Campaign milestones 2008

28 April: The Dalai Lama declares support for ICAN

His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama sends a statement of support to ICAN: “A nuclear weapons convention is feasible, necessary and increasingly urgent. I can imagine a world without nuclear weapons, and I support ICAN.”

9 May: ICAN urges action on disarmament in Geneva

At the Non-Proliferation Treaty preparatory committee meeting in Geneva, ICAN campaigners provide updates on their activities and call on governments to prioritize negotiations on a nuclear weapons convention.

9 July: ICAN invited to join new global commission

The Australian and Japanese governments launch the International Commission on Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament, with ICAN’s Tilman Ruff and Akira Kawasaki invited to serve as its two non-governmental representatives.

6 August: ICAN marks Hiroshima Day globally

ICAN campaigners hold vigils, exhibitions and other events around the world to commemorate the US atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki 63 years ago, which killed more than 210,000 people and injured many more.

24 October: UN Secretary-General joins call for a ban

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urges nations to implement existing legal obligations by negotiating a nuclear weapons convention. He describes the model convention prepared by civil society as a “good point of departure” for negotiations.

November: ICAN launches schools project

ICAN releases Learn Peace, a booklet for primary and secondary school students. It includes activities such as folding paper cranes, holding a model UN debate, role-playing a nuclear crisis and describing a nuclear blast.

9 December: Poll shows overwhelming public support for a ban

Global Zero releases the results of an opinion poll of 19,142 people across 21 countries showing that 76% support negotiations on a global agreement to ban nuclear weapons – including a majority of people in every nuclear-armed nation.