Invitation to Join
MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRPERSON
Greetings on behalf of the Western North Carolina Chapter of Physicians for Social Responsibility (WNCPSR)! It is my privilege to tell you a little about who we are and why I have chosen to be a part of this dedicated group.
We are the local chapter of PSR, an organization whose slogan is, “We must prevent what we cannot cure.” As you can see, PSR approaches social issues – especially the issue of nuclear weapons – from the standpoint of public health. However, it needs to be said, unlike what our name may imply you do NOT have to be a physician to be a member of PSR. While I have a doctorate, it is not a medical degree. My degree is in pastoral counseling and I am a retired pastor. PSR’s goals are to address the issues of energy, environmental health and nuclear weapons policy from a health perspective and yes, we do have physicians in our membership but we have many other vocations represented as well. At our chapter we have focused most of all on the issue of reducing and eventually eliminating nuclear weapons worldwide.
Let me explain what led me personally to get involved. When I retired from active, full-time ministry in 2015 I asked myself, “Of all the issues that face humanity today what is the most crucial? What is most worthy of my time and energy?” To me the answer was obvious. The existential danger posed by the mere existence of nuclear weapons is the issue that if unresolved, makes other issues moot. It is a fact that an exchange of nuclear weapons in war – even started by a faulty computer, a miscalculation or an accident - could end civilization as we know it.
The fact that we not only don’t eliminate nuclear weapons worldwide but that the USA actually leads the world in investing in and enhancing our nuclear arsenal is not only insane but immoral.
Current events are proving daily that the possession of nuclear weapons actually endangers the security of the United States and the world. That is why the United Nations General Assembly passed - and over a hundred countries have signed - the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) making the mere possession of nuclear weapons unlawful. This rightly puts nuclear weapons in the same category as the possession of biological and chemical weapons.
We join with ICAN, PSR national and with many other organizations seeking to bring this critical issue the attention it deserves.
At WNCPSR we are physicians, teachers, pastors, engineers and even an artist joined together in a common goal of informing public servants and leaders of the danger posed by nuclear weapons and keeping the necessity of reducing the threat of a nuclear catastrophe before the public. We will continue to call for their reduction and eventual elimination.
If you share this perspective we invite you to join us monthly at our meetings on the third Friday of the month at 12:30 p.m. We meet at First Congregational Church in downtown Asheville, 20 Oak Street unless posted otherwise on our website. We would welcome your help in addressing this most important concern.
Warmly,
Scott Allan Baker, D. Min.
Chairperson
