US representative to the UN boycotts talks on nuclear weapons ban

[karen s. farnsworth]

This week the UN is meeting to negotiate a ban on nuclear weapons. What a great idea! The US refuses to participate. The United States led a BOYCOTT of U.N. talks on on Monday. Despite the boycott, more than 100 nations did take part, although none of the participating countries possess nuclear weapons.

Asked to explain the US boycott, U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley said: “You’re going to see almost 40 countries that are not in the General Assembly today. And that’s 40 countries that are saying, in this day and time, we would love to have a ban on nuclear—on nuclear weapons. But in this day and time, we can’t honestly say that we can protect our people by allowing the bad actors to have them, and those of us that are good, trying to keep peace and safety, not to have them.”

Our ambassador, Nikki Haley, says that we can’t negotiate a ban because we are ‘the good guys’ and we can’t allow the ‘bad actors to have them.’ This is ridiculous in so many ways! First, how is it that we are the good guys …. Our ambassador should brush up on her history of genocide of Native Americans, slavery, Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Vietnam, contra wars in Central America, overthrow of Allende in Chili, the overthrow of Mosaddegh in Iran, and the tragedies in Afghanistan and Iraq. Furthermore, how does participating in negotiations allow bad actors to have nuclear weapons? Isn’t negotiation about keeping the bad actors from acquiring nuclear weapons? Who do you negotiate with….those you already agree with ….?

Please write your representatives and demand that the US participate in negotiating a Nuclear Weapons Ban Treaty. It is unacceptable for our representative to the United Nations declare that the United States won’t even talk about a ban; it must perpetuate its nuclear arsenal. While the United States stands on the sidelines, more than 100 nations are attempting to work out a tangible pathway toward the total elimination of nuclear weapons. Without US participation the effort can’t succeed.

Moreover, the U.S. government plans to spend $1 trillion to upgrade and expand the capability of its nuclear arsenal.  This will not protect us, it will fuel a nuclear arms race among the nine nuclear nations and push non-nuclear powers to try to develop them. A nuclear arms race invites catastrophe. Perhaps there will be a nuclear accident, a sociopath will gain possession of a nuclear weapon, or nuclear weapons will be used by one or more of the nuclear powers in war. The only way to ensure that these weapons will not bring catastrophe is to work toward their total elimination. This is the way to protect our people.

West Seattle Neighbors for Peace and Justice are part of the state-wide coalition of organizations working together to promote nuclear disarmament. If not in ‘this day and time’, then when? Join us.

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[JoB]

Even if you believe the good guys bad guys scenario… and i don’t… boycotting talks is not the way to come to an agreement that works for

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[JoB]

America.. the biggest bully on the block…
is that how we want to be seen by the world?
is that who we want to be?

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[JanS]

Nikki Haley might be soft spoken…but, IMO, the ex-gov of SC is a loyalist to our present president and his regime….she gets her orders from him…and he would like to do away with the UN, just like he’s getting rid of everything else :(

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[waynster]

Niki Haley a big corporate sell out… sold out South Carolina to big corporate dollars……speaking of trump …… GOP’S new plan B health care….
http://www.gocomics.com/nonsequitur/2017/03/30

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