FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Dec 19, 2019
Bishop Statement on Passage of New Trade Deal with Canada and Mexico
WASHINGTON – Today, the House of Representatives voted on the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). Following the vote, Congressman Bishop stated:
“It is about time!
Despite USMCA’s bipartisan and bicameral support, Speaker Pelosi has refused to bring it to the floor in what can only be described as an attempt to deny President Trump any victories until she could impeach him.
I am pleased the House passed the trade deal with Canada and Mexico. This is a vast improvement over NAFTA. This bill is good for Utah and the country. It is just too bad it took so long for Democrat leadership to do the right thing.”
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Nominees announced for Board of Pardons and Parole vacancy
SALT LAKE CITY – The Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice has selected nominees for a vacancy on the Board of Pardons and Parole.
The nominees for the vacancy are: Daniel Bokovy, attorney general, Department of Corrections; David Litvack, deputy chief of staff, Salt Lake City Mayor’s Office; Joseph Rupp, attorney, Collins Rupp, PC; Marshall Thompson, director, Sentencing Commission; Candice Waltrip, forensic psychologist, Infinity Psychological Services.
Nominees will be forwarded to Gov. Gary R. Herbert for appointment. Gov. Herbert’s appointee is subject to confirmation by the Utah Senate.
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Ogden’s Cozy Winter Market Returns For Its Third Year
Farmers Market Ogden presents six additional weeks to support local
January 18th – Ogden, Utah. Ogden Downtown Alliance is excited to present another season of Winter Market by Farmers Market Ogden. A slimmed down version of Farmers Market Ogden, Winter Market is a cozy, indoor market featuring fresh produce, local preserves, jams, baked goods, artisan works, seasonal beverages and more.
Held inside the historic Ogden Union Station, Winter Market starts Saturday, January 18th and will continue every Saturday through February 22nd, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., offering six additional weeks of supporting our local farmers, artisans and musicians. From fresh baked bread to delicious cups of gourmet hot chocolate, Winter Market has accepted 50 vendors this year, offering a wide variety of local goods.
This year, HEAL Yoga Studio will be hosting weekly community yoga classes upstairs in the Wattis Dumke room of Ogden Union Station at 10 a.m. All skill levels are welcome to attend this relaxing yoga class, just make sure to bring your own mat. Additionally, Winter Market will feature two live acoustic performances by local artists weekly starting at 10:30 a.m.
With the summer season of Farmers Market Ogden ending in September and Fall Market continuing through the end of October, Winter Market provides access to local foods, such as jam, preserves, meats and vegetables during the off-season of traditional farmers markets. This allows farmers to generate income from producing year-round and gives our community the chance to shop local with Farmers Market Ogden for twenty-four weeks.
“Winter Market is a great community event that you can enjoy before, or after, you recreate on the mountains,” says Jeff Furton, owner of Daily Rise Coffee, “if you have a guest in town, it’s the perfect way to showcase Ogden.”
Farmers Market Ogden is an authorized EBT/ SNAP provider and will be offering participants an opportunity to make EBT exchanges at Winter Market by visiting the information booth. Vendor registration is now closed. No on-site registration or weekly vendors will be allowed.
Winter Market by Farmers Market Ogden
Saturdays, January 18th to February 22nd
9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Inside Ogden Union Station
2501 Wall Ave, Ogden, UT 84401
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Give the ultimate gift of cultural understanding by hosting a foreign exchange student this upcoming year! ASSE International Student Exchange, a public benefit organization, is seeking local host families for high school students from over 30 countries: Spain, Germany, Thailand, Denmark, Portugal, South Korea, Italy, France, The former Soviet Union Countries, Norway and more!
Couples, single parents, and families with & without children in the home are all encouraged to host! You can choose to host a student for a semester or for the school year.
Each ASSE student is fully insured, brings his/her own personal spending money and expects to contribute to his/her share of household responsibilities, as well as being included in normal family activities and lifestyles.
