Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | News Video | Crime | Employers | Housing | Immigration | Legal | Local Govt. | Maori | Welfare | Unions | Youth | Search

 

Nuclear weapons ban negotiations

NZ civil society team heads to UN for nuclear weapons ban negotiations

10 May 2017

Four New Zealanders representing civil society will be at the United Nations in New York next month, to help negotiate a treaty to ban nuclear weapons. Unlike chemical and biological weapons, nuclear weapons have not yet been outlawed internationally, despite being the most destructive, inhumane weapons of terror ever invented.

From 15 June to 7 July, delegates from over 130 nations aim to finalise a treaty that will stigmatise nuclear weapons, as a vital next step towards a comprehensive Nuclear Weapons Convention, like the enforceable treaties to eliminate chemical and biological weapons of mass destruction. International expectations are high for the successful completion this year of a prohibition treaty.

The five recognised nuclear weapon states, led by the US, UK and France, and most of their allies including Australia found themselves in the unfamiliar position of protesting against a productive first week of negotiations in the UN General Assembly in March 2017.

The four New Zealanders - Dr Kate Dewes, Dr Lyndon Burford, Lucy Stewart and Commander Robert Green, Royal Navy (Ret'd) - feel that their presence at the nuclear ban negotiations is a fitting way to mark the 30th anniversary, on 8 June 2017, of the New Zealand Nuclear Free Zone, Disarmament and Arms Control Act. The New Zealand government has maintained a high profile internationally on nuclear disarmament issues, and helped build the political will for the negotiations. UN member states participating in the negotiations acknowledged this by electing New Zealand’s Disarmament Ambassador Dell Higgie as a Vice-President of the negotiating conference.

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

Unusually, states involved in the negotiations have invited civil society delegates to participate directly. This reflects the strong role that civil society has played over many decades in pushing for nuclear disarmament. The previous most effective legal challenge to nuclear weapons - the 1996 Advisory Opinion from the International Court of Justice condemning the threat, let alone use, of nuclear weapons - grew out of a citizen-led campaign started in Christchurch: the World Court Project.

The civil society team attending the nuclear ban negotiations:

Dr Kate Dewes ONZM is an internationally-renowned expert who has served on the disarmament advisory boards of two UN Secretaries General, and was the New Zealand government's representative on the UN study on disarmament and nonproliferation education. She has been active in the anti-nuclear movement for over 40 years. Dr Dewes says: "I feel deeply honoured to be heading this team of New Zealand civil society delegates in the most exciting breakthrough towards a nuclear weapon free world since the 1996 World Court judgment."

Dr Lyndon Burford recently completed his doctoral thesis at the University of Auckland, on the relationship between New Zealand national identity and its nuclear disarmament policies. He says, “Becoming nuclear free helped to redefine New Zealand's national identity in a fundamental way. I am passionate about New Zealand disarmament policy because our country does great work in this area. Participating in the negotiations to ban nuclear weapons is a wonderful opportunity to help advance an essential disarmament cause.”

Lucy Stewart is the Youth Programmes Coordinator for the Peace Foundation Aotearoa/New Zealand and runs peace and disarmament programmes and events throughout New Zealand. This year, these programmes are celebrating and promoting the 30th Anniversary of New Zealand’s nuclear free law and the Nuclear Weapon Ban Treaty negotiations, especially during the Peace Foundation’s annual Schools Peace Week (7-11 August). Lucy says, “There are many important and pressing causes competing for our attention, but I think it is crucial that young people are aware of the dangers of nuclear weapons, and should be involved in promoting nuclear disarmament. It is incredibly exciting to be representing them in these negotiations to outlaw the most horrific weapons of mass destruction."

Robert Green, a former operator of British nuclear weapons and veteran of the 1982 Falklands War, spoke out against nuclear weapons before the first Gulf War in 1991. He became chair of the UK affiliate of the World Court Project, before he and Kate Dewes teamed up as Co-Directors of the Disarmament & Security Centre. He is author of the 2010 book Security Without Nuclear Deterrence. Cmdr Green comments: "The boycott of these negotiations by the nuclear weapon states shows how much they fear a prohibition treaty, not least because of the impact it will have on military operators of nuclear weapons."


© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines


Gordon Campbell: On The US Opposition To Mortgage Interest Deductibility For Landlords


Should landlords be able to deduct the interest on the loans they take out to bankroll their property speculation? The US Senate Budget Committee and Bloomberg News don't think this is a good idea, for reasons set out below. Regardless, our coalition government has been burning through a ton of political capital by giving landlords a huge $2.9 billion tax break via interest deductibility, while still preaching the need for austerity to the disabled, and to everyone else...
More


 
 

Government: Concerns Conveyed To China Over Cyber Activity
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity... More

ALSO:


Government: GDP Decline Reinforces Government’s Fiscal Plan

Declining GDP for the December quarter reinforces the importance of restoring fiscal discipline to public spending and driving more economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says... More

ALSO:


Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.