Dear ICAN Australia partners and friends
Want to stay in touch with the NPT? Join our list by April 29!
As you know the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) will begin in New York at the United Nations in just under a fortnight.
From 3 – 28 May, our government and nearly every other in the world will be working on nuclear weapons disarmament and non-proliferation issues in the United Nations. But civil society has a huge and important role to play both there and back home too.
If you would like to be kept up-to-date about the events, discussion and our Governments behaviour at the NPT this year, please send a return email to this email address and I will add you to the list. Updates will come at least twice weekly (action alerts may be more often depending on what happens there).
ICAN Australia will have unique access to the conference through our project based in New York staffed by Tim Wright. This means we expect to have regular access and meetings with the Australian delegation, and a pair of good eyes on the spot to help us not miss a trick. In addition, we can all access the daily reports and the freshest analysis through the work of our dear friends and colleagues at WILPF’s Reaching Critical Will project. Our updates from the ICAN Australia office will keep you in the loop on what is important to know.
We will also confirm dates for a follow-up/debriefing meeting between NGOs and DFAT following the NPT (mid-late June) in both Sydney and Melbourne through this list.
Please note: ICAN partners will NOT automatically receive these updates if they haven’t signed on to the list! So reply directly to me by April 29 to join this NPT update list for May 2010.
Thanks
Dimity
PS: check out the wonderful ANF petition on our website now! http://icanw.org/node/5138
Dimity Hawkins
Campaign Director
ICAN Australia
International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear weapons (ICAN)
ph: +61 (0)3 9347 4795
f: +61 (0)3 9347 4995
m: 0422 612 702
e: dimity@icanw.org
w: www.icanw.org
skype: Dimity_iCAN
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Monday, April 26, 2010
Northern Territory intervention
Incarceration rates among Australia’s indigenous people bear comparison with the jailing of blacks in minority-ruled South Africa. Aborigines make up just 2.5% of the country’s population, but they account for nearly a quarter of all prisoners. In the Northern Territory, the ‘outback Australia’ made famous in the Crocodile Dundee films of comedian Paul Hogan, the proportion of those held under lock and key who are Aboriginal is a staggering 83%.
Under the ‘Northern Territory National Emergency Response’ – known to everyone else as ‘the Intervention’ – government ‘business managers’ have assumed draconian powers over Aboriginal communities, and acquired compulsory leases over Aboriginal township land.
Assumptions still run through government policies, imposed from Territory and federal authorities alike, as the wording through a stick of rock, that Aboriginal people need to be assimilated into the way of life, and forms of political organization, brought by westerners.
But a creative resistance movement to the Intervention is now taking shape.
Read more at: http://www.transcend.org/tms/2010/04/apartheid-is-alive-and-well/
And come to the International Peace Research Association conference, in Sydney, July 6-10, to be opened by Patrick Dodson, the ‘father of Aboriginal reconciliation’, and addressed by Professor Larissa Behrendt, the eminent Aboriginal legal scholar.
More details at www.iprasydney2010.org
Register and pay to attend the whole event at http://www.arts.usyd.edu.au/peace_conflict/news/ipra2010.shtmlOr pay on the door: $95 daily rate; $50 for students.
--
Jake
Associate Professor Jake Lynch, BA, Dip Journalism Studies, PhD
Director, Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies
Chair of Organizing Committee, IPRA conference 2010
Executive Member, Sydney Peace Foundation
Room 121 | Mackie Building (K01)
The University of Sydney | NSW | 2006
AUSTRALIA
p 61 2 9351 5440 | f 61 2 9660 0862
w www.arts.usyd.edu.au/cpacs
e jake.lynch@usyd.edu.au
Under the ‘Northern Territory National Emergency Response’ – known to everyone else as ‘the Intervention’ – government ‘business managers’ have assumed draconian powers over Aboriginal communities, and acquired compulsory leases over Aboriginal township land.
Assumptions still run through government policies, imposed from Territory and federal authorities alike, as the wording through a stick of rock, that Aboriginal people need to be assimilated into the way of life, and forms of political organization, brought by westerners.
