IPB Newsletter March 2018 2017 Newsletter 1 April 2018 IPB Newsletter April 2018 Dear Friends and Colleagues, The last week has been a very busy one. The first week of the second preparatory committee of the NPT Review Conference finished. Just before the PrepComm started, on April 21 and 22 we co-organized with ICAN the campaigners meeting. It was successful and very inspiring. Soon we will report more on this event. We hold our fist side event at the UN on nuclear weapons in Europe and our member organization gave a statement at the Conference. You will find more information in this newsletter. On the world news part, there has been very positive news, giving all of us hope - Panmunjeom Declaration and the Arrival of the Era of Peace on the Korean Peninsula. We are very pleased with this direction and fully support the path of diplomacy and negotiations. In this issue you will also find information on our events in New York. If you have not been part of a GDAMS action this year – there is still time until May 3rd. We invite you join these actions and set a sign against military spending. We hope you enjoy reading! With our warmest regards from Geneva, Amela Skiljan 2 IPB Newsletter April 2018 The International Association of Lawyers Against Nuclear Arms delivered their statement to the NPT PrepCom in Geneva The statement was other fronts, not least this NPT “non-nuclear strategic review process. attacks,” notably cyberattacks. delivered by Amela Skiljan, Board member of We are now faced with a In a March 1 address, the German IALANA. contradictory environ-ment. A President Vladimir Putin majority of the world’s states described an array of new Dear colleagues: last year adopted the Treaty nuclear weapons delivery on the Prohibition of Nuclear systems, including a nuclear- On 22 August 2017, a true hero Weapons. Going entirely in the powered cruise missile, an of the nuclear age, Tony de other direction, the two underwater drone carrying Brum, passed away. He did largest nuclear powers, the “massive nuclear ordinance”, many important things in his United States and Russia, and a multiple warhead life. One of them was that as appear poised to resume ballistic missile with virtually Foreign Minister, he spear- nuclear arms racing unlimited range capable of headed the Marshall Islands’ reminiscent of the darkest flying over the South as well as nuclear disar-mament cases in days of the Cold War. the North Pole. the International Court of Justice. When the cases were The US Nuclear Posture All of this stands in blatant filed, in April 2014, he said: Review released on February disregard of the NPT. The NPT "Our people have suffered the 2 proposes two new preamble declares the catastrophic and irreparable capabilities, both aimed at “intention to achieve at the damage of nuclear weapons Russia, a low-yield warhead earliest possible date the and we vow to fight so that no deployed on submarine- cessation of the nuclear arms one else on Earth will ever launched missiles, and a sea- race”. And of course, Article VI again experience these based, nuclear-armed cruise requires the pursuit of atrocities." Regrettably, by the missile. It also endorses negotiations in good faith on narrowest of margins the replacement of an air- effective measures relating to Court refused to adjudicate the launched cruise missile with a cessation of the nuclear arms cases on their merits. But de stealthier, more capable race at an early date. version. And the review Brum’s call to action should The concept animating Article emphasizes the role of nuclear serve as an inspiration on VI was that quantitative build- weapons in responding to 3 IPB Newsletter April 2018 up and qualitative sight, clearly a breach of sharing, the NPT-violative improvement of nuclear Article VI, which requires such arrangement for five states to arsenals was to be ended prior negotiations to be pursued host and potentially use US to negotiations on their and concluded. And the nuclear bombs. elimination. By the mid-1990s, weapons development Above all, nuclear-armed the agenda had been partly described by Putin and the states must abandon the myth achieved. Nuclear arsenals Nuclear Posture Review is a that ‘nuclear deterrence’ were reducing in size, and breach of the legal keeps us safe. Now more than nuclear explosive testing was requirement of good faith in ever, it is imperative to comply halted. Indeed, in a 1995 relation to the objectives of with the unanimous declaration, France, Russia, Article VI. conclusion of the International the United Kingdom and the As we approach its fiftieth Court of Justice: “There exists United States welcomed “the anniversary, the NPT risks an obligation to pursue in fact that the nuclear arms race losing its appeal as a tool for good faith and bring to a has ceased.”1 disarmament, and its viability conclusion negotiations But the gains of the 1990s are as a bulwark against leading to nuclear now being reversed. Hence the proliferation is even in disarmament in all its aspects need to go back to the basics. question. The implementation under strict and effective Qualitative – and possibly of well-known steps is vital. international control.” quantitative – nuclear arms They include a pledge not to racing should now be out of initiate nuclear warfare; hold- the question. The “early date” out states’ ratification of the has long since passed! Yet Comprehensive Nuclear-Test- there are no negotiations on Ban Treaty to bring it into legal the subject taking place or in force; and ending nuclear 1 NPT/Conf.1995/20, 19 April 1995, Annex. 