Imagine the world of peace and greater understanding. Imagine yourself as part of the solution! Today’s teens are tomorrow’s parents, international business people and possibly even future political leaders! Share your corner of America by helping a foreign exchange student experience life in your area!
Local area representatives are also needed to recruit and screen both potential host families and potential U.S. students interested in studying abroad. Representatives supervise the exchange students living in their community, organize activities with the students throughout the year and provide support to host families, students and schools. Area representatives receive a stipend for each student placed and supervised.
For more information, call (800) 733-2773, go online at www.ASSEhosts.com or email asseusawest@asse.com
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Secretary Perdue Statement on House Passage of USMCA
(Washington, D.C., December 19, 2019) - U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue issued the following statement after the House of Representatives passed the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) by a bipartisan vote of 385-41.
“I’ve long said that support for USMCA crosses political parties, the bipartisan passage of the agreement today is proof of that,” Secretary Perdue said. “I am pleased the House finally brought this agreement to a vote and encourage quick passage in the Senate. President Trump delivered on his promise to replace NAFTA and USMCA is a huge success for America’s farmers and ranchers. This agreement will unleash the bounty of America’s agricultural harvest to two of our largest trading partners in the world and it is critical to the success of rural America.”
Background:
USMCA will advance United States agricultural interests in two of the most important markets for American farmers, ranchers, and agribusinesses. This high-standard agreement builds upon our existing markets to expand United States food and agricultural exports and support food processing and rural jobs.
Canada and Mexico are our first and second largest export markets for United States food and agricultural products, totaling more than $39.7 billion food and agricultural exports in 2018. These exports support more than 325,000 American jobs.
All food and agricultural products that have zero tariffs under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) will remain at zero tariffs. Since the original NAFTA did not eliminate all tariffs on agricultural trade between the United States and Canada, the USMCA will create new market access opportunities for United States exports to Canada of dairy, poultry, and eggs, and in exchange the United States will provide new access to Canada for some dairy, peanut, and a limited amount of sugar and sugar-containing products.
Earlier this year, nearly 1,000 American food and agriculture associations and companies announced their support for USMCA and the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture signed a letter to Congressional leadership urging them to ratify USMCA.
In September, all former U.S. Secretaries of Agriculture since President Reagan’s Administration announced support for USMCA. In a letter to Congressional leaders, former Secretaries John Block (Reagan), Mike Espy (Clinton), Dan Glickman (Clinton), Ann Veneman (W. Bush), Mike Johanns (W. Bush), Ed Shafer (W. Bush), and Tom Vilsack (Obama) underscored the importance of passing USMCA saying, “We need a strong and reliable trade deal with our top two customers for U.S. agriculture products. USMCA will provide certainty in the North American market for the U.S. farm sector and rural economy. We strongly support ratification of USMCA.”
Key Provision: Increasing Dairy Market Access
Key Provision: Biotechnology
Key Provision: Geographical Indications
Key Provision: Sanitary/Phytosanitary Measures
Key Provision: Poultry and Eggs
Key Provision: Wheat
Key Provision: Wine and Spirits
##
Secretary Perdue Statement on House Passage of USMCA
(Washington, D.C., December 19, 2019) - U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue issued the following statement after the House of Representatives passed the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) by a bipartisan vote of 385-41.
“I’ve long said that support for USMCA crosses political parties, the bipartisan passage of the agreement today is proof of that,” Secretary Perdue said. “I am pleased the House finally brought this agreement to a vote and encourage quick passage in the Senate. President Trump delivered on his promise to replace NAFTA and USMCA is a huge success for America’s farmers and ranchers. This agreement will unleash the bounty of America’s agricultural harvest to two of our largest trading partners in the world and it is critical to the success of rural America.”
Background:
USMCA will advance United States agricultural interests in two of the most important markets for American farmers, ranchers, and agribusinesses. This high-standard agreement builds upon our existing markets to expand United States food and agricultural exports and support food processing and rural jobs.
Canada and Mexico are our first and second largest export markets for United States food and agricultural products, totaling more than $39.7 billion food and agricultural exports in 2018. These exports support more than 325,000 American jobs.
