University of Guam holds forum on Nuclear Issues

UOG College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences Organizes Forum on Nuclear Issues in Guam

Press Release

The College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences at UOG will be holding a forum titled “Tip of the Spear? Or Tip of a Nuclear Bomb?” on Feb 16. The forum will feature a panel discussion on nuclear issues related to Guam and take place from 6 – 7:30 pm in the CLASS Lecture Hall. The event is free and open to the public.

Guam has long been referred to as the Tip of America’s Spear, as its position on the edge of Asia makes it an ideal strategic location from which the US can project force into the Pacific Rim and the Asian continent beyond. The election of Donald Trump as President of the United States has brought a new level of uncertainty to a part of the world where tensions have already been escalating. 

With last year’s unveiling of Guam Killer missiles from China, more missile tests from North Korea, and the US military’s plans to increase their presence in the Marianas, there is a need for Guam residents to reimagine their place in the world, especially in terms of security. This event will explore what it means to live at the tip of a nuclear bomb and encourage further discussion on the risks involved.

The event will begin with a short overview of nuclear weapons and contamination in Guam by Dr. Michael Lujan Bevacqua, Assistant Professor in the Chamorro Studies program at UOG. The panel will feature three speakers:

Dr. James Sellmann, Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, who will discuss wider philosophical issues around war and the use of nuclear weapons.

Victoria Leon Guerrero, co-chair of Independent Guåhan, will discuss the current nuclear threats that Guam faces because of planned US military increases.

Raymond Lujan, Social Work major at the University of Guam, will discuss his experiences last year while organizing with Japanese peace activists who are dedicated to abolition nuclear weapons from the world.