International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons

I personally cannot conceive any circumstances when any Government could justify the use of modern nuclear weapons, so I strongly support moves to achieve a nuclear free world."

- Rt Hon. Jim Bolger, New Zealand Prime Minister 1990-97, New Zealand Ambassador to US 1998-2002.

Alyn Ware, Global Coordinator of Parliamentary Network for Nuclear Disarmament with the Hon Nick Smith, Former Governor General Sir Paul Reeves, Hon Marian Hobbs.

The book 'Securing our Survival: The Case for a Nuclear Weapons Convention' was launched in the Grand Hall of the New Zealand parliament today by the Parliamentary Network for Nuclear Disarmament (PNND), International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW), Aotearoa Lawyers for Peace and International Association of Lawyers Against Nuclear Arms.

A gathering of parliamentarians, doctors, lawyers, city council members, civil society representatives and diplomats from New Zealand and around the world gathered for the event highlighting the proposal for a Nuclear Weapons Convention – a treaty to abolish nuclear weapons - and to hear presentations by former Governor General Sir Paul Reeves, the Hon Dr Nick Smith (Chair of PNND New Zealand), Hon Marian Hobbs (PNND Global Council Member), George Salmond (former Director-General of Health) and Alyn Ware (co-author of the book).

The Hon Dr Nick Smith notes that “New Zealand has prohibited nuclear weapons in our own country, helped establish a Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone in the Pacific and led a case in the World Court which declared that nuclear weapons must be abolished. We have the credentials to lead the global effort for the abolition of these weapons of mass destruction, just as has been done with chemical weapons, biological weapons and landmines.”

“Nuclear weapons are the ultimate threat to human security, the environment, development and peaceful relations between countries,” says Hon Marian Hobbs, who sits on the PNND Global Council and will be speaking on nuclear abolition at the United Nations in October. “We must abolish nuclear weapons before they abolish us.”

Further information, including the full text of support statements, see here.