Bulletin #12 - June, 2008
Dear ICAN supporters,
The Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has now publicly associated himself with nuclear disarmament, pictured in front of Hiroshima 's peace memorial. Please do the same! View and join our new album of supporters, ICAN too! here.
Congratulations to students at Victoria 's Hawkesdale College who have designed an on-line ICAN quiz, and are writing letters to their government and mayor.
Click for more detail, or scroll down
ICAN too! - put your photo on our website
ICAN badges and stickers available
Support other nuclear weapons campaigns
ICAN ACT - things to do today!
ICAN too! Our website now features photos of dozens of ICAN supporters - we'd love to include all our supporters and partners. Have a look - www.icanw.org. Please join in - take a photo of yourself with the ICAN placard and send to info@icanw.org
ICAN Give!
ICAN has one year left of initial funding, so we are working hard to raise further funds. For ways to donate, contact jessica@icanw.org, or donate online.
ICAN badges and stickers. New button badges and stickers have just arrived in the ICAN office. We also have T-shirts, DVDs and brochures.. Please contact us to get ICAN branded! info@icanw.org
Support other nuclear weapons campaigns:
Czech Hunger Strikers. The two original hunger strikers fighting against US missile defence installations in the Czech Republic have suspended their fast. However others have replaced them. Read support messages and add yours. Join in on June 22, where hundreds have already pledged to join the fast for 1 day.
Peace walkers. The Footprints for Peace walkers are making their way across France, sending great regular updates. Read their story and send them a support message.
Join an appeal to the next US President with Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Browne and Graham Nash. Read more and join.
Participate in a Japanese Newspaper's survey about nuclear weapons. Go to survey.
ICAN IN THE NEWS
TUNE IN: Thursday 25 June, 10.30pm, Channel 31 (or stream http://www.c31.org.au) This documentary features the ICAN Melbourne launch, and then an update from Campaign Director, Jessica Morrison.
The Age opinion piece: "Opposites Unite to pursue the dream of a nuclear-free world" by Tim Wright. Read article.
On-line Opinion article: "We need to turn back the nuclear doomsday clock"
John Langmore's article in response to Rudd's Commission announcement. Read Article.
ICAN NEWS
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. ICAN has also made a submission to the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties about proposed uranium sales to Russia . The inquiry follows a general agreement made by Putin and Howard at the APEC summit last year. We cannot yet release our submission, but it will be posted on the Parliament House website - www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/jsct/index.htm
ICAN around Australia.
ICAN will be busy in the coming month, with Jessica Morrison speaking at events: Globalisation for the Common Good in Melbourne June 30-July 3; Students of Sustainability in Newcastle from July 5-9; World Youth Day in Sydney on 17 July; Associate Professor Tilman Ruff reporting back from the NPT meeting, at a MAPW dinner on 8 July in Melbourne; Bill Williams will be addressing Victorian Unions on 7 August.
NUKES NEWS
IRAN. Despite many negotiations, Iran remains in a stand-off with some western powers over its uranium enrichment program. Iran insists it has a right to enrich uranium, while many fear they will use this technology to enrich uranium. Read more. People within the USA continue to advocate for a military strike on Iran. For an excellent summary of Iran and nuclear issues, read the Reaching Critical Will up to date analysis of Iran.
SYRIA returns to the news this month, with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors going in to inspect the scale of their nuclear activity. There is debate about what sites the IAEA will inspect, with Syria giving access to the facility bombed by Israel , but not more widely. Read more. Two months ago the US revealed that their intelligence led to Israel 's bombing of a Syrian nuclear plant. The IAEA has expressed its concern that the US and Israel bombed the facility before they could inspect it. Read more.
ISRAEL has 150 nuclear weapons according to former US President Jimmy Carter. The existence of Israel 's nuclear arsenal has never been formally confirmed by either Israeli or US sources. Read more.
A.Q. KHAN denies sharing nuclear secrets with the world. Just released from an enforced 4 year ban, Dr Khan states his role in helping the illicit development of nuclear programs of countries such as North Korea , Iran and Syria were greatly exaggerated. Read more. Others are suggesting his role was much more significant than he will admit. Read more.
BARACK OBAMA, the confirmed Democrat nominee for the US Presidential election has pledged himself towards a nuclear weapons free world. Read his foreign policy statement.
WE CAN! - New ICAN partners
Thanks to the following groups who joined us as partners this month:
· Victorian Trades Hall Council (Victoria 's peak union body)
· Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (Vic Branch)
--
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
