VOL 29 ISSUE 2 2018 VITAL SIGNS NEWSLETTER OF THE INTERNATIONAL PHYSICIANS FOR THE PREVENTION OF NUCLEAR WAR (IPPNW)

Framework for nuclear abolition or blueprint for nuclear war: Which path will we choose? With the Nuclear Weapons Ban Treaty a reality and the excitement of the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize behind us, what comes next?

Even before heading to Oslo for the Nobel ceremonies (see pp 4-5), ICAN launched a signature and ratification campaign to ensure that the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons enters into force as soon as possible. As this issue of Vital Signs went to press, 57 states had signed the Treaty and five had ratified it. Fifty rati- fications are needed, at which time the prohibitions against nuclear weapons and the obligations to work for their elimination will have the weight of international law. IPPNW co-president Ira Helfand, IPPNW Sweden secretary-general Josefin Yet the world has become a far more dan- Lind, and Reaching Critical Will director Ray Acheson discuss strategies for gerous place in the past year, especially implementing the Ban Treaty during the ICAN campaigners meeting in Oslo when it comes to nuclear weapons. Citing prior to Nobel Peace Prize ceremony. ICAN photo the “looming threat of nuclear war,” the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists reset the could result in a global climate catastro- revives plans for a sub-launched nuclear Doomsday Clock to two minutes before phe and a nuclear famine. cruise missile, and recklessly flirts with midnight in January—the closest we have resumption of nuclear testing. Trump has been to nuclear catastrophe since 1953. All the nuclear-armed states are invest- also sent loud signals that the US will with- ing in dangerous and costly programs draw from the international agreement US-Russia relations continue to deterio- to overhaul their arsenals with new war- that has successfully halted Iran’s pro- rate, with both countries placing greater head designs, new delivery systems, gram to develop a nuclear weapons reliance on nuclear weapons than at any and new infrastructure that could man- [Continued on pg. 3) time since the end of the Cold War. North ufacture hundreds of nuclear weapons Korea has redoubled its efforts to acquire each year for the rest of this century. a nuclear capability and, despite the HIGHLIGHTS hopes of a thaw in North-South relations Earlier this year, the Trump administration US Nuclear Posture 2 that were raised during the Winter released its Nuclear Posture Review (see Olympics, we remain only a tweet away pg. 2), which IPPNW co-president Tilman Setsuko Thurlow 3 from our worst nightmare. Ruff called “a blueprint for nuclear war.” Nobel Peace Prize 4-5 The NPR embraces the $1.2 trillion India and Pakistan have accelerated their “recapitalization” of the US arsenal initiat- Nigerian peace radio 6 own nuclear competition, risking mutual ed by President Obama, adds a new Inspired students 7 suicide in a regional nuclear war that “low-yield” submarine-launched missile,

VITAL SIGNS VOLUME 29 ISSUE 2 2018 - 1 - IPPNW.ORG NUCLEAR ABOLITION NEWS AND UPDATES For more information, please contact Chuck Johnson ([email protected])

US Nuclear Posture Review ignores consequences, lowers threshold for use of nuclear weapons

The Trump administration’s Nuclear inherently illegitimate because of the exis- Posture Review, released in February, tential threat they pose to humanity and, marks a continuation of the nuclear therefore, belong in no one’s hands. VS “If deterrence fails, the weapons programs, priorities, and bud- United States will strive gets from the past decade or so. The ONLINE to end any conflict and main additions to an already enormous restore deterrence at the 2018 NPR: tinyurl.com/yc7lu944 and expensive arsenal—at a cost of $1.2 lowest level of damage trillion over the next three decades—are a icanw.org/treaty-on-the-prohibi- possible.” “low-yield” submarine-launched ballistic tion-of-nuclear-weapons/ —2018 US Nuclear missile and a sub-launched cruise missile. Posture Review

