Resources

Handouts for Events

Basic facts on global nuclear weapon stockpiles
Nine countries together possess more than 17,000 nuclear weapons. The United States and Russia maintain roughly 2,000 of their nuclear weapons on high-alert status – ready to be launched within minutes of a warning. Most are many times more powerful than the atomic bombs dropped on Japan in 1945. A single nuclear warhead, if detonated on a large city, could kill millions of people, with the effects persisting for decades. Read More

Factsheets on nuclear weapons and energy spending

Physicians for Social Responsibility id working with a coalition of organizations (the Alliance for Nuclear Accountability) who are committed to making progress on reducing the U.S.'s nuclear footprint. Take a look at these three factsheets to learn more about a number of the bomb facilities and programs where we see real possibilities of success.

Nuclear Weapons Factsheet

Nuclear Cleanup Factsheet

Nuclear Reactors and Waste Factsheet

Policy Recommendations

Outline of PSR's Security Program
The Security Program at Physicians for Social Responsibility has a long history of work on nuclear arms control and other peace and security issues. The program provides a medical perspective on some of the gravest security challenges to health and works to educate the public and lawmakers on these important issues.  Read More

Description of the Nuclear Famine report
In 2012, PSR released a report describing conclusions based on new climate and agriculture studies of the impact from a limited nuclear war in South Asia. This handout provides a synopsis of the highlights of the report and can be used as a flyer for presentations and events focused on this study. Read More

Video Presentation for the Nuclear Famine report
Dr. Ira Helfand, author of the report, presents on the report's data and the case for urgent action towards a world free of nuclear weapons. This 14 minute video can be used for presentations and events to provide expert analysis on this new data.  Link to Video

Petition in support of the "Humanitarian Threats of Nuclear Weapons" campaign
This petition will allow people to sign-on to support this campaign and the perspective that nuclear weapons must be urgently banned. The petition, once filled out, can be mailed to PSR's office (address below) or e-mailed to security@psr.org. Read More

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Reports

Nuclear Famine: Over the last several years, studies have shown that a limited, regional war between India and Pakistan would cause a significant climate disruption worldwide. "Nuclear Famine: A Billion People at Risk" examines the impact on agriculture output that would result from the climate disruption. Read More

Shock and Awe Hits Home: The military operational costs of the war in Iraq, now greater than $500 billion, have surpassed those for the entire Vietnam conflict. These escalating operational costs are alarming, yet the long-term public health costs will be much greater. Read More

War Is Not the Answer: The crisis with Iran has been building since 2002, when groups opposed to the clerical Iranian government first began to reveal previously hidden details of Iran's nuclear program. The United States has reacted to these developments with dangerous rhetoric that reflects a lack of awareness of the human and security toll that a military strike would create. Read More

Projected US Casualties and Destruction of US Medical Services From Attacks by Russian Nuclear Forces: The number of direct, short term casualties and collateral damage to US medical services were calculated for two thermonuclear attack scenarios: 1) 2,000 Russian warheads believed to be on high alert status today; and 2) a future Russian force of 500 warheads targeted in response to the deployment of a US National Missile Defense (NMD) system. Read More

Towards Nuclear Abolition: The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) wrote an excellent report after the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty Review Conference ended in May. It details the growing support from governments at the NPT-Review Conference for a Nuclear Weapons Convention. Read More

Zero Is The Only Option: In March 2010, International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War and PSR docs Vic Sidel and Ira Helfand published a major new briefing paper on the global climate and health effects of nuclear war. Zero is the only option was produced for the 2010 Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference. Read More

CTBT Today: Reason for Ratification: In the years since 1999, when the United States Senate failed to ratify the CTBT, many changes have occurred. These changes call for a renewal of the debate surrounding CTBT concerns. Successful verification measures and Stockpile Stewardship have opened up possibilities that did not seem feasible in 1999. The U.S. must take the lead once again on nuclear non-proliferation and ratify the CTBT. Read More

Consequences of a Single Failure of Nuclear Deterrence: Only a single failure of nuclear deterrence is required to start a nuclear war, and the consequences of such a failure would be profound. Peer-reviewed studies predict that less than 1% of the nuclear weapons now deployed in the arsenals of the Nuclear Weapon States, if detonated in urban areas, would immediately kill tens of millions of people, and cause long-term, catastrophic disruptions of the global climate and massive destruction of Earth’s protective ozone layer. Read More