LLAW’s All Things Nuclear #735, Tuesday, (08/27/2024)
LLAW’s All Things Nuclear #735, Tuesday, (08/27/2024)
“End Nuclear Insanity Before Nuclear Insanity Ends Humanity”
LLAW’s NUCLEAR ISSUES & COMMENTS, Tuesday, (08/27/2024)
This Post about an International outreach to all proponents of Nuclear Arms Disarmament on a global basis at an ICAN meeting in Kazakhstan demonstrates that the 9 countries with nuclear arms are threatening the future of the a living world, pointing out that they are just 9 of almost 200 countries globally, and that Kazakhstan, a country “having suffered the devastating consequences of decades of Soviet nuclear testing – understand all too well why disarmament is a humanitarian necessity,” will preside over the third meeting of states parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, or TPNW, in March 2025.
I have chosen this brief, but challenging, article for this evening because it demonstrates that, by far, the larger world population wants nothing to do with nuclear arms, and for obvious good reasons.
But do the nuclear-armed countries give a damn? Frankly, I don’t think so. And “therein lies the rub.” The points made here by Melissa Parke, Executive Director of ICAN, dramatically speak to the reasons that eventual world disarmament is necessary if Earth is to continue its ability to sustain life.
But the nuclear powers will never listen for reasons that are barely understandable by these peace-loving nations. And the hell of it all is that we who live in these 9 nations are so enamored of ‘all things nuclear’ that we are not only building bigger and more powerful nuclear weapons to manage an artificial resistance to nuclear war called ‘deterrence’, but are also adding untold more danger to all kinds of living populations, of the world by expanding and adding something called nuclear power to the mix, and that addition is potentially just as dangerous and life-threatening as their nuclear arms cousins. ~llaw
August 27, 2024 Updates
Measures to Strengthen Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zones: ICAN remarks to Astana Workshop
On 27-28 August, Kazakhstan is hosting a meeting for all Nuclear Weapons Free Zones (NWFZ), to foster cooperation, enhance consultation mechanisms and explore how NWFZ can contribute to efforts to respond to existing and emerging security threats related to nuclear weapons. Hon. Melissa Parke, Executive Director of ICAN, delivered the following remarks:
Measures to Strengthen Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zones
Excellencies, distinguished colleagues,
It is my honour to deliver some brief remarks today on behalf of ICAN, the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons.
Let me begin by thanking our host, Kazakhstan, for its tremendous leadership over many years in advancing the cause of nuclear disarmament. It has demonstrated, through its actions, that a country is better off without these horrific, earth-endangering weapons. That disarmament can be done, and must be done.
Of course, the people of Kazakhstan – having suffered the devastating consequences of decades of Soviet nuclear testing – understand all too well why disarmament is a humanitarian necessity.
Like the hibakusha of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, nuclear test survivors here and in other parts of the world have courageously shared their personal testimonies time and again, in the hope that no one else will ever suffer as they have. It is time to heed their warnings.
ICAN is delighted that Kazakhstan will preside over the third meeting of states parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, or TPNW, in March 2025 – continuing its leadership in this field. Your country has an important message to share with the world, especially in these deeply troubling times, with the nuclear arms race gaining speed and the threat of nuclear war looming large over us all.
Let me also extend my thanks to each and every country here belonging to a nuclear-weapon-free zone – for having rejected nuclear weapons in your region. Many of you have also rejected them globally, by joining the TPNW. You have shown that security is achieved through cooperation, not the development and stockpiling of horrifically destructive weapons.
One of our greatest challenges, as advocates for nuclear disarmament, is to keep expectations high, even in gloomy times like these. To raise the bar even as others try to lower it.
It is easy to become despondent and pessimistic when one considers the current state of affairs. Not only are nuclear-armed states failing to fulfil their legal obligation to disarm; they are instead moving in the opposite direction by enhancing and, in some cases, expanding their nuclear forces. An affront to humanity.
