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News Archive |
LAST UPDATE
July 11, 2005
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| May 24, 2005 |
Report on Peace Boat participation in the 2005 Review Conference of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty at UN Headquarters in New York |
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Peace Boat joined a large civil-society presence urging nuclear states to make progress on the principles stated in the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty at the review conference in New York City. Held every five years, the review conference is a chance to evaluate the progress, or lack thereof, of the member states, which include every state except India, Pakistan, Israel and North Korea (which announced its withdrawal in 2002). The treaty requires the complete nuclear disarmament of the US, UK, Russia, China and France, as well as prohibits the proliferation of nuclear weapons and technology to other states.
Peace Boat staff Akira Kawasaki and Hazuki Yasuhara represented Peace Boat at the month-long conference, contributing presentations about civil-society initiatives working specifically on the issue of nuclear disarmament. Presentations and documents included the following:
Rokkasho Plutonium Re-processing Plant
Akira Kawasaki, Program Director of Peace Boat, held a seminar and press conference on the Rokkasho Plutonium Reprocessing Plant being constructed by the Japanese government, together with Dr. Harold Feiveson, Senior Research Policy Scientist of Program on Science & Global Security in Princeton University and Dr. Martin Butcher Director of Security Programs in Physicians for Social Responsibility.
Civil society and governments around the world have shown great concern that the Rokkasho plant is for the purpose of separating weapon-usable plutonium, at the same time that Japan is strongly criticizing North Korea for doing the same. Also, in that it would deal with extremely dangerous materials, the Rokkasho plant presents a great danger to the surrounding populations.
A joint-NGO statement signed by 150 eminent persons was submitted to the Japanese mission to the UN urging the Japanese government to postpone construction of the Rokkasho plant. This followed an international statement issued by the Union of Concerned Scientists and signed by 27 experts including four Nobel Laureates saying “At a time when the non-proliferation regime is facing its greatest challenge, Japan should not proceed with its current plans for the start-up of the Rokkasho reprocessing plant.”
To see the joint-NGO statement in full, please click the following link: >>read more
To see the statement published by the Union of Concerned Scientists: >>READ MORE
Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conlfict (GPPAC)
A presentation was made introducing the GPPAC Process, a cooperative project between the UN and civil-society organizations, towards nuclear disarmament in Northeast Asia. The GPPAC framework has been an effective tool to stimulate networking, dialogue and cooperation between a wide scope of civil-society organizations in Northeast Asia, the unified voice of which is crucial towards pressuring governments of Northeast Asia to take concrete steps towards dialogue and confidence building, and away from nuclear proliferation.
For more information about the GPPAC process, please see the following: >>READ MORE
Education on Nuclear Issues onboard the Peace Boat
A proposal was created by students of the onboard Global University Program during Peace Boat’s 48th Global Voyage, to be sent to delegates at the NPT Review Conference, outlining concrete steps that can be taken to achieve progress on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation of nuclear weapons and technology.
Please see the following report for more details: >>READ MORE
Statement by International Youth Network working on Nuclear Issues
Peace Boat staff member Hazuki Yasuhara participated in the meeting of an international network of youth from many different countries concerned about the serious lack of real progress on nuclear disarmament issues. The group convened at the NPT review conference and produced the following statement:
“WARNING: WE MAY INHERIT A WOLRD FULL OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS!”
To read the statement in full, please see the following link: >>READ MORE
It is controversial this announcement is legally valid or not, and there’s no international consensus on whether NK is a member state or not. |
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