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The people of Berkeley find that:

A. The nuclear arms race poses an intolerable threat to humanity.

B. Berkeley is already a prime target in the event of a nuclear war, and because the continuing arms race increases the likelihood of nuclear war, fear of such a war directly endangers our health and safety. There is no adequate method to protect Berkeley residents in the event of a nuclear war. Children are especially frightened, depressed and disturbed by having to face the threat of extinction each day.

C. Our national leaders continue to build and deploy new weapons systems despite the 1982 vote by the people of Berkeley and many other communities favoring a bilateral freeze in the "testing, production and further development of nuclear weapons . . ."

D. The threat to use nuclear weapons is an integral part of United States foreign policy. Since 1948, the U.S. has threatened to use nuclear weapons in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the Caribbean to protect U.S. military and business interests. Since the Nuremberg principles hold individuals accountable for crimes against humanity, and since nuclear weapons cannot be used without indiscriminately killing civilians and violating accepted international rules of war, then nuclear weapons are illegal, and should be prohibited within the City. We will not remain silent while policies of global death and destruction are carried out in our name.

E. Federal spending for nuclear weapons production harms the nation’s economy and the City’s ability to provide needed human services. Compared to tax money spent meeting human needs, military spending requires fewer workers; weapons production thus increases unemployment in our City. The funds, personnel and other resources presently committed to work for nuclear weapons are misdirected and should be redirected toward urgently needed human services such as job training, social services for children, the elderly and disabled, shelter for the homeless, education, housing, health care, public transportation, emergency services and general public assistance. City investments in, and contracts with companies that engage in work for nuclear weapons are inconsistent with this goal.

F. Uranium mines, refining facilities, transportation of radioactive materials, nuclear reactors, and radioactive waste are part of a "nuclear fuel cycle" integral to nuclear weapons production. The entire cycle endangers our health and safety, as follows:

Mining, refining, and transportation of radioactive materials directly endangers the health of the workers involved.

Transportation of radioactive materials risks accidents releasing radioactivity into the environment.

Radiation is routinely released from all operating nuclear reactors, including reactors powering aircraft carriers and submarines in San Francisco Bay, while accidents such as Three Mile Island release still more.

There is no safe means known for the disposal of nuclear waste.

Any valid purpose served by the existing nuclear reactor in our City (such as research into safe nuclear waste disposal) would be better served by reactors already in existence in less populated areas far from earthquake faults.

G. Within the City of Berkeley there are facilities that engage in specific work for nuclear weapons or that are otherwise part of the nuclear fuel cycle, including:

1. The University of California’s system-wide administration, which runs both Livermore and Los Alamos National Laboratories;

2. Etcheverry reactor on the U.C. Berkeley campus; and

3. Numerous business firms that work under contract or sub-contract to produce nuclear weapons components.

H. The security requirements accompanying the nuclear weapons industry threaten the civil liberties of the people of Berkeley and restrict the freedom of information necessary to make decisions concerning the future of the community. (Ord. 5784-NS § 3, 1986)