Table of Contents
Acknowledgments ix
Introduction xi
CHAPTER ONE: A Call to Action 1
‘The War Game’
Opportunity Cost
Psychology of the Arms Race
Image of the Enemy
Redefining National Security
Taking Action
CHAPTER TWO: Our System of Defense 16
How the Bombs Work
Missiles, Subs, and Bombers
Conventional vs. Nuclear Weapons
Chain of Command
Command and Control System
Defense Guidance Plan
Be Prepared: First Strike
The Hair-Trigger
Toward the Future
CHAPTER THREE: What to Expect in the Event of Nuclear War 29
Nuclear Accidents
False Alerts
Unauthorized Use of Nuclear Weapons
Irrational Use of Nuclear Weapons
Nuclear Sabotage and Terrorism
Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons
What to Expect if a Bomb is Dropped
Effects of Radiation
The Survivors
Psychological and Physiological Impact
Medical Facilities and Personnel
Nuclear Winter
Civil Defense
Governmental Assumptions
Survival of What?
CHAPTER FOUR: Nuclear Power and Waste 52
Nuclear Fuel Cycle
Types of Nuclear Waste
Government Agencies Involved
Storage and Record Keeping
Ocean Disposal
Land Burial
Waste Unpredictability
Mishaps and Mismanagement
Power Plant Accidents
Three Mile Island
Chernobyl
Plant Violations and Safety Issues
Safe Levels of Radiation
A New Generation of Reactors
Nuclear Power and Proliferation
Where to Next?
CHAPTER FIVE: Growing Up in the Nuclear Age 76
Trends Within the Young
Changing limes - No Future
Parental Denial
Normal Fears vs. Nuclear Fears
Personality Development
What Some Young People Say
The Rhetoric of War
Critical Thinking Skills
lies and Disinformation
Message of Hope
CHAPTER SIX: On the Brink of Tomorrow 94
The Role of Deterrence
The Nth Century
Verification
Weapons Labs Vesting
Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty
Nuclear Weapons Convention
De-Alerting
Back from the Brink
Economic Conversion
What You Can Do
The Ecology of One
The Role of Vision
Redefinition of Security and Power
APPENDIX A: Terms, Acronyms, and Abbreviations 118
APPENDIX B: Treaties Pertaining to Nuclear Weapons 126
APPENDIX C: Threats to Use Nuclear Weapons 128
APPENDIX 0: Accidents Involving Nuclear Weapons 129
APPENDIX E: Nuclear Power Plant and Waste Accidents 131
APPENDIX F: Organizations and Addresses You Should Know 136
ENDNOTES 139
REFERENCES 148