What’s different—and most dangerous— French affiliate joins Red Cross in about the Trump NPR is its unrestrained Paris Ban Treaty symposium “[T]he catastrophic enthusiasm for US nuclear weapons, This January, the French Red Cross consequences of nuclear which are presented as the gold standard organized its first panel discussion on the weapons cannot be for national security. The role of deterrence, Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear adequately addressed, the decades-long rationale for maintaining Weapons at its headquarters in Paris. transcend national a nuclear arsenal, has been expanded to borders, pose grave address an unprecedented range of Kathleen Lawand, the legal advisor and implications for human threats not only from nuclear weapons, but head of the arms unit at the International survival, the environ- Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), also from chemical or biological weapons, ment, socioeconomic conventional attacks...even cyber attacks. joined Patrice Richard and Abraham Behar of IPPNW’s French affiliate, and development, the global The NPR singles out a number of US Jean Marie Collin of Initiatives for Nuclear economy, food security adversaries—Russia, China, North Disarmament. Ms. Lawand recalled the and the health Korea, Iran—as examples of a need for ICRC’s constant struggle for the abolition of current and “tailored, flexible options” that dangerous- of nuclear weapons since 1945. She future generations.” ly lower the threshold for the use of explained that the humanitarian conse- —2017 Treaty nuclear weapons. quences of nuclear weapons and nuclear on the Prohibition war, and the disproportionate nature of of Nuclear Weapons While the document contains not a single the nuclear threat were her reasons for reference to the catastrophic conse- supporting the Ban Treaty. quences of nuclear war that have driven the argument for the Ban Treaty, the Drs. Richard and Behar told participating Treaty itself is dismissed as “unrealistic representatives of the Ministry of Foreign “We have proposed a day of action in and polarizing.” Affairs that they “lamented the relentless- Paris, which will involve all health organi- ness of [the French] government against zations, in order to explain how the Ban We have a different, more hopeful, and the Treaty and the obsolete attachment to Treaty is a vital step towards the abolition evidence-based set of beliefs. No state nuclear deterrence.” of nuclear weapons, and to lay out the has a right to possess, let alone use, humanitarian and public health conse- nuclear weapons; no state can place the The meeting was a prelude to a campaign quences of an atomic attack or accident,” entire world at risk in pursuit of its own in favor of the Treaty that the French Red Dr. Behar said. VS security interests, however legitimate Cross will implement throughout the coun- those might be; nuclear weapons are try, with the support of IPPNW France.

VITAL SIGNS VOLUME 29 ISSUE 2 2018 - 2 - IPPNW.ORG “These weapons are the ultimate evil”

decades, we have worked for the descent to the darkest depths of total abolition of nuclear weapons. depravity. These weapons are not a necessary evil; they are the ultimate Today, I want you to feel in this hall evil. the presence of all those who per- ished in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. I On the seventh of July this year, I want you to feel, above and around was overwhelmed with joy when a us, a great cloud of a quarter million great majority of the world’s nations souls. Each person had a name. voted to adopt the Treaty on the Each person was loved by someone. Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. Let us ensure that their deaths were Having witnessed humanity at its not in vain. worst, I witnessed, that day, humanity at its best. We hibakusha had been [Ed. note: Hiroshima survivor Through our agony and the sheer waiting for the ban for seventy-two Setsuko Thurlow, a long-time friend struggle to survive—and to rebuild years. Let this be the beginning of of IPPNW, joined ICAN executive our lives from the ashes—we the end of nuclear weapons. Director Beatrice Fihn in accepting Hibakusha became convinced that the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize on we must warn the world about these All responsible leaders will sign this behalf of ICAN. The following apocalyptic weapons. Time and treaty. And history will judge harshly excerpts are from her portion of the again, we shared our testimonies. those who reject it. ...To every presi- Nobel Lecture delivered on dent and prime minister of every December 10 in Oslo.] Nine nations still threaten to inciner- nation of the world, I beseech you: ate entire cities, to destroy life on Join this treaty; forever eradicate the I speak as a member of the family of earth, to make our beautiful world threat of nuclear annihilation. VS Hibakusha—those of us who, by uninhabitable for future generations. some miraculous chance, survived The development of nuclear ONLINE: Setsuko’s full speech the atomic bombings of Hiroshima weapons signifies not a country’s www.icanw.org/campaign- and Nagasaki. For more than seven elevation to greatness, but its news/ican-receives-2017-nobel- peace-prize/

