PEOPLE FOR NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT

PEOPLE FOR NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT NSW

HUMAN SURVIVAL PROJECT


VOTES ON NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT RESOLUTIONS WELCOMED



The Human Survival Project (HSP) and People for Nuclear Disarmament
(PND) have welcomed votes taken yesterday in the United Nations
General Assembly First Committee on nuclear disarmament.(The Human
Survival Project is a joint project of People for Nuclear Disarmament
and Sydney University's Center for Peace and Conflict Studies).


In particular, HSP and PND have welcomed the outcome of the vote on
Operational Readiness of Nuclear Weapon Systems, which went from 145
yes, 4 No, 19abstentions in 2012, to 163-4-10 in 2014.


Mr John Hallam of HSP and PND whose lobbying gave rise to the
resolution via a statement signed by 44 nobels and 364 NGOs in 2006/7,
said of the vote:

“Operational Readiness of Nuclear Weapon Systems is all about reducing
nuclear risk and in particular about decreasing the risk of nuclear
war bought about by miscalculation and/or malfunction in a situation
of crisis such as that which has recently prevailed between the US,
NATO, and Russia. Lowering the operational readiness of nuclear weapon
systems as the resolution calls for, has been called by a 2008 article
in the prestigious Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists the single step
that will do most to ensure short-term human survival.”


“The increased support given to this vital resolution this year is
thus some cause for optimism in an otherwise grim year. It does
however, indicate increased levels of concern over the global
situation by the 163 governments that now support the Operational
readiness resolution in First Committee.”


“We heartily congratulate the governments that sponsor this resolution
and all who gave it their support. We can only hope that steps will be
taken before too long to actually do what the resolution suggests'”


John Hallam, PND/Human Survival Project

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