Invest in Minds not Missiles

Reducing the Threat of Nuclear War 2026

Invest in Minds Not Missiles

Virtual National Conference

Our nation and world are in a period of continuing danger and difficulty: The recently passed Pentagon budget is higher than ever and is funding a new generation of nuclear weapons; The tragic Israel/Gaza Conflict continues; The Russia/Ukraine conflict remains a source of increased danger of nuclear war;  The attacks on Venezuela opens a new front of “forever wars”. The egregious costs of the weapons buildups is draining our tax dollars from critical civilian needs, among which are K-12 public schools and higher education. This Conference continues the tradition of trying to increase cooperation and collaboration among those advocating for nuclear disarmament and social and economic justice.

3:00 pm Welcome: Prof. Robert Redwine (MIT);

3:05 pm Continuing Threats:

• The Military/Industrial/Nuclear Weapons Complex- William Hartung (Quincy Institute);
• Fallacies of the Golden Dome Project – Prof. Ted Postol (MIT);
• Dangers from the New Sentinel ICBM – David Borris (Chicago Area Peace Action).

3:45 pm Unacceptable Costs: 

Chair: Jonathan King (MIT & Mass Peace Action):

• Civilian vs Military Components of the Federal Budget – Debbie Weinstein (Coalition for Human Needs);
• Resisting Attacks on Higher Education – Mia McIver (AAUP);
• Protecting K-12 Public Schools – TBA (American Federation of Teachers);

4:25 pm Congressional Efforts to Cut Nuclear Weapons Spending and Extend the START Treaty:

Chair: Maryellen Kurkulos (Mass Peace Action Education Fund):

• Back from the Brink Campaign – Daniel Hall (Back from the Brink)
• U.S. House Opportunities – Larry Cohen (Our Revolution);
• U.S. Senate and Extending the New START Treaty – Joseph Gerson (Campaign for Peace, Disarmament, and Common Security);

4:55 Protecting our Future:

Chair: Susan Mirsky (Nuclear Disarmament Working Group):

• Organizing from the Bottom – Shailly Gupta Barnes (Kairos Center, NYC);
• Cutting Weapons Budgets – Ben Cohen (Up in Arms Campaign);
• Mobilizing for Jobs and Peace – Hon. Nina Turner (We Are Somebody).

5:30 Adjourn

Sponsored by Massachusetts Peace Action Education Fund; MIT Radius; Our Revolution; Institute for People’s Engagement; Up in Arms; Campaign for Peace, Disarmament, and Common Security.

Program Committee: David Borris, Ed Erikson, Keith Harvey, Jonathan King, Susan Mirsky, Robert Redwine

Attendance free.  Register to attend.