Carnegie NPEC Conference (February, 2009). Jim Harding, PhD., retired professor of environmental studies, University of Regina. An analysis of life-cycle nuclear costs in comparison to alternatives. Read more »

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 »

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 »

The number of direct, short term casualties and collateral damage to US medical services were calculated for two thermonuclear attack scenarios. The first scenario would cause 52 million prompt fatalities, 9 million injuries, and massive destruction of US health facilities. The second scenario produces more than 100 million casualties. Even with an effective US NMD system—defined as capable of successfully interception more than 100 warheads—nearly 70 million fatalities would occur. Read more »

The list of organizations in the Healthy Living Resources guide is not exhaustive, but we hope it will provide some starting points for you. Read more »

Nearly twenty years after the Cold War has ended, humankind is still faced with the genuine risk of instant extinction without representation. Even worse, this possibility could occur by accident, as a single computer miscalculation or mechanical error could lead to a civilization-ending nuclear war. The 9/11 attacks killed some 3,000 people causing enormous destruction, chaos, and grief. In comparison, a purposeful or accidental nuclear war between the U.S. and Russia would unquestionably kill tens of millions in the short-term, and untold millions in the long-term. Therefore, the threat of nuclear war is the most serious potential health, environmental, agricultural, educational and moral problem facing the human race. Read more »

Property destruction, loss of life, and injuries sustained from a nuclear or radiological attack have significant economic consequences. The loss of productive assets can extend for long periods and generate significant economic loss. Economic impacts caused by an event need to be addressed in sequential order beginning with the detonation, atmospheric dispersion, and deposition of the fallout from the weapon. Report by Pacific National Northwest Laboratory. Read more »

A government-sponsored study of childhood cancer in the proximity of German nuclear power plants (German acronym KiKK) found that children < 5 years living < 5 km from plant exhaust stacks had twice the risk for contracting leukemia as those residing > 5 km. Read more »

The poor have poor health. At first blush that is neither new nor surprising. Perhaps it should be more surprising than it is. In rich countries, such as the United States, the nature of poverty has changed—people do not die from lack of clean water and sanitary facilities or from famine—and yet, persistently, those at the bottom of the socioeconomic scale have worse health than those above them in the hierarchy. Read more »

The PSR Social Justice Committee has been meeting over the past year to develop PSR programs in the areas of social justice. Read more »