September 20, 2024
PSR-Western North Carolina Chapter
Minutes of Meeting Sept. 20, 2024
Present: Brita and Terry Clark, Sally T, Phil B., Charley Mahan, Scott Baker, Dot S., Bert C.
Minutes of Aug. meeting were approved.
We had a discussion about whether social justice will survive in our country.
Treasurer’s report: We had no deposits and a debit of $500 for a balance of $3029.
Bert reported on the CAN committee meeting; Sept 26 there will be a call to order in the U.S. house of representatives by rep. Jim McGovern to discuss nuclear weapons. PSR intern Jack Kelly gave a detailed report on the impact of artificial intelligence. It has not yet affected nuclear weapon policy but introduces new risks as smaller countries or groups could use AI to develop other weapon systems, such as biological weapons. It has probably already been used by Israel in targeting.
Dot brought a letter to congress for signing emphasizing the folly of the new Sentinel Missile.
We had a message calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza published in The Smokey Mountain News and Mountain Express.
We were a sponsor of National’s Health Heroes Awards. Leslie Poplawski was recognized as our local health hero for her work including the Cherry Tree Project. the Uranium Film Festival and publicizing the adverse effects of nuclear power.
We discussed the best way to get our politicians to consider nuclear risks. Brita emphasized the need to educate youth to recognize the danger and become involved in the anti-nuclear movement.
Terry informed us that the national nurse’s union called for a cease fire in Gaza and asked that we stop sending weapons to Israel. There was discussion of the war in Ukraine. Ukraine is able to hit targets in Russia with their own drones. It is felt to be too risky for Ukraine to be hitting targets in Russia with western supplied missiles.
Saturday 9/21 will be The International Day of Peace Celebration at Land of The Sky United Church of Christ. We felt the Peacemaker of the Year Award should be given to Rachel Bliss, who organized the event.
Scott B. has organized a Zoom call with Senator Tillis’s staff. Scott, Terry, Bert and possibly Dot will attend. We decided to emphasize the folly of replacing the current Minuteman ICBM with the new Sentinel should be highlighted eliminating land-based missiles in Russia and the U.S. This would aid in implementing 3 of the bulletin points of BftB: hair trigger alert status, sole presidential authority and not to renew all our nuclear weapon systems.
Next meeting Oct. 18th
