ICAN Australia shared dinner and conversations with a group of budding new ICAN activists, Hawkesdale students in Victoria's Western District.

Media Release: Nuclear warfare threats should end plans to sell Australian uranium to Russia

The Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) and ICAN's Australian affiliate the Medical Association for Prevention of War (MAPW) say the current conflict in Georgia provides another reason why Australia should scrap plans to sell uranium to Russia.

THE proliferation of nuclear weapons is the single biggest threat facing the world today, former prime minister Paul Keating says.

Mr Keating, who led the government from 1991 to 1996, said the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) entered into in 1970 was on the verge of collapse.

Commemorations around the globe were held August 6 and 9, marking the 63rd anniversaries of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki respectively.

"... the only role for nuclear weapons is to be abolished."

- Hiroshima Mayor Tadatoshi Akiba, August 6, 2008.

The Australian Federal Parliament's Joint Standing Committee on Treaties is inquiring into a treaty to sell uranium to Russia - a nation whose current nuclear arsenal amounts to the equivalent of 200,000 Hiroshima bombs.

"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 and now President of the International Crisis Group, Gareth Evans.

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.

Contribution to on-line action community GetUp by ICAN's Jessica Morrison also made it to the forum. GetUp received 4,500 ideas on their website and chose 30 of these to present as a summary at 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.