International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons

The Australian Federal Election is just around the corner. This election sees plenty of chances for effective action on nuclear issues - please take up these opportunities.

Dr Hans Blix endorsed ICAN while in Melbourne recently - watch his message, link your webpage to it, and let your friends know it’s here.

Quick links in this issue:
ICAN ACT – things to do
ICAN NEWS
NUKES NEWS
WE CAN - ICAN partners

ICAN ACT - things to do this month

ACT NOW: the Australian Government plans to sign a deal THIS FRIDAY to sell uranium to Russia. Write a letter to the editor, ring talk back radio, or email your MP and tell them you don’t want Australia fuelling a second arms race.

COMING SOON: Letter writing campaign: be ready to sign and send letters to your MP and beyond.

NEW WEBSITE: VOTE NUCLEAR FREE: containing political parties' stance on nuclear issues.

Listen to Encounter on Radio National, 7pm tonight for an exploration of religious responses to the nuclear energy debate in Australia

SIGN THE ICAN PETITION

Sign up celebrities to ICAN: Add faces to the growing personal endorsements of ICAN - from states people, politicians, musicians and others. If you know any 'famous' people who may want to endorse ICAN - we can provide information to approach them with.

Are you a friend of ICAN on Myspace or Facebook?

Join your organisation with ICAN. ICAN partners commit to building the campaign. Could your union, church, professional group, social group or other become an ICAN partner?

ICAN NEWS - Australia and Internationally

• Dr Hans Blix signs on to ICAN: We were very pleased to meet Dr Blix while he was in Melbourne recently, and record a support message from him.
• Half the political parties in Australian Parliament support a Nuclear Weapons Convention. ICAN's key short-term goal is for political parties to support a Nuclear Weapons Convention - and we are half way there, with the ALP, Democrats and Greens all pledging their support.
• The Australian Parliamentary launch Securing our Survival: The Case for a Nuclear Weapons Convention was attended by Ambassadors, members of Parliament and Senators, members of the public and several media outlets. During the ICAN representatives visit to Canberra, meetings also occurred with politicians and Embassies. Another round of visits to politicians and diplomats is occurring next week.
• Labor speaks out on nuclear weapons. Shadow Minister Robert McClelland spoke strongly about the need for action on nuclear weapons at an event sponsored by MAPW and UNAA this month. In his speech McClelland quotes extensively from ICAN's Securing our Survival, and urged action including work towards a Nuclear Weapons Convention.
• ICAN speaks out around Australia. ICAN speakers have recently appeared at the UN Association Conference, a Melbourne University forum, the Alliance Against Uranium in the NT, Hiroshima Day rallies, and People’s Alternative to APEC events. Book an ICAN speaker for your next event. Jessica@icanw.org
• Critique released of Australian Safeguards and Non-Proliferation Office. Assoc. Prof Tilman Ruff, Chair of ICAN, with former Australian Ambassador Richard Broinowski, Dr Alan Roberts and Dr Jim Green details extensive critique of this Australian Government body. Read the full critique OR Read the opinion piece which appeared in the Herald Sun
• IPPNW affiliates in US and India call on their governments not to sign the nuclear deal. Read more
• Securing our Survival launched in NZ Parliament. Read more

NUKES NEWS

Bad news…

• Russia resumes long-range strategic bomber flights.
• Australia planning to sell Russia uranium, even though there are risks of this uranium being diverted to Iran, or fueling further Russian bombs
• Many assert Australia would be in breach of its treaty obligations if it sold uranium to India. Read more
• Reports from both the US and Russia on deaths and diseases caused by their nuclear weapons tests. (these weapons can kill people even before they are used!)

Good News…

• North Korea states it will close all nuclear programs by the end of this year. Read more
• ASEAN strengthens the South-east Asia Nuclear Weapons Free Zone treaty, 10 years after it came into force. Read more
• New Agenda Coalition states of New Zealand and Sweden will move a motion in UN General Assembly to ask countries to take their nuclear weapons off high alert. Read more
• Gareth Evans, ICAN advisor and International Crisis Group President (also former Foreign Minister) calls on citizens to Maintain the Rage about nuclear weapons. Read more.
• UN disarmament education materials released. Check them out
• Australian Nuclear Free Alliance forms (from the Alliance against Uranium). Read more
• Read the Peace Declaration from the Mayor of Hiroshima made on 6 August 2007, the 62^nd Anniversary of the bombings of Hiroshima.
  

WE CAN - ICAN's Partners

ICAN relies on individuals and organisations taking up the challenge to create a nuclear weapons free world. Thanks to all the following organisations who have signed up as Australian partners in recent months:

· United Nations Association of Australia.

· National Assembly, Uniting Church in Australia

· Australian Conservation Foundation

· Australian Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies, University of Queensland

· The Justice and International Mission Unit of the Uniting Church of Australia (Vic/Tas Synod).

· Friends of the Earth (Australia).

· Australian Peace Committee

· The Wilderness Society (Australia).

· Social Justice Board, Uniting Church in Western Australia

· Peace Organisation of Australia.

· Japanese for Peace.

· Greens (QLD) Branch.

· People for Nuclear Disarmament (NSW).

· Psychologists for Peace - an interest group of the Australian Psychological Society.

· The Australian Democrats.

· Australian Student Environment Network.

· Newcastle Bike Ecology Centre.

· Sunshine Coast Environment Council

· Conservation Council of the South East Region and Canberra

· Pax Christi

· The Anglican Diocese of Gippsland

· Social Responsibilities Commission, Anglican Province of Western Australia

-- 
Jessica Morrison
International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons
Director - Australia
Medical Association for Prevention of War
G03 60 Leicester Street, Carlton VIC 3053
Phone: + 61 3 9347 4795	
Mob:     0431 519 577
Fax: + 61 39347 4995
______________________________
www.icanw.org 
www.votenuclearfree.net