This group could ask the UN General Assembly for a negotiation mandate for a global abolition treaty. The U.S. is critical because the Security Council would have to approve this mandate before the UN General Assembly could act on it. Referenda in the US would encourage our government to support Security Council and General Assembly action to negotiate a global abolition treaty which would be in place by the year 2000. Referenda organized by peace movements in other nations, particularly Security Council member nations, would be especially important. With the mandate, the UN could build on existing treaties like the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty and the Nuclear NonProliferation Treaty.
Membership grows most effectively during highly focused and visible organizing campaigns.
Fundraising also improves in this context because the organization's work takes on a much higher profile and has a tangible impact. Education campaigns are not enough. A referendum ballot campaign focused on a timeline for abolishing nuclear weapons has those elements. We realize that getting the referendum on the ballot in 1996 is a challenge. There are some strong arguments for this time frame.