ICAN around the world
Bulletin #17 - February, 2009
Welcome to your monthly e-bulletin from ICAN Australia, updating you on the progress we're making in our world-wide campaign to abolish nuclear weapons and how you can help.
This month, some good news: the Obama leadership in the US is taking several positive steps towards nuclear abolition, while Australia's parliamentary inquiry into nuclear treaties provides another opportunity for our voices to be heard.
ICAN act: Three things to do today
1. AUSTRALIA 'S NUCLEAR TREATIES INQUIRY: MAKE A SUBMISSION NOW
The Australian Parliament's Joint Standing Committee on Treaties (JSCOT) is conducting an inquiry into ALL Australia 's nuclear treaties. Associate Professor Tilman Ruff is preparing ICAN's submission. See www.icanw.org/JSCOT_submission for details. Completed submissions are being posted at http://www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/jsct/nuclearnon_proliferation/subs.htm.
2. SIGN GLOBAL ZERO DECLARATION TO ABOLISH NUKES:
Global Zero, launched in Paris before Christmas, brings together prominent supporters aiming to eliminate nuclear weapons and plans to hold a Global Summit in 2010. Please join their signatories and commit to Global Zero's aim of "working for a legally binding verifiable agreement, including all nations, to eliminate nuclear weapons by a certain date".
www.globalzero.org/sign-declaration
3. ICAN GIVE!
Make a donation to ICAN Australia and it will be doubled!
For a limited time, every dollar you donate to ICAN Australia will be matched, thanks to a generous challenge grant from the Poola Foundation. Please consider making a donation today to help us meet this challenge so we can continue to campaign on this vital issue.
Donate at www.icanw.org/donate or contact us for tax deductibility.
ICAN news
ICAN coordinates Australian NGOs for UN meeting
Dimity Hawkins will work with ICAN to coordinate a round-table meeting between Australian anti-nuclear organisations, and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, before the "NPT PrepCom" in New York in May. The PrepCom (Preparatory Committee) is a UN planning meeting for the crucial 2010 nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference. NGO observers can attend these meetings and in 2008, for the first time, NGO representatives including ICAN's Tilman Ruff were invited to be part of the official delegation.
Youth conference creates ICAN Action
ICAN Australia 's Jessica Morrison promoted ICAN to 1,500 delegates at January's National Christian Youth Convention in Melbourne. 150 young people joined a nuclear "submersion" experience organised by Jessica, including a peace walk, vigil and handing out ICAN information outside at BAE Systems' local office. BAE, the world's third largest defence company, produces the UK 's nuclear submarines. www.icanw.org/news/peace-vigil-at-BAE-Systems-by-National-Christian-Youth-Convention
New campaigner for ICAN Australia staff
Teri Calder (teri@icanw.org) has joined ICAN Australia 's staff, to work three days a week as the fundraising and communications coordinator. Teri has many years' experience working with non-government organisations such as Greenpeace. She joins Jessica Morrison (outreach and administration) and Adam Dempsey (website coordinator).
ICAN = WE CAN create a nuclear weapons free world
Recent ICAN partners include international Buddhist organisation Sokka Gokkai, with 14 million world wide members; Oxfam Australia, our first development partner; Greenpeace (Australia/Pacific); and the Australian Catholic Social Justice Council, who represent the Catholic Bishops Conference.
