ICAN around the world
News
Disarmament resolutions in UN General Assembly - US again an outsider
Iran's nuclear weapons program halted in 2003 - US National Intelligence Council
German Greens say "yes" to ICAN; Australian voters say "no" to pro-nuclear government
"Target X" events raise public awareness in over 30 Countries
AmerICANs for nuclear abolition
ICAN launched in Ottawa, Canada
ICAN urges Japanese PM to reject India nuclear deal
ICAN condemns Australia's Safeguards Office
IPPNW with US and India affiliates condemn US-India nuke deal
Australian Parliamentary launch of 'Securing Our Survival'
NZ Parliamentary launch of 'Securing our Survival'
ICAN Australia Chair marks Hiroshima anniversary with radio address
US nuclear weapons removed from Germany
Students support ICAN - South East Asia
Swedish physicians and students visit North Korea
President of Mongolia endorses ICAN
IAEA Director General praises ICAN
Nuclear Weapons Convention included in final summary of global nuclear meeting
Iran holds up debate at NPT Preparatory Committee
ICAN lobbies for African Nuclear Weapons-free Zone Treaty to become law
Hiroshima's Mayor launches ICAN
NPT ‘worth reinforcing' - UN Secretary-General
Disarmament resolutions in UN General Assembly - US again an outsider
December, 2007
Nearly every resolution dealing with nuclear weapons in the UN General Assembly in 2007 was opposed by the US delegation, often by them alone. This reflects the isolated position in which the US has placed itself. Despite this, all resolutions regarding nuclear weapons were adopted, indicating some progress on the long way to a nuclear weapons free world.
Currently, there are approximately 4,000 nuclear weapons in the arsenals of the USA and Russia that could be launched within minutes. Two resolutions dealt with this problem, however one gained less support due to the definition of ‘hair trigger'. The US Ambassador Mrs. Rocca said, "the US forces are not, and never have been, on hair-trigger alert. In order to comply with this request we would have to first put our forces on hair-trigger alert so that we could then de-alert them."
Four resolutions were tabled regarding nuclear disarmament. In similar forms, all resolutions had been discussed during sessions in earlier years, all with significant support. The exception was the votes for the resolution tabled by Iran, with nearly all NATO states refusing to support this draft in order to prevent showing support for Iran. As in previous years, the disarmament machinery of the UN (Conference on Disarmament and UN Disarmament Commission) was criticised but without suggestions for improvement.
Two resolutions dealt with outer space security issues, both gaining overwhelming success. The numbers of supporting countries increased from last year, showing that the majority of countries is interested in preventing an arms race in outer space.
A resolution dealing with the health risks of depleted uranium gained broad success. This was unexpected because a similar resolution gained no support in 2002.
In total, the UNGA dealt with 52 resolutions on disarmament. Most of these have been presented over many years, but their increased support, as well as the tabling of new resolutions, suggests we are moving forward on the issue of nuclear abolition.
See here for more on "Nuclear Dismarmanent: United Nations General Assembly 2007".
Iran halted N-weapons in 2003 - US National Intelligence Estimate
November, 2007
The US National Intelligence Estimate on Iran's nuclear weapons program, "Iran: Nuclear Intentions and Capabilities" reports that Iran seems to have halted nuclear weapons development in 2003.
Some of the key judgements of the estimate include:
- We judge with high confidence that in fall (autumn) 2003, Tehran halted its nuclear weapons program
- We continue to assess with moderate-to-high confidence that Iran does not currently have a nuclear weapon
- We judge with high confidence that Iran will not be technically capable of producing and reprocessing enough plutonium for a weapon before about 2015
- We assess with high confidence that Iran has the scientific, technical and industrial capacity eventually to produce nuclear weapons if it decides to do so.
View the report (pdf) here or from our ICAN Downloads page.
