FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE EPA’s New Mexico MEETINGS ABOUT DOE’S PLANNED CHANGE REQUEST – AND POSSIBLY UPDATED LINKS, visit:

https://www.epa.gov/radiation/wipp-news#WIPP-PCR

https://stopforeverwipp.org/ and

http://nuclearactive.org/epa-public-meetings-about-wipp-expansion-august-26th-in-carlsbad-and-august-28th-in-santa-fe/

 

  1. Friday, August 30 through September – 58 years: retrospective exhibit of works by Cathie Sullivan at El Museo Cultural de Santa Fe, 555 Camino de La Familia, Santa Fe.  Opening on August 30 from 5 to 7 pm.  The exhibit includes 57 oil paintings, drawings and limited edition silk screen prints, three bronzes, 20 animal carvings and hand and digitally printed note cards.  80% of sale proceeds will be donated to Amigos Del Parque, Nuclear Watch NM and El Museo Cultural de Santa Fe.   https://www.elmuseocultural.org/
 

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