Which path will we choose? [Continued from pg. 1] capability. This could provoke a The Ban Treaty embodies IPPNW’s core ing took place in Oslo, along with col- nuclear arms race—or worse—in the medical message—that nuclear war leagues from the Norwegian Medical Middle East. would result in catastrophe, and that the Association and the Norwegian Red elimination of nuclear weapons is the only Cross. We plan to replicate these brief- The lines have been clearly drawn: The way to prevent this threat to all humanity. ings globally, especially in countries that international community has condemned We now have to press the humanitarian have come under intense pressure not to and prohibited nuclear weapons, and is case for elimination, which is the Treaty’s sign the Ban Treaty. demanding that the nuclear-armed states ultimate objective. comply with those prohibitions. The “The nuclear threshold is getting lower; nuclear-armed states have refused to join Austrian ambassador Thomas Hajnoczi— the risk of a large nuclear war is increas- the Ban Treaty and have recommitted one of the Ban Treaty’s lead negotiators— ing,” said former co-president Gunnar themselves to nuclear weapons and to has urged IPPNW to present the facts Westberg. “The prohibition of all nuclear deterrence—imperiling themselves and about nuclear war to diplomats and politi- weapons is even more important than we everyone else in the process. cians around the world. The first such brief- knew a few months ago.” VS

VITAL SIGNS VOLUME 29 ISSUE 2 2018 - 3 - IPPNW.ORG ICAN in OSLO THE 2017 NOBEL PEACE PRIZE CEREMONIES

The Norwegian royal family and hundreds of invited guests filled Oslo City Hall to witness the award ceremony for the 2018 Nobel Peace Laureate, ICAN. Outside, a ferris wheel at a popular winter market displayed the ICAN logo. Co-president Tilman Ruff and ICAN executive director Beatrice Fihn with Nobel Peace Prize medallion (left). Setsuko Thurlow wrote in the commemorative book (right), “Your words of support enable us to go forward to the next steps of our dream, total abolition of nuclear weapons.”

IPPNW activists from every continent joined hun- ONLINE: dreds of ICAN campaigners in Oslo, as the city wel- Nobel Peace Prize presentation comed the 2017 Nobel Laureate with three days of speech—tinyurl.com/y8cprhm8 activities capped by the Nobel Peace Prize award ceremony on December 10. ICAN Nobel Lecture— icanw.org/campaign-news/ican- Berit Reiss-Andersen, the Chair of the Norwegian receives-2017-nobel-peace-prize/ Nobel Committee, told a thousand invited guests at Oslo City Hall and a large overflow crowd at the Nobel Peace Center that ICAN had “given new momentum to the process of abolishing nuclear weapons....A n war could kill millions of people,” she warned, “dramat- ically alter the climate and the environment for much of the planet, and destabilise societies in a way never before seen by humanity.”

That message was repeated over and over again—at a packed ICAN campaigners meeting, a diplomatic brief- ing organized by the Norwegian Red Cross and IPPNW Norway, a press conference and countless media inter- views, and a rally preceding a torchlight procession through the heart of Oslo city center.

What ICAN has achieved, said executive director Beatrice Fihn, who, with Hiroshima survivor Setsuko Ira Helfand (inset, right) spoke at a briefing for diplomats and the media on the med- Thurlow accepted the Prize on behalf of the campaign, ical consequences of nuclear war. Other participants included (from left) Terje is only the first step toward its ultimate goal. “The story Skavdal, Norwegian Peoples Aid; Bernt Apeland, Norwegian Red Cross; and Susi of nuclear weapons will have an ending, and it is up to Snyder, PAX. Tilman Ruff, ICAN’s founding co-chair, answers media questions at the us what that ending will be.” press conference in Oslo on December 10, along with (from left) Olav Njølstad, Secretary of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, Setsuko Thurlow, and Beatrice Fihn.