New individual supporters include Grammy Award winning jazz musician and composer Herbie Hancock, and Nigerian hip-hop megastar 2face Idibia; while ICAN-UK have a list of prominent patrons supporting our work to bring about a Nuclear Weapons Convention: www.icanw.org/news/ican-uk-patrons
Nukes news
Obama pledges action on nuclear weapons
During its first week in office, the new US administration of President Barack Obama published its foreign policy agenda on the revamped White House website. Under "Nuclear Weapons", Obama and Biden pledge to stop the development of new nuclear weapons, to take existing weapons off hair trigger alert, and to strengthen the Non-Proliferation Treaty.
www.whitehouse.gov/agenda/foreign_policy/
Obama seeks Russia deal to slash nuclear weapons
Hillary Clinton will go to Moscow aiming to slash both countries' stockpiles of nuclear weapons to 1,000 each - the most ambitious arms reduction talks with Russia for a generation. Key to the initiative is a review of the Bush Administration's plan for a US missile defence shield in Eastern Europe, a project fiercely opposed by Moscow.
www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article5654836.ece
UK calls for action on nuclear weapons
Foreign Minister David Miliband called for a new debate on ridding the world of nuclear weapons, saying that 40 years after the signing of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty now was the "time to show that we're serious". Releasing a new report called Lifting the Nuclear Shadow, he said that the world faced the danger of a new race for the ultimate weapon on one side but, on the other, the slim chance that nuclear powers could agree to give up their arsenals.
www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article5663528.ece
However, antinuclear campaigners criticized the speech, pointing to the UK 's provocative decision to upgrade their Trident nuclear missile system.
www.politics.co.uk/news/news/foreign-policy/uk-nuclear-policy-insane--$1266334.htm
Legal authority supports Scottish stand against nuclear weapons
Judge Christopher Weeramantry, former vice-president of the International Court of Justice, told a conference in Edinburgh that the issue could not be left in the hands of Westminster. While agreeing that international relations were reserved to the UK Parliament, he insisted the Scottish Parliament must uphold international humanitarian and legal obligations. (Judge Weeramantry spoke at Australia 's 2007 ICAN launch.)
http://news.scotsman.com/scotland/Trident-39increases-threat-of-nuclear.4943971.jp
Pakistan's AQ Khan freed from house arrest
The nuclear scientist who developed Pakistan 's bomb has been freed by the high court, five years after he admitted selling atomic bomb technology to Iran, Libya and North Korea.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/feb/06/nuclear-pakistan-khan
Bill aims to deter Pine Gap protest
A Bill before Federal Parliament aims to deter protestors who enter the Pine Gap spy base by making it "special Defence undertaking and a prohibited area". These provisions are contained in the Defence Legislation (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill 2008 which covers diverse issues. Submissions to the Committee enquiring into the proposed law can be viewed at: www.aph.gov.au/Senate/committee/fadt_ctte/dlmab_2008/submissions/sublist.htm
China details "no first use" policy
China, for the first time in history, has revealed in detail its longstanding policy of "no first use of nuclear weapons", promising that its nuclear missile weapons are "not aimed at any country" in peacetime.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-01/20/content_10688163.htm
Australia keeps nuclear involvement under wraps
Investigations by The Age have revealed that the Federal Government has secretly continued Australia 's role in a controversial nuclear energy pact designed by the Bush administration and embraced by John Howard, despite Labor's previous opposition to it. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and his cabinet made decisions in August - not yet publicly announced - about Australia 's involvement in the US-led Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP).
www.theage.com.au/environment/rudd-silent-on-nuclear-pact-role-20090123-7orb.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1
YouTube: Pacific Islanders survived British Nuclear Tests
For information on the Fijian veterans of Britain 's nuclear tests at Christmas and Malden Island and the long term impact of Britain's nuclear testing in the Pacific, see this excellent story on Youtube, from the SBS Dateline program:
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=0hKVoYNkdV0&feature=related
WE CAN!
ICAN Australian Bulletin comes to you from the ICAN Australia team
Future issues will be sent on the first Monday of each month, from:
International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons
G03 60 Leicester Street, Carlton, Victoria, Australia 3053
Phone: + 61 3 9347 4795
Fax: + 61 39347 4995
Sign or donate at www.icanw.org/donate
Feedback or contributions to: info@icanw.org
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International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons
G03 60 Leicester Street, Carlton VIC 3053
Phone: + 61 3 9347 4795
Fax: + 61 39347 4995
