A Message to the Newly freaked out
DISARM THE
PATRIARCHY
The LAYwoMAN'S HANDBOOK ON NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT
Trump's "nuclear button." The end of the Iran Deal. Fire and fury. North Korea. We are inundated with news about world leaders threatening nuclear war. When it comes to nuclear weapons, women are rarely included at the table. But we know that empowering women is key to creating communities that are more just, prosperous, and safe. That’s what the #DisarmThePatriarchy handbook is all about – arming women with the information and tools you need to hold elected officials accountable and build a grassroots movement to end the threat of nuclear war. Download the handbook and scroll down to take action today. Together, we can work towards a world free from nuclear weapons.
Take action
Sign Up for Action Alerts
Recent years have shown the power of mass action. Hundreds of thousands have taken to the streets in the name of peace, women’s empowerment, and the end of violence. Now, we’re calling on women to help harness that momentum to put an end to nuclear armament. Whether it’s contacting your lawmakers, organizing your community, or attending a rally – we need your help to #DisarmThePatriachy. Sign up now to be the first to know about action alerts.
Contact your Representatives
Our policymakers were elected to represent the will of the people. It’s on us to hold them accountable to building a more peaceful world free of nuclear arms. Head to WAND’s Action Hub for the most recent information about important bills, petitions, and resolutions and to learn more about how to contact your lawmakers.
Nuclear Weapons cost Lives
You may have heard nuke wonks and news pundits batting around the term “low-yield” in reference to some of the nuclear weapons that the United States is currently developing. Low-yield weapons refers to those that are 10-50 kilotons. Calling them low-yield is a misrepresentation: the two bombs dropped in WWII, both considered low-yield, killed at least 150,000 people, wounded tens of thousands more, and affected generations of Japanese citizens.
15 Kilotons
"Little Boy" U.S. Bomb dropped on Hiroshima, 1945
20 Kilotons
"Fat Boy" U.S. Bomb dropped on Nagasaki, 1945
These two Bombs killed 150,000 people
1,200 Kilotons
"B-83" Largest bomb in the current U.S. arsenal
Estimated fatalities if dropped over NYC: 1,690,930 people
share the handbook
Together, we can put an end to a world with nuclear arms – but it’s going to take a movement. Help grow our numbers and share the #DisarmThePatriarchy handbook with your networks.
organize
To learn more about specific ways you can make an impact in your community—from starting a student group, organizing a protest, or conducting a mini-lobby day—send an email to DisarmThePatriarchy@wand.org or call us at (202) 459-4769. We want to hear from you—seriously!
Estimated fatalities if dropped over NYC: 6,130,230
people
50,000 Kilotons
"Tsar Bomba" Largest bomb ever tested
Soviet Union, 1961
Nuclear Weapons cost you
hard-earned dollars
How much is the United States investing in nuclear weapons? Unfortunately, a lot. The Trump administration’s plans to modernize the U.S. nuclear arsenal will cost approximately $1.7 trillion over the next 30 years, adjusted for inflation. The funds will also finance four new nuclear weapons systems—the first developed since the Cold War. It gets worse: the Fiscal Year 2019 Federal Budget proposes budget cuts to nuclear nonproliferation programs and eliminates some programs entirely. These changes increase the risk of nuclear proliferation around the globe and reduce investment in diplomatic options and domestic needs.
president Trump's Budget Requests
FY 18 Budget Request
FY 19 Budget Request
Nuclear Modernization
Billions of Dollars ($)
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Dept. of Defense
Dept. of Education
Dept. of State
Environ-mental Protection Agency
how did we get here?
a brief timeline
In order to better understand the circumstances that shaped the current climate around U.S. nuclear weapons, we must examine our past.
Why Women?
The evidence is clear. Women are key to national and global security. When women are meaningfully involved in peace processes, it is more likely that peace lasts.
Activism Works
You may be asking yourself, can we really do anything about the risks posed by nuclear weapons? The answer is unequivocally yes.
Policy Solutions
There are promising policy solutions that could have real impact on lowering the threat posed by nuclear weapons. These options are being discussed in the halls of the House and Senate, by the brightest minds of D.C.’s think tanks, and in the West Wing of the White House. But ultimately, it’s not enough to talk – we need action.
Ending Sole Authority
In the United States, the president has the sole authority to order the use of nuclear weapons—for any reason and at any time. No one in the Defense Department, Congress, or the judicial branch can lawfully prevent the use of nuclear weapons once the order is given. Leaving the decision to launch a nuclear weapon to a single person, regardless of who, is a dangerous policy.
There are currently two bills in the United States Congress, S. 200 in the Senate and H.R. 669 in the House, that would prohibit the president from authorizing such a strike without congressional approval. These bills offer one solution to the issue of sole authority and would be an important first step toward ensuring the United States isn’t one mistake away from starting a nuclear war.