Steven Starr is a US nuclear weapons expert currently visiting Australia (until April 9). His areas of expertise are:

• The “operating status” of nuclear weapons – many weapons ready to be launched with minimal human decision or intervention - and
• The catastrophic humanitarian effects of nuclear weapons – even just one weapon being fired, would cause humanitarian disaster including famine.

 Media enquiries: via MAPW EO,  0431 475 465

Background
Steven Starr, MT (American Society for Clinical Pathology). Member of International Network of Engineers and Scientists Against Proliferation (INESAP)

 Mr Steven Starr is a visiting expert on nuclear weapons operating status and the predicted climatic effects of nuclear war and has studied extensively both these subjects and their implications for human society.

 From Australia, Mr Starr goes to the UNi Preparatory Committee on the NPTi (nuclear Non Proliferation treaty) in Geneva where he will present new research on these issues. In 2006 and 2007, he presented information on this subject to an NGOi panel held in conjunction with the UN General Assembly First Committee, attracting great interest (including from some governments). You would be aware that the L.29 resolution on operational status that followed was adopted with very strong support, with Australia unfortunately abstaining.

 He addressed our Department of Foreign Affairs last week.

 As Australia prepares for the UN’s NPT PrepCom which will be held from the end of April, MAPW believes that it is imperative that Australia’s stance promotes the twin goals of disarmament and non-proliferation. Reducing the operational status of nuclear weapons is an urgent short term step.

Stene Starr's publications:

published by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists in May, 2004, "Let's Go No-LOW" (on operating status) see http://thebulletin.metapress.com/content/u6568123110r6381/fulltext.pdf

 2 online publications at the Strategic Arms Reduction (STAR) website of the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology Center for Arms Control, Energy and Environmental Studies, "Change Launch on Warning Policy" at http://www.armscontrol.ru/start/ (English and Russian), and "Nuclear Primacy is a Fallacy" at http://www.armscontrol.ru/ (Russian); also this version available in English at the website of Global Research.ca, see http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=4991

 1 article, in press, in the Bulletin of the International Engineers and Scientists Against Nuclear Proliferation (INESAP), "Catastrophic Climatic Consequences of Nuclear Conflict", preview article now online at http://www.inesap.org/bulletin28/index.htm and http://www.inesap.org/bulletin28/IB28_Starr.pdf

 3 online publications at the website of the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation; "The Effects of a 300-kiloton Nuclear Warhead Detonated above Washington, D.C." see http://www.wagingpeace.org/articles/2005/11/00_starr_effects-of-300-kilo..., "Eliminate Launch on Warning" see http://www.wagingpeace.org/articles/2004/09/00_phillips_eliminate-launch..., "An Explanation of Nuclear Weapons Terminology" see http://www.wagingpeace.org/articles/2007/11/29_starr_explanation_termino...

 1 online publication at website hosted by World Federalist Movement (Canada) www.RLOAD.org "Replace Launch on Warning Policy"

 1 online publication at the website of the Yorkshire Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, "Nuclear Winter: the Forgotten Danger" see http://cndyorks.gn.apc.org/news/articles/nwinter.htm

 “ I am actively working with scientists from Rutgers, the Univ. of Colorado-Boulder, and UCLA to promote a better understanding of their recent research on the catastrophic climatic consequences of nuclear conflict. I also am working with a retired Russian Colonel (Valery Yarynich) to create a joint working group of U.S. and Russian experts to model and study nuclear war; this project is now being funded by the Nuclear Threat Initiative and is in the first stages of completion.”