The questions

These questions were used for the Angus Reid poll on Canadian attitudes towards nuclear abolition. The poll was commissioned in February and March 1998 by the Canadian Peace Alliance.

Now, I'd like to ask you a few questions about nuclear weapons, also called atomic weapons or atomic bombs. As you may know, there are over 30,000 nuclear weapons currently existing in the world.

1. (Some/Other) people say that the existence of nuclear weapons helps keep the peace and makes the world a safer place. (Some/Other) people say that the existence of nuclear weapons makes the world a more dangerous place. (RANDOMIZE TWO STATEMENTS)

Which of these two views is closest to your own?

Nuclear weapons make world safer

Nuclear weapons make world more dangerous

2. I'm going to read you a list of possible situations involving nuclear weapons, and I'd like you to tell me how serious a threat each situation is right now. For each one, pleas e tell me whether you think it is a seious threat, a moderate threat, a mild threat, or no threat at all. How about ... (READ STATEMENT - RANDOMIZE) (REPEAT RESPONSES PERIODICALLY)

Statements

A world war involving the use of nuclear weapons

The use of nuclear weapons by a terrorist organization

A limited nuclear war between countries in the Third World

The spread of nuclear weapons to countries who do not have them now

An accidental firing of a nuclear weapon

An environmental disaster caused by accidental damage to a nuclear weapon

Responses

Serious threat

Moderate threat

Mild threat

No threat at all

3. As you may know, Canada has signed global treaties to ban chemical and biological weapons. Do you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree or strongly disagree that Canada should support the negotiation of an agreement to abolish nuclear weapons?

Strongly agree

Somewhat agree

Somewhat disagree

Strongly disagree

4. As you may also know, Canada took a lead role in promoting the recent international t reaty which banned anti-personnel landmines. Would you support or oppose the idea of Canada taking a similar leadership role in promoting an international ban on nuclear weapons? Would you strongly support, somewhat support, somewhat oppose, or strongly oppose such a leadership role for Canada?

Strongly support

Somewhat support

Somewhat opppose

Strongly oppose

5. Right now, Canada does not possess any nuclear weapons itself. However, we are involved in military alliances, such as NATO, with countries which have nuclear weapons, namely Britain, France and the United States. These alliances have military strategies which would allow the use of nuclear weapons under certain circumstances. Overall, do you strongly support, somewhat support, somewhat oppose or strongly oppose Canada being part of alliances which include the use of nuclear weapons in their nuclear strategies?

Strongly support

Somewhat support

Somewhat oppose

Strongly oppose