Weapons of mass destruction banned – nuclear soon to join the ban – theme for Sept 17
You might think that it’s naive to be talking about banning nuclear weapons, in this present climate of international tension. Yes, an international agreement to ban them is not going to get rid of nuclear weapons overnight, or indeed, anytime soon.
BUT – as things stand now, nuclear weapons, held by all the so virtuous States – USA, Britain, France, India, China Pakistan, Israel, (- and now North Korea) – are accepted as respectable , defensive, necessary.
The idea of the world recognising weapons of mass destruction as unacceptable is not new. It’s been done before.
Human beings, after all, are social animals, and their greatest successes have been achieved by co-operation. Years of co-operative effort by intelligent and thoughtful people have shed light on the humanitarian horror of mass killings, and mass sufferings of those who survived such attacks.
Under the auspices of he United Nations, the concerted efforts of so many have brought about the recognition that mass murder is unacceptable, and has been judged to be illegal. No, these threats have not been completely eliminated. But they have been vastly diminished, and no leader can get away with pronouncing them to be acceptable or necessary.
The United Nations Ban on the use of chemical and biological weapons in warfare was signed in 1925, and strengthened in 1997 in the the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC)
The United Nations Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) came into force in 1975.
In both cases, these agreements outlawed the development, stockpiling, acquisition, retention, and production of these inhumane weapons, and reaffirmed the 1925 ban on their use.
These bans, agreed on by 178 nations (the BWC), 192 (the CWC) have been further developed over many years of successive conventions, the most recent being in November 2016.
There’s a wealth of information on the effects of nuclear weapons production and use – not just the immediate effects on victim communities, but the pervasive global effect on climate, agriculture and teh world’ s food supply.
Right now, we all live under a terrible threat of nuclear war. It is surely time to make a start on removing that threat. The United Nations Nuclear Weapons Ban Treaty is that start.
This week – nuclear and climate news
As nations sign up at present, at United Nations, to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, the Treaty is due to come into force later, when 50 signed members have ratified it. 122 countries out of the 193 UN member nations approved the draft treaty in July.
The nuclear weapons nations and their associates oppose the treaty, giving various important strategic sounding reasons. But when this UN treaty comes into force, joining the previous treaties that make other forms of mass destruction illegal, the governments with nuclear weapons will no longer be able to claim the moral high ground. Their stand will sound hollow, against the growing global consensus that the possessing, threatening, using of nuclear weapons is inhumane and immoral.
Equally importantly, at the UN General Assembly, the urgency of the need to address climate change, is being discussed.
AUSTRALIA
NUCLEAR
- Why Australia Should Sign The UN Nuclear Weapons Ban Treaty Now. An Australian to be proud of – Dr Tilman Ruff.– -Australia follows nuclear weapons powers in boycotting UN treaty outlawing nuclear weapons. –Best selling author Junko Morimoto called on Turnbull to sign nuclear weapons ban treaty. Most Labor MPs have pledged to get Australia to sign and ratify the UN nuclear weapon ban treaty.
- Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull says there is no economic case for nuclear power.
- Nuclear lobby bringing top USA nuclear spruiker Michael Shellenberger to Australia.–
- Australia VERY QUIETLY signs up to help develop new nuclear reactors
- Nominations sought for Kimba Consultative Committee on National Radioactive Waste Dump.
- Rural South Australia could end up with the curse of stranded nuclear wastes.
CLIMATE.
- Liberal Coalition MPs giggle, cackle, smirk and laugh in Parliament over climate change
- BHP supports climate change action – is at odds with Minerals Council.
- In Southern Australia, winters are becoming drier.
- A mathematician warns – Coalition’s pro-coal policy likely to be a vote loser
- –Abbot Point spill further proof Adani can’t be trusted on coal, green groups say. Anti Adani coal project- action is seriously hotting up in Queensland. Anti-Adani protesters arrested outside Abbot Point coal terminal near Bowen. A kind of censorship: Melbourne’s Federation Square restricts anti Adani protest.
- Liberal National Party member would consider taxpayer funding moved from renewables to private coal-fired power station.
Renowned author Tim Winton on how Malcolm Turnbull betrayed our oceans.
ENERGY Australians won over by cheapness and reliability of solar batteries, poll shows. Australia’s top 10 solar postcodes, and the top solar locations by state . Coal country backs renewable energy – poll. For remewable energy news – http://reneweconomy.com.au/
Northern Territory may be close to getting a lithium mine.
This is just my impression – I have done no real research. But – it seems to me that the most strident anti-gay voices in Australia are the same people as the strident climate denialers, and pro nukers.
Great Barrier Reef: Queensland Labor may break election vow and allow coal ship loading
Labor vowed to ban ‘trans-shipping’ in reef waters after UN’s scientific body raised concerns about proposal in 2014, Guardian, Joshua Robertson, 23 Sept 17, The Queensland Labor government has flagged breaking a 2015 election promise by allowing the loading of coal ships at sea in the Great Barrier Reef marine park.
Labor vowed to ban so-called “trans-shipping” in reef waters after the United Nations’ peak scientific body raised concerns about a proposal off Hay Point near Mackay in 2014.
But the Palaszczuk government on Friday released a proposal that would allow trans-shipping off Hay Point and three other “priority ports”, including Adani’s Abbot Point…….https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/sep/23/great-barrier-reef-queensland-labor-may-break-election-vow-and-allow-coal-ship-loading
1 This month
of the week – Disrupting War & Militarism in Oceania. Active solidarity. Radical practice.
Antinuclear 