All food and agricultural products that have zero tariffs under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) will remain at zero tariffs. Since the original NAFTA did not eliminate all tariffs on agricultural trade between the United States and Canada, the USMCA will create new market access opportunities for United States exports to Canada of dairy, poultry, and eggs, and in exchange the United States will provide new access to Canada for some dairy, peanut, and a limited amount of sugar and sugar-containing products.
Earlier this year, nearly 1,000 American food and agriculture associations and companies announced their support for USMCA and the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture signed a letter to Congressional leadership urging them to ratify USMCA.
In September, all former U.S. Secretaries of Agriculture since President Reagan’s Administration announced support for USMCA. In a letter to Congressional leaders, former Secretaries John Block (Reagan), Mike Espy (Clinton), Dan Glickman (Clinton), Ann Veneman (W. Bush), Mike Johanns (W. Bush), Ed Shafer (W. Bush), and Tom Vilsack (Obama) underscored the importance of passing USMCA saying, “We need a strong and reliable trade deal with our top two customers for U.S. agriculture products. USMCA will provide certainty in the North American market for the U.S. farm sector and rural economy. We strongly support ratification of USMCA.”
Key Provision: Increasing Dairy Market Access
Key Provision: Biotechnology
Key Provision: Geographical Indications
Key Provision: Sanitary/Phytosanitary Measures
Key Provision: Poultry and Eggs
Key Provision: Wheat
Key Provision: Wine and Spirits
##
By Adriana Harrington
The best gifts are the gifts that we continue to use for years to come. Ohio high school students received one of those perfect gifts in the form of a $34 million legislative allocation over the next two years to increase the number of students earning in-demand, industry-recognized credentials through the state’s new Innovative Workforce Incentive Program.
Courtesy of Ohio’s Governor Mike DeWine and the Ohio General Assembly, this program represents a major funding win for districts and schools, rewarding them for each student who earns an industry-recognized credential matching up with workforce needs in that industry. Districts and schools can accelerate their efforts to make this program a success using the recently updated list of eligible, industry-recognized credentials.
Incentivization of in-demand, industry-recognized credentials goes right to the heart of ensuring Ohio’s high school students are set up for success after graduation.
This thoughtful approach to industry-recognized credentials will help young Ohioans have greater career options and earnings.
Ohio has intentionally fostered collaboration across agencies to analyze earnings and workforce demand to ensure the credentials in the program have meaning—and are recognized and valued by employers. The highest-value credentials are those that align to a living wage and are “stackable” onto additional credentials and/or postsecondary programs, helping to support future career advancement.
Schools may be limited in the types of industry-recognized credentials they can offer because they don’t have the right equipment or materials in place. These funds help remove that barrier and expand access for students interested in Ohio’s most promising careers.
Credential programs are rigorous and require robust preparation to ensure students have the knowledge and skills to be successful in the aligned field. Incentive funds for schools reward their students’ achievements and also provide resources for schools to invest in creating or strengthening programs that prepare students to earn high-value credentials.
Earning a high-value, industry-recognized credential can greatly increase a student’s annual and lifetime earnings. Consider, for example, a CompTIA A+ certificate that leads to a career as computer user support specialist with a median annual income of $55,050. Or the Certified EEG/EKG/ECG Technician credential, which leads to a Cardiovascular Technologist and Technician role and a median income of $58,730. Both careers also have advancement options through further credentialing or postsecondary education. Both of these salaries are at or above the median household income and the estimated living wage in Ohio.
These are meaningful differences in quality of life and lifetime earnings—based on a policy that’s a gift that can keep on giving.
Curious about your state’s credential attainment and alignment to workforce demand? Check out Credentials Matter to explore if the credentials your students are earning match what employers need. Interested in giving the gift of lifelong success to high school students in your state through high-quality credentials? I’m here to help! Send me an email at Adriana@ExcelinEd.org.
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Hey members of the media!