But the stakes are too high to give in to despair. And nuclear-weapon-free zones can be a source of hope and inspiration. They show that a different way is possible. If large geographic regions such as Latin America and Africa and Southeast Asia can be kept free of nuclear weapons, why not, one day, the entire world?
I sometimes hear members of the public say, ignorantly, that we need nuclear weapons because everyone else has them. They seem to believe that possessing nuclear weapons is the norm, when in fact just nine out of almost 200 countries in the world have them. Being a part of a nuclear-weapon-free zone is the norm.
This workshop is an important opportunity to foster greater cooperation among the various zones, and to continue the crucial work of reinforcing the nuclear taboo and building the institutional framework needed to eliminate nuclear weapons completely.
I wish to make two specific appeals to you today:
The first is to incorporate the perspectives of civil society in your work to the greatest degree possible. ICAN has been delighted to participate in the general conferences of OPANAL and meetings of states parties to the Treaty of Pelindaba, for example, and we would warmly welcome the opportunity for further cooperation.
It is important for the public to be aware that such discussions are taking place, and for public opinion to influence decision-making. We can help to ensure both.
My second appeal is for all members of nuclear-weapon-free zones to sign and ratify the TPNW if they have not yet done so. The TPNW complements and reinforces the nuclear-weapon-free zone treaties, as well as the Non-Proliferation Treaty and Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty. It is an opportunity to transform your strong regional norms into global norms.
Moreover, joining the TPNW should be a relatively straightforward process for zone members, given that the zone treaties and the TPNW have similar core obligations and objectives. Many of your countries would no doubt already have in place the necessary domestic legislation and procedures to fulfil your obligations under the TPNW.
Despite the many challenges that we face, it is essential that we continue the serious, practical work of laying the foundations for nuclear disarmament.
We must continue, with determination and urgency, the transition from nuclear-weapon-free zones to a nuclear-weapon-free world.
Thank you.
Further reading:
Experts and governments meet to discuss the Humanitarian Impact of Nuclear Weapons
Leading Swiss figures call on Switzerland to join UN nuclear ban treaty
Nuclear Spending vs Healthcare
ABOUT THE FOLLOWING ACCESS TO “LLAW’S ALL THINGS NUCLEAR” RELATED MEDIA:
There are 7 categories, with the latest addition, (#7) being a Friday weekly roundup of IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) global nuclear news stories. Also included is a bonus non-nuclear category for news about the Yellowstone caldera and other volcanic and caldera activity around the world that play an important role in humanity’s lives. The feature categories provide articles and information about ‘all things nuclear’ for you to pick from, usually with up to 3 links with headlines concerning the most important media stories in each category, but sometimes fewer and occasionally even none (especially so with the Yellowstone Caldera). The Categories are listed below in their usual order:
All Things Nuclear
Nuclear Power
Nuclear Power Emergencies
Nuclear War
Nuclear War Threats
Yellowstone Caldera (Note: There are two Yellowstone Caldera bonus stories available in this evening’s Post.)
IAEA Weekly News (Friday’s only)
Whenever there is an underlined link to a Category media news story, if you press or click on the link provided, you no longer have to cut and paste to your web browser, since this Post’s link will take you directly to the article in your browser.
A current Digest of major nuclear media headlines with automated links is listed below by nuclear Category (in the above listed order). If a Category heading does not appear in the daily news Digest, it means there was no news reported from this Category today. Generally, the three best articles in each Category from around the nuclear world(s) are Posted. Occasionally, if a Post is important enough, it may be listed in multiple Categories.
TODAY’S NUCLEAR WORLD’S NEWS, Tuesday, (08/27/2024)
All Things Nuclear
NEWS
Iranian supreme leader open to nuclear talks with US: Report | Fox News Video
Fox News
Fox News contributor Mike Pompeo joined 'Fox & Friends' to discuss his reaction to the report, former President Trump's promise to fire officials ...
