I'm a retired teacher, a mom and a grandmother of two from Iowa. Admittedly, nuclear weapons were never high on my radar. But as the national budget crisis continues and our leaders in Washington threaten funding for schools, jobs, health care, Social Security and even troops, I know I must act.

I first learned about Global Zero and it's mission to eliminate nuclear weapons when my son Derek became Program Director for this international organization. Imagine my dismay when I learned that there are 8500 nukes in the U.S. and that they'll cost $600 billion over the next decade!

How can our government justify such expenditure while cutting budgets for education, health care and other vital services our children need for a strong future? Is it even moral to spend $600 billion on useless cold war relics that make us less safe through risk of accident, miscalculation and the real possibility of terrorists getting their hands on these weapons?

If like me, you think we should cut spending on nuclear weapons instead of the things we really need, then join me in signing this cut nukes petition: http://cutnukes.org.

My passion and enthusiasm for a world without nuclear weapons truly ignited after I volunteered at Global Zero's GZDC Conference in Washington D.C. this past April. Surrounded by all those incredibly bright, intelligent and visionary young people (like those pictured above) working on difficult policy issues, trying to find ways to save the world from a nuclear catastrophe, made me feel SO proud as a Mom and renewed my faith in the goodness in all of us, young and old.

I decided to become a part of this amazing movement. So when Global Zero launched the Cut Nukes campaign earlier this year, I posted the petition on my Facebook page asking my friends and family to sign online. I also wrote letters to the editors of my hometown newspaper and The Cedar Rapids Gazette. I carry the paper petition wherever I go, like the hospital where I volunteer, the women’s center where I volunteer as an ESL teacher and to our library where I work. Soon, I'll speak to some of the clubs and organizations in my town and have a discussion with the Jr. and Sr. High students in our Talented and Gifted Program, possibly to get their help in gathering more signatures.

So, Moms, grandmas, ladies, please join me in telling our leaders to STOP spending money on nukes and invest in our children's future instead, by signing the Cut Nukes Petition: http://cutnukes.org!
. I believe that Mom Power can change the world!