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On May 6^th, the daily Swedish news show “Ekot” (broadcasted by Radio Sweden) interviewed a number of Swedish Members of Parliament (from the government coalition as well as from opposition parties) about Sweden’s policy on nuclear disarmament. The MPs directed criticism towards Sweden’s Foreign Minister Carl Bildt on various issues, amongst them the MFA’s decision to leave the New Agenda Coalition as well as their refusal to sign the humanitarian statement during the NPT PrepCom. Following this, Carl Bildt rather surprisingly called in to the morning show “Ring P1”, also broadcasted by Radio Sweden, after having declined to participate in the news show. Ring P1 is a daily radio show to which listeners amongst the public call in to speak their minds on various topics. Bildt placed his call after the host had tweeted and asked why he does not support a ban on nuclear weapons (this is what “Ekot” had reported, even if the humanitarian statement does not include a call for a ban).

In his talk with Ring P1, Carl Bildt argued that the humanitarian statement during the NPT PrepCom was “no big deal” and that Sweden practices “serious” disarmament work, especially highlighting the CTBT (the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty). The host, Ms. Alexandra Pascalidou who is not familiar with disarmament issues, then asked Carl Bildt why Sweden, being a peace nation, would not support a ban on nuclear weapons. Bildt replied that as a peace nation, Sweden should be serious in our disarmament work and achieve what is achievable. “We strive for a world free from nuclear weapons but that world is relatively far away, therefore we need to achieve what is achievable”, he said. He then exemplified this strategy by pointing to the importance of working on the Iran issue, on the issue of tactical nuclear weapons in our immediate neighborhood, as well as on the CTBT together with Mexico.

FM Bildt also argued that nuclear disarmament is conducted by the nuclear weapons states, and to get into and be part of that process it’s important to be a “serious actor”, to be perceived as serious. He asked himself the question “how do we get to a nuclear weapons free world?” to which he answered “reduction of strategic arms – if that is possible”.

Ms. Pascalidou then asked again why Sweden would not sign a ban on nuclear weapons – it seems to be a reasonable thing to do, she said. Bildt replied that “this is ‘placard politics’ - it’s not possible to realize, and with this approach we will not get any response by the serious powers.”  

Radio Show “Studio Ett”, May 6

During the afternoon of May 6^th, Carl Bildt accepted to further discuss the nuclear disarmament issue in the Swedish radio show “Studio Ett”. Bildt, when asked again about the humanitarian statement, said that the statement was a side track that no “other serious states” participated in.

He also argued that Sweden devotes energy to issues that are on the agenda, as Sweden is engaged in the IAEA, the CTBT and in disarmament of tactical nuclear weapons in Europe. The NPT PrepCom was just a civil servant meeting, he said, and the humanitarian statement was symbolic rather than of any substantial value.

The interviewers at Studio Ett then asked if FM Bildt does not see Norway and Denmark as serious states (given that they signed the humanitarian statement)? He replied: “Yes, but this is not the serious parts of their security politics”. The interviewers then asked the follow-up question “What makes your approach more serious than theirs?” To this, Bildt replied that “The statement was supported by 78 out of 190 countries, not many European states, and very few of the serious engaged states. We are seriously engaged to get actual results. Credibility and a way in to reach those who have nuclear weapons - that is the reality”.

The hosts of Studio Ett then called up a representative from the Norwegian MFA (while Bildt was still on the show) who said that the humanitarian approach has been the main focus for the Norwegian government for some time now. The fact that this issue was raised in many statements during the NPT PrepCom shows the big support for this approach, said the Norwegian representative.

The interviewers continued with asking FM Bildt what harm supporting the statement could have done, and he said again that this is “no big thing”. The issue has never reached his desk, Bildt said, arguing that these kinds of questions are not on his level at all and could be handled in other forums. [It was a bit unclear if he meant the statement or the whole humanitarian approach as such.] Sweden’s approach has been to handle issues of substance, he said, arguing that a ban on nuclear weapons is a diplomatic dead-end.

FM Bildt was then asked what he has actually achieved so far. To this he answered: “A number of states have ratified the CTBT”.

The issue was also commented on by SIPRI (Stockholm International Peace Research Institute) during “Ekot” at Radio Sweden later that same day. Mr. Shannon Kile from SIPRI was critical to Bildt calling the humanitarian statement “no big deal” and irrelevant. Mr. Kile argued that these kinds of appeals in fact can help to delegitimize nuclear weapons.

[read more on sverigesradio.se]  [read more on icanw.org]

Many of us are scared about the heightened tension in the conflict on the Korean peninsula. A way to deal with that fear is to act. We invite you to join us in calling on the heads of states of nations that took part in the Six-Party Talks - the USA, North Korea, South Korea, China, Russia and Japan - to return to the negotiating table and prevent a nuclear catastrophe. Help us to get as many signatures as we can to show how much we care about this issue!