UN nuclear chief visits Russia's Kursk atomic plant near front line | Reuters
Reuters
U.N. nuclear agency chief Rafael Grossi arrived on Tuesday at the Kursk nuclear power plant which Moscow says has been repeatedly attacked by ...
Opinion: Why is the U.S. fighting nuclear threats behind closed doors? - The Portland Press Herald
The Portland Press Herald
Policy shifts without public messaging will only make adversaries more paranoid and a full-on arms race all but inevitable.
Nuclear Power
NEWS
Can a Closed Nuclear Power Plant From the '70s Be Brought Back to Life? - WSJ
WSJ
Surging demand for electricity and new investment in green energy drove the plan to restart Michigan's decommissioned Palisades plant.
US Department of Energy Office of Nuclear Energy's post - Facebook - Facebook
UN watchdog says fighting poses serious risk to Russian nuclear plant | Reuters
Reuters
IAEA's Grossi visits Kursk nuclear plant · Kursk plant is 40 km (25 miles) from fighting · Russia says Ukraine has attacked the site · Ukraine has yet to ...
Nuclear industry eyes Kentucky but don't expect nuclear power plants anytime soon | News
The Paducah Sun
The director of an energy research center at UK told state lawmakers it's not likely a nuclear power plant will be built in Kentucky in the next ...
Nuclear Power Emergencies
NEWS
Nuclear Watchdog Says Russia Elevates Risk Running Kursk Reactor - Bloomberg.com
Bloomberg.com
Monitors from the United Nations atomic watchdog said Rosatom Corp. is elevating the risk of a radiological emergency by continuing to operate a ...
Nuclear Watchdog Begins Inspection of Russia's Kursk Plant - BNN Bloomberg
BNN Bloomberg
“The major concern right now is an accidental military strike,” said Robert Kelley, a former IAEA director and emergency-response coordinator at the ...
Oconee County Nuclear Station siren activation - WYFF
WYFF
"The Oconee Nuclear Station is operating safely. "Duke Energy has received information that some emergency warning sirens sounded in the Pickens ...
Nuclear War
NEWS
Russia warns the United States of the risks of World War Three | Reuters
Reuters
Lavrov says the West is playing with fire over Ukraine · Russia is clarifying its nuclear doctrine, Lavrov says · Lavrov talks about the dangers of ...
If a China and America war went nuclear, who would win? | The Straits Times
The Straits Times
China uses “theatre” nuclear weapons – with a shorter range and smaller yield than the city-busting “strategic” missiles – to shorten the war by ...
Lavrov: US doesn't fully understand consequences of possible nuclear war
azərbaycan24
The US doesn't fully understand the consequences that will occur in the event of a nuclear war, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said at a ...
Nuclear War Threats
NEWS
OPINION: Why is the US fighting nuclear threats behind closed doors?
Anchorage Daily News
OPINION: Why is the US fighting nuclear threats behind closed doors? ... Joe Biden also used to speak regularly and urgently about the dangers of ...
Measures to Strengthen Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zones: ICAN Statement to Astana Workshop
International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons
... threats related to nuclear weapons. Hon. Melissa Parke, Executive ... threat of nuclear war looming large over us all. Let me also extend my ...
Russia warns the United States of the risks of World War Three | Reuters
Reuters
Lavrov says the West is playing with fire over Ukraine · Russia is clarifying its nuclear doctrine, Lavrov says · Lavrov talks about the dangers of ..
Yellowstone Caldera
NEWS
Hydrothermal explosions—a worldwide phenomena | U.S. Geological Survey - USGS.gov
USGS.gov
... Yellowstone. Yellowstone Caldera Chronicles is a weekly column written by scientists and collaborators of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory.
The disappearing mountains and hungry volcano: Researching the evolution of the Teton Range
MSN
... Yellowstone caldera following the Huckleberry Ridge eruption more than 2 million years ago. Related video: The ACTUAL Tallest Mountain In the ...