Mayors for Peace Presentation

1
Mayors for Peace Presentation

• Dr Carole Wigg
• Medical Association for Prevention of War
• Ms Jessica Morrison International Campaign to
  Abolish Nuclear Weapons

2
Medical Association for Prevention of War

• Founded in 1981 as group of doctors, medical
  students, and health professionals
• We work for the elimination of all weapons of
  mass destruction and for the prevention of armed
  conflict
• We aim to reduce the physical and psychological
  impact as well as the environmental effects of
  war
• We promote the use of human and technological
  resources for human and environmental well-being
  rather than the acquisition of armaments
• Australian affiliate of International Physicians
  for the Prevention of Nuclear War, which won the
  nobel peace prize in 1985. One of 58 affiliates.

3
Current Context

• Since 2005, UN disarmament talks have stalled
• Proliferation risks North Korea tests Iran
  threat
• In nuclear weapons deadlock
• we stand on the brink of a second nuclear age
• Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, January 2007
• The sad truth is that today we have not only one
  inconvenient truth about climate change. But we
  have another inconvenient truth, and that there
  is a arms race
• Dr Hans Blix, former UN weapons inspector, Oct
• The most dangerous consequences of nuclear
  weaponsare here and now. They are of this hour
  and time
• Arnold Schwarzenegger, October 2007

4

• Spearheaded by IPPNW internationally, but many
  partner organisations (peace, environment, faith)
• Goal of nuclear abolition through a Nuclear
  Weapons Convention
• Must re-engage community pressure for progress in
  multilateral forums
• www.icanw.org

5

• Established in 1982 by the Mayor of Hiroshima
• Campaign to abolish nuclear weapons
• First ICAN international partner- Mayor Akiba
  spoke at ICAN launch in Vienna
• Sunshine City Council joined in August 1983
• Currently 1828 members in 122 countries,
  including 42 Australian Councils
• Australian working group established this year

6

• What do Mayors for Peace do?
• Symbolic actions monuments parks street names
• Events concerts forums peace walks essay and
  art competitions
• International relationships reciprocal visits
  to/from Japan study tours student letter
  writing