But a creative resistance movement to the Intervention is now taking shape.
Read more at: http://www.transcend.org/tms/2010/04/apartheid-is-alive-and-well/
And come to the International Peace Research Association conference, in Sydney, July 6-10, to be opened by Patrick Dodson, the ‘father of Aboriginal reconciliation’, and addressed by Professor Larissa Behrendt, the eminent Aboriginal legal scholar.
More details at www.iprasydney2010.org
Register and pay to attend the whole event at http://www.arts.usyd.edu.au/peace_conflict/news/ipra2010.shtmlOr pay on the door: $95 daily rate; $50 for students.
--
Jake
Associate Professor Jake Lynch, BA, Dip Journalism Studies, PhD
Director, Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies
Chair of Organizing Committee, IPRA conference 2010
Executive Member, Sydney Peace Foundation
Room 121 | Mackie Building (K01)
The University of Sydney | NSW | 2006
AUSTRALIA
p 61 2 9351 5440 | f 61 2 9660 0862
w www.arts.usyd.edu.au/cpacs
e jake.lynch@usyd.edu.au
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Asylum seekers are not political footballs
© AFP Photo/Roslan RahmanI’ve just heard the most appalling news - the Australian Government has announced a blanket suspension on processing new asylum claims by Afghan and Sri Lankan nationals.
Over 90 per cent of asylum seekers who arrive here by boat are found to have genuine claims for protection.
The situation remains desperate for many people in Sri Lanka and Afghanistan. Activists, journalists, women and minority groups among others face real threats to their lives.
We cannot allow our politicians to use men, women and children fleeing persecution as political footballs. Join me and tell our Government to immediately reverse its freeze on applications by Afghan and Sri Lankan asylum seekers.
As a signatory to the UN Refugee Convention, we made a commitment to protect people at risk of torture, persecution and death. It's time to live up to our promises and show leadership on asylum and refugee issues.
Claire Mallinson
National Director
Amnesty International Australia
Tell our government to reverse this appalling policy move
Over 90 per cent of asylum seekers who arrive here by boat are found to have genuine claims for protection.
The situation remains desperate for many people in Sri Lanka and Afghanistan. Activists, journalists, women and minority groups among others face real threats to their lives.
We cannot allow our politicians to use men, women and children fleeing persecution as political footballs. Join me and tell our Government to immediately reverse its freeze on applications by Afghan and Sri Lankan asylum seekers.
As a signatory to the UN Refugee Convention, we made a commitment to protect people at risk of torture, persecution and death. It's time to live up to our promises and show leadership on asylum and refugee issues.
Claire Mallinson
National Director
Amnesty International Australia
Tell our government to reverse this appalling policy move
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Add your voice to global disarmament
Dear friends,
The US-Russia nuclear pact is a major step -- but experts are pleading with governments that disarmament is the only way to prevent a nuclear nightmare. Sign the petition calling for zero nukes and bring a powerful public voice to the crucial Nuclear Security Summit next week:
Just a few hours ago, President Obama and President Medvedev of Russia signed a new treaty on nuclear arms control.
It's a crucial step, and at just the right time. Next week could see the beginning of the end of all these monstrous weapons at a crucial global disarmament summit in Washington.
Experts are pleading with governments to disarm or risk disaster, but politicians cite the lack of a public movement on this issue. Let's show them where people stand -- sign the petition for "global zero" nuclear weapons -- it will be delivered directly to leaders at the summit!
http://www.avaaz.org/en/together_for_zero/?vl
There are over 23,000 nuclear weapons in the world, and as many as 13 countries are on the edge of building them. Experts say we can’t maintain the status quo -- the risks of regional nuclear war, nuclear terrorism, or catastrophic accidents are rising daily. The only workable solution is for all countries to give these weapons up.
Avaaz is helping to build the Global Zero campaign, backed by hundreds of former heads of state, foreign ministers, national security advisers, and thousands of grassroots activists across the world. Last year we saw that this movement can have influence -- over 115,000 Avaaz members signed a petition and helped secure a historic US-Russian agreement to slash their nuclear arsenals by one third!
