Indian Tests Not Cricket – India testing nuclear weapons

If we choose to care about this issue we should as a country and as individuals do everything we can to advance the appeals for global abolition.

After Mr Clinton taking the lead with sanctions are we supposed to think that the heroic USA is taking a step that has significance for non-proliferation? Would we be too small a voice against so grand an initiative? We can well afford to speak and to act as we can do so with integrity in this matter whereas the USA is still engaging in so called “sub critical” tests and nuclear arsenal upgrades, and is fresh from having made nuclear backed threats against Iraq.

When France tested nuclear weapons in the South Pacific, New Zealanders took a leadership role in the protest. Our anger built as France continued not only to ignore our calls for them to stop, but also violated our national territory by sending terrorists to bomb the Rainbow Warrior in Auckland Harbour. France was testing as far from France as possible and South Pacific peoples and the South Pacific ecosphere were being grossly endangered.

Since the early eighties there has been strong pressure from New Zealand citizens for a nuclear-free Pacific. The success of the grass roots Nuclear Free Zone movement resulted in Nuclear Free Legislation.
Emboldened by the series of successes that led to that legislation, activists from Aotearoa/NewZealand began priming peace movements in many countries to advocate what was to become a moral and legal movement of international significance. Citizens through their NGOs moved nations to move the U.N. to request the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to advise on the legality of the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons.

On 8 July 1998 the ICJ gave its opinion, declaring that

“a 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 judges were unanimous 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.”

What options exist for individuals to try to see international law upheld in this current crisis?

NGOs working for the elimination of nuclear weapons seek support. There are resources available in particular relation to this issue at the web site of the
Nuclear Age Peace Foundation. There is a
petition there that can be printed off and actioned. This group does not appear to have comprehended as yet however that email submission is not a valid means of signing unless the submitter uses a digital signature. However sending your email address to them gives a means of being on their bulletin list.

Overall the Abolition 2000 International Petition has attracted over 13 million signatures to date.
This is a massive grassroots initiative. Over 1,000 organisations have endorsed it. If you have any organisation that has any interest in our planet being free of the threat of nuclear annihilation then endorsement of this petition is something meriting consideration.

Peace Movement Aotearoa makes some practical suggestions: “New Zealanders can give vent to their feelings by writing to the Indian High Commissioner,
Mr Kipgen, PO Box 4045, Wellington, giving our views on the tests.”

Also: “Write to the Foreign Minister, the Hon. Don McKinnon, congratulating the New Zealand Government on its prompt responses in summoning the Indian High Commissioner to express formal disapproval of the tests and the recall of its Ambassador from Delhi. We should mention that we expect similar action next time the US tests nuclear weapons!”

The address: Don McKinnon’s office – fax (04) 4711444

If we choose to care about this issue we should as a country and as individuals do everything we can to advance the appeals for global abolition.

The sponsors of NZine would like to add that every protest needs to embody expression of concern for the poor and homeless of South Asia.

Indeed one cannot do better here than to reflect on Gandhi’s wisdom:

“What difference does it make to the dead, the orphans and the homeless, whether the mad destruction is wrought in the name of totalitarianism or the holy name of liberty?”