UN Treaty on Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons

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Celebrate!
New U.N. Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapons became International Law!

PROCLAMATION: A DAY OF JOYOUS CELEBRATION! RING THE BELLS THAT STILL CAN RING!
Wonderful news!! On January 19th the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners did “proclaim January 22, 2021 a day of joyous celebration in Jefferson County in solidarity with all nations, states, cities and towns that also supported the passage of the United Nations Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.”  

January 22nd, two days after Joseph Biden is inaugurated as our new President, the United Nations Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapons will come into force in the 50 countries that have formally adopted it, which does not include the U.S. This new International Law makes transit, possession, installation, production, storage and use of nuclear weapons illegal in countries that sign the Treaty.

That this treaty becomes International Law is something to celebrate, especially here in Jefferson County, where, in 2019, our local elected officials formally urged our electeds in the United States Congress and the President to push for passage of the U.N. Treaty.
We can’t gather together to celebrate because of Covid -19 - but we can party in place!! When you hear the courthouse bell ring at noon, January 22nd – join in, encouraging our beloved country to lead the way in abolishing nuclear weapons with bells, drums, trumpets, flutes, violins and voice.

We’re singing for our lives! Ring the bells that still can ring!

Sincerely, Douglas Milholland, Jefferson County Nuclear Ban Team

PROCLAMATION

WHEREAS, the Jefferson County Commissioners, the Port Townsend City Council and the Jefferson County Board of Health each passed resolutions in 2019 asking our nationally elected officials to negotiate for the elimination of all nuclear weapons; and

WHEREAS, the United Nations Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, ratified by fifty countries on October 24, 2020, becomes international law on January 22, 2021; and

WHEREAS, the United States could lead a global effort to prevent nuclear war by:
• Renouncing the option of using nuclear weapons first,
• Ending the President’s sole, unchecked authority to launch a nuclear attack,
• Not beginning testing of nuclear weapons again,
• Taking U.S. nuclear weapons off hair-trigger alert,
• Canceling the plan to replace its entire arsenal with next-generation nuclear weapons, and
• Joining nations around the world pursuing a verifiable, multilateral agreement among nuclear-armed states to eliminate their nuclear arsenals;

NOW THEREFORE, the Jefferson County Commissioners hereby: 
• Proclaim January 22, 2021 a day of joyous celebration in Jefferson County in solidarity with all nations, states, cities and towns that also supported the passage of the United Nations Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons; 
• Encourage all citizens to join in ringing bells at noon on Jan 22nd; and 
• Invite citizens to send celebratory letters to incoming President Biden and Vice President Harris, Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell and Representative Derek Kilmer, encouraging them to earnestly seek passage by the United States of the United Nations Treaty banning nuclear weapons.

APPROVED this 19th day of January 2021

JEFFERSON COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Kate Dean, Chair

from Douglas Milholland, Port Townsend Friends (1/22/2021)