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Nuclear Tipping Point Premieres at Universal Studios, Co-hosted by Governor Schwarzenegger

Henry A. Kissinger

Chairman of Kissinger Associates, Inc., former U.S. Secretary of State

George P. Shultz

Former U.S. Secretary of State

Nuclear Tipping Point Premieres at Universal Studios, Co-hosted by Governor Schwarzenegger;
Documentary Tackles Nuclear Dangers, Features Shultz, Perry, Kissinger, and Nunn

Nuclear Tipping Point, a documentary film on today’s global nuclear dangers that focuses on conversations with four men who have been intimately involved in American diplomacy and national security, premieres tonight at Universal Studios in Los Angeles. The world premiere screening will be co-hosted by the four featured in the documentary – former Secretaries of State George Shultz and Henry Kissinger, former Secretary of Defense William Perry and former Senator Sam Nunn, plus California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.  

“I am pleased that the Nuclear Tipping Point’s premiere is in California so that we can help focus attention on the dangerous consequences of nuclear weapons,” said Governor Schwarzenegger. “Those dangers are here and now. I am thankful that George Shultz, Bill Perry, Henry Kissinger, and Sam Nunn have a big vision — a vision as big as humanity — to free the world of nuclear weapons and to take the steps we need to realize that vision.”  

The film is introduced by General Colin Powell, narrated by actor Michael Douglas and includes interviews with Governor Schwarzenegger and former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev. Following the film screening, a panel discussion will be held with Governor Schwarzenegger, Secretaries Shultz and Perry, and Senator Nunn moderated by author and journalist Philip Taubman.  

In Nuclear Tipping Point, Shultz, Perry, Kissinger, and Nunn share the personal experiences that led them to write three Wall Street Journal opinion-editorials describing their efforts to reduce reliance on nuclear weapons, to prevent their spread into potentially dangerous hands and ultimately to end them as a threat to the world.  

“If we want other nations to join us in a tough approach to nuclear terrorism and the spread of nuclear weapons and materials, I believe that we must commit to the vision of a world free of nuclear weapons and lead the world in taking concrete steps to reduce nuclear dangers,” said former Senator Sam Nunn, co-chairman of the Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI). “That vision is essential to build the cooperation we need from countries around the globe to prevent a nuclear nightmare.”  

The four’s efforts have reframed the global debate on nuclear issues and, according to the New York Times, have “sent waves through the global policy establishment.”  

“We set out to create something that is not partisan at all and that is a subject of central importance for the United States and for mankind,” says former Secretary of State George Shultz in the film. “If terrorists get their hands on nuclear weapons or materials, and you don’t even know their return address, we will be faced with a very dangerous moment. If you think of the people who are committing suicide attacks and people like that get a nuclear weapon, they are almost by definition not deterrable.”  

“Over the long term, we need to be heading towards the total elimination of nuclear weapons. And over the short term we need to be taking the steps to reduce the danger that nuclear weapons…could be used,” says former Secretary William Perry in the film. “This is such an important problem in my mind, that it dwarfs all other considerations, and I have, myself, decided to devote the balance of my career to working to achieve that goal.”  

“If the existing nuclear countries cannot develop some restraints among themselves, in other words, if nothing fundamental changes, then I would expect the use of nuclear weapons in some 10-year period is very possible,” says former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger in the film. “Once nuclear weapons are used, we will be driven to take global measures to prevent it. Why don’t we do it now?”  

Nuclear Tipping Point was written and directed by Ben Goddard and was produced by the Nuclear Security Project to raise awareness about nuclear threats and to help build support for the urgent actions needed to reduce nuclear dangers. The Project is coordinated by the Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI), in cooperation with Stanford University’s Hoover Institution.  

NTI is a charitable organization working to reduce the global threats from nuclear, biological and chemical weapons and is co-chaired by philanthropist Ted Turner and Senator Nunn. The Hoover Institution on War, Revolution and Peace, Stanford University, is a public policy research center devoted to advanced study of politics, economics and political economy – both domestic and foreign – as well as international affairs.  

Funding for activities related to the film were provided by the Carnegie Corporation of New York, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Mr. and Mrs. Richard P. Anderson, Phineas Anderson, and Stephen Stranahan.  

DVDs of the film can be requested — free of charge — at www.nucleartippingpoint.org. The website also has a trailer of the film and additional information on steps citizens can take now to reduce nuclear dangers.

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White House Hosts Screening of Nuclear Tipping Point

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White House Hosts Screening of Nuclear Tipping Point

The White House hosts a screening of the documentary Nuclear Tipping Point. Featured in the film are George Shultz, William Perry, Henry Kissinger, and Sam Nunn.


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