STATEMENT FROM JOHN TIERNEY ON NIHON HIDANKYO WINNING NOBEL PEACE PRIZE

(OCTOBER 11-WASHINGTON) Former Congressman John Tierney, Executive Director of Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation, a nonpartisan nonprofit focused on reducing and eventually eliminating nuclear threats through Congressional and public education, released the following statement on behalf of the Board of Directors:

"I applaud the Nobel Committee's decision to award the Peace Prize to Nihon Hidankyo, a group of survivors of the U.S. atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki who have dedicated their lives to ensuring no one else experiences the horrific destruction of nuclear weapons," Tierney said. "More than 79 years since the United States used these weapons against Japan, there are still far too many nuclear weapons.

"Tireless diplomats and activists like Nihon Hidankyo have helped reduce the global nuclear arsenal from about 70,000 at its Cold War peak to about 12,000 today, but there is still much left to do. Global leaders must prioritize negotiation of new arms control agreements to reduce and eventually eliminate the world's arsenals. This is a legal obligation under the Nonproliferation Treaty. Congress must stop writing blank checks to the Pentagon, especially when they are unable to justify reckless, unnecessary and costly new weapons systems. Congress must also extend and expand help to the thousands of Americans harmed by U.S. nuclear weapons production and testing. And the public must wake up to the critical reality that we are careening toward a new nuclear arms race if we don't take the necessary measures to stop it.

"As Russian threats to use nuclear weapons run rampant, China rapidly grows its nuclear arsenal and the United States blunders toward expanding its arsenal, Americans must heed the message of the Nobel Committee: nuclear weapons must never be used again. We must insist that those who make nuclear weapons policy understand the utter destruction such weapons can cause. We must demand that our leaders prioritize diplomacy over conflict and actively seek to reduce nuclear threats. And we must share with our friends and loved ones what a world without nuclear threats would mean to us - we owe it to Nihon Hidankyo and all other nuclear survivors to do so."

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