Towards a Nuclear Weapons Convention: Embracing Civil Society for a Nuclear-Free World

2. “A world free of nuclear weapons would be a global public good of the highest order” and ICAN is a means to this goal. Sec-Gen Ban Ki Moon (Oct 2008)‏

3. The goal of ICAN is a Nuclear Weapons Convention. The strength of ICAN lies in its wide embrace from civil society to the UN.

4. The majority of people want a nuclear weapons free world • Angus Reid 1998 – 93% Canadians agreed Canada should take a leadership role in negotiations to eliminate nuclear weapons. • Global Public Opinion on Nuclear Weapons done in 2007 by Simons F. shows the majority of people want an enforceable agreement. • Global Zero poll in 2008 in 21 countries shows more than 75% of people wish a verifiable agreement.

5. To obtain a Nuclear Weapons Convention, civil society input is essential.

6. The superficial problem in terms of numbers of nuclear weapons • Russia: 10,000 - 15,000 • USA: 8,000 - 9960 • France: 350 • China: 200 • U.K.: 200 • Israel: 80 • Pakistan: 60 • India: 50 • North Korea: ?

8. What is a Nuclear Weapons Convention (NWC)? • A NWC is a verifiable treaty to ban nuclear weapons. • It prohibits development, testing, use ... • It defines terms & sets out rules. • It provides timelines, phases & verification procedures. • It establishes means of communication and settling disputes. • It builds on the work of other treaties. • It has a non-discriminatory approach.

9. 1996: International Court of Justice rules nuclear weapons illegal. • 1997: Model NWC created. • 2000: NPT created 13 steps. • 2005: Disappointment with NPT review conference & birth of ICAN. • 2007: Updated model of NWC presented to UN. • 2008: Model NWC accepted as an official UN document.

10. Obstacles to a Nuclear Weapons Convention: • 'Nuclear Winter' not science • Complex issues • Irrelevancy to current issues • “Not my issue” • Maybe deterrence still works • 'Over-valuing' of nuclear weapons • Negotiations difficult - requiring many languages and examination of multiple issues

11. Nuclear Winter • The concept of Nuclear Winter has been reframed as: “Catastrophic Climate Consequences of Nuclear Conflict” and has been given scientific footing. (ref available)‏

14. Obscure Terminologycreates obstacles • LTBT • IAEA • CD • CTBT • CWC • FMCT • HEU • IMS • MNWC NWC • NNWS • NPT • NWFZ • NWS • PTBT • SORT • START

17. Various groups with goal of abolishing nuclear weapons • Mayors for Peace • Global Zero • Middle Powers Initiative • Ploughshares • Pugwash • Parliamentary Network for Nuclear Disarmament • Abolition 2000 • Etc Etc Etc

18. Landmine Victim

19. In order to achieve the Landmines Treaty both public and celebrity input were essential. The same is true for a NWC.

21. International Monitoring System

22. More Obstacles to obtaining a Nuclear Weapons Convention Multiple languages Multiple agendas Multiple diplomats

23. More Obstacles to obtaining a Nuclear Weapons Convention NWC attempts to be fair (unlike NPT). NWC tries to create a framework which makes outsiders insiders. NWC builds on existing treaties. Model NWC is like a road map.

24. ICAN and Nuclear Energy

25. The goal of ICAN is a Nuclear Weapons Convention. The strength ofICAN lies in its wide embrace from civil society to the UN.

26. To finalize a NWC, we must get beyond the “appalling international vacuum of global leadership.” Romeo D'Allaire 2007

27. To obtain a Nuclear Weapons Convention, civil society input is essential.

28. Help Obama! • Become informed www.pgs.cawww.icanw.org • Help resolve Can's NATO/NPT contradiction. • Educate others and overcome obstacles. • Encourage your MP to join PNND. • Encourage others and your medical colleagues to endorse ICAN. • Support with $ (through PGS).