Preventing nuclear war! Update on Appeals to Putin and the NPT

Posted: 8th May 2022

Also: Youth Fusion engages youth in
nuclear risk reduction and abolition

In this update we report on:

Do NOT use nuclear weapons in the Ukraine conflict, a Global Appeal to President Putin and other leaders initiated byTadatoshi Akiba, former Mayor of Hiroshima;
Fulfil the NPT: From nuclear threats to human security, the Open Letter to the States Parties to the Non-Proliferation Treaty organised by NoFirstUse Global in preparation for the 10th NPT Review Conference in August 2022;
Escalate to Nuclear? A truly diabolical idea, a memo from People for Nuclear Disarmament to President Putin.

We also introduce you to Youth Fusion, the global youth network for nuclear risk reduction and disarmament and a participating organization of NoFirstUse Global. We encourage you to support their crowdfunding campaign.

Akiba Appeal: Do NOT use nuclear weapons in the Ukraine Conflict

Over 100,000 people have now endorsed the online appeal Do NOT Use Nuclear Weapons! – Message from Japan, which was launched on March 2 by Tadatoshi Akiba, Mayor of Hiroshima and President of Mayors for Peace from 1999 until 2011.

The petition calls on “President Vladimir Putin and other world leaders to immediately declare the disuse of nuclear weapons in this conflict.” It also calls on the nuclear armed countries to adopt no-first use policies to prevent nuclear war anywhere in the world, followed by the relinquishing of nuclear deterrence policies themselves in order to achieve a nuclear-weapon-free world.

In the petition, Mayor Akiba asks the Japan Prime Minister to convey the experience and message of Hibakusha to Russia and other members of the UN Security Council in order to ensure they understand what it means to use a nuclear weapon.

“Japan’s current Prime Minister Kishida Fumio, who was elected from Hiroshima, is in the position to speak for the Hibakusha,” says the appeal. “Now is the time for PM Kishida to take a stand and attend the United Nations Security Council and tell the reality of the atomic bombing, and convey the cry of the many Hibakusha who died, repeating in their death beds “No one else should go through our suffering.“

For more on the appeal, please see International petition against any use of nuclear weapons in the Ukraine conflict shoots past 100,000 signatories and NoFirstUse Global interviews Mayor Akiba on his appeal.

Fulfil the NPT: From nuclear threats to human security is an Open Letter to the States Parties of the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty released by NoFirstUse Global in November 2021, urging them to adopt no-first-use and other policies to ensure a nuclear war is never fought and that nuclear abolition is achieved within a time-bound framework.

The Open Letter, and a supporting paper No-First Use of Nuclear Weapons: An Exploration of Unilateral, Bilateral and Plurilateral Approaches and their Security, Risk-reduction and Disarmament Implications, were delivered to the nuclear weapon states and other parties to the NPT on January 24, along with the list of over 1200 endorsers. These include former government ministers and ambassadors, parliamentarians, Nobel laureates, leading scientists, religious leaders, business leaders, representatives of civil society organizations, youth leaders and former military commanders. (See Open Letter – Fulfil the NPT – sent to nuclear weapon States).

The ensuing war in Ukraine has elevated the risks of nuclear war, making the Open Letter even more important. NoFirstUse Global is keeping the letter open for endorsement until the end of July – just prior to the NPT Review Conference.

One of the many recent endorsers is Mohamed ElBaradei, Nobel Peace Laureate, former Vice-President of Egypt and former Director of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

“The nuclear-weapon states (NWSs) also should each adopt “no first use” and “sole purpose” postures, meaning that their existing arsenals will only ever be used for deterrence.”
Dr Mohamed ElBaradei, Former Vice-President of Egypt. Former Director of the International Atomic Energy Agency. Nobel Peace Laureate. Endorser of Fulfil the NPT.

Escalate to Nuclear? A truly diabolical idea

Over the past couple of weeks a number of statements from Russian officials and at least one influential Russian commentator have floated reasons and/or scenarios for the possible use of nuclear weapons in the Ukraine conflict.

This included a statement on TV on April 29 by Margarita Simonyan, editor of Russia Today, suggesting that rather than accept defeat in Ukraine, Putin would use nuclear weapons even if by doing so he would doom Russia (and himself) as well as the ‘enemies of Russia’. “Either we lose in Ukraine, or the Third World War starts,” said Ms Simoyan. “I think World War Three is more realistic, knowing us, knowing our leader.”

Ms Simonyan appeared complacent about this scenario, noting that “We’re all going to die one day… it is what it is. We (Russians) will go to heaven, while they (Ukrainians, Europeans and Americans) will simply croak.“

On April 29, in response to these developments, People for Nuclear Disarmament sent a memo to President Putin and various Russian officials entitled Escalate to Nuclear? A truly diabolical idea.

The memo addresses both the rational stupidity of initiating a nuclear war and the spurious ‘theological justification’ for nuclear weapons use, regardless of whether such justification comes from Russia or the USA (as has been the case in the past). The memo suggests that the initiator of the use of nuclear weapons might well find themself “headed for the opposite place to where they imagine they are going” (not heaven, but hell).

The memo was copied to Western leaders for their information, with the UK government already replying somewhat favourably.

Editor of state broadcaster Russia Today Margarita Simonyan claimed Vladimir Putin would rather hit the nuclear button than lose the Ukraine war. (PA/RT)

Youth Fusion

We are honoured to introduce you to Youth Fusion, the global youth network for nuclear disarmament. We encourage you to support their crowdfunding campaign.

Youth Fusion, a NoFirstUse Global participating organizaton, initiates and coordinates youth action for peace, nuclear risk reduction and nuclear abolition around the world though exciting events, actions, advocacy and engagement.

They run projects and campaigns; coordinate online and hybrid conferences and webinars; publish articles; produce podcasts; bring youth voices into international events including UN conferences; connect youth from peace, disarmament and climate movements and foster intergenerational dialogue.

NoFirstUse Global is particularly grateful to Youth Fusion for bringing youth participation into our events and for leading public and social media actions including Don’t Even THINK about starting a nuclear war and the 3DNukeMissile, an empowering, inter-active, photo-art experience focused on nuclear war prevention.

Any small contribution you can make to Youth Fusion will help. In addition, we recommend joining Youth Fusion if you are 35 or younger. If you are ‘young-at-heart’ (over 35) you can sign up for their newsletter and join their inter-generational actions and events.
Click here to support Youth Fusion

Vanda Proskova, Co-convenor of Youth Fusion, leads a Don’t even THINK about starting a nuclear war social media action in front of the embassies of nuclear weapon states in Prague. The above photo is taken in front of the Russian embassy.

Marzhan Nurzhan, Co-convenor of Youth Fusion, leads a 3DNukeMissile action in front of the Buechel airbase in Germany where US nuclear weapons are ‘hosted’. The action highlights the risk of nuclear war, and supports nuclear risk reduction policies including no-first-use.

Youth Fusion Leaders

YOUTH FUSION LEADERS:
Marzhan Nurzhan (Kazakhstan/Switzerland), Vanda Proskova (Czech Republic/Belgium), Michaela Sorensen (South Africa/Denmark), Nico Edwards (Sweden/UK) and Aigerim Seitenova (Kazakhstan).