We wanted to let the public know about several fishing contests that will be happening in January and February. Thanks for spreading the word. Also, any of you are welcome to attend these events to get some footage and/or interviews of this popular Utah winter sport!
For Immediate Release
Dec. 26, 2019
7 ice fishing tournaments and events to check out in 2020
SALT LAKE CITY — If you want to add an extra challenge to your ice fishing this winter, a tournament may be just the thing. Plus, you can help many of our fisheries and often win prizes!
The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources and Utah State Parks will be sponsoring or hosting several ice fishing tournaments in January and February around the state. A valid Utah fishing license is required for anyone over 12 years old to fish in any of the events. Anyone participating should be familiar with the ice safety recommendations on the Utah State Parks website.
Here are a few tournaments to check out:
Rockport State Park Tagged Fishing Classic
This fishing contest will take place from Jan. 1 to Feb. 29 at Rockport State Park in Summit County. Over 100 fish in the reservoir have been tagged and anyone who catches one and turns it in during that time frame can win a prize.
Find more contest details on the Rockport State Park website or by calling their office.
Steinaker State Park Tagged Fish Outing
This fishing contest will take place from Jan. 11 until Feb. 7 at 5 p.m. at Steinaker State Park in Uintah County. Only 50 trout will be tagged, and anglers have the option of keeping the fish or releasing them. If you choose to release your fish, simply pull the tag out. All tags must be turned in to the DWR office at 318 N. Vernal Ave. during normal business hours. The prize giveaway will occur at the Utah Field House of Natural History State Park Museum on Feb. 7 at 6 p.m. Registration is required to participate in the contest. It’s $20 for adults 17 and older and $15 for youth 16 and younger.
Find more contest details on the Steinaker State Park website or by calling their office.
Burbot Bash
Hosted by the Flaming Gorge Chamber of Commerce and sponsored by the DWR and the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, the Burbot Bash will be held Jan. 24-26 at Flaming Gorge Reservoir. This annual ice fishing tournament helps to control the burbot population, a cod-like fish that rapidly reproduces and preys on the eggs of other fish species. Prizes will be awarded to anglers who catch the most burbot, the largest and smallest burbot, and a tagged burbot.
For more contest details or to register, visit the Burbot Bash website.
Monster Cisco Disco
While this is not technically “ice fishing,” this annual winter fishing event is worth attending. The Cisco Disco is part of the Bear Lake Monster Winterfest and will be held Saturday, Jan. 25, at Bear Lake State Park. Participants will have the chance to dip net for Bonneville cisco, a fish species only found at Bear Lake, and must turn in their catch between 11 a.m. and noon to be entered into the contest.
For more details, visit the Bear Lake Monster Winterfest website.
East Canyon State Park Ice Fishing Challenge
This will be the 7th annual fishing challenge hosted by East Canyon State Park. It will be held on Jan. 25 from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Participants can register on Eventbrite.
For more details, visit the Utah State Parks website.
Starvation Ice Derby
This event will be held at Starvation Reservoir at Fred Hayes State Park on Saturday, Feb. 8. Participants will be targeting trout and walleye for the contest, and prizes will be awarded based on fish length. Registration is $15 to fish for just one of the species or $20 to fish for both species.
For more details about the contest, visit the Utah State Park website.
Fish Lake Perch Tournament
Hosted by DWR and several partnering organizations, the annual Fish Lake Perch Tournament will be held on Feb. 22 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. As its name suggests, participants will be targeting perch and can win prizes if they catch a tagged one.
For more details, visit the DWR Eventbrite page.
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Hi Jim
Please feel free to publish all or portions of the following article. If you would like to interview Andreas, or have him provide email comments, please let me know and I will coordinate.
Best,
Terry
Why Aren’t More CEOs Women?
4 Ways Corporations Can Clear The Path
While more women are rising to the top of the corporate ladder, a question persists: Why do female CEOs still comprise a small percentage of the highest leadership positions?
Research underscores women’s capabilities as corporate leaders and their positive effects on organizations. An extensive worldwide survey showed that having women at the C-suite level significantly increases profit margins. And a study by the Harvard Business Review reported women scoring higher than men in most leadership skills.
