International call for a Nuclear Abolition Treaty Intensify: 100 actions planned internationally for Nuclear Abolition Day 2011
This Saturday thousands of people will take part in 85 simultaneous actions in 20 countries in response to the P5 nuclear non-proliferation conference in Paris.
They will draw attention to the unacceptably slow progress toward nuclear weapons abolition globally and build public and political support for the negotiation of a comprehensive treaty banning nuclear weapons — a Nuclear Weapons Convention.
The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) has released a satirical video highlighting frustration with the hypocrisy of international nuclear weapons states talking up non-proliferation in gatherings such as the P5 – but failing to move swiftly toward complete abolition. (View video at www.nuclearabolition.org)
According to recent figures released by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) more than 20,500 warheads are in the arsenals of the world’s eight nuclear powers: Britain, China, France, India, Israel, Pakistan, Russia, and the United States.
Russia currently has 11,000 nuclear warheads in its arsenal including 2,427 deployed, and the United States has 8,500 nuclear warheads, including 2,150 deployed.
ICAN Australia Campaign Director Tim Wright said that despite expressions of support from the nuclear powers for “a world free of nuclear weapons”, they have been unwilling to commit to a treaty to outlaw and eliminate these weapons.
Mr. Wright said today: “If ever governments needed evidence that people around the world support their leaders taking strong immediate steps to abolish nuclear weapons, they need only look out onto city streets around the globe today.”
The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), which represents more than 200 non-government organizations, is coordinating the day of action.
Nuclear Abolition Day events are planned in cities ranging from Melbourne, Hiroshima, Cairo, Abuja, Santa Barbara, Berlin and Geneva.
“The future of humanity can only be free in a world without nuclear weapons,” said Arielle Denis, Senior Campaigner ICAN Europe Middle East and Africa.
“There is no other way. It must be completed urgently, before our luck runs out.”
In Malaysia, Soka Gakkai Malaysia (SGM) – an NGO focuses in promoting peace, culture and education has recently organized an anti-nuclear weapon exhibition ‘From A Culture of Violence to A Culture of Peace: Transforming the Human Spirit’ in Sekolah Menengah Jenis Kebangsaan Yu Hua, Kajang from 21-23 June 2011, creating awareness of the threat of global nuclear weapon to more than 3,500 teachers and students.
The Student Division of SGM is organizing a peace forum ‘Toward a World of Dignity for All: The Triumph of the Creative Life’ on 29 June 2011 (7:30pm, Wednesday) at SGM Selangor Culture Centre (address: Lot 23686, Jalan Selampit 29, Taman Klang Jaya, 41200 Klang, Selangor). This is an annual peace forum whereby more than 1,000 youth and students gather to discuss on Soka Gakkai International (SGI) President Daisaku Ikeda’s Peace Proposal, which focus on abolition of nuclear weapon and human rights issues this year. The full text of the 2011 Peace Proposal can be downloaded from: www.daisakuikeda.org.
From Soka Gakkai Malaysia (SGM), on behalf of ICAN.
For media enquiries contact:
SGM Public Relations Department: Chia Kok Peng – 03-9075 6876 / 012-2126761 / sgmpro@sgm.org.my
