On April 10, 2018, the City of Ojai California adopted a resolution declaring the city a nuclear weapon free zone. The resolution recognises the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of any use of nuclear weapons, the exorbitant cost of nuclear weapon production and maintenance, and calls for a city wide socially responsible investment policy.
The language around divestment instructs the City not to engage in “any new direct
investments in businesses, funds, or financial services institutions that knowingly engage in work
related to the production, transportation, storage, processing, use, or disposal of nuclear weapons
or the components of nuclear weapons with no non-military applications.”
The city also recognises the importance of calling on others to join them, and issued an appeal:
Conscious of the magnitude of destructive capacity of modern nuclear weapons, we recognize that our proposal would have little meaning on its own. We, therefore, appeal to our neighboring counties and cities to make similar statements on behalf of the citizens they represent.
The city will also put up “Nuclear Free Zone” signs at all city-limit signpost locations.
Full Resolution:
City of Ojai
City Council Resolution 18-10
RESOLUTION NO. 18-10
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF OJAI
DECLARING THE CITY A NUCLEAR-FREE ZONE
WHEREAS the global nuclear arsenals contain some 15,000 nuclear weapons; and
WHEREAS the use of even a tiny fraction of these weapons pose an intolerable risk to human survival with the potential to cause worldwide climate disruption and global famine; and
WHEREAS a large scale nuclear war would kill hundreds of millions of people directly and cause unimaginable environmental damage, producing conditions wherein the vast majority of the human race would starve and mankind might possibly become extinct as a species; and
WHEREAS deterrence is the principle argument to maintain these arsenals, there have been many occasions when nuclear-armed states have prepared to use these weapons, and war has been averted at the last minute. Nuclear weapons do not possess some magical quality that prevents their being used. As former Defense Secretary Robert McNamara said, speaking about the Cuban Missile Crisis, “In the end, we lucked out — it was luck that prevented nuclear war.” Our current nuclear policy is essentially the hope that our good luck lasts; and
WHEREAS the danger of nuclear war is growing as climate change puts increased stress on communities around the world increasing the likelihood of conflict; and
WHEREAS the planned expenditure of more than $1.2 trillion to enhance our nuclear arsenal will exacerbate these dangers by fueling a global arms race and will divert crucial resources needed to assure the well-being of the American people; and
WHEREAS there is an alternative to this march to nuclear war. In July of 2017, 122 nations called for the elimination of all nuclear weapons by adopting the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. The United States and the residents of Ojai, California should embrace this call for nuclear disarmament as the centerpiece of our national security policy,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that City Council, on behalf of the residents of Ojai, call on the United States and our elected officials to lead a global effort to prevent nuclear war via the following actions:
- Renounce the option of using nuclear weapons first.
- End the president’s sole, unchecked authority to launch a nuclear attack.
- Take U.S. nuclear weapons off hair-trigger alert.
- Cancel the plan to replace the entire U.S. arsenal with enhanced weapons.
- Actively pursue a verifiable agreement among nuclear armed states to eliminate
their nuclear arsenals.
AND, THEREFORE, the City Council, on behalf of the residents of Ojai, hereby declare the City of Ojai to be a nuclear-free zone. No nuclear weapon shall be produced, transported, stored, processed, disposed of, nor used, within Ojai. No facility, equipment, supply or substance for the production, storage, processing, disposal or use of nuclear weapons, except radioactive materials for purposes unrelated to any military uses, shall be allowed in Ojai.
NUCLEAR FREE CONTRACTS AND INVESTMENTS
A. CONTRACTS
The City of Ojai shall grant no contract to any person or business which knowingly engages in work related to the production, transportation, storage, processing, use, or disposal of nuclear weapons, unless the City Council makes a specific determination that no reasonable alternative exists, taking into consideration the following factors:
- The intent and purpose of this resolution;
- The availability of alternative services, goods and equipment, or other supplies substantially meeting required specifications of the proposed contract; and,
- Quantifiable additional costs resulting from use of available alternatives.
The City Council directs the City Manager to develop a certification form by which potential City contractors may certify that they are not subject to this resolution because they do not engage in work related to the production, transportation, storage, processing, use, or disposal of nuclear weapons. Contracts with another government entity, including the federal government and all of its related entities are exempt from this prohibition.
B. INVESTMENTS
The City Council shall adopt a socially responsible investments policy with respect to participation in investment, cash management funds, and financial services institutions by requesting said organizations to disclose any investments in businesses which knowingly engage in work related to the production, transportation, storage, processing, use, or disposal of nuclear weapons or the components of nuclear weapons with no non-military applications.
Said policy shall also be communicated to said organizations notifying them of the City’s request to not participate in any investments in such business holdings and shall further require all entities, businesses, and investment funds or holding funds within the City’s control to provide the City with all available options for withdrawing funds under its control from any investments in businesses, which knowingly engage in work related to the production, transportation, storage, processing, use, or disposal of nuclear weapons or the components of nuclear weapons with no non-military applications.
From the date of adoption of this Resolution, the City shall refrain from any new direct investments in businesses, funds, or financial services institutions that knowingly engage in work related to the production, transportation, storage, processing, use, or disposal of nuclear weapons or the components of nuclear weapons with no non-military applications.
The City shall divest itself of all such existing direct investments, including accounts held at banks and financial institutions, in businesses, funds, or financial services institutions that knowingly engage in work related to the production, transportation, storage, processing, use, or disposal of nuclear weapons or the components of nuclear weapons with no non-military applications under its control within two years.
The City Council hereby directs the City Treasurer, City Manager, and City Finance Director to prepare a proposed socially responsible investments policy, in line with these requirements, for consideration and adoption by the City Council.
This policy shall be implemented within one year of its adoption.
SIGNAGE
The City shall work with necessary agencies and make best efforts to place and maintain signage reading, “Nuclear-Free Zone” at all City-limit signpost locations. The sign shall be clearly visible and its letters at least equal in size to those on the nearest City limit sign.
APPEAL
Conscious of the magnitude of destructive capacity of modern nuclear weapons, we recognize that our proposal would have little meaning on its own. We, therefore, appeal to our neighboring counties and cities to make similar statements on behalf of the citizens they represent.
PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED this 10th day of April, 2018 by the following vote:
Ayes: Blatz, Francina, Haney, Johnston, Weriick
Noes: None
Abstain: None
Absent: None