But research also partly sheds light on why women aren’t proportionately represented in corporate leadership roles. Reasons include male-dominated corporate boards and leadership stereotypes. Not to mention that women, in addition to having the bulk of at-home family responsibilities, can be seen as threatening to men when in leadership positions.
How can more women ascend to executive positions? Andreas Wilderer, author of Lean On: The Five Pillars Of Support For Women In Leadership, says it starts at home with a supportive husband willing to take on more of a household role while not worrying about reverse stereotypes – the stay-at-home dad or secondary bread-winner.
“Even though society is getting used to strong women in the workplace, men who take care of the house and kids are still often seen as an oddity,” Wilderer says. “Old attitudes in society fade slowly, as many still believe that each sex should keep its place.
“In many families, however, that place is changing. Change tends to begin not in the big arenas, but in the small places. And change starts within the family unit – long before many corporations and institutions recognize what is happening. Now more and more men are proudly accepting the role of staying home to fully support their wives and their career pursuits, and it’s time more companies were supportive of women in well-earned leadership roles.”
Wilderer suggests four ways companies can make leadership opportunities more accessible to women:
Gender equality training. “With evidence proving that women make excellent leaders,” Wilderer says, “it is clear that not having these qualified individuals in leadership positions is a detriment to your business. Gender equality training within a company is a transformative process that enables women to be assessed on the basis of their skills, not restricted from upward movement by their gender.”
Gender equality training 2.0. Wilderer says normal bias training needs to go an extra step, emphasizing how companies can show support for male partners and the family of the female leader. For example, when companies sponsor events such as dinners for employees, they often buy gifts for the spouses attending. Wilderer says an important cultural shift can occur in the form of the gift. “It’s a cultural shift to not assume that the spouse of a leader is a female,” Wilderer says. “You can no longer make that assumption. Companies should make the gifts gender neutral, emphasizing the importance of the supportive spousal role.”
Recruiting. A company’s commitment to promote women’s advancements from within starts in the recruiting process. “Recruiting women on the premises of equal opportunity provisions is the first step to help women rise to important positions,” Wilderer says. “Organizations should issue meaningful equality plans to absorb women members in proportion to men.”
Career-mapping. “Organizations should have an effective career-mapping plan in place for female employees,” Wilderer says. “Being aware of higher-level opportunities within the organization and the path required to achieve them helps women to set out clearer plans for attaining these roles.”
“Ingrained attitudes take years to evolve into acceptance,” Wilderer says. “Acceptance starts with simple gestures like the gifts but has to go much further – flexible hours, provided daycare, a partial home office. As far as women have come in the corporate structure, there are still too many barriers, and too few of them getting to fulfill their potential as leaders.”
About Andreas Wilderer
Andreas Wilderer (andreaswilderer.com) is the author of Lean On: The Five Pillars Of Support For Women in Leadership. A business leader and entrepreneur, Wilderer worked in the event and marketing field. As Gallup-certified CliftonStrengths Coach he founded GLOBULARiTY LLC, a business coaching company that helps leaders grow and learn how to strengthen their Adaptability Quotient (AQ). While working on his business pursuits, Wilderer stayed at home and cared for his two children while his wife pursued her career. Recognizing that women can be providers and men can be nurturers, Wilderer began focusing on coaching female leaders while teaching men how to actively support them. As a motivational Keynote speaker he is advocating for females in leadership and the system they can Lean On.
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Please consider the attached photo for publication. No photo credit is necessary, but if you wish to include one please use www.plexusworldwide.com. Thank you!
Whitney Warr to Host Plexus Worldwide’s “Super Saturday” Training Forum in Salt Lake City
Whitney Warr, of Toquerville, Utah is part of the host committee bringing Plexus Worldwide’s “Super Saturday” event to Salt Lake City. Plexus’ Super Saturday is a massive training forum held simultaneously in more than 20 cities across the U.S and Canada on Jan. 11, 2020. Warr is a Plexus® Ambassador (independent sales representative), who will welcome hundreds of attendees to the event as they learn how to grow their independent, home-based businesses in an interactive workshop format.
