Duluth City council meeting on support of Nuclear Weapon Ban Treaty

Duluth City Council held a meeting tonight, March 13^th, reviewing the resolution on a treaty prohibiting nuclear weapons and supporting the United States embracing the goals and provisions of the treaty. The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), or the Nuclear Weapon Ban Treaty, is the first legal binding international agreement to comprehensively prohibit nuclear weapons with the ultimate goal being their total elimination. It was adopted on 7 July 2017, opened for signature on 20 September 2017, and entered into force on 22 January 2021. The public came out in full force to voice their opinions on the matter.

“Here in Duluth, we know that local action can lead to national and even international change. This is a local issue. Cities often lead the way and serve as laboratories of democracy. Local city resolutions address national health policies and are an essential part of democratic governance. As the saying goes, peace begins at home. I ask you to support this resolution,” says Mary a local Duluth resident.

“Nuclear war threatens our area. The ports are still major shipping sources for grain and iron ore. Our area is downwind of the missile silos in the Dakotas. Nuclear famine and nuclear winter will not spare us. We cannot say we are not involved or think that we will be fine,” says Kristine a local Duluth resident.

“Nuclear weapons do not discriminate between military and civilian lives. The bombs the United States dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki incinerated pregnant women, infants at the breast, elders in prayer, and whole schools full of children. The only way to be sure this never happens again is to eliminate all nuclear weapons. We must each do our part. We cannot rely on experts or pass the responsibility to others,” says Dorothy a local Duluth resident.

City Council did come to a vote tonight on the resolution, it was 4-4 meaning that it did not pass.