RATIFY THE NUCLEAR PROLIFERATION TREATY August 95

Despite the crumbling of the Berlin Wall the threat of nuclear war remains. The five declared nuclear weapon states, Britain, China, France, Russia and the U.S., continue to keep a total of 30,000 nuclear weapons armed and ready for use, which could be triggered by accident, madness or escalation of a crisis.

BOMBS AWAY  The convergence of three major events over the last three months has created the best opportunity in many years to pursue nuclear disarmament. If governments are to seize this opportunity they need to hear from you.

Despite the crumbling of the Berlin Wall the threat of nuclear war remains. The five declared nuclear weapon states, Britain, China, France, Russia and the U.S., continue to keep a total of 30,000 nuclear weapons armed and ready for use, which could be triggered by accident, madness or escalation of a crisis.

Meanwhile, the nuclear giants try to persuade or cajole other countries not to acquire nuclear weapons. Joseph Rotblat, 1995 Nobel Peace Laureate, has called this a "recipe for proliferation - a policy for disaster. If the militarily most powerful - and least threatened - States need nuclear weapons for their security, how can one deny such security to countries that are truly insecure?"

The spread of nuclear weapons to new countries isn't the only danger. The increased availability of nuclear technology and materials has made it more likely that terrorist organizations could get hold of nuclear bombs.

Three recent events, however, point the world in a new direction.

    * In July, the World Court declared that "the threat or use of nuclear weapons would generally be contrary to the rules of international law applicable in armed conflict, and in particular the principles and rules of humanitarian law."

      The Court concluded unanimously that "there exists an obligation to pursue in good faith and bring to a conclusion negotiations leading to nuclear disarmament in all its aspects under strict and effective international control."

    * In August, the high-level Canberra Commission, including many former political and military leaders, released its report calling for the elimination of all nuclear weapons.

      The Commission includes, among others, former French Prime Minster Michel Rocard; former Chief of the US Strategic Air Command, General Lee Butler; former Chief of the UK Defence Staff, Field Marshall Lord Carver and former Brazilian Foreign Minister, Celso Amorim.

      One Commission member, Robert McNamara, former US Secretary of Defense, said that we must "put the genie back in the bottle. If we do not there is a substantial risk that the twenty-first century will witness a nuclear tragedy." The Commission concluded that putting the nuclear genie back in the bottle is practical, verifiable and enforceable. Their report includes a plan of action to accomplish this.

    * In September, a Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) which prohibits all nuclear weapons test explosions was adopted at the UN. The CTBT will enter into force when 44 states including India, sign and ratify. India says it will sign the Treaty only when the nuclear weapon states agree to a framework for the complete elimination of nuclear weapons.

In a step toward ensuring that the World Court decision is implemented, the CTBT is brought into force and the Canberra Commission's recommendations are followed, the President of the United Nations General Assembly, Ambassador Razali of Malaysia, has circulated a draft UN resolution calling for negotiations on a Nuclear Weapons Convention to eliminate nuclear weapons. Countries are expected to vote on this resolution in the UN General Assembly in December of this year.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

Call or write one or more of your representatives in your national parliament or congress. Ask that they urge your government to:

•    actively work for the elimination of nuclear weapons under strict and effective international control, and

•    support the UN resolution calling for negotiations on a Nuclear Weapons Convention. Remind them that your country has a legal obligation to support such negotiations.

SAMPLE LETTER TO MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT

Dear Sir/Madam

The Canberra Commission on the Elimination of Nuclear Weapons, a high level commission of military, political and nuclear weapons experts, in its report of August 14, called attention to the very real risk of nuclear weapons being used either by a State or terrorist organization, unless there is a concerted effort to eliminate these weapons under effective international control.

The Commission concluded that the elimination of nuclear weapons is practical, and would not damage the security of the nuclear weapon States or their allies.

In addition, the International Court of Justice, in a historic decision given on July 8, concluded unanimously that there is a legal obligation "to pursue in good faith and bring to a conclusion negotiations leading to nuclear disarmament in all its aspects under strict and effective international control."

The United Nations will, during October - December, be considering the implementation of the ICJ's decision. A draft resolution submitted to the UN General Assembly by its President calls for negotiations on a Nuclear Weapons Convention which would provide for the complete elimination of nuclear weapons under effective international verification and control.

The beginning of such negotiations will also assist in the implementation of the recently adopted Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. The CTBT cannot come into force until all nuclear capable States sign and ratify it. India has stated that they refuse to sign until the nuclear weapon states announce their willingness to negotiate a program for complete nuclear disarmament.

I urge you to call on our government to support the UN General Assembly resolution, and to do all it can to make sure we seize this opportunity to pursue real nuclear disarmament.

Yours sincerely,