Attendance at Plexus Worldwide’s Super Saturday is open to anyone either by participating in the in-person events or by streaming online. Registration is $19.95 USD and includes access to exclusive training materials and information. Registration and information are available at https://plexusworldwide.com/super-saturday-live.
Plexus Worldwide® is a leading direct-selling health and wellness company focused on health and happiness. For more information, visit www.plexusworldwide.com.
About Plexus Worldwide:
Plexus Worldwide is a leading health and happiness company featuring health and wellness products that enable people to improve their lives and well-being. With hundreds of thousands of independent business owners (“Ambassadors”) worldwide, Plexus is among the top 15 largest direct sales companies in the United States, and the top 30 global companies according to Direct Selling News. The combination of Plexus products and opportunities help individuals to meet their health-wellness and financial goals. For more information about us visit www.plexusworldwide.com.
=================
Please consider the attached photo for publication. No photo credit is necessary, but if you wish to include one please use www.plexusworldwide.com. Thank you!
Whitney Warr to Host Plexus Worldwide’s “Super Saturday” Training Forum in Salt Lake City
Whitney Warr, of Toquerville, Utah is part of the host committee bringing Plexus Worldwide’s “Super Saturday” event to Salt Lake City. Plexus’ Super Saturday is a massive training forum held simultaneously in more than 20 cities across the U.S and Canada on Jan. 11, 2020. Warr is a Plexus® Ambassador (independent sales representative), who will welcome hundreds of attendees to the event as they learn how to grow their independent, home-based businesses in an interactive workshop format.
Attendance at Plexus Worldwide’s Super Saturday is open to anyone either by participating in the in-person events or by streaming online. Registration is $19.95 USD and includes access to exclusive training materials and information. Registration and information are available at https://plexusworldwide.com/super-saturday-live.
Plexus Worldwide® is a leading direct-selling health and wellness company focused on health and happiness. For more information, visit www.plexusworldwide.com.
About Plexus Worldwide:
Plexus Worldwide is a leading health and happiness company featuring health and wellness products that enable people to improve their lives and well-being. With hundreds of thousands of independent business owners (“Ambassadors”) worldwide, Plexus is among the top 15 largest direct sales companies in the United States, and the top 30 global companies according to Direct Selling News. The combination of Plexus products and opportunities help individuals to meet their health-wellness and financial goals. For more information about us visit www.plexusworldwide.com.
===============
Dear Editor:
Please consider this comprehensive roundup by nuclear weapons and global social movements historian Dr. Lawrence Wittner of how Americans think and feel about nuclear weapons issues. For PeaceVoice, thank you,
Tom Hastings
~~~~~~~~~~
Americans are ready for a different approach to nuclear weapons
by Lawrence Wittner
947 words
Although today’s public protests against nuclear weapons can’t compare to the major antinuclear upheavals of past decades, there are clear indications that most Americans reject the Trump administration’s nuclear weapons policies.
Since entering office in 2017, the Trump administration has withdrawn the United States from the nuclear agreement with Iran, scrapped the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty with Russia, and apparently abandoned plans to renew the New START Treaty with Russia. After an overwhelming majority of the world’s nations agreed on a landmark UN Treaty on the Prohibitions of Nuclear Weapons in July 2017, the Trump administration quickly announced that it would never sign the treaty. The only nuclear arms control measure that the Trump administration has pursued―an agreement by North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons program―appears to have collapsed, at least in part because the Trump administration badly mishandled the negotiations.
Moreover, the Trump administration has not only failed to follow the nuclear arms control and disarmament policies of its Democratic and Republican predecessors, but has plunged into a renewed nuclear arms race with other nations by championing a $1.7 trillion program to refurbish the entire U.S. nuclear weapons complex. Perhaps most alarming, it has again and again publicly threatened to initiate a nuclear war.
