Tell the Japanese and Australian Prime Ministers to get clear on a vision for zero

Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama and Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd recently received the first major report of the International Commission on Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament (ICNND).

ICAN is concerned that the ICNND’s recommendations don’t go far or fast enough towards getting the world to zero nuclear weapons. Moreover the report, sponsored by both governments, promotes nuclear power as a solution to climate change without sufficiently addressing proliferation dangers.

Both governments are considering how to respond to the report right now. Send a message to Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama and Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd in your own words outlining your concerns. Alternatively you can use the sample letter below.

Send your message to:

Please be sure to CC your letter to the Co-Chairs of the International Commission on Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament (ICNND), Yoriko Kawaguchi and Gareth Evans:

Sample letter

Dear Prime Ministers Hatoyama and Rudd,

Firstly let me congratulate you both for tasking the International Commission on Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament (ICNND) to develop a roadmap toward the essential goal of achieving a world without nuclear weapons.
 
The Commission’s most recent report, Eliminating Nuclear Threats, has many positive aspects, unfortunately though it falls short of the most important goal of all – reducing the world’s stockpile of nuclear weapons to zero.
 
The report recommends reducing current arsenals by around 90 per cent by 2025, but this would still allow 20 times the number of nuclear weapons sufficient to end civilization as we know it.
 
I am also deeply concerned that the report, heavily promotes nuclear power as a solution to climate change without sufficiently addressing nuclear weapons proliferation risks.

Climate change and nuclear war are the two most serious threats to our future. It makes no sense to worsen one problem while trying to address the other.
 
A clear roadmap to eliminating and outlawing nuclear weapons is needed.  Civil society organisations around the world and a growing number of governments advocate a Nuclear Weapons Convention (NWC), a global treaty to get the world to zero nuclear weapons.

Recently, the Australian parliamentary Joint Standing Committee on Treaties also unanimously recommended Australia work for a NWC.

While the ICNND report also recognises the need for a NWC, leaving negotiations to 2025 undermines the urgency of getting to zero. Negotiations for a NWC should start at least by 2015 and a treaty concluded by 2020.
 
The vast majority of the international community expects to see a world free of these weapons. If it is achievable and realistic to make 90% reductions by 2025, lets go to zero.
 
I urge you to take immediate steps to create a clear roadmap to eliminating and outlawing nuclear weapons, prior to the 2025 deadline outlined in the ICNND report.

I also urge you to make clear that nuclear weapons have no place in protecting the security of the people of Australia or Japan. 

I look forward to receiving your response and continue to share your overall vision of finally abolishing nuclear weapons from the world.
 
Yours sincerely,