STATEMENT IN SUPPORT OF THE COMMENCEMENT OF
NEGOTIATIONS ON THE ELIMINATION OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS

I,  _________________________,_______________ hereby draw the attention of the citizens of __________________________ to an important resolution adopted by acclamation on 28 June 2004 by the U.S. Conference of Mayors, which represents the one thousand largest cities in the United States. The resolution reads as follows:

1.     WHEREAS, as long as nuclear weapons exist, cities and towns around the world will be vulnerable to instantaneous devastation on a scale exceeding even that experienced by Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945; and
2.     WHEREAS, any nuclear attack would obliterate Town Hall and all emergency response mechanisms rendering any  “planning” for such a disaster utterly futile; and
3.     WHEREAS, the world's foremost line of defense against nuclear dangers is the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) which is currently in its seventh review cycle, with all parties to the treaty scheduled to meet next May to ensure that the treaty is being fully implemented; and
4.     WHEREAS, all other weapons of mass destruction have been prohibited by international agreement and are being eliminated under international control, and the nuclear-weapon states party to the NPT have undertaken to pursue negotiations in good faith on nuclear disarmament; and
5.     WHEREAS, the International Court of Justice unanimously found in 1996 that all states were obliged to “bring to a conclusion negotiations leading to nuclear disarmament in all its aspects under strict and effective international control;” and
6.     WHEREAS, the World Conference of Mayors for Peace has launched an international campaign calling on the 2005 NPT Review Conference to launch negotiations on the elimination of nuclear weapons, to be concluded by 2010 and fully implemented by 2020, also known as the 2020 Vision; and
7.     WHEREAS, weapons of mass destruction have no place in a civilized world,
8.     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the U.S. Conference of Mayors calls upon the U.S. President to support a decision by the 2005 NPT Review Conference to commence negotiations on the prohibition and elimination of nuclear weapons and nuclear-weapon-related materials, and

 I add my voice to the call upon President Bush to support a decision by the 2005 NPT Review Conference to commence negotiations on the prohibition and elimination of nuclear weapons and nuclear-weapon-related materials; and I personally resolve to remain engaged in this matter until my city or town is no longer under the threat of nuclear devastation.

(Signed) ____________________________________ (Date) __________________________