German Greens say "yes" to ICAN; Australian voters say "no" to pro-nuclear government
November, 2007
The global momentum for a Nuclear Weapons Convention continued to build throughout November with:
- the adoption of a dynamic nuclear abolition resolution by the German Greens party
- the ouster of a virulently pro-nuclear government in Australia
- the passage of a broad plank of disarmament resolutions by the First Committee of the UN General Assembly, and
- the endorsement of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) by growing numbers of NGOs, grassroots activists, and prominent individuals.
See more here.
Target X events raise public awareness in over 30 Countries
November, 2007
Medical students and doctors from International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW) came together in Freiburg and Rotterdam for two new Target X events, raising local public awareness of the nuclear threat and generating more enthusiasm for a nuclear-weapons-free world.
More, including links to photos, see here.
ICAN urges Japanese PM to reject India nuclear deal
1 October, 2007
Assoc. Prof Tilman Ruff, ICAN Australian Management Committee Chair, visited Japan, an influential member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).
Writing to the Japanese Prime Minister urging that the proposed transfer of nuclear materials and dual-use nuclear technologies from the United States to India, as spelled out between those two countries in the text of an 1 August 2007 agreement, does not proceed, Dr. Ruff urged Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda and Foreign Minister Masahiko Koumura "to closely examine the multiple ways in which this agreement conflicts with the NSG's guidelines and undermines the goal of nuclear non-proliferation that is the Group's sole reason for existence".
Read Dr. Ruff's letter here.
Japanese citizens have also written to the Australian Ambassador "to convey our grave doubts and concerns about this announcement," regarding the Australian government's willingness to export uranium to India if the US-India nuclear agreement is implemented.
Read the citizens' letter here.
ICAN condemns Australia's Safeguards Office
27 August, 2007
Assoc. Prof. Tilman Ruff, ICAN International Chair and MAPW Immediate Past President presented scathing criticism of the Australian Safeguards and Non-proliferation Office (ASNO) in his talk Australia, the UN and disarmament: out in front or dragging the chain? given at the United Nations Conference in Melbourne. Dr Hans Blix also presented at the conference, talking of the 'incovenient truth' of the second arms race currently occuring.
IPPNW with US and India affiliates condemn US-India nuke deal
21 August, 2007
A joint statement by the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War affiliates in USA and India calls on their Foreign Ministers to reject the nuclear sharing deal. They also call on the Nuclear Suppliers Group to block the agreement.
Australian Parliamentary launch of 'Securing Our Survival'
15 August, 2007
The Australian Labor Party, the Greens, and the Democrats endorsed the strategy of a Nuclear Weapons Convention at the Parliamentary Launch of 'Securing our Survival: The Case for a Nuclear Weapons Convention' in Canberra, sponsored by Parliamentarians for a Nuclear Free Future.
Robert McClelland MP, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs stated "Australia has been missing from the international playing field for too long", and that if Labor was elected they would begin work for a Nuclear Weapons Convention, and also progress the Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty and seek to strengthen safeguards under the NPT.
Read Robert McClelland's speech committing the ALP to a Nuclear Weapons Convention.
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Senator Christine Milne (Greens), Dr Sue Wareham (MAPW incoming President, obscured), Assoc Prof Tilman Ruff (MAPW outgoing President), Peter Garrett MP (Labor, Shadow Environment Minister), Robert McClelland (Labor, Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister), Gavan O'Connor (Labor)
Senator Lyn Allison (Australian Democrats) Dr Sue Wareham, A/Prof Tilman Ruff. Photos by Eric Li (UN Association, Australia).
ICAN Australia Chair marks Hiroshima anniversary with radio address
5 August, 2007
Assoc Prof Dr Tilman Ruff at Melbourne's Hiroshima Day rally.
Immediate Past President of the Medical Association for the Prevention of War (MAPW) and ICAN Australian Chair Assoc Prof Dr Tilman Ruff spoke at the Hiroshima Day rally, reminding us of the sheer scale of destruction possible with these bombs.
See Dr Ruff's ABC National Radio broadcast speech here.