VITAL SIGNS VOLUME 29 ISSUE 2 2018 - 4 - IPPNW.ORG n OSLO BEL PEACE PRIZE EMONIES

John Gunnar Maeland, president of IPPNW’s cutive director Beatrice Fihn with Nobel Peace Norwegian affiliate (above, wrote in the commemorative book (right), “Your center), prepares to join rd to the next steps of our dream, total abolition the torchlight procession with other NLMA mem- bers. Norwegian cam- ery continent joined hun- paigners (right) have chal- ers in Oslo, as the city wel- lenged their government to L ureate with three days of join the Ban Treaty. Nobel Peace Prize award 10.

Chair of the Norwegian housand invited guests at overflow crowd at the Nobel ad “given new momentum to nuclear weapons....A nuclear eople,” she warned, “dramat- he environment for much of s societies in a way never ed over and over again—at a s meeting, a diplomatic brief- egian Red Cross and IPPNW ce and countless media inter- d ng a torchlight procession c ty center. ed, said executive director Hiroshima survivor Setsuko e on behalf of the campaign, Thousands of Oslo residents and ICAN campaigners marched up Karl Johans d its ultimate goal. “The story Gate to the Grand Hotel in a torchlight procession that was a highlight of the ave an ending, and it is up to Nobel Peace Prize events. IPPNW participants in the procession included (above, e ” from left) Laura Fromow Guerra, Neil Arya, Ruby Chirino, Ruth Mitchell, Brendon Christ, Michael Christ, John Loretz, and Jans Fromow Guerra.

VITAL SIGNS VOLUME 29 ISSUE 2 2018 - 5 - IPPNW.ORG AIMING FOR PREVENTION WORLD ROUNDUP Contact Maria Valenti ([email protected]) or follow on Twitter.com/mariaippnw

PHOTO: IDPD

UN Programme of Action on Small Arms— from Mexico, at the World Health how much progress since 2001? Organization’s 8th Milestones IPPNW was among the organizations Meeting on Violence Prevention and that helped pass the UN Programme of VPA meetings in Ottawa, Canada. Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons “People are fed up with gun vio- (UN PoA) 17 years ago. At that time we lence.” were optimistic that the landmark agree- ment would make real inroads toward its “The truth is not always welcomed goal to “reduce the human suffering by politicians,” he said, before caused by the illicit trade in small arms emphasizing that we need an eco- and light weapons...and to enhance the Drs. Emeka Okolo, David Onazi at the logical approach to health that respect for life and the dignity of the radio station during broadcast of “Bringing includes preventing armed violence. human person through the promotion of a Peace to the People.” culture of peace.” WHO Director of the Department of on Nigeria Info 95.1 FM radio in Abuja, Violence and Injury Prevention Dr. At the next UN POA PrepCom in March, Nigeria. Etienne Krug opened the Milestones and at the 3rd Review Conference in meeting by saying we know much June, Dr. Cathey Falvo of PSR New York “The IPPNW Radio Project has at its more now about what works for vio- will represent IPPNW on a panel co- heartbeat ‘service to humanity,’ creating lence prevention. “The development organized with the Parliamentary Forum awareness of the threat armed violence community has no excuse for not on Small Arms and Light Weapons poses to health and providing information investing in violence prevention (PFSALW) on “Connecting the Dots: about public health approaches to pre- now,” he said. The conference Supporting the 2030 Agenda, the Arms venting it,” said Dr. David Onazi, one of theme of linking the Sustainable Trade Treaty and the United Nations the architects of the project. Development Goals to WHO’s vio- Programme of Action on Small Arms.” lence prevention agenda was Dr. Emeka Okolo joined Dr. Onazi at the stu- [Continued on pg. 8) Small Arms Make Big Circles dio during two live programs on improving IPPNW Austria mounted the exhibit the health infrastructure for survivors of "Small Arms Make Big Circles" at the armed violence and the concept of “peace Vienna Peace Museum. The health con- through health.” Eight recorded programs sequences of the arms trade, the use of covered topics such as youth violence, One child soldiers, Austria’s role in the arms Bullet Stories, arms control treaties, and trade, and the medical and economic women’s role in peacekeeping. Community consequences of gun violence were surveys were conducted before and after the depicted on ten posters developed by broadcasts to determine listener increases in Austrian affiliate members and medical knowledge about how violence affects students. The exhibit has been brought to health. UN meetings, medical schools and hospi- ONLINE: Radio program tals, and community events. broadcasts tinyurl.com/y8blvcjh “Service to humanity” heartbeat of IPPNW’s Maria Valenti with Alex IPPNW Nigeria Radio Project Linking SDGs and violence prevention Galvez of Guatemala’s Transition IPPNW Nigeria, with support from “There is a storm brewing,” said Dr. Foundation IPPNW Finland, recently conducted a 10- Arturo Cervantes, a WHO Violence part series “Bringing Peace to the People” Prevention Alliance (VPA) member

