Dear ICAN supporters
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: ICAN condemns North Korea's nuclear test and calls on the Australian government to do everything in their power to pressure its allies to bring the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) into force.

ICAN act: Three things to do today

ICAN GIVE!
We've almost reached half our target! Make a donation to ICAN Australia and it will be doubled.
For a limited time, every dollar up to $200,000 you donate to ICAN Australia will be matched, thanks to a generous challenge grant from the Poola Foundation. We've almost reached $100,000 which is half our target! Please consider making a donation today to help us meet this challenge so we can continue to campaign on this vital issue and intensify our efforts at this most crucial time. Thanks to the many supporters who have already generously donated.
Donate at www.icanw.org/donate.

Host an ICAN event.
The inspiring film "Soldiers for Peace" received a large audience and raised funds for ICAN at its WA premiere in May. Last week, Dr Bill Williams spoke to Deakin University students. Last Monday, Assoc. Prof. Tilman Ruff and ICAN's Jessica Morrison spoke to a public meeting at Hobart Town Hall.

Contact ICAN to book a speaker or arrange a film screening: info@ican.org or call 03 9347 4795

Purchase "Soldiers for Peace" and support ICAN
If you buy the DVD through the ICAN website, the film-makers will make a donation to ICAN. www.icanw.org/videos

ICAN news

North Korea's nuclear tests unacceptable: ICAN
Responding to last week's nuclear weapon test in North Korea, ICAN issued a media release calling on the US and China to ratify the CTBT and for all nuclear weapons states to get rid of their nuclear weapons.

• Read ICAN's media release at www.icanw.org/news/north-korea-nuclear-test-time-for-a-test-ban 

• See Reuters' summary of global reactions:  www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE54O3IO20090525?sp=true 

• The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists analyses the North Korean tests, including the strategic implications and the need for diplomatic approaches, in a series of articles. Click on 'Nuclear Weapons' at www.thebulletin.org

NPT PrepCom: a "qualified success"
ICAN Board members Ruth Mitchell, Dimity Hawkins and Tilman Ruff spent a productive two weeks in New York at the NPT PrepCom. This UN 2009 Preparatory Committee for next year's review of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty demonstrated new global will to eliminate nuclear weapons, with the US playing a positive role.
Read Ruth's blog at: icanw.blogspot.com
For more details, see News in Review (including Dimity's contributions) at www.reachingcriticalwill.org/legal/npt/2009index.html

ICAN events

Melbourne, Tuesday 16 June: Art fundraiser for a nuclear-free future
ICAN joins Friends of the Earth and the Australian Nuclear Free Alliance for this annual art auction fundraiser. Featuring established and emerging artists.

Hogan Gallery 310 Smith St, Collingwood. Viewing at 5pm Auction at 8pm.

Proceeds support anti-nuclear campaigning in local and Aboriginal communities - including ICAN work. More details at www.mapw.org.au  

Melbourne, Thursday 11 June: Defence White Paper Forum
How does the Defence White Paper and the Federal Budget shape Australia's future relationships the world and our region? Is our government making a serious contribution to abolishing nuclear weapons?

Dimity Hawkins from ICAN introduces this discussion with RMIT Nautilus Institute's Prof Richard Tanter and researcher Nic Maclellan. Hosted by MAPW and Nautilus. 6.30 pm - 7.30 pm at Level 2 of the Alan Gilbert Building, Cnr Barry and Grattan St, Carlton. Details at www.mapw.org.au  

ICAN in the news

Nuclear weapons not child's play: Governments urged to act on Children's Day
On 5 May - a Japanese national holiday, Children's Day - ICAN with partner organisation Soka Gakkai International called on governments meeting at the United Nations for the NPT PrepCom to turn the growing international momentum for nuclear weapons abolition into reality.

Read the statement, reported in the Japanese media, at www.icanw.org/news/nuclear-weapons-are-not-childs-play

Nukes news

Nuclear headlines over the past month

US concern over Pakistan nuclear build-up
Members of Congress have been told in confidential briefings that Pakistan is rapidly adding to its nuclear arsenal even while racked by insurgency, raising questions on Capitol Hill about whether billions of dollars in proposed military aid might be diverted to Pakistan's nuclear program.

New York Times: www.nytimes.com/2009/05/18/world/asia/18nuke.html?ref=world   

Malcolm Fraser urges nuclear abolition now
Former Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser addressed New Zealand's National Consultative Committee on Disarmament Conference in Wellington in late May, arguing that there has never been a better time to achieve total nuclear disarmament, and putting a strong case for a Nuclear Weapons Convention.

Read Malcolm Fraser's full speech at www.mapw.org.au.

Huge budget increase for Australia's military
The 2009 budget gives Defence an additional $43 billion dollars over a decade, with three per cent annual growth, largely following the recommendations of the recent Defence White Paper.

The budget includes a substantial allocation of $9.2 million for the International Commission on Non-Proliferation and Disarmament, and also funds for counter-proliferation intelligence; and for nuclear and radiological security. www.budget.gov.au

Nuclear powered sub crashed off Perth in 1997
A British nuclear-powered submarine crashed into Australia's continental shelf near Perth in a potentially deadly accident that was covered up at the time. The Royal Navy attack submarine, HMS Trenchant, became grounded off Rottnest Island in July 1997, according to information just released in the British parliament. Luckily, the submarine, although armed with Tomahawk cruise missiles, is not believed to have been carrying nuclear weapons: www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25306301-26040,00.html

US weapons producers used substandard materials
Contractors at a major nuclear weapons complex repeatedly used substandard construction materials and components that could have caused a major radioactive spill, a recently completed internal government probe has found.
www.sacbee.com/702/story/1829900.html

WE CAN!

ICAN Australian Bulletin comes to you from the ICAN Australia team, sent 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
info@icanw.org

Sign or donate at www.icanw.org
Feedback or contributions to: info@icanw.org

3 June 2009