US nuclear weapons removed from Germany
10th July, 2007
According to Hans Christensen of the Federation of American Scientists, the US have withdrawn their nuclear weapons from the air base at Ramstein in Germany (estimated to be about 130). This is indicated by a new list that shows which bases receive regular security inspections of the nuclear weapons based there.
Previously, Ramstein was listed and now it is not. It was already believed that the nuclear weapons at Ramstein had been taken elsewhere because major building was taking place at the base, but this list suggests that the withdrawal has been made permanent.
Both the US Pentagon and the German Defense Ministry refuse to give any information on the withdrawal, and neither confirm nor deny it.
IPPNW Germany has demanded that the German government get rid of the remaining 20 nuclear weapons based at Buechel, which are part of the nuclear sharing arrangements.
While this is very good news for Germany, should it be correct, there is still some doubt as to whether the weapons are permanently gone and we are still pushing in our new campaign for a complete German withdrawal from all nuclear sharing arrangements and the anchoring of the nuclear weapon free status in the constitution.
The new web site of the German campaign is now online: www.atomwaffenfrei.de.
Students support ICAN - South East Asia
6-8 July, 2007
For over two and a half days in Adelaide, students from seven medical schools in three countries met to discuss the theme of the conference: History, Health and Hope in our Region.
Examined was our shared past in IPPNW and our individual stories, to reaffirm our commitment to the health and wellbeing of ourselves, our colleagues, our patients, and our planet, and to explore the reasons we have hope for the future - a future without nuclear weapons, with proper small arms controls, respect for human rights, and the end of war.
Dr Ron McCoy provided an extensive briefing emphasising History, Health and Hope.
We were fortunate to have with us Jessica Morrison, Coordinator of ICAN Australia. She introduced ICAN and took us through the campaign materials, then led us in a number of interactive educational activities, equipping us to better communicate about the dangers of nuclear weapons and the need of abolition.
Finally we made plans for how to promote ICAN in our cities, states, or countries, and each group was gifted with a set of ball bearings which can be used to illustrate the firepower and potential impact of the world's existing 27,000 nuclear weapons.
Swedish physicians and students visit North Korea
12-16 June, 2007
SLMK - the Swedish affiliate of IPPNW sent a delegation of 3 students and 1 doctor to Pyongyang, Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).
The delegation aimed at strengthening the relationship with the DPRK affiliate of IPPNW, spreading awareness on nuclear weapon issues to medical students and doctors, increasing our knowledge about the health care situation in DPRK.
In Pyongyang, Mr Kang Mun Ryol, executive secretary of Korean Anti-Nuke Peace Physicians (KANPP) had prepared an extensive program for us, including visits to a General clinic, the Pyongyang University of Medicine, a maternity hospital, a hospital for traditional medicine and the Pyongyang Institute of Nutritional Care of Children. We also visited the demilitarised zone on the border to Republic of Korea (South Korea).
In our meetings with health care personnel we were surprised how openly we could discuss IPPNW and its philosophy and methods. We explained our opinions on nuclear weapon issues.
We had a 2 hour meeting with 9 medical students and the Dean at the Pyongyang University of Medicine. We explained the IPPNW Student Movement, Dr Martin Tondel had a presentation on health consequences after exposure to radioactivity.
We also talked about the importance of working with nuclear weapon related issues. In the end we had a very informal discussion and handed over material including IPPNW and SLMK publications and Medical literature.
Our meetings with KANPP were focusing on how we could help each other and what our future cooperation will include. Finally, KANPP are warmly welcoming the IPPNW delegation to DPRK in September.
On behalf of SLMK and IPPNW
Martin Tondel, MD PhD, vice chairman of SLMK
Wenjing Tao, coordinator of NWIP
Johannes Norberg, Student Representative of Sweden
Thomas Silfverberg, Member of SLMK Election Committe
President of Mongolia endorses ICAN
June 21-22, 2007
The President of Mongolia Nambaryn Enkhbayar spoke at the recent IPPNW North Asia Regional Meeting in Mongolia.
