Dear ICAN supporters,

What a month - we received the Dalai Lama's endorsement, participated in the UN-NPT meeting in Geneva, and more recently been inspired by Czech hunger strikers and the growing worldwide fast against US Missile Defence in Europe. Meanwhile people walk across Europe for peace.

Also, today is the last day to vote for ICAN in the Myspace Impact awards - which gives us a chance to win $10,000 - please vote.

YOU CAN do something to make a nuclear weapons free world, join an action below.

ICAN ACT - things to do today!

Vote for ICAN on Myspace - help us win $10,000 - LAST DAY
MySpace has been shortlisted ICAN for an award of $10,000. The prize goes to whomever has the most votes. Go to www.myspace.com/impactawardsau. If you are not yet a member, you can join, log in and vote. Congratulations to our webmaster Adam Dempsey, for this great achievement.

Spread the word - I CAN!
The Dalai Lama's endorsement is a great opportunity to tell your friends and networks about ICAN. Please copy the picture of the message of support, and put it in your e-mail by-line, post it on your website, blog, Facebook or Myspace.

If printed material is more your style, please ask us for copies of our flier and mini-mag. View copies on our website.

ICAN Give!
ICAN secured 3 years funding, and we now have one year to go! If you'd like to help with our funding strategy, from ideas to practical help, please contact jessica@icanw.org. You can also donate online.

Support other nuclear weapons campaigns:

Czech Hunger Strikers.

Jan Tamas and Jan Bednar, outraged by US plans for missile defence radar in their country, began a hunger strike in Prague on 16 May. Support messages have flooded in and other hunger strikers have joined them - from all over the world! Read their story. Sign the petition. Read support messages and add yours. Read about those who are joining the hunger strike - and consider joining them!

Peace walkers.

Australians KA and Marcus are key organisers of Footprints for Peace who currently leading a walk from London to Geneva , through France. About 25 people daily are walking to highlight problems with the nuclear cycle. Another Australian, June Norman (66yrs), is with them. Read their story and send them a support message.

Vote NO for US Reliable Replacement Warhead.

The US House of Representatives is about to decide whether to provide funding for the dangerous Reliable Replacement Warhead and a manufacturing plant to build new plutonium pits for nuclear weapons. At a time when the United States is trying to convince the rest of the world to abstain from developing nuclear weapons, we should not be building new nuclear weapons. Sign the Petition (NB you'll have to ‘choose' a US State as part of your address).

Students: Write an essay and win a trip to Geneva.

The World Federation of United Nations Associations (WFUNA) is accepting student essays, videos, and posters on WFUNA President Hans Blix's question: What do you think can lead governments to stay away from, or do away with, nuclear weapons? The deadline for submissions is 31 May 2008. Over 10,000 students have visited the campaign website disarmamenthub. org. But we have received less than 50 submissions. The authors of the 15 best contributions will be awarded an all-inclusive trip to attend a seminar hosted by Hans Blix at the Palais de Nations in Geneva from 13-16 July 2008.

ICAN NEWS

We are deeply grateful to HH the Dalai Lama for providing his formal endorsement to ICAN, and Andy Kanter of ICAN USA for organising this.

ICAN in Geneva. ICAN had a great presence at the recent UN nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty meeting in Geneva. Tim Wright attended as an ICAN representative, and Assoc Prof Tilman Ruff and Cr Jenny Farrar (from ICAN partner Mayors for Peace) were part of the official Australian delegation. ICAN was prominent throughout the two weeks, including ICAN's key aim - a Nuclear Weapons Convention. Australia 's statements were also notably different to previous years, including a cautious endorsement to the idea of a Nuclear Weapons Convention, and renewed effort towards a world free of nuclear weapons.

Read the ICAN blog or Tim's full report for more information.

ICAN in Canberra. John Langmore, our senior political advisor, has been in Canberra several times in the last month, meeting with Minister's offices, MP's and associated staff.

NUCLEAR WEAPONS NEWS

The US StarTribune's recent opinion piece explores the position of the USA in regard to Iran 's nuclear program. Read story. And the Chicago Tribune covered a similar topic, but linked with this US Presidential Race. Read story.

The Cabinet of the Czech Republic have given their preliminary approval to a US radar installation as part of the Missile Defence Program, amidst worldwide hunger strikes in protest. Read story.

North Korea de-nuclearisation process is moving along. Read story.

-- 

Jessica Morrison
Australian Director
International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons
G03 60 Leicester Street, Carlton VIC 3053
Phone: + 61 3 9347 4795	
Mob:     0431 519 577
Fax: + 61 39347 4995