International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons

"If you could change the world to make a better future, what would you do?"

Two students in year 6 created this slide show on nuclear weapons in response to the iNet online student conference in which they participated.

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has announced plans for an International Commission on Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament, to be co-chaired by former Foreign Minister Gareth Evans.

ICAN welcomes this move, following on from the 1995 Canberra Commission on the Elimination of Nuclear Weapons.

The Australian Government's 2020 Summit vision includes mention of nuclear weapons, with major credit for this going to Felicity Hill, WILPF Vice President and previous ICAN employee. Jessica Morrison's contribution to on-line community GetUp also made it to the forum.

ICAN makes the news in the Melbourne Times and Leader newpapers.

On March 16 ICAN joined with co-organisers the Stop the War Coalition, members of the Medical Association for the Prevention of War, Friends of the Earth, other non-government organisations, unions, church groups and the public for traditional Palm Sunday peace events across Australia.

Read our national round up of events here (pdf).  To view a clip of the Melbourne rally click here .

Happy supporters.

by John Langmore.

'On 29 and 30 August 2007 six cruise missiles armed with nuclear warheads were loaded on a US Air Force plane, flown across the country and unloaded. For 36 hours no-one knew where the warheads were or even that they were missing.'

Sunday March 16 (Sat March 15 in Tas)

• Melbourne: 2pm at the State Library (corner Swanston & Latrobe Streets, city).

Download the poster. Organised by the Palm Sunday Committee 2008.

Read our report of the national events here (pdf).

Endorsed by ICAN, the Peace Organisation of Australia, the Justice and International Mission of the Uniting Church, Nuclear Free Australia and the Stop the War Coalition.

Breakdown Press has published a powerful collection of 17 posters by artists, designers and writers. The posters build on the history of the political poster movement to oppose this vicious nuclear chain. Cost: just $15 plus postage. To see or order the posters online: www.breakdownpress.org/posters.html

Thanks to those who took ICAN actions this month. Supporters have had letters on nuclear issues published in major newspapers and received by MPs, have visited mayors and signed them up to Mayors for Peace, distributed leaflets and attended public forums.

City of Yarra Mayor, Cr Jenny Farrar, said the Mayors for Peace Program was an important initiative for both the local and international community.