A WORLD Without Nuclear Weapons

[Oscar]

NEW HOPE FOR WORLD PEACE--WORLD PEACE FORUM--VANCOUVER--2006

As we return home, from what we now see as an earth-transforming event, the undersigned carry the joyful burden of passing on truly joyful news--world peace is on its way!

Was it not Kofi Anan, Secretary- General of the UN, who articulated and celebrated the emergence of a new superpower-- the power of people everywhere? These people, represented by many of their best, came from every corner of the globe to this first ever gathering for peace --June 23rd to the 28th.

For 6 days we listened, studied, and engaged in dialogue about peace. We heard experts, parliamentarians and people from many nations, with one common concern-- how to eliminate war, that "ultimate human failure. We searched to find true security in the just distribution of wealth--in genuine care for the planet, and for new initiatives for global interdependence and cooperation.

From early breakfast at the Peace Cafe--located on the site of the UBC --to late evening gatherings, every day was a smorg of workshops and learning opportunities made available to all. Thousands participated in the 2 hour down town March for Peace. There were appearances from celebrities like Buffy Saint-Marie with her songs of struggle, and Cindy Sheehan, the brave mother, who camped out on Bush's ranch, seeking answers to why her son had to die in an unjust war. Doug Roche, the great Canadian MP and Senator, who said he would struggle for peace until his last breath. Also present from Sri Lanka was Judge Veeramantry,VP-- a member of the International World Court. The closing ceremony featured Hans Blix, whose testimony about Iraq's
armaments exposed the lies of the US administration.

More important, there were concrete examples of a movement reaching a critical mass. The march for world peace can no longer be stopped. Why?Everyone wants peace. We are discovering ways to take new initiatives. Because, in the end, lies are exposed and the truth will set us free.

In addition to the excellent statement published at the end of the Forum, here are some highlights that are bringing about these exciting and concrete changes. Thousands of cities and other areas are declaring
themselves nuclear free zones. They refuse to have nuclear war heads on their soil. They will not do business with any companies that are involved in any way with nuclear arms production.

Many cities are requesting that they not be the target of any nuclear device. Even the most conservative neo-cons do not argue with such a reasonable desire. In return they promise cooperation, even twinning with cities in those countries.

Departments of peace are being established by many governments. Can you imagine, dear readers, if Departments of Peace had as much access to funds as do Departments or a Minister of War?

Japan, the country that experienced the obscenity of the first use of nuclear bombs is leading the way in initiatives for peace. Article 9 of their constitution states that Japan will never make war on anyone, ever. Its "Peace Boat" travels the oceans and seas of the globe. It arrived at Canada Place in Vancouver for the final day of the Forum, meeting seekers of peace from all over the world.

Many US citizens attended the Peace Forum. As some would say, they are "in the belly of the beast". These Americans were some of the most articulate and passionate in analyzing the causes and problems of war. Anti-Americanism, like all forms of racism, is totally unacceptable!

We must find common cause with other groups such as environmental and women's groups. Speaking on board the Peace Boat about her latest book, "Enough Blood Shed", Dr. Mary-Wynne Ashford, former president for "Physicians for Global Survival", stated that war is a disease, the same epidemiology, the same cure. She noted that 5% increase in the number of women parliamentarians would increase the chances of avoiding war by 5 times .[Margeret Thatcher types excluded]

We need to see the connection between peaceful uses of nuclear energy versus the production of nuclear armaments. Is there any reasonable explanation for the outrageous monetary expense in building nuclear power reactors in preference to using renewable sources of energy and conservation?

Leo Kurtenbach, Box 268, Cudworth, Sask., S0K 1B0 Ph. # 256-3638. leokurt@sasktel.net
Raymond DeMong, Cudworth, Sask., S0K 1B0 Ph. # 256 3546
Fr. Lawrence DeMong OSB. Muenster, Sask., S0K 2YO Ph. # 682
1764--frlawrence@stpetersabbey.ca

[Oscar]

The Cost of Nuclear Weapons

September 3, 2006.

