Toward the Abolition of Strategic Nuclear Weapons.
Published: August 6, 2016
Publisher: Life Matters Journal and Vulnerable People Project
Website: www.VulnerablePeopleProject.com
🔰 Introduction
The paper asserts that the continued possession and potential use of strategic nuclear weapons violates Just War Theory, especially the principles of:
Discrimination (military vs. civilian targets)
Proportionality (harm must not outweigh good)
Nuclear arsenals still pose catastrophic risks and need radical reduction. The U.S., as a leading nuclear power, has a critical role in both reduction and setting a global ethical standard .
📊 Key Statistics & Visuals
Page 2:
Pie charts show:
U.S. and Russia together hold the vast majority of global nuclear weapons.
Distribution of Deployed Strategic Nuclear Weapons in 2015.
Page 3:
Bar chart & table present:
The status of nuclear arsenals by nation in 2015.
Total approx. 10,365 warheads worldwide.
U.S. and Russia each had over 4,000 total warheads.
Minor nuclear powers include the UK, France, China, India, Pakistan, Israel, and North Korea.
🧭 Ethical Argument
Just War Theory, rooted in Christian and other traditions, requires limited, proportionate use of force.
Nuclear weapons cannot be used ethically under these standards because:
They cause indiscriminate harm (even if aimed at military targets).
Their destructive power dwarfs that of WWII-era bombs.
Nations maintaining such weapons are effectively planning war crimes .
🔁 Political and Strategic Risks
Moral Hypocrisy: Nuclear nations condemning terrorism while threatening civilian populations appear hypocritical.
Nonproliferation Undermined: Continued maintenance of large stockpiles encourages other nations to seek nuclear arms.
Environmental and Human Threat: Any large-scale exchange would devastate the global environment and cause mass casualties.
🛠️ Proposed “Blueprint for Abolition”
Outlined primarily on pages 5–6:
50% Initial Reduction
All nuclear states cut arsenals in half to build trust.
Further Reductions by Thirds
Focus on removing high-yield warheads.
De-alerting Measures
Remove warheads from active status; increase procedural safeguards.
Ethical Revisions to Nuclear Doctrine
Officially ban nuclear strikes on civilian targets and revise military law accordingly.
Strengthen Nonproliferation Efforts
Link reductions to global disarmament treaties and verification mechanisms.
💬 Conclusion
The document concludes that nuclear weapons can never be used in ways compatible with Just War Theory, and that dismantling these arsenals is a moral imperative for nuclear powers. The U.S. is called to lead in setting this ethical precedent .