July 19, 2017

Will a nuclear weapons ban make the world safer?

Majority of UN member states move to ban nuclear weapons in new treaty, despite boycott by nuclear-armed nations.

In an historic UN vote, 122 countries have chosen to make nuclear weapons illegal under international law. Advocates for the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons say the move is an important first step in creating a world free from the threat of nuclear destruction.

The nuclear ban treaty would prohibit nuclear weapons possession, development, making threats to use nuclear weapons, and other related activities. None of the nine countries that have nuclear weapons took part in the treaty negotiations. The United States, UK and France said the effort was not a realistic option for countries that have for decades relied on nuclear deterrence to prevent conflict.

This is also the first treaty to directly address the humanitarian and environmental consequences of nuclear weapons testing and use.

In this episode of The Stream, we ask: What is the safest path towards nuclear disarmament?

On this episode of The Stream, we speak with: 

Ray Acheson @achesonray
Director, Reaching Critical Will

Kathleen Bailey
Senior Associate, National Institute for Public Policy

Tina Cordova
Co-Founder, Tularosa Basin Downwinders Consortium
