SATURDAY: Reducing the Danger of Nuclear War
Saturday, April 2, 9am - 5pm
MIT Building 34, 50 Vassar St., Cambridge
Responding to the continuing risk of nuclear war or accident, this conference is intended to focus on reducing the risks of a nuclear event. The conference will address the political and economic realities and will attempt to energize a local, social movement that will ultimately influence national policy.
Plenary sessions include: The Dangers of Nuclear War; Destabilizing Factors; Nuclear Winter and Climate Change, Mobilizing to Reduce the Dangers.
Workshops include: engaging youth; reducing international tensions through negotiations and treaties; examining state and federal budgets; de-alerting; divestment; modernization.
Speakers: Rutgers Prof. Alan Robock, MIT Prof. Max Tegmark, Former Secretary of Defense William Perry, Harvard Prof Elaine Scarry, Mayor Denise Simmons, Dr. Lisbeth Gronlund, Joseph Gerson, Dr. Ira Helfand, Cole Harrison, Jonathan King.
Read a February 11th New York Times editorial authored by Alan Robock (with Owen Brian Toon), who will be one of the featured speakers of the conference.
Agenda
8:45 am. Registration and Coffee
9:15 am. Welcome from City of Cambridge: Mayor Denise Simmons
9:25 am. Welcome from MIT: Maria Zuber, Vice President for Research (MIT)
9:35 am. Program for the Day: Prof. Jonathan King (MIT, Peace Action)
9:45 am. I. Direct Effects of Nuclear Weapons Deployment and Use:
- Consequences of a Megaton Explosion over Boston – Dr. Ira Helfand, (Physicians for Social Responsibility)
- Climatic Consequences of Nuclear War: Prof. Alan Robock, (Environmental Science, Rutgers U).
- Nuclear Weapons Undermine Democracy: Prof. Elaine Scarry, (Harvard University).
10:45 am. II. Destabilizing Factors:
Chair: Subrata Ghoshroy (MIT)
- Dangers of Hair Trigger Alert: Lisbeth Gronlund (Union of Concerned Scientists).
- International Tensions and Risks of further Nuclear Proliferation – Joseph Gerson (American Friends Service Committee).
- Nuclear Modernization Reduces our Security – Prof. Aron Bernstein (MIT, Council for a Livable World).
- Accidents and Unexpected events – Prof. Max Tegmark, (MIT, Future of Life Institute).
12:00 pm. Pick up Lunches and Proceed to Workshops
12:30 Lunch Workshops
a) Engaging Students and their Teachers in Nuclear Disarmament Initiatives - Chair: Caitlin Forbes (Peace Action); Abel Corver (Harvard Peace Action), Prof. Gary Goldstein (Tufts U), Lucas Perry (Boston College, Future of Life Institute).
b) Strengthening the Connection between Efforts to Avert Long Term Climate Change and Efforts to Avert Nuclear War – Chair, Prof. Guntram Mueller (Peace Action); Geoffrey Supran (Fossil Free MIT); Prof. Alan Robock (Rutgers U), Sue Donaldson (350 Massachusetts).
c) No to the Trillion Dollar Nuclear Weapons Triad Modernization - Chair, Elaine Scarry (Harvard U); Erica Fein (WAND/WiLL); Joseph Cirincione (Ploughshares Fund); Cole Harrison (Massachusetts Peace Action).
d) Reducing International Tensions through Treaties and Negotiation – Chair, Prof. Nazli Choucri (MIT), David Wright (UCS), Sonja Amadae (Univ. of Helsinki).
e) People’s Budget Campaign to Cut the Nuclear Weapons Spending – Chair, Paul Shannon (AFSC); John Ratliff (Mass Senior Action); Jay Livingstone (Mass State Representative).
f) Building the de-alerting campaign - Mary Popeo (Global Zero); Lisbeth Gronlund (UCS).
2:00 pm. Session IV. Mobilizing to Reduce the Dangers:
Chair: Cole Harrison (Massachusetts Peace Action):
- The People’s Budget: Mobilizing New Constituencies by Publicizing the Social and Economic Costs of Nuclear Weapons Modernization: Prof. Jonathan King (MIT and Peace Action).
- Divesting from Nuclear Weapons Investments: Susi Snyder (Don’t Bank on the Bomb).
- Letter to President Obama Campaign: Denise Simmons (Mayor of Cambridge).
2:45 pm. Session V. Current Prospects:
- The Necessity of Nuclear Disarmament – William Perry (Former Secretary of Defense).
- How to Stop the New Trillion Dollar Triad - Joseph Cirincione (Ploughshares Fund).
- Senate Steps Toward Nuclear Disarmament – (Invited) U.S. Senator Edward Markey
4:30 pm. Closing Panel: The Role of Physicists in promoting Nuclear Disarmament
- Prof. Max Tegmark (MIT); Charles Ferguson (FAS), Prof. Gary Goldstein (Tufts), and Prof. Frank Wilczek (MIT).
5:00 pm - Adjourn
Program Committee: Prof. Aron Bernstein (MIT, Council for a Livable World), Abel Corver (Harvard University), Joseph Gerson (AFSC), Subrata Ghoshroy (MIT), Prof. Gary Goldstein (Tufts University), Cole Harrison (Massachusetts Peace Action), Jonathan King (MIT and Massachusetts Peace Action), Guntram Mueller (Mass Peace Action), Mary Popeo (Global Zero), John Ratliff (Massachusetts Peace Action, Mass Senior Action), Mareena Robinson (Global Zero), Prof. Elaine Scarry (Harvard University), Prof.Max Tegmark (MIT, Future of Life Insitute), Patricia Weinmann (MIT Radius).
Program Staff: Patricia-Maria Weinmann, Asst. Coordinator, Radius at MIT; Christina English, Communications Coordinator, Radius at MIT; Cynthia Woolley, Administrative Asst, MIT Dept. of Biology; Cole Harrison, Executive Director, Massachusetts Peace Action
Sponsored by Radius at MIT, MIT Global Zero, Massachusetts Peace Action, American Friends Service Committee, the Future of Life Institute, and Women's International League for Peace and Freedom - Boston Branch
For information on the individuals participating in this conference, click here.
Download the Poster: 11x17 or 2 up
Directions to MIT room 34-101:
By Red Line: Exit the Kendall Square Red Line Station and walk west (away from Boston) past Ames Street to Vassar Street. Turn left and walk halfway down Vassar to 50 Vassar St. (MIT building 34) (broad stairs, set back entrance).
By #1 Bus: Exit in front of MIT Main Entrance (77 Mass. Ave.). Walk 1/2 block back on Mass Ave to Vassar Street. Turn right and walk half block to 50 Vassar St. (MIT Building 34) (broad stairs, set back entrance).
By car: Public Parking Structures are available nearby on Ames Street, between Main and Broadway. A smaller surface lot is on the corner of Mass Ave and Vassar St.
Thanks to our sponsors, registration is free and includes lunch. We expect this event to sell out, so make sure to get your tickets early; first-come, first served!
Register: bit.ly/nuclear-war
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