Critics of nuclear disarmament argue that a world free of nuclear weapons decreases international peace and security. "If nukes are outlawed, only rogue states will have them." Without a nuclear deterrent, there is nothing to stop "rogue" states from cheating. Since the knowledge to build a nuke exists, a cheating nation could secretly build a nuclear weapon and hold the world hostage. Proponents of disarmament say that technology exists that would detect a cheating state.

Cheater's Risk (created by the Stimson Center) is an interactive exploration of a world without nuclear weapons. The player steps into the role of a country seeking to gain the advantage of a monlpoly on nuclear weapons and must avoid being detected by national intelligence services and international monitors. This virtual game provides a good understanding of what it actually takes to develop nuclear weapons and how difficult it is to do so without detection. A great learning tool for people of all ages!

International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW) published a briefing paper in March 2010 on the global climate and health effects of nuclear war. The paper, "Zero is the Only Option," examines four medical and enviromental case studies on nuclear famine, a nuclear ozone hole, nuclear winter, and the casualites of nuclear war. Each case study draws on work conducted by climate scientists, including Alan Robock, O.B. Toon, and Michael Mills.

Produced for the NPT Review Conference, "Zero is the Only Option" makes a strong case for the inherent global dangers of nuclear weapons, not just from a security standpoint, but from the longterm perspective of climate and health. This paper provides excellent insight into the collective need for rapid policy change.