PEOPLE FOR NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT

14 NOV 2014


G20 BRISBANE NOV 15-16


HUMAN SURVIVAL PROJECT

PEOPLE FOR NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT NSW


NO MORE ABBOT/PUTIN POSTURING PLEASE!

G20 NEEDS CONSTRUCTIVE RESPECTFUL DIALOGUE

NUKE DISARMAMENT, RISK REDUCTION URGENTLY SHOULD BE ON G20 AGENDA



The Human Survival Project, (a joint project of People for Nuclear Disarmament and the Center for Peace and Conflict Studies in Sydney) are calling for confrontation (Maritime and otherwise) and threats of 'shirt-fronting' to be taken OFF the G20 agenda, and for constructive engagement and nuclear risk reduction and disarmament to be put ON the G20 agenda. The mutual posturing between Putin and Abbot is not merely un-statesmanlike but is insanely dangerous.


According to the Human Survival Project (HSP) and People for Nuclear Disarmament (PND),


“Loose talk about 'shirt-fronting' the President of the worlds second most powerful military power, and arguably the most powerful nuclear weapons power, in the world, are not just un-states-person-like, but are insanely dangerous. They are no more likely to be productive than Putin's 'sending a gunboat'. Provocative talk and provocative actions from either party will neither bring back the dead nor will it do anything to end the fighting that is taking place right now in Eastern Ukraine. All it will do is to intensify the extreme tension that already exists between Russia and NATO, and make more dangerous a situation that is already potentially perilous, and that has placed the cold-war apocalypse of global thermonuclear war back on the agenda.”


“Former Soviet President Gorbachev just days ago stated that the Cold War is either in danger of being re-ignited or has already been re-ignited. He is dead right.”


“With roughly 1000 large thermonuclear weapons still on high alert and able to be launched in minutes if not in seconds, putting the whole of civilization and even human survival at risk, a re-ignition of the cold war is just about the last thing that needs to happen.”


Even a 'boutique' nuclear war comprising no more than 100-200 Indian and Pakistani Hiroshima-sized warheads, leaves in its aftermath up to 2 billion deaths from famine. A US-Russia nuclear exchange involving 1000-2000 200-500Kt warheads will destroy what we call civilisation in its first seconds and render human survival problematic. It is this and not Tony Abbot's political kudos and not even the MH117 deaths, which is what is truly at stake.”


“What needs to happen instead of this posturing is the kind of nuclear risk reduction measure envisaged in the 29Oct2014 L22 resolution of the United Nations First Committee adopted 163-4-10, which calls on nuclear -armed states, (and especially the US and Russia) to lower the operational readiness of nuclear weapon systems, giving Presidential and other decision-makers more than just minutes or even seconds to take decisions of truly apocalyptic significance.”


“HSP and PND campaigners campaigned over the years for precisely this resolution, and 44 Nobel prize-winners signed an appeal urging that the operational readiness of nuclear weapon systems be reduced, literally so that computer error or hasty and ill-advised human decisions would be less likely to end civilization and much else besides.”


“The resolution on operational readiness of nuclear weapon systems has been adopted every alternate year by the UN General Assembly and First Committee with ever – increasing majorities. G20 might be a good place to make steps to implement it”


“At all times in the G20 summit both President Putin and President Obama will be accompanied by military and intelligence personnel with a black briefcase with an aerial via which both leaders can at any time order the launch of a number of thousands of nuclear warheads. This will be so even as Tony Abbot speaks to Putin, or for that matter as he speaks to Obama. And if Obama and Putin speak to each other, both briefcases will be there.”


“Instead of futile and dangerous talk about 'shirt-fronting' or otherwise confronting leaders who do indeed control thousands of nuclear warheads, a mature dialogue that recognizes that the other party actually has a point of view that needs to be taken into account, and that brings that party into the fold and makes steps to solve real problems is called for.”


“The Brisbane G20 is not the place for grandstanding. But it can be the place for constructive dialogue between parties whose points of view are NOT the same, to begin to take the tension out of a potentially perilous situation, restore sanity and build trust.”


“Bill Shorten for all the ridicule that has been heaped on him, almost got it right. However what is needed above all is not only silence that offers no further provocation, but an invitation to a positive and respectful dialogue that first of all takes the apocalypse off the agenda. Such a dialogue needs to take place on the sidelines out of sight of TV cameras. G20 offers an unparalelled opportunity for productive dialogue to take place. The kind of posturing that both Abbot and Putin have been engaged in is insanely dangerous and must stop now.”


John Hallam

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