Call to Action Aftermath

The George Washington University's Global Zero Chapter successfully held their New START ratification tabling event November 11th, 2010! With the help of Mariah Helgeson, Kaitlyn Kerr, and Christina Walters, GW Global Zero was able to raise awareness about New START as well as increase  awareness of Global Zero on GW's campus.

Our wonderful E-board & members tabling for New START 

and selling hot cocoa~ 

Christina Walters: VP Media, Logistics, and Fundraising

Mariah Helgeson: VP of Outreach and Development
Peace Sign: GZ's end goal~

Mariah Helgeson and Christina Walters
Selling Hot Cocoa with whip cream
& Chocolate Shavings

Kaitlyn Kerr & Christina Walters
Check out our 30 year action plan

Although our New START tabling event is over, that doesn't stop our campaign for New START!~ At our "General Interest Meeting" this Sunday at 6:30-7:30pm in Marvin Center Room 409, we will be providing more information on how to ensure that the senate approves New START for ratification! Also, GW GZ will be lobbying on Capitol Hill this Friday! If you're interested please email gwglobalzero@gmail.com!

Thanks to all those that came out, and can't wait to see everyone at our GIM!

-GWGZ

Written by: Christina Walters

~Call For a Safer World~

The George Washington University's Global Zero chapter will be tabling (11/11) in order to get GWU's students in touch with their Senators about New START. 

So, what is New START?  Amb. Richard Burt, START 1 chief negotiator and Global Zero US Chair, said, “The new START treaty signed by Presidents Obama and Medvedev this morning in Prague – cutting their strategic nuclear arsenals by a third each – is the first significant arms reduction treaty in nearly two decades and a crucial step toward the two Presidents’ shared goal of global zero: a world without nuclear weapons.  Most importantly, at a time when the risk of nuclear terrorism is growing, the agreement recognizes the important relationship between arms reductions and stopping the spread of nuclear weapons.  As an arms control negotiator who worked for Presidents Reagan and George H.W. Bush and has been through ratification processes before, I fully expect that this Senate will continue the long-standing tradition of bi-partisan support for arms control treaties such as this which so clearly strengthens the security of the United States.”


What does New START do? New start will reinstate inspections, allowing for increased transparency, and reductions of US and Russia's nuclear arsenals.


Who's for New START? Republicans (Henry Kissinger, Collin Powell, etc.,) Democrats, students and over 70 security leaders and specialists! In order to increase awareness and move forward and ensure ratification of New START, we ask that you join GW GZ on Thursday Nov 11th, 11am-2pm at Marvin Center's H St. Terrace. 

Together we can make a difference!

For more information on New START please refer to the following links:

"U.S. Vote Could Derail Russia Ties"

http://nyti.ms/ae7mza 

"White House Pushes START Ratification Before New Congress Arrives"

http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/library/news/usa/2010/usa-101105-rferl01.htm

NYTimes: "Plenty of Work for the Lame Duck: And Other Urgent

http://nyti.ms/aFmzWR 

NYTimes: Nuclear Weapons

http://nyti.ms/dqcUSQ 

http://www.globalzero.org/en/global-zero-leaders-applaud-new-start-treaty-urge-ratification

As a part of tabling GW GZ will also be selling peppermint flavored hot cocoa, free trade hot cocoa, and signature hot cocoa with whip cream/chocolate shavings and marshmallows.

Warm Hot Cocoa! MMMmmm~

Written by Christina Walters

~Raising Awareness Through Cupcakes~

GW Global Zero held their first event this past Wednesday at The George Washington University: “Cupcakes + Information Tabling.” At this event, Christina Walters and Mariah Helgeson were able to speak with many different individuals including GW students, faculty, and employees!  One of the best surprises of the event was being able to see two Global Zero leaders from Global Zero’s Washington, D.C. headquarters: Anna Azarjew and Scott Ibaraki (who were kind enough to snap the photos below!)

Cupcakes made by Christina Walters and Mariah Helgeson

A GW Employee signing the declaration

Next for GW GZ: Our first GIM October 6th (wednesday) at 7:30pm at The Hall of Government room 102. 

Welcome to GW GZ!

Welcome to the George Washington University Global Zero (GWGZ) Chapter’s blog. GW GZ was founded in the fall of 2010 by: Ben Bloomfield, Christina Walters, Mariah Helgeson, and Kieran Wilde. Global Zero is a worldwide non-profit, non-partisan movement for the global elimination of nuclear weapons. GWGZ is a premier student-lead chapter of GZ that seeks to spread the message of GZ on campus, on the Hill, and beyond.

Below you will find mini profiles on GW GZ’s Executive Board members.

Ben Bloomfield

President & CEO

Ben Bloomfield is a senior in the Elliott School of International Affairs. He is Studying International Affairs and Global Public Health. He is the acting president of GW GZ.

             

Christina Walters

Executive Vice President of Media, Fundraising and Logistics

Christina is currently a Junior in the Elliott School of International Affairs studying Asian Studies with minors in Chinese and Criminal Justice. Christina has actively pursued her passions by studying abroad in South Korea and Taiwan, as well as working at Global Women on a women’s leadership summit held in Beijing in the summer of 2010. More recently her passion for law and Asia lead to her current employment with the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI). When Christina is off work, she devotes her time equally between her Sorority, Sigma Psi Zeta Sorority, Inc., The Multicultural Greek Council Executive Board, and Global Zero. Christina learned about Global Zero shortly before she participated in their two-week summer leadership program during which she attended policy briefings on nuclear policy. Christina hopes to bring her knowledge of nuclear issues and her passion for a safer world to GW GZ! She’s particularly excited for our fall panel with professors and policy experts on GZ’s initiatives!

Mariah Helgeson

Executive Vice President of Outreach and Development

Mariah is currently a Junior at GW majoring in International Affairs with a concentration in Conflict & Security and the Middle East and a Minor in English. She is passionate about conflict resolution and youth engagement in the peace process through community building. She has interned with the Peacebuilding & Development Institute and is currently an intern at the Sustained Dialogue Campus Network. Mariah is the Founder and Director of the Speaking Across the Divide project, which she began working on in April, 2010. The project aims to design and market a website to facilitate youth activism and dialogue between Iranian and American students. Mariah is excited about connecting her passion for international collaboration with the GZ movement. She found about about Global Zero through her research for the debate team. Mariah is particularly excited about the impact of GWGZ as political activists for START this fall. In her spare time, Mariah likes to read poetry on the steps of the Lincoln memorial (her favorite is the Sufi poet Rumi), experiment with vegetarian cooking and play for the GW Quidditch team. She is excited about GWGZ and hopes you are too!

Kieran Wilde

Executive Vice President At Large

Bio forthcoming

Written by Christina W.

Edited by Mariah H.