VITAL SIGNS VOLUME 29 ISSUE 2 2018 - 6 - IPPNW.ORG “RECHARGED, RE-INSPIRED, AND DETERMINED” An interview with student representatives Kelvin Kibet and Franca Brueggen

Kelvin Kibet from IPPNW Kenya and Franca Brueggen from IPPNW Germany are IPPNW’s International Student Representatives (ISRs) for 2018-2020. We asked them about their plans to build the IPPNW student movement and prior- ities during their tenure.

VS: You have developed a very ambitious strategic plan for student activity over the next two years. Can you tell us what your top priorities are? KK & FB: We want to attract new mem- bers and keep our current members moti- vated to fight those monstrous nukes. We are aware that for us to succeed we must keep students engaged and ensure that they have meaningful projects. learned everything about nuclear are also strengthening the connection weapons and their humanitarian between Kenya and Germany through VS: Kelvin, you have said that climbing effects. The weekend ended with a the Medical Peace Work (MPW) Mt. Kilimanjaro as part of the IPPNW visit to the German Parliament, exchange program. Participants will con- team to protest nuclear weapons and ura- where we had the chance to speak duct small projects related to MPW topics nium mining in Africa and to promote to politicians and gain experience in during their stay in the host country. One peace was your most memorable IPPNW lobbying. As a young person you of the first topics will be urban settle- moment so far. What do you hope your have so much energy and motivation ments in Nairobi and Berlin–what prob- next memorable moment will be? to make the world a better place, but lems do people face and are they sim- KK: I look forward to when we convene you are missing knowledge and ilar in the different cities? The UU will once again to celebrate the Nuclear Ban good arguments. Once you have the help students feel supported by Treaty coming into force. IPPNW has an tools the motivation only grows! IPPNW student chapters worldwide inspired membership ready to do whatev- and emphasize the strength of the er it takes to achieve this. I know that after VS: Social media is an important commu- international IPPNW family. VS representing students at ICAN’s Nobel nications tool for young people. How can Peace Prize ceremony in Oslo (another students help IPPNW improve its social (An extended version of this interview is memorable moment!), I felt recharged, re- media presence? on the IPPNW Peace and Health Blog.) inspired, and more determined to contin- KK: Social media is now one of the most ue in the work of those before me. I think powerful tools any organization can have. ONLINE: facebook.com/ippnwstudents/ we should do a bike tour or mountain It transfers information to many almost medicalpeacework.org/ climbing to celebrate the Ban Treaty when instantly. However, for it to work well, we the time comes. need more engagement on the IPPNW Your donations help support the Students Facebook page and our other work of IPPNW students world- VS: Franca, you joined IPPNW Germany social media sites. wide. Please give as generously as a medical student, but you had an as you can to help strengthen experience that moved you to become VS: You have started a pilot program their movement and help IPPNW very involved and active with IPPNW – called “United Universities” (UU), mod- achieve its goals to abolish please tell us about that. elled after the sister city concept. Can you nuclear weapons and prevent FB: I became seriously involved in tell us how your pilot programs are going? armed violence. IPPNW after taking part in a week- FB: We started with three pilot programs end “nuclear academy” held in 2016 that are working well: Japan-Poland, ippnw.org/donate.html by ICAN and IPPNW Germany. We Croatia-Kenya and Germany-Iran. We

