This week, the nation funds its priorities and agenda and observes the 37th Earth Day. This year, we witness a heightened awareness regarding the threat to the planet through climate change, but fail to recognize the immediate planetary threat that exists at every moment namely, the threat of nuclear war. Failure to recognize the interconnectedness of these two issues multiplies the risk to the planet. One threatens us every moment of every day and one through a slow death. If we are concerned about either, we must be concerned about each.

Tonight, from 9:30 to midnight, Citizens for Peaceful Resolutions, Ventura County Chapter, will hold its annual Tax Day Nuclear Presentation at the Oxnard Post Office.

The growing risks of climate change are documented daily, from changes in storm patterns to melting ice caps to increasing drought and deteriorating air quality, with direct impacts on human health, particularly in the world's most impoverished areas and to those most vulnerable in our societies.

This month's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (http://www.ipcc.ch) landmark report by 2,500 scientists from more than 120 countries, including the U.S., provided consensus on the frightening health and environmental implications of climate change.

The planetary threat from nuclear weapons and the preparation for their use, defense, development and cleanup are no less real and hang over us every day. Most defense and governmental officials agree that these are weapons that can and must never be used. Scientists have shown that unilateral use of as little as 2 percent of the world's arsenals would have such devastating environmental impact to effectively end life as we know it on the planet. Wars are fought in part to control natural resources and energy supplies the very resources that directly cause climate change. Ultimately, any war can turn into a nuclear war if the stakes are right and the rhetoric heated enough. To this end, war itself is rendered obsolete.

How will we respond to these threats? An examination of our federal budget spending this tax season gives insights into our priorities. Incredibly, this year, the nation will spend $54 billion on all nuclear weapons programs designed to prepare for, defend and fight a nuclear war. This is according to a recent report from the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Analysis in Washington, D.C. (http://www.csbaonline.org). How does this translate to each of us and our communities?

This tax day, Ventura County will spend in excess of $165 million on these nuclear-weapons programs. Our neighboring county of Santa Barbara with its smaller population will spend almost $78 million, and the city of Los Angeles will spend in excess of $666 million. Los Angeles County will spend an incredible $1.7 billion. Finally, and perhaps the most appalling, is that the city of New Orleans would have spent in excess of $68 million in 2003, expressed in 2006 dollars, prior to Katrina. This for one of the poorest cities in America. Did this really add anything to its security?

These expenditures rob our communities of the necessary resources needed to address more pressing needs of health and education, including opportunities to develop new energy technologies, and environmental issues, including changes related to the impact of climate change. Jim Wallis, editor of Sojourners magazine, says correctly: "Budgets are moral documents." Analysis of them reveals our moral compass. Do these expenditures truly reflect our priorities?

We stand at a critical time in the history of the planet. When will we act upon the man-made threats to our planet? Will it be before the "tipping point" of no return? Will we lead by example? Each of us has an opportunity and a responsibility. Each of us will leave a footprint. Will it be for good or harm? How will each of us respond?

The actions we take today will determine the future for our children and future generations.

Robert Dodge, M.D., of Ventura, is on the board of Physicians for Social Responsibility L.A. and is president of the Ventura County chapter. He sits on the board of Beyond War (http://www.beyondwar.org) and is co-chairman of Citizens for Peaceful Resolutions (http://www.c-p-r.net).