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Megan Murphy's Blog Posts

Megan’s responsibilities include assisting with projects related to donor cultivation and stewardship and managing social media. Prior to joining Ploughshares Fund, she worked as an intern for Greenpeace and as a journalism intern for the California News Service in Washington, DC. In 2010, Megan graduated with honors from the University of California, Davis, where she received a departmental citation for excellence in Political Science and wrote for the school paper, The California Aggie.
Fashioning an End to Nuclear Weapons
Couture, catwalks and colorblocking. That’s right, it’s that time of year – Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York City. The days of Fashion Week are spent honoring the hottest names in style, from Marc Jacobs to Max Azria to Issey Miyake, a Japanese designer and the man behind Steve Jobs’ infamous black turtleneck. Read more »
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Posted by Megan Murphy on February 15, 2012
Japan, atomic bomb, Hiroshima, Issey Miyake, Nagasaki, Nevada, Prague speech, radiation, Ukraine
SANE Act Calls for Cuts to Nuclear Budget
After months of work on the campaign to slash the nuclear weapons budget, the concept is firmly taking hold in Congress. Read more »
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Posted by Megan Murphy on February 9, 2012
budget, CMRR, Congress, Ed Markey, Los Alamos, Nuclear Budget, SANE Act
Assessing Our National Security
Sometimes, it’s important to look at the big picture to get some perspective. In 2008, there was no New START treaty with Russia, Osama bin Laden remained at large plotting terrorist attacks with Al Qaeda, and Libyans were still under the dictatorial rule of Muammar Gaddaffi. Read more »
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Posted by Megan Murphy on January 31, 2012
Nuclear disarmament, Al-Qaeda, Center for American Progress, new start, Osama bin Laden, Prague speech, Iran, Terrorism
Time to End Nuclear Testing
  How many tests are enough before you know that nuclear weapons are unacceptably destructive? The answer, it seems, is 2,053. That is the number of nuclear tests conducted worldwide since the Manhattan Project’s initial Trinity explosion in Los Alamos, New Mexico in 1945. Shockingly, over half of these tests have taken place here in the United States. Read more »
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Posted by Megan Murphy on January 25, 2012
CTBT, CTBT & Nuclear testing, International relations, Manhattan Project, National Day, Nevada, Nuclear warfare, radiation
Day #12: World Peace
The idea of ‘peace on earth’ is thrown around a lot this time of year. At Ploughshares Fund, we’re working to make it a reality. With the elimination of each nuclear weapon, we get closer to that goal. Whether we are urging Congress to reduce the nuclear budget, bringing together American and Russian leaders for informal dialogues, or speaking out against military action against Iran, our aim is always the same – to create a safer future. Read more »
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Posted by Megan Murphy on December 23, 2011
Cold War, Nuclear Weapons, partners, Sally Lilienthal, World Peace, Ploughshares Fund
Day #7: A Safer Future
At Ploughshares Fund, we are determined to focus not only on the immediate issues of today but also on a longer-term goal: making sure we leave the best possible future for coming generations. The spread of nuclear weapons around the world poses an existential threat to life as we know it. If even one were to be used, it would have devastating consequences. By accident, malice or miscalculation, the use of nuclear weapons poses a constant threat to the future of our children and grandchildren. It’s a burden that we shouldn’t pass on. Read more »
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Posted by Megan Murphy on December 19, 2011
Day #6: 100% of Your Money Goes to our Programs
From the very first moment that Ploughshares Fund was founded, we understood that people don’t want to fund paperclips, they want to fund peace. That’s why every dollar you donate goes directly to our grantmaking program, with nothing subtracted for administrative or overhead costs. That means your contribution funds a carefully selected set of grants to the smartest people with the best ideas for effective nuclear weapons policy, all with the shared goal of eliminating nuclear weapons. Read more »
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Posted by Megan Murphy on December 16, 2011
new start, peace, Russia, Defense Budget, Pakistan
Day #1:Your Window into Nuclear Policy
To say that nuclear weapons policy is complex is a bit of an understatement. Attempting to keep up with what’s happening with North Korea, Pakistan, Iran and Russia can be overwhelming, and the science behind nuclear weapons is an entirely different intricacy. Discussing the differences between ICBMs, MIRVs, and SLBMs isn’t most people’s idea of coffee table banter. Read more »
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Posted by Megan Murphy on December 8, 2011
12 Days of Ploughshares, Partner, Ploughshares Fund
Women and War in Today's World
Despite the fact that today’s women serve on the front lines as soldiers, engage in diplomacy and lead nations, war is often still considered a man’s game. The effects of war, however, know no gender bounds. Read more »
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Posted by Megan Murphy on November 11, 2011
Afghanistan, activist, Cold War, Condoleezza Rice, Fadila Memisevic, Hillary Clinton, Liberia, Madeleine Albright, PBS, peace, small arms, war, White House Project, women, Zainab Salbi
A Window of Opportunity with Iran
In a sea of skepticism over U.S. policy on Iran, new developments are signaling progress toward a diplomatic solution to Iran’s nuclear program. Read more »
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Posted by Megan Murphy on October 7, 2011
Diplomacy, Center for American Progress, diplomatic solution, Federation of American Scientists, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, peaceful solution, Soviet Union, Iran