NAPF Briefing Paper for 2010 NPT Review Conference
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Contents Executive Summary ..............................................................................................................1 I. Introduction ......................................................................................................3 II. The Non-Proliferation Treaty ........................................................................5 III. Changing Our Thinking ..................................................................................7 IV. A Spectrum of Perspectives on Nuclear Weapons ..........................................8 V. Where Countries Stand on the Spectrum ......................................................10 VI. Signs of New Thinking on Nuclear Weapons ................................................11 VII. Problems with Nuclear Deterrence ................................................................13 VIII. Omnicide and Abolition ..............................................................................14 IX. Further Arguments for Abolition ..................................................................15 X. Omnicidal Thinking ........................................................................................16 XI. Abolitionist Thinking ......................................................................................17 XII. The Obama Promise ......................................................................................18 XIII. The United Nations Secretary-General’s Action Plan ..................................20 XIV. Ending Nuclear Double Standards ................................................................21 XV. Recommended Steps for Consideration by the Parties to the 2010 Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference ............................22 XVI. Priorities ......................................................................................................23 XVII. Conclusions ............................................................................................24 References ................................................................................................................25 Appendices Appendix A: Abolition 2000 Founding Statement, April 1995 ......................26 Appendix B: Nuclear Age Peace Foundation Appeal to End the Nuclear Weapons Threat to Humanity ....................................................27 Appendix C: Thirteen Practical Steps for Nuclear Disarmament (From Final Document of 2000 NPT Review Conference) ........28 Appendix D: Scientists for a Nuclear Weapons-Free World International Network of Engineers and Scientists for Global Responsibility ............................................................29 Appendix E: United Nations Security Council Resolution 1887 ....................30 Acknowledgments ............................................................................................32 Acronyms ..............................................................................................................32 Author ........................................................................................................................33 Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament: Shifting the Mindset By David Krieger Executive Summary hroughout the Nuclear Age, leaders of the United whelming threat posed by nuclear weapons, all conference States, Russia, United Kingdom, France and China – participants are urged to bear in mind the following in Tthe five permanent members of the United Nations preparing for their deliberations: Security Council, known as the P5 – have been locked in old ways of thinking about security. They believe that • Nuclear weapons continue to present a real and nuclear deterrence in a two-tier structure of nuclear haves present danger to humanity and other life on Earth. and have-nots can hold indefinitely without significant • Basing the security of one’s country on the threat to kill nuclear proliferation and further use of nuclear weapons. tens of millions of innocent people, perhaps billions, This way of thinking continues to place not only the P5 and risking the destruction of civilization, has no moral and their allies in danger of nuclear annihilation, but justification and deserves the strongest condemnation. threatens global catastrophe for civilization, the human • It will not be possible to prevent proliferation of species and most forms of life. nuclear weapons without fulfilling existing legal obliga - tions for total nuclear disarmament. The policies of the nuclear weapon states have favored going slow on • Preventing nuclear proliferation and A thorough rethinking achieving nuclear disarmament will achieving a world free of nuclear of nuclear policy is weapons, preferring arms control and both be made far more difficult, if not non-proliferation measures to nuclear needed, with the goal impossible, by expanding nuclear energy disarmament. They have placed emphasis of moving from facilities throughout the world. on small steps rather than taking a com - minimal acceptable • Putting the world on track for eliminat - prehensive approach to the elimination change to a ing the existential threat posed by of nuclear weapons. While reducing their comprehensive plan nuclear weapons will require a shift in nuclear arsenals, they have simultane - thinking about this overarching danger for achieving a nuclear ously modernized them, and thus have to present and future generations. demonstrated their continued reliance weapon-free future. upon these weapons in their security The briefing sets forth a spectrum of policies. perspectives on nuclear weapons, from Nuclear Believers at one end to Nuclear Abolitionists at the However, cracks in this old and dangerous way of think - other. Between them are three other groups, the largest ing have begun to show in the statements of former high- being the Nuclear Disempowered. This group is composed level policy makers in the United States and other countries of most of the general public who are often ignorant, con - and in the vision of a nuclear weapon-free world expressed fused and apathetic about nuclear weapons as a result of by U.S. President Barack Obama. government secrecy and manipulation of information about the role of these weapons in security policies and the This briefing booklet explores new ways of thinking in consequences of persisting plans for their use. It is this relation to the 2010 Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) critical group that must be made more aware of the nuclear Review Conference. It presents the case that nuclear threats to our common future and must make their voices weapons abolition is the only rational and sane position to heard in a new and vigorous global dialogue on nuclear adopt toward current nuclear threats. In light of the over - policy. 1 The booklet reviews a number of proposals to achieve a NPT, promoting the “inalienable right” to nuclear energy world free of nuclear weapons and sets forth five priorities for peaceful purposes, in light of the nuclear proliferation for agreement at the 2010 NPT Review Conference: problems posed by nuclear electricity generation. 5. All signatory states should comply with Article VI of 1. Each signatory nuclear weapon state should provide an the NPT, reinforced and clarified by the 1996 World Court accurate public accounting of its nuclear arsenal, conduct a Advisory Opinion, by commencing negotiations in good public environmental and human assessment of its poten - faith on a Nuclear Weapons Convention for the phased, tial use, and devise and make public a roadmap for going verifiable, irreversible and transparent elimination of to zero nuclear weapons. nuclear weapons, and complete these negotiations by the 2. All signatory nuclear weapon states should reduce the year 2015. role of nuclear weapons in their security policies by taking all nuclear forces off high-alert status, pledging No First The briefing then considers issues of double standards Use of nuclear weapons against other nuclear weapon and concludes that such standards will result in predictable states and No Use against non-nuclear weapon states. catastrophes. A more just and secure future for humanity 3. All enriched uranium and reprocessed plutonium – will require leaders of all countries, and especially those in military and civilian – and their production facilities the nuclear weapon states, to exercise sound judgment and (including all uranium enrichment and plutonium separa - act for the benefit of all humanity. A thorough rethinking tion technology) should be placed under strict and effective of nuclear policy is needed, with the goal of moving from international safeguards. minimal acceptable change to a comprehensive plan for achieving a nuclear weapon-free future. 4. All signatory states should review Article IV of the 2 I. Introduction he parties to the Non-Proliferation Treaty meet in Virtually all religious organizations have recognized the May 2010 for the eighth NPT Review Conference. nuclear weapons threat to humanity and have condemned TThe meeting will occur soon after the 40th anniver - it as a threat to all creation. sary of the entry into force of the treaty and shortly before • It will not be possible to prevent proliferation of nuclear the 65th anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombings of weapons without fulfilling existing legal obligations for Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The world cannot afford another total nuclear disarmament. The current two-tiered failed NPT Review Conference such as occurred in 2005. structure of nuclear haves and have-nots will