Antinuclear

700 prestigious Australians call for international nuclear weapons ban

Top Aussies call for nuclear weapons ban, news.com.au  AAP January 26, 2012 MORE than 700 prominent Australians have called on the Government to show leadership on outlawing nuclear weapons, saying the need is
urgent. Australians for a Nuclear Weapons Convention is a group of 713 Order of Australia honorees who say there is a growing consensus among world leaders on the urgent need for a ban on nuclear weapons.

“The increasing risks of nuclear weapons proliferation and use in our region and beyond mean there has never been a more important time for Australian initiative and leadership in global efforts to free the world from nuclear weapons,” the group says.

They want Australia to support UN Secretary-General Ban-Ki Moon’s call for negotiations on an international treaty that would outlaw and eliminate all nuclear weapons.

Former prime ministers Malcolm Fraser, Bob Hawke and Gough Whitlam, and former foreign ministers Gareth Evans and Andrew Peacock are among the signatories…….
Mr Fraser’s Government established the convention that Australia would only sell uranium to countries that had signed the non-proliferation treaty.
Eight former state premiers and four former armed forces chiefs as well as prominent media, literary, sporting and community personalities also endorsed the statement. “We wanted to show that nuclear disarmament isn’t a left-wing issue.
This is something that has support across the political spectrum,” campaign director Tim Wright said. “Nuclear disarmament is something that we as a nation should care about and that the government should show leadership on.
“This is an urgent threat that needs urgent attention.”

He said while Australia had been a leader in non-proliferation activities in the past, its position was undermined by current defence policies stating the importance of the US having nuclear weapons and moves to sell uranium to India, which makes nuclear weapons. “Although the government does state that it supports nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament, that position isn’t matched by its actions,” he said….

Mr Wright said while the Australians for a Nuclear Weapons Convention campaign was open only to people appointed to the Order of Australia, others could take part in activities run by the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN).  http://www.news.com.au/national/top-aussies-call-for-nuclear-weapons-ban/story-e6frfkvr-1226253965331#ixzz1kazsDzNb

January 26, 2012 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, weapons and war