VITAL SIGNS VOLUME 29 ISSUE 2 2018 - 7 - IPPNW.ORG Victor Sidel, 1931-2018 Victor W. Sidel, MD, a founder and presi- President of the American Public Health dent of Physicians for Social Responsibility Association. He was the author of numer- Make an ongoing commitment to (PSR), a former co-president of IPPNW, ous books and articles about the human peace and disarmament and one of the world’s consequences of war, Monthly giving helps ensure that foremost experts on the international health, IPPNW has the funds necessary medical consequences and the impact of to manage our global education of nuclear war, died on poverty and deprivation and advocacy programs, while January 30, 2018. Dr. on health and well reducing our environmental foot- Sidel was Chair of the being, including War Department of Social and Public Health and print and fundraising costs. Medicine at Montefiore Terrorism and Public Becoming a Partner in Peace is Medical Center in the Health, both co-edited simple: Sign up online and choose Bronx from 1969-1985. with long-time collabo- the amount you wish to donate He then became rator Barry Levy. each month. Whether it’s $10, Distinguished $25, or $100, a little from many University Professor of ONLINE: makes a lot. You can change or Social Medicine at cancel your pledge at any time. Montefiore and the Albert Einstein College ippnw.org/pdf/2007-medi- of Medicine. In 1985 he was elected cine-nuclear-war-sidel.pdf

ONLINE: AIMING FOR PREVENTION ippnw.org/donate.html [Continued from pg. 6]

addressed in presentations and the life, health and well being of our Kelvin Kibet to help build the Zambia workshops on topics such as how to patients. Violence, weapons and war student chapter by organizing more prevent online cyber bullying, cam- cause enormous suffering and mis- students to take the course and par- pus safety, and trauma, violence and ery, and endanger what is important ticipate in workshops. VS substance abuse. Strengthening the for us. It is therefore our profession- health sector’s capacity to address al responsibility to work towards the violence against women, girls and prevention of violence and the pro- children was also a key focus. motion of peace, human rights and human security.” IPPNW is an active member of the VPA, a 68-member network of WHO More than 100 medical students Member States, international agen- from IPPNW affiliates in Kenya, W’s IPPN cies and civil society organizations Uganda, Zambia, Tanzania, and Join e which support the goals of the WHO Nigeria have participated in courses Peac rs in World Report on Violence and and follow-up workshops organized rtne ircle Pa rs C Health (WRVH). by IPPNW leaders from Kenya, aine Sust Germany, and Norway to help build Medical Peace Work skills in advocacy, communication, The Medical Peace Work (MPW) fundraising, and other areas to online course with twelve case stud- enable students to transfer the les- ies has been a successful tool to sons learned online into their profes- recruit and educate medical students sional lives. and young doctors in Africa. MPW is based on the following concept: “As IPPNW Zambia will be working with medical professionals we care for International Student Representative

IPPNW is a non-partisan federation of national medical organizations in 64 countries Vital Signs is published twice a year by IPPNW. dedicated to safeguarding health by working to ban nuclear weapons and to address the 339 Pleasant Street, Malden, MA 02148 USA 100% impact of militarism and war on human health. Tel:+1.617.443.1733 || Email: [email protected]

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