These policies are quite out of line with U.S. public opinion.
Polling Americans in July 2018 about Trump’s withdrawal of the United States from the Iran nuclear agreement, the Chicago Council on Global Affairs found that 66 percent of respondents preferred remaining within it. In February 2019, when the Chicago Council surveyed Americans about U.S. withdrawal from the INF Treaty, 54 percent opposed the action. Moreover, when Americans were presented with arguments for and against withdrawal, opposition to withdrawal rose to 66 percent.
The Center for International & Security Studies at the University of Maryland also reported overwhelming public support for nuclear arms control and disarmament agreements. Polling Americans in early 2019, the Center found that two-thirds of respondents (including a majority of Republicans) favored remaining within the INF Treaty, while eight out of ten respondents wanted the U.S. government to extend the New START Treaty. Indeed, more than eight out of ten U.S. respondents backed new nuclear arms control treaties with Russia—findings similar to those of the Chicago Council, which reported that 87 percent of American respondents to a poll in early 2019 wanted the United States and Russia to secure a further nuclear arms limitation agreement.
But just how much arms control and disarmament do Americans want? It might come as a shock to the many pundits in the mass media who have never mentioned the 2017 UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, but roughly half the U.S. population supports nuclear abolition along the lines of the treaty. According to a YouGov opinion surveydone in late September 2019, 49 percent of American respondents thought the United States should work with other nations to eliminate all nuclear weapons in the world. Only 32 percent disagreed, while 19 percent said they didn’t know.
When it comes to actual use of nuclear weapons, Americans are even clearer in their preferences. A YouGov/Huffington Post poll in August 2016 found that 67 percent of American respondents thought the U.S. government should never initiate a nuclear attack. In mid-2019, Zogby Analytics surveys of American respondents in key primary states also discovered very high levels of opposition to first use of nuclear weapons.
Not surprisingly, Donald Trump’s angry, impulsive behavior, coupled with his threats to launch nuclear attacks upon other nations, has left many Americans uneasy. This might help to explain why 68 percent of Americans surveyed in early 2019 by the Center for International & Security Studies backed congressional legislation requiring that a president, before ordering a nuclear attack upon another nation, consult with congress and secure a congressional declaration of war upon that nation. As the U.S. congress has not passed a declaration of war since 1941, this opinion, too, provides a substantial challenge to current U.S. nuclear policy.
There are other indications, as well, that the American public wants a new approach. In July 2019, the U.S. Conference of Mayors, at its 87th annual meeting, unanimously passed a resolution calling on all U.S. presidential candidates “to pledge U.S. global leadership in preventing nuclear war, returning to diplomacy, and negotiating the elimination of nuclear weapons.” Calling for negotiations to replace the INF Treaty and to extend or replace the New START Treaty, the resolution demanded that candidates support the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons and renounce the option of first use of nuclear weapons.
Yet another sign of public discontent is the emerging Back from the Brink campaign, supported by numerous peace, environmental, religious, health, and other organizations. Endorsed by dozens of cities and towns across the country, it has also received the official backing of the state legislatures of California and Oregon, as well as of the New Jersey State Assembly and the Maine State Senate. The campaign calls on the U.S. government to “lead a global effort to prevent nuclear war” by: “renouncing the option of using nuclear weapons first”; “ending the sole, unchecked authority of any U.S. president to launch a nuclear attack”; “taking U.S. nuclear weapons off hair-trigger alert”; “cancelling the plan to replace its entire nuclear arsenal with enhanced weapons”; and “actively pursuing a verifiable agreement among nuclear-armed states to eliminate their nuclear arsenals.”
Looked at from the standpoint of most Americans and, indeed, survival in the nuclear age, this departure from the dangerous direction of U.S. nuclear policy makes a lot of sense. Looked at from the standpoint of candidates seeking election to national office, it would also make good politics.
—30—
Dr. Lawrence Wittner, syndicated by PeaceVoice, is Professor of History emeritus at SUNY/Albany. He is the author of Confronting the Bomb (Stanford University Press).
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