October 23, 2023
ENDING THE PERPETUAL MENACE OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS
Lecture by Tariq Rauf at the University of Ottawa
“Following the Trinity nuclear test detonation of 16 th July 1945, nuclear scientist Leó Szilárd observed that, “Almost without exception, all the creative physicists had misgivings about the use of the bomb” and further that “Truman did not understand at all what was involved regarding nuclear weapons”. These days, the movie Oppenheimer has been the rage based on a noteworthy biography of Robert Oppenheimer entitled American Prometheus written by historians Kai Bird and Martin Sherwin. Though the movie spares its viewers the horrors of the atomic bombing of Japan, it does reflect the warnings of the early nuclear weapon scientists about the long-term or permanent dangers of a nuclear arms race and associated risks of further nuclear weapons use. On the other hand, the film overlooks other historical works including A World Destroyed: Hiroshima and its Legacies also by Martin Sherwin, that disputes and negates the US government’s narrative about the necessity of using nuclear weapons twice over civilian targets in Japan and suggests that the decisions were driven mainly by geostrategic and prestige considerations – criteria still in operation today to justify continuing retention of nuclear weapons.”
Read on: Tariq Rauf: Ending Perpetual Menace of NW
Video of Tariq Rauf’s Presentation at CIPS
November 28, 2022
NUCLEAR THREATS AND CANADA’S DISARMAMENT DIPLOMACY
Lecture by Paul Meyer at the University of Ottawa,
cosponsored by CNWC and Centre for International Policy Studies:
Meyer: Nuclear Threats and Canada’s Disarmament Diplomacy
Feb. 2021
OTTAWA DECLARATION RELEASED
Ottawa Declaration
Canada and the TPNW Conference-Framework Statement
Opinion piece by Douglas Roche, O.C. published in The Hill Times
“Ottawa Declaration hits sensitive nerve inside federal government”:
With key meetings of the Non-Proliferation Treaty and the Prohibition Treaty looming, both of which challenge the integrity of Canada’s nuclear weapons policies, the Ottawa Declaration has arrived at precisely the right moment.
Nov. 12, 19, 26 and Dec. 3, 2020
NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT IN A WORLD EMERGENCY:
Canada’s Responsibilities
Internationally recognized experts and analysts will examine risks and remedies in the global nuclear crisis, explored in the context of two additional emergencies – the climate crisis and the global pandemic. (Held by Zoom in times of Covid)
Cosponsored by Canadians for a Nuclear Weapons Convention (CNWC)
The Series:
“New Challenges Facing the NPT”
Tariq Rauf, former Head of the Verification and Security Policy Cooperation unit at the IAEA (confirmed)Speaker to be confirmedThursday, November 12, 2020, 1:00 – 3:00pm (Eastern)2. “The Meaning of the U.S. Presidential Election for Nuclear Disarmament”Joe Cirincione, analyst, author, and advisor to Democratic Administrations in the United States (confirmed)Jon Wolfsthal, former Special Assistant to the President of the United States for National Security Affairs and senior director at the National Security Council for arms control and nonproliferation (confirmed)Thursday, November 19, 2020, 1:00 – 3:00pm (Eastern)3. “The TPNW and NATO”Thursday, November 26, 2020, 1:00 – 3:00pm (Eastern)4. “Renewing Canadian Nuclear Disarmament Efforts”Cesar Jaramillo, Executive Director, Project Ploughshares, Canada (confirmed)Peggy Mason, President, the Rideau Institute (confirmed)Thursday, December 3, 2020, 1:00 – 3:00pm (Eastern)
Feb. 19, 2020
VISIT TO OTTAWA BY IZUMI NAKAMITSU
UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs
Hill Times Article: “UN nuclear disarmament rep ‘counting on Canada’ to help bridge tricky international divides” by Mike Lapointe can be found here:
Oct. 1, 2018
WORKSHOP REPORT:
CANADIAN LEADERSHIP ON NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT
Workshop presented by Canadian Network to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (CNANW) and Canadians for a Nuclear Weapons Convention (CNWC)
Rapporteur’s Report: Jessica West, Project Ploughshares
https://
May 2-3, 2016
VISIT TO OTTAWA BY KIM WON-SOO
UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs
High Representative Kim Won-Soo spoke to Canadian Parliamentarians and also offered a lecture at the Centre for International Policy Studies, U. of O. both events occuring on May 3, 2016.
His presentation: 2016 UN HR Kim academic and civil society lecture Ottawa
January 10, 2016
BOOK LAUNCH: MINUTES TO MIDNIGHT,
Why more than 800 Order of Canada recipients call for Nuclear Disarmament
by Murray Thomson O.C.
