In 1968, the Soviet Union and the United States
finalized negotiation on a major peace agreement, the
Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). The NPT was signed by more
than 110 countries. It's design was to keep nuclear weapons
from getting into the hands of more nations. Under its terms,
nations that do not already have nuclear weapons promise not
to try to develop them. In return, those nations get help from
countries, like the United States and the Soviet Union, to set
up nuclear plants for peaceful uses.
Brice Lalonde and his crew of four brought their 348 foot sailboat, Greenpeace III,
were one of the many attempts by people to stop nuclear activity.
Greenpeace III was near the waters of a little island of Moruroa. Moruroa has graceful
volcanic mountains, lush, colorful flowers, and palm trees that waived in the wind -- a
tropical paradise. Also, it has been called "a piece of radioactive Swiss
chess". That is what brought Greenpeace III there.
Their plan was to make it as difficult as possible for the French military to carry out
nuclear testing. They managed to keep out of the governments hands for some time, before
they were forced to retreat. He was able to get the nuclear testing period from 50
years to 30 years, but it was also already 1982.
The first successful nuclear freeze was proposed, in 1979 by the brain child of
the American Friends Service Committee, a Quaker group, a woman named Randall
Forsberg.
Forsberg described the freeze as "a mere, slight first step" towards a world
that we can sleep at ease. She believed that if the Soviet Union and the United States
agree to adopt a freeze, it will give the 2 nations breathing space. Which it
did.
This was not the first proposal. The Soviet Union suggested it, every year from
1976-1980. The United States government refused to consider them. --- Quite ironic eh?
Usually, the United States thinks of themselves as peacemakers.
Other freeze proposals were American. In 1964, President L. Johnson offered to halt
American nuclear weapons production if the Soviet Union would do the same. The Soviet
Union did not. Six years later, the United States Senate voted in favor of a freeze
resolution, but nothing happened.
Some Organizations were formed during the Cold
War in an effort to stop nuclear activity: the Center for Defense Information and Ground Zero, Dancers for Disarmament,
Nurses for a non-nuclear Future, The Children's Peace Committee, Social Workers for Nuclear
Disarmament, Physicians for Social Responsibility, Women Against Military Madness, and
many more. In Minnesota, a group of fishermen began calling themselves, Anglers for
Nuclear Disarmament.
All of the anti-nuclear groups did indeed move
the United States government in moving towards an end, the end
of the bitter and very cold war. Those people are the heroes
that come home after winning a war, they should receive metals
of honor for their achievements. Not only did the USA and NATO
win, but so did the Soviet Union even if it did bring collapse
of its great nation.
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