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Salem, Oregon, the state capital, has been actively engaged in the nuclear disarmament movement, reflecting the concerns of its leaders and citizens about global nuclear threats, as well as the way the city has been impacted by nuclear development.
The city is geographically connected to the Columbia River, which has been polluted by nuclear waste from production activities at the Hanford Site in Washington. While the impact of this contamination extends beyond Salem, the Willamette River which flows through Salem and is situated south of the Hanford Site, is a major tributary of the Columbia River. A key figure in Salem’s disarmament efforts is Peter Bergel, a dedicated activist and editor-in-chief for The PeaceWorker newspaper. His advocacy played a crucial role in the development and passage of Resolution 2022-10, which highlights Salem’s commitment to nuclear disarmament, global security, and public health. It was unanimously approved by the Salem City Council on February 28, 2022. Being the state capital, Senate Joint Memorial 5 was passed in the city three years before this resolution, helping to pave the way for grassroots activists and groups to pass city-specific resolutions. Salem has since become a member of Mayors for Peace, a network of cities dedicated to promoting nuclear disarmament it joined in July 2023. The city also hosts an annual leg of the Northwest Interfaith Peace Walk, further solidifying its continued dedication to nuclear disarmament.
News, and Other Relevant Links
Formal request to the Salem City Council to adopt a resolution supporting the TPNW
ICAN (2022)
Advocates for peace will walk, talk nuclear weapons in Salem Friday
Salem Reporter (2023)
Featured Resolutions
Public Meeting Summaries
Senate Joint Memorial 5 (SJM 5) was a resolution passed in 2019 by the Oregon State Legislature urging the U.S. government to lead global efforts in reducing nuclear weapons stockpiles and to work towards complete nuclear disarmament. The memorial called on the federal government to embrace the principles of the United Nations Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), signaling Oregon’s commitment to advocating for a world free from nuclear threats. This resolution aligns with broader disarmament efforts, reflecting Oregon’s historic and ongoing concern for the environmental, health, and social impacts of nuclear weapons, especially in communities that have been uniquely affected by nuclear testing and waste disposal.
RESOLUTIONS
Resolution 2022-10: URGING CONGRESS TO LEAD THE GLOBAL EFFORT TO REDUCE THE THREAT OF NUCLEAR WAR
February 28, 2022
International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War, Portland’s similar resolution, and Senate Joint Memorial 5. The resolution highlights the financial burden of approximately $188 million that Oregon taxpayers spend annually on nuclear weapons, diverting critical funding away from essential services like education, healthcare, infrastructure, and environmental protection.
The resolution honors local leaders in the fight against nuclear weapons, including former Mayor Sue Harris, Dr. Andy Harris, national leader of Physicians for Social Responsibility, former U.S. Congressman Mike Kopetski, and Oregon Senator Mark Hatfield, who worked together to end nuclear weapons testing. It also acknowledges grassroots leaders such as Ted Coran, Susan Gordon, Don Skinner, and Peter Bergel for their contributions to nuclear disarmament efforts. Additionally, the resolution recognizes the advocacy of Oregonians like Hiroshima survivor Dr. Hideko Tamura Snider, Hanford cleanup advocate and Yakama Nation Elder Russell Jim, Nobel Peace Prize recipient Linus Pauling, Hanford “Downwinder” Pat Hoover of Eugene, and Carol Urner, who organized Portland’s first Hiroshima commemoration in 1962.
The resolution addresses the disproportionate impact of nuclear weapons-related activities on communities of color, Indigenous peoples, and women, and it stresses the need to redirect scientific talent and resources from weapons toward addressing climate change and social justice. Finally, the resolution urges Congress to establish a system of checks and balances that limits the President’s authority to launch nuclear weapons, renounce the first-use option, remove nuclear weapons from hair-trigger alert, cancel plans to modernize the U.S. nuclear arsenal, and pursue a multilateral agreement to eliminate nuclear weapons globally.
(1:06:00) Peter Bergel, a resident of Salem and local activist, presented the resolution. He highlighted the global threat of nuclear war, particularly in light of the Ukraine crisis, and urged the council to support disarmament as a vital security measure.
(2:09:41) Councilor Trevor Phillips pulled the resolution from the consent calendar for discussion. He moved to adopt Resolution 2022-10, emphasizing the connection between the international context of the Russian invasion and the need for nuclear disarmament. He stressed the importance of public advocacy in this matter.
(1:11:40) Councilor Chris Hoy expressed agreement with Peter Bergel and supported the resolution, noting the importance of fine-tuning the language to address any glitches in the final version.
(2:12:35) Councilor Tom Andersen corrected and supported the adoption of the resolution, reinforcing its importance in the context of global security and public health.
(1:19:02) Dr. John Pearson, representing Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility, discussed the global and local impacts of nuclear weapons, the risks posed by the current stockpiles, and the need for international treaties like the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW).
(1:22:27) Georgia Davis, an Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility Peace Work Group member and recent participant in the ICAN academy, highlighted the urgency of the moment, particularly for younger generations who have not lived through the Cold War but are now facing the renewed threat of nuclear conflict.
(2:13:05) The resolution was passed unanimously.