Nuclear weapons don’t keep us safe, and they certainly don’t prevent wars. In fact, our future is threatened by their presence, and we must get rid of them.

That was the message from Archbishop John Wester of the Diocese of Santa Fe and the other speakers in the webinar on Saturday, January 27 — “Building a World Without Nuclear Weapons: An Urgent Imperative” organized by Pax Christi Massachusetts and cosponsored by Progressive Democrats of America and many others.  If you missed it, a recording of the forum will be posted at the Pax Christi USA YouTube channel, https://www.youtube.com/@PaxChristiUSA.

Archbishop Wester’s leadership in the nuclear disarmament movement was highlighted in his Pastoral Letter two years ago, Living in the Light of Christ’s Peace: A Conversation Toward Nuclear Disarmament in which he shared the moral and theological imperative for taking action to eliminate nuclear weapons. The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) came into force in January 2021 and is the primary vehicle to accomplish that goal.

In January 2023, Representative Jim McGovern introduced H.Res. 77 (along with 42 cosponsors but none from the New Mexico delegation) calling on the “President to embrace the goals and provisions of the TPNW and make nuclear disarmament the centerpiece of the national security policy of the United States.” In April 2023, the Progressive Squad joined Delegate Eleanor Norton (DC-At Large) and introduced H.Res. 2775 – Nuclear Weapons Abolition and Conversion Act of 2023 – to urge the United States to provide leadership by—(1) signing the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons; and (2) ratify the treaty when it is clear that ratification will result in—(A) the dismantlement and elimination of all nuclear weapons in every country; and (B) strict and effective international control of such dismantlement and elimination.

No one should be surprised that these two measures have failed to gain any traction in Congress, but the silence from the New Mexico delegation should anger PDA-CNM progressives and spur us to action.

“We are secure only when everyone else is secure.” Marie Dennis, a long-time peace educator with Pax Christi, said the current war in Gaza is an example. The Israelis and Palestinians will not be safe and secure until both are safe and secure.

I’m in NYC for a few weeks volunteering on the ground for the upcoming March to End Fossil Fuels on Sunday, September 17. Learn more about it here.  

There are more than 50 organizations sponsoring this March, including Progressive Democrats of America, Women’s Earth and Climate Action Network (WECAN), Massachusetts Interfaith Power & Light, Inc, US Climate Action Network (USCAN), Seventh Generation, Science for the People, Oil Change International, North American Climate, Conservation and Environment (NACCE), Lutherans Restoring Creation, Jane Fonda Climate PAC, Greenpeace USA, Food & Water Watch, Extinction Rebellion US, Beyond Plastics and American Indian Law Alliance. 

The youth (Gen Z) are leading the March to End Fossil Fuels and, frankly, leading the U.S. in demanding serious climate action.  There are 3 important climate court cases moving forward and the youth are plaintiffs in each: Juliana v. United States , in Hawaii  and Montana.President Biden was asked point blank by a reporter in Arizona during his visit there in August if he would declare a climate emergency. The youth are really disappointed with his wishy washy response — “I’ve practically declared a climate emergency.”   “

Invoking a national emergency over climate change would enable Biden to unleash sweeping actions to restrain greenhouse gas production — such as banning U.S. crude oil exports, ending offshore drilling or speeding the manufacturing of electric vehicles.”

The goal of the March on Sept. 17th is to demand President Biden declare a climate emergency leading up to the Climate Ambition Summit at the UN on Sept. 20th.  Here’s a very good article about the powers such a declaration would unleash (listen 6 minutes).   

Lora Lucero
PDA-CNM