After coming home from the World Peace Forum in Vancouver, optimistic
and excited that our planet could have a possible future as a world of peace, it was exceedingly disappointing to hear that our federal government, under the leadership of the Hon. Stephen Harper, is initiating the spending of billions of dollars of taxpayers' money for additional tools of war. Weapons that will not be used to protect Canadians from invaders, but are going to be used by the Canadian military to hunt down who, we have been told, are our enemies in a foreign sovereign land.

Doug Roche, a great Canadian, was elected four times as a Member of Parliament, and appointed to the Senate in 1998. He is also an author of seventeen books, and is a man totally dedicated to bringing about a more peaceful world.

The following is an excerpt from his latest book, "Beyond Hiroshima" The heading is "Visualizing the Cost of Nuclear Weapons"---

"Distributed evenly to everyone living in the US at the start of 1998, the total estimated cost of nuclear weapons equals $21,646 per person. Represented as bricks of new $1 dollar bills, [such as one can obtain at a bank, bound at $200 to the inch], stacked on top of one another, $5,821,027,000,000 would stretch 459,361 miles, [739,117 kilometers] to the moon and nearly back. If $1 was counted off every second, it would take almost 12 days to reach $1 million, nearly 32 years to reach $1 billion, 31,709 years to reach $ 1 trillion, and about 184,579 years to tally the actual and anticipated cost of nuclear weapons. Laid end to end of $ 1 bills equivalent to the sum actually expended on nuclear weapons since 1940, [$5,481,083,000,000] would encircle the earth 105 times, making a wall 8.7 feet [2.7 meters] high."

The figures above were taken from Atomic Audit: The Costs and Consequences of US Nuclear Weapons since 1940---Stephen I. Schartz [ed] Brookings Institution Press, Washington, D.C. 1998, p.6. [ Used with permission]

The national debt of the US is rapidly approaching $10 trillion. This does not include corporate or consumer debt. The US is spending over $400 billion annually to increase their supply of war material. To most of us that looks like a recipe for impending financial disaster.

So why is our Prime Minister and his government pursuing closer ties to the Bush administration?

Yours sincerely,

Leo Kurtenbach,
Box 268,
Cudworth, Sask., S0K 1B0.
Ph.# 306 256 3638.
email: leokurt@sasktel.net

[Oscar]

Conference: "NO TO NUCLEAR WEAPONS: THE CANADIAN CONNECTION" - Toronto

You are invited to attend a most historic conference in downtown Toronto, Canada on April 24-26th, 2009, bringing together experts to map out the entire Uranium Nuclear System and its impacts on the Environment, Health and Nuclear Weapons Proliferation including Canada's role in nuclear weapons production, from uranium mining, to nuclear power, and reprocessing of nuclear waste.

Presented by the Canadian Voice of Women for Peace [VOW]

"NO TO NUCLEAR WEAPONS: THE CANADIAN CONNECTION"

Friday April 24th @ 6:30pm - 9:00pm

Evening Reception featuring VOW Co-founder Peggy Hope-Simpson reflecting on the Canadian Voice of Women for Peace's half century work towards the abolition of nuclear weapons and the importance of civil society involvement, the biggest super power on earth.

Watch video on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppAPwe5RZWE

We are most honoured to also present Hiroshima Survivor, Member of the Order of Canada and Canadian Voice of Women for Peace Member, Setsuko Thurlow with a most excitingreport back from her recent 20+ city global peacebuilding trip aboard the Peace Boat.

Evening includes performance by the Toronto Echo Choir, finger food and refreshments.

Saturday April 25th @ 10:00am - 5:00pm

All day panels and workships with the experts.

Lunch & snacks included.

Keynotes include Susanne Lauten (Cottagers Against Uranium Mining), Dr. Barbara Birkett (Physicians for Global Survival, PGS), Dr. Mary Lou Harley (Chemist, Uranium Nuclear Systems researcher), Angela Bischoff (Ontario Clean Air Alliance), Dorothy Goldin Rosenberg (Women's Healthy Environmental Network), Phyllis Creighton (Hiroshima Day Coalition / Science for Peace), Joan Russow (international legal expert), Dr. Janet M Eaton (VOW Co-Chair, Biologist), Lois Wilson (retired Canadian Federal Senator), and many more... with lunchtime performance by the Raging Grannies.

