President John F. Kennedy signing the Limited Nuclear Test Ban Treaty in 1963. The treaty banned nuclear testing in the atmosphere, underwater and outerspace. Underground testing would continue but the treaty was a first step toward the not yet achieved goal of ending all nuclear testing. See the video on YouTube.
Tag Archives: nuclear testing
Two petitions call for ending nuclear weapons testing
Two petitions are open for signature urging ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. The treaty bans all nuclear weapons test explosions.
The first petition is available at WhiteHouse.gov.
The second petition is at CARE2.
Filed under nuclear weapons
Video: President Johnson announces China’s First Atomic Bomb Test
President Lyndon B. Johnson announces China’s first atomic bomb test on October 16, 1964. See the video on YouTube.
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Video: President Kennedy on Nuclear Test Ban-1963 press conference
President John F. Kennedy answers questions about the Limited Nuclear Test Ban Treaty at a press conference on August 20, 1963. See the video on YouTube.
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Video: Signing of the Limited Nuclear Test Ban Treaty in 1963
A news report about the signing of the Limited Nuclear Test Ban Treaty in 1963. The treaty prohibits nuclear test explosions except for underground blasts. See the video at YouTube.
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Video: Nuclear Weapons Tests: Operation Ivy
A 1952 nuclear weapons test by the United States called Operation Ivy. See the video on YouTube.
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Video: Eisenhower discusses a limited ban on nuclear weapons testing
Short video of President Eisenhower talking about a letter he wrote to Nikita Khrushchev in which he proposed a limited nuclear test ban. See the video on YouTube.
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Video: President Eisenhower’s Statement on Suspending Nuclear Weapons Testing
President Dwight Eisenhower makes a statement about nuclear weapons testing on August 22nd, 1958. This sets in motion negotiations which would lead to a Limited Test Ban Treaty in 1963 during President Kennedy’s administration. See the video on YouTube.
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Video: From the Cuban Missile Crisis to the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty
A short video about the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962 and the aftermath, which included negotiations between the U.S. and the Soviet Union to end nuclear weapons testing. See the video on YouTube.
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Petition Calls on Senate to Ratify Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty
Nuclear Weapons Test during the 1950s. (National Archives photo)
A new petition at CARE2 calls on the Senate to ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT). The treaty bans all nuclear weapons test explosions.
The Senate has to ratify the treaty for the U.S to join. Nine countries, including the United States, still need to ratify the treaty for it to enter into force. The other eight countries include China, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, North Korea and Pakistan. Russia has already ratified the CTBT.
Ellen Tauscher, Undersecretary for Arms Control, says, “The CTBT is central to leading nuclear weapons states toward a world of diminished reliance on nuclear weapons and reduced nuclear competition.”
The petition reads:
We the undersigned ask you to ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT). A global ban of nuclear test explosions benefits U.S. national security.
The CTBT is a step toward nuclear disarmament. The treaty is a step away from a costly arms race which new nuclear test explosions would certainly invoke.
Nuclear weapons spending drains our society of resources better spent on domestic and international priorities. Ratification of the CTBT will be vital for moving forward on further agreements related to worldwide nuclear disarmament.
Our Stockpile Stewardship Program can maintain our current nuclear arsenal. The CTBT international monitoring system will ensure there is compliance with the treaty globally.
The threat of nuclear war, nuclear terrorism and the massive cost of nuclear arsenals make the CTBT very much in our interest. We ask that you support ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT).
Thank you for reading this petition.
You can sign the petition at CARE2
Filed under nuclear weapons
Author William Lambers 