4 IPB Newsletter April 2018 As part of the 2018 NPT discover infamous realities of Regarding the tense situation in PrepComm IPB hosted a nuclear sharing in Europe. the world, the panellists introduced rallies and events that In Europe there are five countries side event at the United will be held in the upcoming participating in so called nuclear Nations in Geneva months. sharing, providing for the examining the status of delivery of nuclear weapons in Remember to check out your nuclear weapons in the event of their use. As part of region and take action against Europe. NATO’s nuclear deterrence nuclear armament! strategy Belgium, Germany, the The panel was composed of Jean- Netherlands, Italy and Turkey are Marie Collin (ICAN, IDN), Susi hosting U.S. nuclear weapons on Snyder (ICAN), Arielle Denis six bases. In addition, France and (IPB) as chairperson, Reiner the United Kingdom are Braun (co-president IPB) and possessors of nuclear weapons in Michel Dolot (Movement de la Europe. Paix) – from left to right on the photo. While each of the The event also rose awareness of panellists presented an overview the possible construction of a of their countries position European nuclear bomb funded towards nuclear armament, the in particular by France and session gave the chance to Germany. 5 IPB Newsletter April 2018 On May 12, Professor ‘guru’ for the world’s anti- capitalist and anti-imperialist Noam Chomsky will be movement. In recent years, in awarded the MacBride addition to his continuing Peace Prize in New York, contributions to the fields of linguistics, philosophy and Judson Memorial Church, cognitive science, his critiques 55 Washington Square have focused on the U.S. post-9- South. 11 “War on Terror” which has The ceremony programme provided cover for a continuation is as followed: of U.S. imperial policies, and the For his tireless commitment to imperative of addressing the 5.00 pm Opening peace, his many contributions, dangers posed by nuclear Lisa Clark and Reiner Braun courageous insistence and weapons and climate change. modeling of the responsibility 5.10 Presentation of Award and integrity of intellectuals, his to Noam Chomsky by Joseph Gerson strong critiques to U.S. foreign policy, and his anti-imperialism. Professor Chomsky has been 5.20 Laudation to properly described as “a genuine Noam Chomsky people’s hero, an inspiration for by Irene Gendzier struggles all over the world for that basic decency known as 5.35 Speech by freedom”, as “one of the greatest Noam Chomsky and most radical public thinkers of our time”, “one of the most 5.55 Closing Remarks significant challengers of unjust Reiner Braun power and delusions”, and as a The 2017 Recipients: 6.00 pm Reception - All Okinawa Coalition to Prevent Construction of a New Base in Henoko - Jeremy Corbyn Please register at: - Noam Chomsky [email protected] The award ceremonies have been For more information please scheduled separately in visit our website Barcelona, Geneva and New York www.ipb.org or call 00 16176616130 6 IPB Newsletter April 2018 In Latin America, the IPB the II International Congress of where we tackled some of the Sciences and Education for violations of Human Rights in our Youth Network organised Development and Peace where region as well as possible actions three pre-Conferences as we launched the Latin American to take in order to counter them. Youth Network for Peace which a lead up to the World In the same way, we highlighted Congress to be held in the importance of Peace Berlin in 2019. Education and Communication, the United Nations resolution Angelo Cardona, María Teresa 2250 and public policy. Barrios and Guyci Denisse as youth representatives from Moreover, in the II International Colombia, Argentina and Mexico Congress of Sciences and respectively are pleased to Education for Development and inform you about the Latin Peace, we had the chance to hear American Youth Congress for some prominent speakers such Peace Organized by IPBYN, UNOY as Dr. Alicia Cabezudo and Peacebuilders, Fundación aim to build a culture of peace, Amada Benavides as Peace Escuelas de Paz (Schools of peace foster international cooperation Educators and Dr.