Last night, Kane Hall was abuzz with expectation as Dr. Hans Blix, the former head of the United Nation's weapons inspection commission, took the stage.

An audience of more than 700 people listened as he warned against a new international arms race that is developing.

The pursuit of new weaponry by the United States, Russia, China and certain rogue states like North Korea is contributing to a new international Cold War, Blix said.

Russia claimed that it would match any United States efforts at weapons in space with its own attempts. China shot down a satellite of its own, proving their interest in space weapons. The United Kingdom has resumed its own nuclear submarine program as well. The political environment seems to be growing ripe for strife and conflict.

But Blix claimed that there is no modern rationale for open war and increased weapons spending. He cited a lack of ideological, religious and territorial borders, which in the past have been the main reason for war between superpowers.

"We are sleepwalking into new arms races," Blix said.

The world just spent 1.3 trillion dollars on military affairs this last year, half of which was United States spending, he said.

Blix explained how arms races start, recommended ways to avoid them and how we must steer away from "traditional responses" to other superpowers' nuclear and conventional weapons proliferation.

He strongly advised that one of the best ways to decrease nuclear armament and avoid an arms race is for the superpowers to lead by example. He suggested that the United States and Russia could lead the way, with economic incentives and protection pledges for smaller countries that might feel endangered by disarming their nuclear arsenals.

Blix also noted the importance of keeping outer space free, because it "belongs to the world." If states were to commit to a weaponless space treaty, he argued, the impact on our future would be tremendous.

Because of the world's increasing economic interdependence, Blix argued that nuclear weapons are no longer a viable option for us. He also praised the world's vast increases in "peace" areas, where open war is no longer a solution to conflict. The Nordic territories, Europe and North America were given as examples of territories that don't resolve local disputes with war.

He is also concerned with the global warming crisis, and warned that we need to be aware both of the consequences of war and of environmental pollution.

One audience member asked Blix, "Will China's increasing need for oil drive us to war?" He responded with a recommendation for nations to not simply fight over oil, but look for new sources of energy. He admitted that he supports civilian nuclear power — a controversial stance — but claimed that it produces as much energy as hydroelectric power worldwide.

The monotone lecture was peppered with much factual support for his conclusions, but Blix broke the occasional dullness with some spicier anecdotes, even citing a fan of his who named their cat Blix, claiming it as a "Weapon of Mice Destruction."

He closed his talk by calling for increased faith in the United Nations, which he believes will lead us to increased peace and understanding.

He cited a former friend and secretary general of the United Nations, who said "The U.N. is not there to take us to heaven, but to help us avoid going to hell."

[Reach reporter Jackson Rohrbaugh at news@thedaily.washington.edu.]