[Sign Petition]

[Summary of Report "Health consequences resulting from Fukushima" (German section of IPPNW) ]  [IPPNW Report "Health consequences resulting from Fukushima"]  [Critical Analysis of the WHO’s health risk assessment of the Fukushima nuclear catastrophe]

Representatives from 127 governments gathered in Oslo, Norway, from 4 to 5 March 2013 for the Conference on the Humanitarian Impact of Nuclear Weapons. ICAN was the civil society partner and presented a video statement in the opening session as well as four oral interventions, which highlighted that any use of nuclear weapons would have catastrophic humanitarian consequences

[Read more]  [Video-Statement]  [Report: ICAN Civil Society Forum 2013]

On May 2, 2013 Peace boat visited again Pireas honoring the memory of Gregoris Lambrakis, MD, MP and pioner of the Aninuclear and Peace movement, who was killed in a Peace ceremony 50 years ago. The Peace Boat also delivered a message of solidarity with the Greek people who suffer from the economical crisis.
Representatives of the boat, the director Yoshioka Tatsuya and Hibakushas Nobuko Suigino Kazumi Tsuisida  were accepted in the Municipality of Pireas by the Vice Mayor Mr Anastasios Karles and deputee Mr Yiannis Kardaras who wellcome them.
The member of the Greek parliement Mr Theodoros Dritsas, Mr Panos Trigazis president of PADOP, Mr K. Foteinakis president of "Friends of Nature' and Maria Arvantiri Sotiropoulou President of the Greek Affiliate of IPPNW.

[Greek IPPNW]

Medact’s latest report The Delusional Thinking behind a Policy of ‘Nuclear Deterrence’ was launched this month at the House of Lords. Thank you to all who attended.

Today many decision makers believe that ‘nuclear deterrence’ is an essential component of the UK’s defence strategy. This report examines the delusional nature of some of the thinking that underpins this belief.

If you would like to receive a free hard copy, please send your name and address to info[at]medact.org. We’d be happy to send you additional copies to give to others. Just let us know how many you need. In particular, it would be great if you could send a copy to your MP. Any small donations towards postage costs would be gratefully received.

 The report is dedicated to Gill Reeve, former Director of Medact, co-founder of ICAN-UK and committed anti-nuclear campaigner, whose many years of creative work towards a peaceful future without nuclear weapons was an inspiration to us all.

[Download Medact report: The Delusional Thinking behind a Policy of ‘Nuclear Deterrence’]

If just one of the world's 19,000 nuclear weapons was detonated, be it intentionally or accidentally, not only would it kill thousands of people instantly, but, as the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has concluded, first responders would be unable to provide the emergency relief so urgently needed. This makes the continued existence and deployment of nuclear weapons one of the most serious humanitarian challenges of our time.
To demonstrate that a treaty banning nuclear weapons is both possible and urgently needed, ICAN will host the Civil Society Forum on 2-3 March 2013. We have invited hundreds of people from all corners of the world to give inspiring speeches, participate in informative workshops, engage in lively discussions and of course, to have fun.

[Visit ICAN’s Oslo 2013 website]

The United States conducted a subcritical nuclear test on 5 December 2012.  Such tests undermine one of the main purposes of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, which is to prevent the development of new warhead designs. IPPNW reacted and sent an open letter to President Obama protesting against the conducting of subcritical nuclear tests and calling for a cessation of any such testing in the future.

[Read Open Letter to President Obama]

In a fine example of IPPNW's physician-to-physician diplomacy, an international IPPNW delegation has been meeting with campaigners and activists in Iran from November 12-15, including one high-profile event at the Tehran Peace Museum which has garnered local media attention. The delegation also visited Shahid Behesty University and area hospitals during their stay.

[Report from Gunnar Westberg]  [Press TV Tehran, November 12]

Medact's report dedicated to Dr Jack Piachaud was launched at the 2012 AGM of the Iraqi Mental Health Forum UK, and in collaboration with Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust, on October 27th 2012. The meeting included presentations on the background and recommendations of the report, and on the activities of the Iraqi Mental Health Forum and the Iraq Sub-Committee of the Royal College of Psychatrists and their projects in Iraq.

[Mental Health Policy in Iraq since 2003]

In late October 1962 Cold War Watchers were horrified by the imminent prospect of global annihilation. John Kennedy, the charismatic but mercurial American President, had over 20,000 nuclear warheads under his command; Nikita Khrushchev, the Soviet Leader, had about 2,000. Berlin had been a flash-point ever since the Soviet blockade of 1948. Many American weapons were based in Europe and Turkey, targetting Russian cities: more were on missiles, aircraft, ships and submarines. In contrast the Soviets’ weapons were restricted to the admittedly extensive territories of the USSR and its satellites, and a few diesel submarines. The Russians felt encircled and were searching for a strategic response.

[Read article]

On October 27th and 28th, ICAN Sweden gathered over 20 future anti-nukes campaigners for a weekend course entitled "Nuclear weapons, peace and disarmament". The course included topics such as the functioning of nuclear weapons, their environmental and humanitarian consequences, the current political landscape regarding disarmament and the proposition of a global ban. Using their newfound knowledge the participants tackled issues such as the funding of nuclear weapons, political paralysis and low public awareness, while developing their own action ideas through an interactive campaigning workshop.

[Read more]

When Peace Boat's 77th voyage docked in Greece, a delegation of four Hibakusha (atomic bomb survivors) from Hiroshima and two students from Fukushima University visited local officials in Piraeus and Athens as part of the Global Hibakusha Project. The four from Hiroshima had previously been giving testimony in Israel and joined the ship in Egypt where they gave testimony in Cairo. The visits in Greece were organised in coordination with Maria Sotiropoulou, Greek Affiliate at International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW)

[Read more]

Following the IPPNW (International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War) World Congress in Hiroshima on August 24-26, the related symposium in Tokyo, and their visit to Fukushima to meet with local medical professionals on August 28, international medical experts from IPPNW will held a press conference on the medical and health issues related to Fukushima on Wednesday August 29.

[IPPNW recommendations from the press conference ]  [Recommandations de l´IPPNW après le désastre de Fukushima]  [IPPNW letter to the Japanese Government]