Dear ICAN supporters
Welcome to your monthly e-bulletin from ICAN Australia, updating you on the progress we’re making in our worldwide campaign to abolish nuclear weapons and how you can help.

October/November:  ICAN and other groups issue a statement concerned over nuclear disarmament commission’s work.   A new poll issued by the Lowy Institute says 75% of Australians agree that global nuclear disarmament should be a top priority for the Australian government and support for a Nuclear Weapons Convention gains momentum around the world.

ICAN Australia News

ICAN and other key groups concerned over nuclear disarmament commission
ICAN and other key organisations have expressed great disappointment following the International Commission on Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament’s recent meeting in Hiroshima. They have issued a public statement, concerned that the Commission’s report - expected to be released in the near future - could in fact act as a brake on the current momentum towards a world without nuclear weapons. Read the statement at:  
http://www.icanw.org/node/4916

Support for a Nuclear Weapons Convention at the United Nations
ICAN Australia is working with other ICAN groups around the world to raise the level of discussion and referencing of the Nuclear Weapons Convention by nations at international fora. We are already seeing increasing interest in the concept of a Nuclear Weapons Convention by many countries around the world. India’s Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh stated to the United Nations General Assembly on 26 September, “I reiterate India’s proposal for a Nuclear Weapons Convention prohibiting the development, production, stockpiling and use of nuclear weapons and providing for their complete elimination within a specified time frame”.  

For more on the current disarmament work at the UN, read the excellent Reaching Critical Will updates here:
http://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/political/1com/1com09.html   

ICAN engages with students at the Youth Action Conference
Recently ICAN held a stall at the inspiring annual Youth Action Conference in Melbourne organised by the Foundation for Young Australians.  Attended by over 500 students, ICAN staff distributed lots of campaign materials to many enthusiastic and concerned young people and talked to them about how they can work for a nuclear weapons free world.
 
ICAN Website
ICAN is currently developing a new website featuring new and exciting ways for you to interact and engage with the campaign.  We’ll be launching in a few weeks so stay tuned!

ICAN act: things to do today

Mayors for Peace numbers grow in Australia – help them to grow more!
Following a major promotion by ICAN at the Australian Local Governance Association’s annual conference earlier this year, six new municipalities have joined Mayors for Peace - bringing the Australian total to 55. Mayors for Peace work for nuclear disarmament around the world in thousands of communities.  If your Council is not listed, get on to them to join!  
http://www.mayorsforpeace.org/english/membercity/oceania.html

Volunteer with ICAN Australia in Melbourne: 2 positions available
ICAN Australia is looking for several qualified volunteers to assist in the Melbourne based campaign office.  A regular commitment of one day a week is required. Travel costs can be covered but unfortunately no wage can be offered.   For more information visit: http://www.icanw.org/node/4911  

Sign the Appeal for a nuclear weapons free world
Sign this Appeal from the Japan Council against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs calling for the negotiations of a Nuclear Weapons Convention, to ban and eliminate nuclear weapons without delay.  Email your friends and ask them to sign it too.
http://www.antiatom.org/sig/2010/E_index.html  

Organise an event with an ICAN speaker
Help our work, to abolish nuclear weapons and promote peace, by organising one of our excellent speakers to speak at an event. Contact the ICAN office at info@icanw.org or call 03 9347 4795.

ICAN Give!
Please consider making a donation today so we can continue to campaign on this vital issue and intensify our efforts at this most crucial time.   
Donate at http://www.icanw.org/donate  

Events

Melbourne: Saturday 14 November, Campaign For International Co-Operation And Disarmament (CICD) Anniversary
In November CICD celebrates 50 years of active campaigning on peace and nuclear disarmament. Come and celebrate this event at their anniversary function.  ICAN’s Associate Professor Tilman Ruff will talk about the progress being made by national and international campaigns to abolish nuclear weapons.
Saturday 14 Novemver,1.30pm to 4pm, Unitarian Peace Memorial Church, 110 Grey St, East Melbourne.  Contact: jessicaamorrison@yahoo.com.au

Nukes News

Lowy Institute poll out -  nuclear disarmament a major concern
The Lowy Institute released its 5th annual survey of Public Opinion and Foreign Policy on 13 October. In the poll a massive 75% of Australians agreed that global nuclear disarmament should be a top priority for the Australian government.  Nuclear weapons also ranked as the foremost threat in the minds of the Australian public (level with international terrorism), with 69% saying the possibility of unfriendly countries becoming nuclear powers was a critical threat.  Download the complete report here: http://www.lowyinstitute.org    

Malcolm Fraser: there has never been a better time for total nuclear disarmament
Former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser recently delivered the John Gee lecture at the Australian National University stating that there has never been a better time to achieve total nuclear disarmament.  The former PM calls for the negotiation of a Nuclear Weapons Convention.  Read the speech in full here: http://news.anu.edu.au/?p=1752
***The Lowy Institute’s Hugh White responded by calling on the Government to join with the Japanese government, in pressing President Obama to adopt a “no first use” (of nuclear weapons) policy
http://www.lowyinterpreter.org/post/2009/10/30/Whos-dinkum-about-No-First-Use.aspx

Hilary Clinton talks on nuclear weapons
Hillary Clinton gave a speech recently on nuclear weapons and Obama’s Diplomatic Blueprint. The speech contains some important ingredients including acknowledgement that enrichment and reprocessing facilities are inherently capable of being used for weapons. It also has some disturbing elements, including acceptance of nuclear deterrence.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uovT75twccs

Trident replacement plan no longer credible, says former Foreign Secretary
The decision to replace an unaffordable Trident missile system calls into question Gordon Brown’s stated commitment to nuclear disarmament, a former Labour Foreign Secretary says.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/oct/25/trident-defence-policy-david-owen

WE CAN!

ICAN Australian Bulletin comes to you from the ICAN Australia team
Sent each month, from:
International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons
G03 60 Leicester Street, Carlton, Victoria, Australia 3053
Phone: + 61 3 9347 4795
Fax: + 61 39347 4995
info@icanw.org

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November 2009