HomeMy WebLinkAbout060319_ca03 Consent Agenda
Commissioners Office
JEFFERSON COUNTY
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
AGENDA REQUEST
TO: Board of County Commissioners
Philip Morley, County Administrator
FROM: Leslie Locke,Executive Assistant
DATE: June 3,2019
SUBJECT: RESOLUTION NO. re: Calling for the United States to Negotiate for the
Elimination of All Nuclear Weapons
STATEMENT OF ISSUE:
RESOLUTION re: Calling for the United States to Negotiate for the Elimination of All Nuclear Weapons.
ANALYSIS:
During a County Commissioner meeting the Board directed staff prepare a Resolution calling for the United
States to Negotiate for the elimination of all nuclear weapons.
RECOMMENDATION:
Approve Resolution
REVIEWED BY:
.I)11111111, 6
Philip MorOounty Administrator Date
JEFFERSON COUNTY
STATE OF WASHINGTON
IN THE MATTER OF CALLING FOR THE UNITED }
STATES TO NEGOTIATE FOR THE ELIMINATION } RESOLUTION NO.
OF ALL NUCLEAR WEAPONS }
By this Resolution,the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners resolves that certain steps be taken in support of
the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, with such steps set forth in detail below.
This Resolution is supported by the following facts and reasons:
1. Nuclear weapons cannot be used without catastrophic health and humanitarian consequences that violate
every principle of international law, natural justice,public health, environmental protection and human
morality.
2. The continued existence of these weapons poses an intolerable risk to human survival.
3. The United States,together with Britain, France, Russia and China, signed and ratified a legally binding
commitment more than 50 years ago to negotiate "in good faith" and "at an early date" the total elimination
of their nuclear arsenals.
4. The International Court of Justice ruled, in their 7996 Advisory Opinion on the Legality of Nuclear
Weapons,that the legally binding commitment to negotiate means "bringing those negotiations to a
successful conclusion."
5. In the year 2000 the United States,together with Britain, France, Russia and China gave an "unequivocal
undertaking" to 187 other nations that they would fulfill their commitment to accomplish the total
elimination of their nuclear arsenals.
6. In July 2017, 122 nations adopted the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, making it illegal under
international law to develop,test,produce,possess, stockpile,transfer, use, or threaten to use nuclear
weapons.
7. Once this Treaty enters in force, it will be illegal in all countries who are party to this Treaty to assist
encourage or induce, in any way, anyone to engage in any activity prohibited by the Treaty.
8. More and more countries will continue to sign and ratify this Treaty, including sooner or later many key
allies of the United States.
9. This means that the United States will find it increasingly difficult to develop,manufacture, deploy or justify
its continued dependence on nuclear weapons.
NOW THEREFORE, having been informed by the facts and reasons just stated,the Jefferson County Board of
Commissioners hereby APPROVES and ADOPTS the following Resolution:
FIRST: The President of the United States is called upon to negotiate in good faith and at an early date the total
elimination of all nuclear arsenals.
SECOND: Our federal leaders and our nation are called upon to take immediate steps in the meantime to reduce the
threat posed by the continued existence of these weapons and to prevent the possibility of nuclear war taking place
by accident, miscalculation or design.
FINALLY: A copy of this Resolution shall be sent to U.S. Congressman Derek Kilmer, U.S. Senator Patty Murray,
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell, and President Donald J. Trump.
APPROVED, on this 3`d Day of June, 2019.
JEFFERSON COUNTY
SEAL: BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ATTEST: Kate Dean, Chair
David Sullivan, Member
Carolyn Gallaway,
Deputy Clerk of the Board Greg Brotherton, Member