CPR started in March 2002 following the announcement of a dramatic shift in U.S. nuclear policy entitled the Nuclear Posture Review (NPR). This announcement came six months after September 11, 2001, in a climate of fear fueled by a U.S. national administrative mantra of "you're either with us or you're with the terrorists."  As group of concerned individuals we met to discuss the implications of and our response to these frightening proposals.  This entirely new nuclear doctrine contains three main points:

1) Nuclear First Strike scenarios - the United States proposes preemptive nuclear first strikes against a nation or adversary in the absence of prior attack.

2) Development of a new generation of "usable" nuclear weapons - This could fuel a renewed global arms race.

3) Listing of the Axis of Evil Nations - seven specific nations are listed as the axis of evil including our "friend" Russia. They include Russia, China, Iraq, Iran, Syria, Libya, and North Korea.  Our concern is that this promotes the mindset of "enemies" necessary to justify perpetual war and precludes diplomacy as the primary means of resolving conflict.

While the above (NPR) issues were instrumental in our formation, CPR recognizes that what is really at risk is the very survival of our planet and global society.  We recognize that we need to respect and preserve the environment, secure universal human rights, eliminate poverty and establish a culture of peace.  CPR has endorsed The Earth Charter as a basic framework promoting these goals.  Chartered by the 1987 United Nations World Commission on Environment and Development, it sets forth a declaration of global interdependence in which peace issues are seen as synonymous with environmental and social justice issues.

The goal of CPR is to provide information about, and promote a public dialogue on these and other important issues affecting our future.  We genuinely believe that working together we can build a better world and we invite all to join in this process!