Bulletin #6 - November 2007
The tensions surrounding both Iran and Pakistan this month reveals the potency of nuclear weapons in already volatile situations. We CAN stop these worst weapons of terror, before they are ever used again.
For a soul boost - watch a new music video by Ben Harper, Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt, Graham Nash singing the classic Stephen Stills song, For What It's Worth.
Australian Federal Election: thanks to all who have been writing letters and distributing postcards - we have distributed 310,000- postcards all together! With less than one week to go- we are asking for all hands on deck to promote Vote Nuclear Free
Quick links in this issue:
ICAN ACT - things to do
ICAN NEWS
NUKES NEWS
WE CAN - new ICAN partners
ICAN ACT - things to do this month
URGENT: Promote www.votenuclearfree .net - This website is a feast of information, resources and humorous approaches to the issue.
Send an e-mail/blog entry/write on facebook walls saying:
"I don't want a nuclear future in Australia . This federal election sees us at a crossroads - some parties would support an explosion of the nuclear industry in Australia , and others don't. Check out www.votenuclearfree.net before the election for all the info"
Write a letter to your daily paper or phone radio stations saying:
"The Howard Government was talking up nuclear power in Australia a few months ago, now they are silent about the whole issue - I read that ¼ of their own MP's don't even support it. This is a serious issue for Australia - are we going to export uranium to fuel bombs or nuclear accidents - or will we become the world leaders in exporting renewables. www.votenuclearfree .net has given me heaps of information about where each party stands on these issues."
Comment on Hans Blix's Get Up Blog about Iraq and WMD.
BOOK an ICAN speaker for your next event. E-mail jessica@icanw. org
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 in the ICAN Facebook group?
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 International
ICAN has spoken at many events this month including:
- Dr Jenny Grounds at the Yarra City Council nuclear issues forum in Melbourne
- Jessica Morrison at the Sydney Public Meeting Australia stop fuelling nuclear weapons
- Dr Carole Wigg and Jessica Morrison at a Brimbank City Council Advisory Committee
- Jessica Morrison at a forum "No Nuclear Reactor for Hastings " by the Democrats
- Assoc Prof Tilman Ruff at the Another World is Possible conference in Melbourne
- MAPW member Lynette Saville at a Green Party meeting in Sydney
ICAN has been overwhelmed by the response to Vote Nuclear Free. Just six weeks ago ICAN decided to print posters and postcards to promote Vote Nuclear Free. By the time the first order of 40,000 postcards arrived we had received orders for 100,000! Two further print runs have seen a total of 310,000 postcards distributed by hundreds of people around Australia . THANK YOU and GREAT WORK.
ICAN in the news. Some great articles and letters have been printed by ICAN members, including:
- Dr Sue Wareham with Dr Jim Green, Science Alert on Nuclear Power and Water Scarcity
- Assoc Prof Tilman Ruff, Age Opinion piece Lets end all Nuclear Weapons Now
- Dr Bill Williams, Courier Mail Opinion piece responding to Arnold Schwarzenegger
- Assoc Prof Tilman Ruff, Crikey letter about ASNO-earlier full opinion piece in Herald Sun
Guardian Opinion piece on nuclear weapons in the Middle East When will the US and the UK tell the truth about Israeli weapons? Iran isn't starting an atomic arms race, it's joining one Read Article
IAEA report released about Iran 's nuclear program An International Atomic Energy Agency report released last week will be considered by the Board of Governors tomorrow. This report indicates that Iran had been generally truthful about its nuclear program, and confirms that Iran has 3000 centrifuges to enrich uranium. Read article
Good news...
ANOTHER poll shows people want nuclear disarmament: In the second poll in as many months, 73% of US citizens, and 63% of Russians support the elimination of nuclear weapons. Read the poll
Moves to return to the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The 1996 advisory opinion issued by this Court indicated the use or threat of use of these weapons was illegal, and that nuclear weapon states have a legal obligation to disarm. More than 10 years later, international groups are moving to return the ICJ for their legal opinion about what should happen next. Read More
Arnold Schwarzenegger issues nuclear weapons wake up call: Link Link to ICAN comment
Japan will host G-8, and call for nuclear abolition. The Speaker of Japan's House of Representatives looks forward to welcoming the G8 leaders to Hiroshima as part of his lifelong commitment to nuclear abolition. More: here
Australia's Lucas Heights nuclear reactor to stay closed this year. The new Australian research reactor, open for just 3 months, will stay closed for longer than originally reported. This is ironic given its home town Sydney hosted a conference this month: International Conference on Research Reactors: Safe Management and Effective Utilisation. More: here
Bad news...
Pipe Bomb found at US nuclear power plant. A contract worker was arrested at the largest nuclear power plant in the USA after a pipe bomb was found in his car. Link
Putin declares new nuclear weapons project. More: here
US guarding Pakistan nuclear weapons. With Pakistan under an imposed State of Emergency , it has been revealed that the US has spent $100 million USD protecting Pakistan 's nuclear weapons. This highlights the cost of nuclear weapons and raises the difficulties of maintaining command and control of nuclear arsenals. More: here
Thanks to all the following organisations who have signed up as Australian partners this month:
- Search Foundation
- South Australian Regional Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers)
- The Anti-Nuclear Alliance 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
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www.icanw.org
