Hollywood takes leading role in preventing a New Nuclear Arms Race

March 8, 2019

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Inquiries: Delfin Vigil | Director of Communications & Marketing | dvigil@ploughshares.org; (415) 259-1247.

Hollywood takes leading role in preventing a New Nuclear Arms Race

Michael Douglas, Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA) and Obama staffer Ben Rhodes among panelists to discuss growing momentum for saner nuclear policy

 

The New Momentum for Saner Nuclear Policy

Tickets: $35

6:30 - 9pm

Monday, March 18

SilverScreen Theater at Pacific Design Center

8687 Melrose Avenue

West Hollywood, CA

LOS ANGELES, CA – Are we headed into a new nuclear arms race? How can we stop a president from being able to launch a nuclear first strike without congressional approval? And what responsibility does Hollywood have in raising awareness about the threat of nuclear weapons? These are among the questions that will be explored through in-depth panel discussion with activists, actors and experts on Monday, March 18 at the SilverScreen Theater at the Pacific Design Center in Hollywood.

The event, co-hosted by global security foundation Ploughshares Fund and Hollywood Health & Society, will emphasize the growing momentum building for saner nuclear policy – and explore how the entertainment industry influencers can take a leading role on the issue.

"Trump’s brand is to be unpredictable and rash, which is exactly what you don’t want the person who possesses the nuclear football to be," said Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA), who, along with actor Michael Douglas and activist Yasmeen Silva, will be among the evening’s panelists. "As we’re now coming to realize, we could be one tweet that insults the president away from catastrophe." In January, Lieu helped reintroduced legislation to prevent the president from launching a nuclear strike without congressional approval.

The panel lineup will include perspectives of those on the front lines of the nuclear field, including:

  • Michael Douglas, Award-winning actor/producer and United Nations Messenger for Peace
  • Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA), Co-sponsor of the Restricting First-Use of Nuclear Weapons Act
  • Ben Rhodes, Former Deputy National Security Advisor and co-host of Pod Save The World
  • Kennette Benedict, Nuclear expert and advisor to Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists
  • Yasmeen Silva, lead organizer for Beyond the Bomb’s #NoFirstUse campaign
Reception begins at 6:30 pm with program starting at 7:30 pm. Hosted parking available at Pacific Design Center. For a complete agenda, including event times, addresses and ticket information, visit www.ploughshares.org/events
 
Media interview opportunities with panelists are available in advance as well as night of the event. For inquiries: Director of Communications & Marketing Delfin Vigil: dvigil@ploughshares.org; (415) 259-1247. 

 

Ploughshares Fund is a global security foundation based in San Francisco, with an office in Washington, DC. Founded in 1981, Ploughshares Fund supports initiatives to reduce and eventually eliminate nuclear weapons. It is the largest US philanthropic organization focused exclusively on nuclear security. Visit: ploughshares.org

Hollywood, Health & Society is a program of the USC Annenberg Norman Lear Center that provides entertainment industry professionals with accurate and timely information for storylines on health, safety and national security. Visit: hollywoodhealthandsociety.org

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