Category Archives: Nuclear Weapon Ban Treaty

The beginning of the end of nuclear weapons

November 28, 2019Nuclear Disarmament, Nuclear Weapon Ban TreatyICAN, My Fish is Your Fish, Pacific Islands Forum, The Beginning to the End of Nuclear Weapons, TPNW, Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear WeaponsJon Atkins

On November 21, 2019 the Marrickville Peace Group (MPG) held a public screening of two documentary films on the threat to human survival posed by nuclear weapons.

The first film shown was “The Beginning of the End of Nuclear Weapons”. This feature-length documentary focuses on the history of nuclear weapons as well as the anti-nuclear movement that has campaigned to bring a nuclear weapons ban treaty into international law.

The later part of the film is based on interviews with leading activists from many different organisations and countries, including those associated with the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN). Continue reading The beginning of the end of nuclear weapons →

Ridding the world of nuclear weapons

July 8, 2019Nuclear Weapon Ban Treaty, Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear WeaponsICAN, International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, Nuclear Posture Review, Trump adminstrationJon Atkins

The date July 7, 2017 marks two years since the historic adoption of the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW or the treaty). To celebrate the occasion, the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) has launched a new resource entitled Campaigner’s Guide to Signature and Ratification of the TPNW.

ICAN was a major influence behind the negotiation of the TPNW and was awarded the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize for its endeavours. The treaty is wide ranging and aims to prohibit the use or the threat of use of nuclear weapons along with their development; production and testing; acquisition, possession and stockpiling; transfer; and stationing and deployment. Continue reading Ridding the world of nuclear weapons →

UN adopts historic Nuclear Weapons Ban Treaty

July 12, 2017Nuclear Weapon Ban TreatyNuclear Weapon Ban Treaty, Nuclear WeaponsJon Atkins

A historic global agreement was reached at the United Nations headquarters in New York on Friday, July 7, 2017 when 122 nations adopted a treaty to ban nuclear weapons. Known officially as the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, it will acquire legal force once 50 nations have signed and ratified it. Continue reading UN adopts historic Nuclear Weapons Ban Treaty →

First session of UN’s Nuclear Weapon Ban Treaty negotiations a success

April 29, 2017Nuclear Weapon Ban TreatyNon-Proliferation Treaty, Nuclear Weapon Ban Treaty, Nuclear WeaponsJon Atkins

The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution in December 2016 that agreed to “negotiate a legally binding instrument to prohibit nuclear weapons, leading towards their total elimination” and encouraged all member states to participate. The vote was 113 in favour, 35 against including Australia, with 13 abstentions. Continue reading First session of UN’s Nuclear Weapon Ban Treaty negotiations a success →

US alliance and the movement to ban nuclear weapons: Labor’s role?

February 17, 2016Nuclear Weapon Ban TreatyICAN, nuclear deterrence, nuclear umbrella, Nuclear Weapons, US allianceJon Atkins

Ban the bomb A forum entitled ‘Banning Nuclear Weapons: Labor’s Role’ was held on February 14 during the NSW Labor Conference in the Sydney. The forum was part of the conference’s Fringe Program and its purpose was to explore “how a future federal Labor government could lead the way” on banning nuclear weapons. However, the inconsistency between Labor’s current policy on banning nuclear weapons and its ongoing support for the US “nuclear umbrella” was strongly criticised. Continue reading US alliance and the movement to ban nuclear weapons: Labor’s role? →