| May 20, 2009 | ||
| 6:00 pm | to | 9:00 pm |
A renewed national discussion and debate about the role and future of nuclear weapons is underway in the United States. President Obama and a bipartisan group of respected foreign policy statesmen argue that the United States should embrace the vision of a world free of nuclear weapons and take urgent, yet practical, measured steps to reduce the nuclear threat. Is this crazy or what?
When: Wednesday May 20 — cocktails 5:30, dinner 6:15, talk 7:15
Where: The Marten House Conference Center (Just East of St. Vincent Hospital) 1801 West 86th Street Indianapolis, IN 46260
Questions? Please contact Matt Fox at cmatthewfox@yahoo.com
So what’s going on at this event? In the coming year, Congress will be the forum for a number of nuclear weapons policy debates, including whether to ratify the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty and the merits of a new strategic nuclear arms reduction agreement with Russia. The talk will provide some general information about the state of affairs with regard to nuclear weapons – how many exist, who possesses them, and what some of the key policy debates are. The talk will further explore the role of members of the Indiana congressional delegation in these debates, and how and why this is relevant to Indiana voters and how they might get involved.
On April 5, President Obama gave a groundbreaking speech outlining a bold new approach to reduce the threat posed by nuclear weapons. The speech made clear that these weapons—in today’s world—are a liability rather than an asset to U.S. security. He was adopting the long-held position of the Union of Concerned Scientists, which is certain to become one of the most influential groups shaping the debate.
So let’s hear from one of UCS’s main activists on these questions.
An expert on national security policy making, communications and organizing, Sean Meyer serves as Project Manager, US Nuclear Weapons Policy Initiative at the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS). In that capacity, he works to engage the public and policy makers on U.S. nuclear weapons policy and ways to reduce the nuclear threat. UCS is a national, non-partisan, non-profit science-based organization working for a healthier environment and a safer world with over 250,000 members and supporters nationwide.
Prior to re-joining UCS in January, 2007, Sean Meyer served as Project Director for the Security Policy Working Group, a consortium of defense and security policy analysts and think tanks. Before that, he served for over 5 years in senior marketing and communications positions for a Western, MA-based marketing and advertising firm and with other private sector organizations. Earlier in his career, Sean served in Washington, DC as Coordinator, Congressional Roundtable on Post Cold War Relations, National Field Coordinator for the UCS National Security Program and as a lobbyist/field organizer for the Professionals’ Coalition for Nuclear Arms Control. He received a BA in Political Science from the University of Vermont in 1985.
And for your listening pleasure …
This is one of the Indiana Council on World Affairs’s Distinguished Speakers dinners. Reservations should be made by calling (317) 566-2036. Dinner for this special event is $22.00 per person (Members and their guests paid in advance), $24 if paid at the door. The cost for each non-member is $30.00. Please send message to cmatthewfox@gmail.com. All e-mail reservations must have ‘ICWA Dinner Reservation’ as the subject and must contain all contact information including name of each attendee, address and telephone number. All reservations, whether by mail, telephone or e-mail MUST be received by 5:00 p.m. Thursday, May 14. Since dinners are catered, all reservations must be guaranteed. Cancellation deadline is Thursday, May 14. Canceling reservations by this deadline will avoid a financial commitment to ICWA. If you are attending the discussion only, no reservations are necessary, however, there is a $3.00 fee for ICWA members, $4.00 fee for non-members and full time students are free.
