Nuclear Disarmament Highlights

The Simons Foundation Canada mourns the unexpected death of our valued colleague and friend, Dr. Bruce G. Blair, Co-Founder of Global Zero, who died on Sunday, July 19, following a sudden illness. Dr. Blair was one of The Simons Foundation's Peace Shapers and the recipient in 2018 of The Simons Foundation Award for Distinguished Global Leadership in the Service of Peace and Disarmament. Dr. Jennifer Allen Simons is a Founding Partner of Global Zero and worked closely with Dr. Blair and is heartbroken at the loss of such an outstanding man who dedicated is life to making the world nuclear-free and safe for humanity.

Visit East Asia Forum at the link below for this commentary Professor M.V. Ramana, Ph.D., the Simons Chair in Disarmament, Global and Human Security at The University of British Columbia's School for Public Policy and Global Affairs, co-authored with Casandra Jeffery.

This updated study from Reaching Critical Will explores the ongoing and planned nuclear weapon modernisation programmes in China, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, France, India, Israel, Pakistan, Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

We are pleased to share a letter Canadians for a Nuclear Weapons Convention (CNWC) recently sent to Canada's Prime Minister, the Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, calling for the start of comprehensive negotiations toward the total elimination of nuclear weapons as a prerequisite for peace. Dr. Jennifer Allen Simons is a member of CNWC's Steering Committee and Advisory Panel and The Simons Foundation Canada provides financial support to CNWC.

Visit the Journal for Peace and Nuclear Disarmament via Taylor & Francis Group at the link below for this article co-authored by Professor M.V. Ramana, Ph.D., the Simons Chair in Disarmament, Global and Human Security at The University of British Columbia's School for Public Policy and Global Affairs, and Lauren J. Borja, Ph.D.

The American Nuclear Policy Initiative (ANPI), an independent project of Global Zero featuring a task force of former government & non-governmental experts, released its new report providing an objective analysis of U.S. nuclear policy under the Trump administration. The report details activities on nuclear proliferation, strategic stability, nuclear modernization, Iran, and North Korea, making clear there are growing concerns about most, if not all, of the various nuclear dangers facing the United States and its allies.

The International Nuclear Risk Assessment Group (INRAG) has released a working paper dealing with Covid-19 and its impact on the nuclear power industry. Authors include Professor M.V. Ramana, Ph.D., the Simons Chair in Disarmament, Global and Human Security and Director of the Liu Institute for Global Issues at the School for Public Policy and Global Affairs, The University of British Columbia.

Visit The Japan Times at the link below for this opinion co-authored by Casandra Jeffery and Professor M.V. Ramana, Ph.D., the Simons Chair in Disarmament, Global and Human Security and Director of the Liu Institute for Global Issues at the School for Public Policy and Global Affairs, The University of British Columbia.

See the link below for this video and audio podcast produced by Peace Magazine and Project Save the World on November 25, 2019. Trisha Pritikin is a Hanford Downwinder and internationally recognized advocate on behalf of populations exposed to Hanford’s offsite radiation releases. The Simons Foundation has invited Trisha Pritikin to speak in Vancouver in March 2020 - additional information will follow.

Princeton University’s Program on Science and Global Security (SGS), based in the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, has developed a new simulation for a plausible escalating war between the United States and Russia using realistic nuclear force postures, targets and fatality estimates. It is estimated that there would be more than 90 million people dead and injured within the first few hours of the conflict.