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Locals applaud Nobel Peace honoree Friday Dec 8, 2017 at 8:44 PM Dec 8, 2017 at 8:44 PM Local report Ashland-connected peace workers are enthused about the upcoming presentation of the Nobel Peace Prize to the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons for “its work to draw attention to the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of any use of nuclear weapons and for its ground-breaking efforts to achieve a treaty-based prohibition of such weapons.” Herbert Rothschild, chair of the Prevent War program of Peace House in Ashland, said, “It’s been disappointing that, to date, there has been so little media attention to the treaty. It offers humankind our best chance to free ourselves forever from the threat of nuclear annihilation. Abolition is no longer controversial—almost everyone favors it. But certain governments, including ours, cling to the illusion of security these weapons convey. If more Americans knew about the treaty, they would demand U.S. ratification.” Peace House has been working to broaden public awareness of the treaty since its negotiation was successfully concluded by the United Nations on July 7 of this year and opened for signing by the world’s nations on Sept. 20. The treaty prohibits countries from developing or possessing nuclear weapons, or allowing them to be stationed on their territory. Countries currently possessing these weapons must, on joining the treaty, commit to observing a strict time-line for destroying their stockpiles. Michael Niemann, another member of the Peace House Prevent War program and a professor of International Studies at Southern Oregon Univeristy, regards this criticism as an excuse for the U.S. to retain a nuclear arsenal that dwarfs North Korea’s. “The historical record since World War II proves that our possession of nuclear weapons has not deterred other nations from acquiring them. Quite the opposite. As long as some countries are nuclear 'haves,' it is an on-going provocation for others to go nuclear. Not threats, but diplomatic efforts like the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT) and the agreement with Iran, are the reason only nine nations so far have developed nuclear arsenals despite our bad example. This new treaty is the final and most necessary diplomatic step we must take.” Estelle Voeller, also part of the Peace House team, pointed out that the global movement to end the arms race between the U.S. and the Soviet Union showed both the necessity and the effectiveness of grassroots activism. “In the '80s I think we saved the planet from the arrogance and folly of our national leaders. But it’s clear that they will jeopardize us time and again until we deny them the power to destroy humanity. We must insist that they sign the abolition treaty.” For more information, contact Herb Rothschild, 541-531-2848, [email protected].