But now we need stronger action globally: with fears of a Mideast nuclear arms race mounting, and tensions in the Korean Peninsula and Pakistan far from over, the chance of a military or terrorist nuclear attack remains a chilling threat.
The Presidents of the US and Russia have agreed in principle to Global Zero, but the hard part is getting them to do it in practice. The Washington summit next week is a major chance to hold them to their word. Let's join together and make sure our leaders hear a powerful call for Global Zero. Click below to sign the petition:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/together_for_zero/?vl
With hope,
Luis, Ricken, Pascal, Ben, Alice, Raluca and the entire Avaaz team.
Reaching Zero, Jonathan Schell (The Nation):
hhttp://www.thenation.com/doc/20100419/schell/2
Huge cut in warheads banishes legacy of the Cold War, The Independent:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/huge-cut-in-warheads-banishes-legacy-of-the-cold-war-1928733.html
Obama Limits U.S. Use Of Nuclear Arms, New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2010/04/06/world/international-uk-nuclear-usa-review.html
Scrapping nuclear arms is now realpolitik. Six security experts urge America and Russia to act today
http://www.avaaz.org/the_times_nukes
More information about the Global Zero Campaign:
http://www.avaaz.org/the_times_nukes
Full Global Zero Action Plan available at:
http://www.globalzero.org/en/about-campaign
The US-Russia nuclear pact is a major step -- but experts are pleading with governments that disarmament is the only way to prevent a nuclear nightmare. Sign the petition calling for zero nukes and bring a powerful public voice to the crucial Nuclear Security Summit next week:
Just a few hours ago, President Obama and President Medvedev of Russia signed a new treaty on nuclear arms control.
It's a crucial step, and at just the right time. Next week could see the beginning of the end of all these monstrous weapons at a crucial global disarmament summit in Washington.
Experts are pleading with governments to disarm or risk disaster, but politicians cite the lack of a public movement on this issue. Let's show them where people stand -- sign the petition for "global zero" nuclear weapons -- it will be delivered directly to leaders at the summit!
http://www.avaaz.org/en/together_for_zero/?vl
There are over 23,000 nuclear weapons in the world, and as many as 13 countries are on the edge of building them. Experts say we can’t maintain the status quo -- the risks of regional nuclear war, nuclear terrorism, or catastrophic accidents are rising daily. The only workable solution is for all countries to give these weapons up.
Avaaz is helping to build the Global Zero campaign, backed by hundreds of former heads of state, foreign ministers, national security advisers, and thousands of grassroots activists across the world. Last year we saw that this movement can have influence -- over 115,000 Avaaz members signed a petition and helped secure a historic US-Russian agreement to slash their nuclear arsenals by one third!
But now we need stronger action globally: with fears of a Mideast nuclear arms race mounting, and tensions in the Korean Peninsula and Pakistan far from over, the chance of a military or terrorist nuclear attack remains a chilling threat.
The Presidents of the US and Russia have agreed in principle to Global Zero, but the hard part is getting them to do it in practice. The Washington summit next week is a major chance to hold them to their word. Let's join together and make sure our leaders hear a powerful call for Global Zero. Click below to sign the petition:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/together_for_zero/?vl
With hope,
Luis, Ricken, Pascal, Ben, Alice, Raluca and the entire Avaaz team.
Reaching Zero, Jonathan Schell (The Nation):
hhttp://www.thenation.com/doc/20100419/schell/2
Huge cut in warheads banishes legacy of the Cold War, The Independent:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/huge-cut-in-warheads-banishes-legacy-of-the-cold-war-1928733.html
Obama Limits U.S. Use Of Nuclear Arms, New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2010/04/06/world/international-uk-nuclear-usa-review.html
Scrapping nuclear arms is now realpolitik. Six security experts urge America and Russia to act today
http://www.avaaz.org/the_times_nukes
More information about the Global Zero Campaign:
http://www.avaaz.org/the_times_nukes
Full Global Zero Action Plan available at:
http://www.globalzero.org/en/about-campaign
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