Civil Society Raises Pressure Over NPT

Nuclear Abolition News | IPS

By RAVI KANTH DEVARAKONDA

GENEVA (IPS) - As parties to the treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) begin their second preparatory conference in Geneva on Monday, representatives of civil society and several countries have decided to bring the festering nuclear issue and its potential humanitarian consequences to the centre stage. [P] JAPANESE TEXT VERSION PDF | PORTUGUESE | SPANISH

From Non-Proliferation to a Total Ban on Nukes

Nuclear Abolition NewsViewpoint | IDN

By TIM WRIGHT*

MELBOURNE (IDN) - At the beginning of March, the Norwegian government hosted a landmark conference in Oslo on the humanitarian impact of nuclear weapons and the inability of relief agencies to respond effectively in the event of a nuclear attack. More than 120 governments, the Red Cross and several UN agencies participated. Their message came through loud and clear: the only way to ensure that nuclear weapons are never used again is to outlaw and eliminate them without further delay. [P] GERMAN | JAPANESE TEXT VERSION PDF

Calling For a Nuclear Weapons Convention

Nuclear Abolition NewsEssay | IDN

By FREDERICK N. MATTIS

ANNAPOLIS, USA (IDN) - Soka Gakkai International (SGI) President Daisaku Ikeda’s Peace Proposal for 2013 notes that worldwide abolition of nuclear weapons will require the legal framework of a treaty banning the weapons (variously called a nuclear abolition treaty, nuclear ban treaty, or Nuclear Weapons Convention – NWC). The SGI president proposes the goal of substantial completion in 2015 of the NWC text. Upon its finalization, then, of course, time will be needed for states to evaluate, sign, ratify, and formally accede to the NWC.

US Nukes Back in South Korea May Reduce Risks

Nuclear Abolition News | IDN

By BENNETT RAMBERG*

LOS ANGELES (IDN | Yale Global) - Following North Korea’s February 12 nuclear weapons test, the UN Security Council adopted tough penalties on Pyongyang. Along with a new round of financial sanctions, the council beefed up inspections of suspect cargo to and from the country and took steps to halt illegal activities by Pyongyang diplomats – all intended to squeeze North’s nuclear and missile programs.

Fighting Nukes In Israel Is An Uphill Battle

Nuclear Abolition NewsViewpoint

By SHARON DOLEV*

BINYAMINA-GIV'AT ADA (IDN) - Around the world, when it comes to nuclear weapons, it is a well know “secret” that Israel is a Nuclear Armed State. Just like India and Pakistan, Israel has developed a nuclear arsenal, but unlike the two, Israel’s arsenal remains a secret. Israel doesn’t talk about its arsenal and usually, doesn’t take part in any international or regional discourse about it.

Anti-Nuke Movement Goes to the Gulf

Nuclear Abolition News | IPS

By BAHER KAMAL

MANAMA (IPS) - After a week of activities in Oslo during the Conference on the Humanitarian Impact of Nuclear Weapons, major anti-nuclear campaigners moved on March 10 to the Bahraini capital, Manama, in yet another step towards the abolition of atomic weapons. [P] ARABIC | GERMAN | JAPANESE TEXT VERSION PDF

Trailblazing Conference Urges Ban On Nukes

Nuclear Abolition News | IDN

By RAMESH JAURA*

BERLIN | OSLO (IDN) - There are miles and miles to go before a world without nuclear weapons becomes a reality. But a significant step towards banning atomic arsenal capable of mass annihilation has been taken in Oslo, the capital of Norway, which is an ardent member of the 28-nation North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). [P] CHINESE TEXT VERSION PDF | GERMAN | JAPANESE TEXT VERSION PDF | NORWEGIAN | SPANISH

UN and Disarmament Entering New Transition Age

Nuclear Abolition NewsViewpoint | IDN

By ANGELA KANE*

NEW HAVEN, Connecticut, USA (IDN) - Disarmament is, first and foremost, one of the UN's oldest and most durable goals. The term appears twice in the UN Charter – which we should recall was adopted before the first nuclear weapon was even tested. The first resolution adopted by the General Assembly established on January 24, 1946 the goal of eliminating nuclear weapons and all other weapons "adaptable to mass destruction", later called WMD.

‘Humanitarian Diplomacy’ Fights Nukes

Nuclear Abolition News | IPS

By JAMSHED BARUAH

OSLO (IPS) - For the first time, ‘humanitarian diplomacy’ is being deployed to drive home the need for banning nukes – though under the self-imposed exclusion of the P5, the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, who own a crushing majority of the 19,000 nuclear weapons capable of destroying the world many times over. [P] ARABIC | JAPANESE TEXT VERSION PDF | PORTUGUESE | SPANISH

ICAN Resolved to Ban Nukes

Nuclear Abolition News | IDN

By RAMESH JAURA

OSLO (IDN) - A global movement to outlaw nuclear weapons is in the making with significant support from Norway, which is protected by the U.S. nuclear umbrella as a member of the 28-nation North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). This emerged from a two-day ICAN Civil Society Forum in Oslo. [P] CHINESE TEXT VERSION PDF | GERMAN | JAPANESE TEXT VERSION PDF | KOREAN TEXT VERSION PDF | NORWEGIAN