"I hope that IPPNW's International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) and the campaign for the conclusion of a nuclear weapons convention will yield positive results....The Mongolian Government supports IPPNW's noble goals and activities."
IAEA Director General praises ICAN
24 May 2007 | Luxembourg
International Conference on the Prevention of Nuclear Catastrophe
Last month, the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons was launched in Melbourne, Australia. The campaign calls for a Nuclear Weapons Convention to outlaw nuclear weapons worldwide, much like the international conventions on biological and chemical weapons.
In July 1996, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) declared that "the threat or use of nuclear weapons would generally be contrary to the rules of international law applicable in armed conflict, and in particular the principles and rules of humanitarian law."
As with the convention on anti-personnel landmines, public involvement could provide the momentum to make the Nuclear Weapons Convention a reality.
Christopher Weeramantry, a former judge of the International Court of Justice who took part in its landmark 1996 advisory opinion on nuclear weapons, has written that, "if we want more than the kind of snail's pace action of the past 50 years, we need a public campaign worldwide that is vocal enough to force swift action". www.iaea.org/NewsCenter/Statements
Nuclear Weapons Convention included in final summary of global nuclear meeting
11 May 2007
The meeting of 130 governments on nuclear weapons issues held in Vienna for 2 weeks concluded today. The Chair, Ambassador Amano of Japan, issued a 51 paragraph Factual Summary which acknowledged in paragraph 10 that, "support was voiced for the development of a nuclear weapons convention."
"More and more governments agree that the time has come for a Nuclear Weapons Convention", said Felicity Hill. "At last years General Assembly 125 governments called for the immediate commencement of negotiations. At this years NPT meeting, governments understood that nuclear weapons need the same treatment as landmines, as well as chemical and biological weapons."
Iran holds up debate at NPT Preparatory Committee
5 May 2007
The first week of the first session of the 2010 Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) review cycle began with "an unusually constructive and expectant air", said Felicity Hill, coordinator of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN).
This was mostly motivated by a desire not to repeat the procedural wrangling of the 2005 review conference in New York, which was blocked for the first 17 days over the agenda, she explained.
"However, this week has ended in frustration because Iran is refusing to allow the agenda to be passed. Iran is also refusing to allow substantive discussion to proceed in parallel to negotiation over the agenda, thereby holding 187 countries in limbo. Two-and-a-half days of work have been lost," she said.
Iran wishes to change the agenda that has been crafted by the conference president, Ambassador Amano of Japan. Every other country agrees to his agenda, including all countries of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) other than Iran.
NAM is reported to be pleased with the references to the Middle East and references to the 1995 and 2000 NPT review conferences,
The specific part of the 2007 Preparatory Committee session agenda that Iran wants to change is a reference to the conference "reaffirming the need for full compliance with the treaty".
"Iran wants to add ‘all articles and provisions' so the sentence reads ‘reaffirming the need for full compliance with all articles and provisions of the treaty'," explained Ms. Hill.
Late Friday evening, the chair asked the meeting again for adoption of the agenda. Iran responded that it could not. The European Union responded that it was "frustrated" and wanted to get on with work and lamented the position of Iran.
Syria took the floor and reiterated its support for the agenda.
Canada asked that the meeting continue simultaneous to negotiations on the agenda, so that work could begin.
Cuba asserted that the chair should give more time for consensus to emerge and requested the chair to take more time for consultations.
Australia expressed strong appreciation of the extensive and fair consultations of the Chair, an agenda that it described as providing "ample opportunities to discuss all provisions of the treaty". It supported Canada's proposal to have substantive discussion while negotiations continued on the agenda on the margins.
South Africa proposed that "[t]he meeting decides that it understands that the reference in the agenda to reaffirming the need full compliance with the treaty to mean that it will consider compliance with all provisions of the treaty".
Iran asked to see the proposal in writing and to have time to consult with capital. The sentence was circulated in English, and the chair closed the meeting saying that the meeting would reconvene on Monday "at an appropriate time".
