Antinuclear

Australia and nuclear weapons – theme for August 2020

Sad to say, but Australia, or at least the Australian government, is something of an international pariah  on the great issues of climate action, and nuclear disarmament.

In decades past, Australia took a leadership position on nuclear disarmament.   Not any more.The rot really set in with the dismissal of Gough Whitlam as Prime Minister.   That whole thing remains shrouded in secrecy, but Whitlam wanted Australia’s government to know what was going on at Pine Gap, and opposed having a USA  secret spy and military operations base operating in Australia.  I believe that it was Whitlam’s stand about Pine Gap that was the underlying reason for his dismissal.

After Whitlam, Australian governments kowtowed to USA, and continue to do so. As with climate action, the Australian government continues to sabotage international disarmament efforts.  That’s why we have U.S. military bases as targets in this country, and some Liberal and National MPs itching to buy nuclear weapons from US.

On a positive note, however, Australians can be proud of the initiation of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, (ICAN) which was started by Australians, and won the Nobel Peace Prize.  This led to the United Nations Treaty on the prohibition of nuclear weapons, voted in by 122 nations, now ratified by 40.  It is an important start, removing any pretense that such weapons could be considered ethical.  There are now 28 Australian councils that call for the federal government to sign and ratify the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons..

for page Andrew Wilkie  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRfhFITToa8

for International  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XzrxspyzXo

for international – very good  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jveGno7ee9I

July 18, 2020 - Posted by Christina MacPherson | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, Christina themes, weapons and war