UN Ban on Nuclear Weapons Open Letter
An Open Letter from Scientists in Support of the UN Nuclear Weapons Negotiations
Unfortunately, such a war is more likely than one may hope, because it can start by mistake, miscalculation or terrorist provocation. There is a steady stream of accidents and false alarms that could trigger all-out war, and relying on never-ending luck is not a sustainable strategy. Many nuclear powers have larger nuclear arsenals than needed for deterrence, yet prioritize making them more lethal over reducing them and the risk that they get used.
To express your support, please add your name below:
(please sign if you study or work in a STEM field – including social sciences)
If you have questions about this letter, please contact Max Tegmark.
To date, this letter has been signed by scientists (this does not imply endorsement by their organizations):
Sources:
* 1979 report by the US Government estimating that nuclear war would kill 28%-88% without including nuclear winter effects
* Electromagnetic pulse: p79 of US Army Report AD-A278230 (unclassified)
* Peer-reviewed 2007 nuclear winter calculation
* Estimate of current nuclear warhead inventory from Federation of American Scientists
* Timeline of nuclear close calls
* UN General Assembly Resolution to launch the above-mentioned negotiations