NORTHAMPTON — When 122 United Nations member states signed the Nuclear Weapons Ban Treaty on July 7, ambassadors found it hard to comply with U.N. rules against cheering and hugging, according to author Timmon Milne Wallis.

Wallis, who grew up in Northampton and recently returned, represented Quakers in Britain during the treaty negotiations.

He will share his story Tuesday night at the Northampton Friends Meetinghouse. The public talk will launch Wallis’ new book, “Disarming the Nuclear Argument: The Truth About Nuclear Weapons,” as well as his effort to encourage Americans and citizens of other nuclear-armed nations to pressure their governments to sign the treaty.

The U.N. has 193 member states; none of the nuclear-armed nations, including the United States, has signed the treaty.

“This is a very important treaty that no one knows about,” Wallis said. “This country is one that above all has to get rid of the weapons. We need to get people aware and telling others about it.”

He’s not the only Northampton resident to be involved in the effort to ban nuclear weapons. Dr. Ira Helfand of Leeds, co-founder and past president of Physicians for Social Responsibility, played a key role in a four-year campaign that culminated in the U.N. treaty.

Wallis grew up in Northampton, leaving at the age of 14 to move with his family to Scotland. He recently moved back to the city to look after his mother.

He holds a doctorate in peace studies from Bradford University in England and was the founder and director of Peaceworkers UK. Wallis has also worked as the executive director of Nonviolent Peaceforce, as an editor of “Peace News,” a director of the National Peace Council (UK), international secretary of Peace Brigades International and as training manager for International Alert.

Wallis’ new book  analyzes the cost, accident risk and legality of nuclear weapons. He’s also the author of  “Satyagraha: The Gandhian Approach to Nonviolent Social Change” and “The Truth About Trident.”

The Northampton Friends Meeting House is located at 43 Center St. and Wallis’ talk is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.  

“The main thing I want people to take away is a bit of optimism,” Wallis said. “Despite all the horrible things happening in the world and in this country, this treaty is a very historic, important step.”

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