Saturday April 25th @ 7:30pm - 9:30pm:

Saturday Film Night with NFB award winning director Yuki Nakamura featuring her film, "No More Hiroshima, No More Nagasaki" with expert panel including Eryl Court(VOW Nuclear Weapons expert), Audrey Tobias (Veterans Against Nuclear Arms), and Martha Goodings (former VOW Chair / Seriously Time to Stop Campaign).

Location: 60 Lowther Avenue, Toronto (Bloor St. W. 1-block north at Bedford Rd, St. George subway station)

Plus, join us for the Canadian Voice of Women for Peace AGM: Sunday April 26th @ 10:00am-4:00pm. UofT Women's Club, 162 St. George Rd, at Bloor St. W. just south of Bata Shoe Museum.

Lunch & snacks included as we begin preparations for our upcoming 50th Anniversary in 2010.

Tickets are going fast. To register for this exciting weekend, please RSVP, Helen Chilas, National Coordinator, Canadian Voice of Women for Peace. Call: 416-473-8238, Email: h-chilas@rogers.com

For further details and weekend agenda, please visit online:
www.vowpeace.org/events.html

Conference Endorsed by the Nobel Peace Laureate International Peace Bureau (IPB), the Sierra Club of Canada (SCC) , Science for Peace, Physicians for Global Survival (PGS), Hiroshima Day Coalition (HDC), Canadian Department of Peace Initiative (CDPI), Women´s Healthy Environmental Network (WHEN), International Institute of Concern for Public Health (IICPH), Seriously Time To Stop, Ontario Clean Air Alliance (OCAA), Cottagers Against Uranium Mining, Older Women's Network Ontario, Inc. (OWN), Veterans Against Nuclear Arms (VANA).

Co-Sponsored by the International Institute for Community Based Peacebuilding (InterChange).

Please email if your organization would also like to endorse our conference: h-chilas@rogers.com

Founded in 1960, Canadian Voice of Women for Peace is a non-partisan NGO accredited to the United Nations, Economic & Social Counsel
(ECOSOC) and UN Department of Public Information.

Visit online: www.vowpeace.org

[Oscar]

Physicians for Global Survival (PGS) applauds the Government of Canada on Adopting Motion on Nuclear Disarmament

http://pgs.ca/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/PM-on-NWC.pdf

December 10, 2010
Prime Minister Stephen Harper
Office of the Prime Minister
80 Wellington Street, Ottawa K1A 0A2

Dear Mr. Harper,

We were delighted that the House of Commons gave unanimous consent to a motion to endorse the Five-Point-Plan for nuclear disarmament proposed by the Secretary-General of the United Nations on December 7, 2010. This was one of the best Christmas presents that the Government of Canada could bestow on Canadians!

We know that you are a strong supporter of the dignity of human life from the cradle to the grave. Nuclear Weapons are the quintessential challenge to life on earth.

We look forward to hearing that Canada's position is presented in other fora, in particular the United Nations and NATO. As you know, Canada is famous around the world for the "Ottawa Process". We have the opportunity to engage in that process now!!

Please inform us of your participation in the next steps towards abolition of nuclear weapons.

Sincerely yours,

Dale Dewar, MD
Executive Director
Physicians for Global Survival (PGS)
208 - 145 Spruce Street
OTTAWA, ON K1R 6P1
www.pgs.ca

[Oscar]

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Ministers: Proud of 15 Years of Successful Fight Against Nuclear Testing, Urge Entry Into Force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty

http://www.ctbto.org/press-centre/press-releases/2012/
un-secretary-general-proud-of-15-years-of-successful-fight-against-nuclear-testing-urge-entry-into-force-of-the-ctbt/

Press Release Vienna, 17 February 2012

“As a diplomat, I devoted a great deal of energy to disarmament and non-proliferation, including through the [Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty] CTBT. As Secretary-General, I am even more committed to this cause – and to realizing our vision of a world free of nuclear weapons. Ending nuclear testing is essential to eradicating nuclear arms. That is why I am pushing hard for the CTBT to enter into force,” said United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in his address.

