MomsRising, I am one of you- a loving mother deeply concerned about the world
my children and theirs will inherit from us. That is the most important reason that
I became a founding leader of Global Zero (globalzero.org) and consulted on
our new must see film, Countdown to Zero. The film is a stunning documentary
about the escalating global nuclear crisis, produced by the Academy Award
winning team behind an Inconvenient Truth, and premieres in cities across
America this month. It is an account of the dangers, hidden but still terrifyingly
real, that we face today from the increasing proliferation of nuclear weapons
around the world.

Nuclear weapons, of course, were our inheritance as well. Produced by World
War II and expanded by the Cold War, a fear of The Bomb as well as the searing
images of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were etched into the minds of my generation
as we came of age. It is a fear I would not wish upon my children. Nor do I wish
upon them today's status quo. For while the Cold War is over, some 23,000
nuclear weapons remain. Enough of these weapons are kept on launch-ready
alert so that a mind-boggling 100 million people could be killed within 30 minutes.
And, with enough weapons-grade nuclear material to build up to 200,000
bombs, the risk that some of this material will fall into the hands of terrorists is
unconscionably high.

As a founding leader of the Global Zero movement, I believe that the only
solution to nuclear proliferation and nuclear terrorism is the elimination of all
nuclear weapons. It is possible, despite the inevitable predictions of those locked
into a cold war mindset who may say otherwise. Global Zero, which includes
more than 250 former heads of state, foreign and defense ministers, national
security advisers, top military commanders and faith leaders, has developed a
plan for the phased, verified elimination of nuclear weapons that is realistic and
achievable.

As with any world-changing movement, it is our children that lead the way. The
Global Zero movement comprised of hundreds of thousands of members is
spearheaded by young people and university campus chapters worldwide –and
many more launching this fall.

Countdown to Zero has already played an essential role in educating and
recruiting young people to this issue. This spring, young activists between
the ages of 18 and 25 traveled across America using the film to educate and
mobilize other youth around this urgent issue. Many of our movement’s brightest
leaders were born after the Berlin Wall fell and knew little or nothing about
nuclear weapons. This film not only educated them—it also inspired them to
action.

I encourage everyone in the momsrising community to go see Countdown to
Zero. Bring your friends, bring your partner – but most importantly, bring your
teenage and college-age children. While we must take action now, the fight for
a world free of nuclear weapons will be a long and difficult one; it will be our
children who see it through to completion. Please visit www.globalzero.org/film
to watch the trailer and purchase tickets.