The genesis for Minutes to Midnight arose from the action of 100 Nobel Laureates who marked the 100th anniversary of the Nobel Prize in 2001 with a newspaper advertisement warning that the security of the world hangs on environmental and social reform. A committee, formed to promote this statement through prominent Canadians, began soliciting the support of Order of Canada recipients. The movement has grown through the years as has the urgency of the global situation. This book is their call for immediate action on Nuclear Disarmament.
Dec. 2, 2014
PARLIAMENTARY FORUM
Cosponsored by CNWC and Parliamentarians for Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament (PNND) with speaker Dr. Randy Rydell (fourth from right), former Senior Policy Affairs Officer, Office of Disarmament Affairs, U.N. Dr. Rydell offered a keynote address at the Dec. 1, 2014 Seminar on the NPT 2015 organized by Canadian Network to Abolish Nuclear Weapons.
Dec. 3 & 4, 2013
VISIT TO OTTAWA BY ANGELA KANE
UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs
- Report to United Nations Office of Disarmament Affairs by Douglas Roche, O.C.
- Disarmament: Old Challenges, New Opportunities by Angela Kane, High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, United nations
- Keynote Address at Canadian Parliamentary Forum on Nuclear Disarmament by Angela Kane, High Representative for Disarmament Affairs
JUNE 2, 2010 and Dec. 7, 2010
THE UNANIMOUS MOTION OF THE CANADIAN PARLIAMENT
We learn of this history first from the Parliamentarians for Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament Update 29, July 2010:
PNND Special Representative Roméo Dallaire, speaking in the debate on the draft resolution, indicated a number of areas in which Canada could contribute to nuclear disarmament – including verification for a NWC and the establishment of an Arctic Nuclear Weapons Free Zone as a step towards global nuclear abolition.”
This motion was then considered and passed unanimously on Dec. 7, 2010 by the House of Commons. The motion reads as follows:
Motion Approved Unanimously by Senate of Canada June 2, 2010
and Approved Unanimously by House of Commons December 7, 2010
That the House of Commons:
(a) recognize the danger posed by the proliferation of nuclear materials and technology to peace and security;
(b) endorse the statement, signed by 500 members, officers and companions of the Order of Canada, underlining the importance of addressing the challenge of more intense nuclear proliferation and the progress of and opportunity for nuclear disarmament;
(c) endorse the 2008 five point plan for nuclear disarmament of Mr. Ban Ki-Moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations and encourage the Government of Canada to engage in negotiations for a nuclear weapons convention as proposed by the United Nations Secretary-General;
(d) support the initiatives for nuclear disarmament of President Obama of the United States of America;
(e) commend the decision of the Government of Canada to participate in the landmark Nuclear Security Summit and encourage the Government of Canada to deploy a major world-wide Canadian diplomatic initiative in support of preventing nuclear proliferation and increasing the rate of nuclear disarmament;
Que la Chambre des communes:
a) reconnaisse le risque que pose la prolifération des matières et de la technologie nucléaires pour la paix et la sécurité;
b) approuve la déclaration, signée par 500 membres, officiers et compagnons de l’Ordre du Canada, soulignant l’importance de s’attaquer au problème de la prolifération nucléaire dont l’intensité s’accroît, de suivre l’évolution du dossier du désarmement nucléaire et de tenir compte des possibilités dans ce domaine;
c) approuve les cinq initiatives sur le désarmement nucléaire proposées en 2008 par M. Ban Ki-Moon, secrétaire général des Nations Unies, et incite le gouvernement du Canada à entamer des négociations sur le désarmement nucléaire en vue de conclure une entente comme le propose le secrétaire général des Nations Unies;
d) appuie les initiatives du président des États- Unis, M. Obama, sur le désarmement nucléaire;
e) salue la décision du gouvernement du Canada de participer au sommet historique sur la sécurité nucléaire et l’incite à mettre en œuvre une importante initiative diplomatique canadienne à l’échelle mondiale en appui à la prévention de la prolifération nucléaire et à l’accroissement du taux de désarmement nucléaire.
The followup letter written by Bill Siksay M.P. to Minister of Foreign Affairs Lawrence Cannon:
https://
July 28, 2010
DOUGLAS ROCHE NAMED HONORARY CITIZEN OF HIROSHIMA
Calls for Start on Legal Ban of Nuclear Weapons
On July 28, 2010 Hon. Douglas Roche, O.C., former Canadian Ambassador for Disarmament and Chairman Emeritus of the Middle Powers Initiative (MPI), and past Chair of Canadian Pugwash, was named a Special Honorary Citizen of Hiroshima.
Read Senator Roche’s presentation to the Hiroshima 2020 Conference
[pdf, external link]