ICAN lobbies for Pelindaba to become law
4 May 2007
A representative of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) has been encouraging several African countries in attendance at the Non-Proliferation Treaty preparatory meeting in Vienna to ratify the African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty, also known as the Treaty of Pelindaba.
"This is the only nuclear-weapon-free zone that has not yet entered into force," explained Tim Wright, ICAN's African liaison officer. "This is a great shame, as the treaty has the potential to bring significant security, environmental and economic benefits to the continent."
Five non-ratifying countries are represented at the meeting - Angola, Egypt, Mozambique, Namibia and Tunisia - and several have expressed an intention to ratify the Treaty of Pelindaba within the next year.
ICAN hopes to secure the entry into force of the treaty, which currently requires seven more ratifications, by the end of 2007. On-the-ground lobbying efforts by Mr. Wright in Africa suggest that this goal is achievable.
Hiroshima's Mayor launches ICAN
1 May 2007
Mayor Tadatoshi Akiba of Hiroshima yesterday joined a panel of six anti-nuclear activists in Vienna to launch the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons at the NPT preparatory meeting.
"The majority of the world's people don't know how dangerous the threat of nuclear weapons is," he said to an audience of governmental delegates and representatives from non-government organisations.
The new campaign, which was initiated by the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War, has the stated aim of "generating a groundswell of public support" for a nuclear-weapon-free world.
"Doctors and mayors can help the world to come to its senses," Mayor Akiba said, before describing his efforts to highlight the destructive powers of nuclear weapons, particularly when targeted at cities.
He concluded: "This campaign is our best chance to generate public opposition to nuclear weapons ... All of us, no matter what our position, can make a difference ... We cannot afford to fail."
Dr Ron McCoy, a Malaysian obstetrician and former president of IPPNW, agreed with the mayor's comments. "Global trends suggest that we cannot afford to muddle along," he said. "Are we going to wait for a nuclear explosion before resolutely abolishing nuclear weapons?"
The coordinators of ICAN have urged governments to put their support behind the formation of a nuclear weapons convention. A model convention, along with commentary, was presented at the launch.
"The model convention might still, to some people, seem idealistic. But there could be a shift in politics that creates an opening. Such a shift has taken place before," said Alyn Ware, one of the convention's authors.
A representative from the Costa Rican government announced at the launch his country's support for such a convention and its intention to submit the model convention as an official NPT document.
At the conclusion of the launch, Felicity Hill, the campaign's international coordinator, relayed a message from Professor Jody Williams, who leads the Nobel-prize-winning International Campaign to Abolish Landmines: "We were told that a mine-ban treaty was idealistic and unachievable. But we did it. Keep on working."
NPT ‘worth reinforcing' - UN Secretary-General
1 May 2007
The nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty "has done more than create a norm of non-proliferation", United Nations secretary-general Ban Ki-Moon said yesterday at the NPT preparatory session in Vienna.
It was the first time a UN secretary-general has sent a message to an NPT preparatory committee, which he described as "necessary because of a persisting crisis of confidence in the treaty".
"Evidence of such a crisis is widespread," he said, referring to the "disappointing outcome" of the 2005 review conference, "insufficient progress" on nuclear disarmament and a lack of universal adherence to International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards as reasons for the crisis.
He also spoke of the difficulties faced by the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization and the urgent need to establish a zone free of weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East.
"I am encouraged that this preparatory meeting will ... consider progress that has been made in establishing regional nuclear-free zones," Moon said. "The growth of membership in such zones ... is one of the greatest achievements in the atomic age."
He concluded his message by calling on delegates to the meeting to adopt a "non-confrontational approach" in dealing with non-proliferation and disarmament issues.
He also urged delegates "to show the world what multilateral cooperation can achieve in building a safer world and advancing the interests and ideals of humanity".
Felicity Hill, coordinator of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, described Moon's decision to deliver a speech as "commendable".
