People of Faith CT

TOWN OF WINDHAM
BOARD OF SELECTMEN

BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Selectmen THAT

WHEREAS, Cities have been primary targets of nuclear weapons throughout the Nuclear Age and remain vulnerable to massive destructive affects of nuclear weapons; and

WHEREAS, The development and maintenance of nuclear facilities is extraordinarily costly, and those resources could be far better utilized for rebuilding the infrastructure of cities, supporting the health and welfare of our citizens, and protecting and enhancing the quality of the environment; and

WHEREAS, The five declared nuclear weapons states (United States, Russia, United Kingdom, France and China) promised in May 1995 to pursue systematic and progressive efforts to reduce nuclear weapons globally, with the ultimate goal of eliminating these weapons; and

WHEREAS, The International Court of Justice ruled unanimously in July 1996 that “there exists an obligation to pursue in good faith and bring to conclusion negotiations leading to nuclear disarmament in all its aspects under strict and effective international control”; and

WHEREAS, The end of the Cold War has provided an opportunity to end the nuclear weapons era, which would fulfill our responsibility to present and future generations; and

WHEREAS, The United States is the most powerful nuclear weapon state in the world and Nations look to our Country to exercise leadership in nuclear disarmament; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the Board of Selectmen calls for the Governments of all nuclear weapon states to begin negotiations on a Nuclear Weapons Convention to prohibit and eliminate all nuclear weapons early in this Century; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Board of Selectmen urges the leadership of the Federal Government to exercise leadership in initiating negotiations for such a convention to prohibit and abolish nuclear weapons; and be it further

RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution, upon approval, will be forwarded to President George W. Bush, U.S. Senators Christopher J. Dodd and Joseph I. Lieberman, and U.S. Representative Joseph Courtney