Calling On All Nations and All World Powers to Prohibit the Use of Any Weapon of Mass Destruction Against Cities and Other Civilian Targets and Encouraging Them to Embrace the Concept of Peace
Adopted at the 75th Annual Meeting in 2007
WHEREAS, the United States Conference of Mayors unanimously adopted Resolution Number 62 at their national conference on June 5, 2006, calling upon select nations to discontinue the practice of targeting cities in the United States for nuclear attack; and
WHEREAS, it is the desire of the United States Conference of Mayors to seek the protection of cities and citizens in the United States and throughout the world from the dangers arising from the presence of weapons of mass destruction; and
WHEREAS, an alarming number of countries throughout the world have nuclear capabilities, and a growing number of countries are actively working to obtain such capability; and
WHEREAS, there is a corresponding increase in the number of countries throughout the world that currently possess, or are working to develop, other types of weapons of mass destruction; and
WHEREAS, the International Court of Justice at the Hague, Netherlands determined in 1996 that the threat or use of nuclear weapons is unlawful under International Humanitarian Law; and
WHEREAS, the International Court of Justice gave an advisory opinion on nuclear weapons ten years ago in which it concluded that all nations are under an obligation "to pursue negotiations in good faith and bring to a conclusion measures leading to nuclear disarmament in all its aspects"; and
WHEREAS, the United States Conference of Mayors stated on June 28, 2004, "weapons of mass destruction have no place in a civilized world," and further called for the commencement of "negotiations on the prohibition and elimination of nuclear weapons and nuclear-weapon-related materials"; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT the United States Conference of Mayors fully supports the elimination of nuclear, biological, and chemical warfare throughout the world, and supports the efforts of all nations working to embrace the concept of peace; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the United States Conference of Mayors stand united in opposition to the initiation of nuclear, biological, and chemical warfare under any circumstances and regardless of the target; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the United States Conference of Mayors shall remain engaged in this matter until our cities and citizens, and the cities and citizens located throughout the world, are no longer under the threat of nuclear, biological, and chemical devastation.