Nuclear Abolition News . Analysis . Features

Nuclear Abolition News | IDN

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By CH. VIYYANNA SASTRY*

NEW DELHI (IDN) - The Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) which prohibits all forms of nuclear weapons testing has for long been considered important to curb the spread of nuclear weapons technology. Together with the NPT and the Fissile Materials Cut-Off Treaty, the CTBT was considered as completing the essential components of the global nuclear non-proliferation regime.

Nuclear Abolition News | IDN

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By FREDERICK N. MATTIS*

ANNAPOLIS, USA (IDN) - The alarm over the Iranian nuclear program calls for reflection on the ultimate cause of all nuclear weapons-related threats: the absence of a worldwide ban on nuclear weapons. Focusing on the USA, below are security benefits of nuclear abolition – with axioms being that all states have joined a treaty banning nuclear weapons before it enters into force, and that worldwide inspection (verification) applies, and that before signing the nuclear ban treaty, states must fully join the current chem-bio weapons bans: 1993 Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and 1972 Biological Weapons Convention (BWC). ARABIC PDF | ARABIC TEXT VERSION

Nuclear Abolition News | IDN

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By HIROTSUGU TERASAKI*

TOKYO (IDN) - On November 26 last year, a resolution calling for the elimination of nuclear weapons was successfully adopted at the Council of Delegates of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. This landmark development proved highly encouraging for civil society organizations working for the abolition of nuclear weapons. As one such organization, we (Soka Gakkai International) would also like to express our heartfelt respect and acclaim for the adopted resolution. JAPANESETEXT VERSION PDF

Nuclear Abolition News | IDN

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By JAMSHED BARUAH

BERLIN (IDN) - A series of events are slated for the first half of 2012 in Asia, Europe and the United States to raise awareness for a world free of atomic power plants and nuclear weapons of mass destruction, according to data compiled by Abolition 2000 – the Global Network to Eliminate Nuclear Weapons.

Nuclear Abolition News | IDN

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By NEENA BHANDARI

SYDNEY (IDN) - Even as Australia's ruling Labour revoked early December its long standing party policy banning uranium sales to India and Pakistan was swift to stake its claim too, the disarmament movement received a boost with the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement adopting a resolution to work towards a legally binding global convention on nuclear abolition. [P] ARABIC TEXT VERSION PDF | CHINESE TEXT VERSION PDF | GERMAN | JAPANESE TEXT VERSION PDF | TURKISH

Nuclear Abolition News | IPS
By THALIF DEEN

UNITED NATIONS (IPS) - A group of political, diplomatic and military leaders from the Asia-Pacific region - representing an area with the largest number of nuclear weapons states - is launching a campaign to help abolish the world's most destructive weapons, beginning in their own backyard.

The convenor of the group, former Australian Foreign Minister Gareth Evans, said Monday, "The quest to eliminate nuclear weapons cannot begin to succeed without the determined engagement of policymakers in the Asia-Pacific region." [P] ARABIC | GERMAN | JAPANESE TEXT VERSION PDF

Nuclear Abolition New | IPS
By THALIF DEEN

UNITED NATIONS (IPS) - The world's nuclear powers - both declared and undeclared - have come primarily from Asia: China, India, Pakistan and possibly North Korea.

The Middle East was dominated by a single nuclear power - Israel, which has refused to publicly declare its status.

But that domination has been threatened by Iran, which the Western powers say is on the verge of developing nuclear weapons, an assertion denied by the Iranians.

The nuclear threats from Israel and Iran have now triggered a potential competitor in Saudi Arabia, an oil-blessed Middle Eastern country which has enough riches to buy itself into nuclear capability. [P] ARABIC | GERMAN | JAPANESE TEXT VERSION PDF

Nuclear Abolition News | IPS
By JILLIAN KESTLER-D’AMOURS

JERUSALEM (IPS) - Representatives from over 65 organisations and countries convened in Amman, Jordan last week [Nov 29-Dec 1] in an effort to lay the groundwork for the United Nations’ goal of creating a Middle East without nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction. [P] ARABIC | JAPANESE TEXT VERSION PDF

Nuclear Abolition News | IDN

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By SHASTRI RAMACHANDARAN*

NEW DELHI (IDN) - The Government of India appears to be in right earnest about taking the lead in pursuing universal disarmament. The renewed vigour – for reviving the climate and conditions wherein the basic ideas and objectives of nuclear disarmament can be advanced – is evident in a series of engagements being lined up to carry forward former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi's Action Plan (RGAP) for a nuclear-weapons-free world order. [P] CHINESE SIM TEXT VERSION PDF | GERMAN | HINDI TEXT VERSION PDF | JAPANESE TEXT VERSION PDF | URDU

Nuclear Abolition News | IPS
By MITCHELL PLITNICK

WASHINGTON (IPS) - A clear majority of Israeli Jews would support a nuclear weapons-free Middle East, even if it meant that Israel too would have to give up its stockpile of nuclear weapons.

This was the most surprising result to come out of a pair of polls conducted separately on Jewish and Palestinian citizens of Israel. The polls, conducted in November by Professor Shibley Telhami and presented Thursday [December 1, 2011] at the Brookings Institution, covered a range of topics, from the Arab Spring to perceptions of the United States and hopes for the Israel-Palestinian conflict. [P] DUTCH | GERMAN | JAPANESE TEXT VERSION PDF | SWEDISH | TURKISH