Referring to the eight countries that have yet to ratify the CTBT for it to become global law - China, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Egypt, India, Israel, Iran, Pakistan and the United States - Ban Ki-moon said: “There is no good reason to avoid signing or ratifying this Treaty. Any country opposed to signing or ratifying it is simply failing to meet its responsibilities as a member of the international community. It is irresponsible to see this Treaty still waiting to come into effect 15 years after it was opened for signature. I stand ready to visit those capitals suspicious about the reliability of the Treaty’s monitoring and inspection systems.”

The UN Secretary-General, the Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt, Austrian State Secretary for Foreign Affairs Wolfgang Waldner, Mexican Ambassador Juan José Gómez Camacho and CTBTO Executive Secretary Tibor Tóth, addressed the festivities marking the 15th anniversary of the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) at the Vienna International Centre in Vienna, Austria. The event was musically framed by a large choir from the American International School of Vienna and attended by the diplomatic community, NGOs, international media and staff of other Vienna-based organizations – over 500 participants in total. The event also marked the opening of the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs’ Vienna-base.

The UN Secretary-General also paid tribute to the victims of the over 2000 nuclear tests conducted worldwide: “Nuclear tests poison the environment – and they also poison the political climate. They breed mistrust, isolation and fear. So today I issue a challenge to all leaders of all countries that have not endorsed the CTBT: Visit the site of a nuclear test. Speak to the population exposed to the fallout. Then take action to prevent this from ever happening again.”

Swedish Foreign Minister Carl BildtAccording to Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt (speech), co-chair of the so-called Article XIV-process to advance the CTBT’s entry into force, the Treaty “has succeeded in creating a strong norm against nuclear testing, and a major barrier for nuclear weapons development. All 182 States Signatories have refrained from nuclear explosive testing. The international community has been firm and unanimous in its response to the three countries [India, Pakistan and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea] that have remained outside and tested.”

Mexican Ambassador Juan José Gómez Camacho, delivering a statement by Mexican Foreign Minister Patricia Espinosa Cantellano, the other co-chair of the Article-XIV process, said: “Even if the CTBT has yet to enter into force, it is paramount that we all understand that its regime already constitutes a legal corpus to be observed by the international community.”

Austrian State Secretary for Foreign Affairs Wolfgang WaldnerRepresenting the host country, Austrian State Secretary for Foreign Affairs Wolfgang Waldner said: “We are proud that this important organization is headquartered in Vienna and that we can celebrate the Secretariat’s 15th anniversary. Austria will continue to work tirelessly with our partners to convince the remaining states whose ratification is required until the CTBT is finally brought into legal effect.”

CTBTO Executive Secretary Tibor Tóth echoed this sentiment: “At age 15, we are proud of our achievements. The family of CTBT Member States has grown to 182, 157 of which have ratified. The network has grown, station by station. 285 facilities, more than 80% of the International Monitoring System, are up and running. That is a $1 billion investment. Today, I can assure you that no nuclear test will ever escape detection.”

BackgroundThe CTBT bans all nuclear explosions by everyone, everywhere: on the Earth’s surface, in the atmosphere, in outer space, underwater and underground. 182 countries have signed the Treaty, of which 157 have also ratified it. An unprecedented global verification regime with over 300 sensors monitors the globe around the clock for nuclear explosions to detect any violations of the Treaty.
Pooling
Recordings from the press conference will be pooled. Loosely-cut broadcast quality video and audio material of the event for download, as well as photos, speeches and transcripts of the press conference will be provided in the CTBTO Newsroom.

For further information on the CTBT, please see www.ctbto.org – your resource on ending nuclear testing, or contact:

Annika Thunborg,
Spokesperson and Chief, Public Information
T +43 1 26030-6375
E annika.thunborgping@ctbtopong.org
M +43 699 1459 6375
I www.ctbto.org
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