Your excellencies Ambassador Laura Kennedy, General Saighal. I regret that Ambassador Loschinski has had to leave.

But first of all: Dear Academician Jevgenij Chazov! I wish to congratulate you to your eighty years. I understand that you have been celebrated this last year as one of the foremost cardiologists in the world. You were the first to use streptokinase intracoronary in acute myocardial infarction. Your Cardiology Research Institute in Moscow is world famous. But you should be equally celebrated as one of the founders of IPPNW. Given the time and the circumstances, that was a very brave action. Your creation has survived for almost thirty years, and is very active and important. I would , however, be more happy if we could have terminated IPPNW after the abolition of all nuclear weapons. That day is still not here, but it will come. I hope we will both see that day.

——

We have survived.

That was not a given. During the 65 years when we have lived with the threat of nuclear annihilation there have been many instances when we could have perished. Only afterwards have been told about some of the critical situations.

There was the Cuba crisis. The book and the movie Thirteen days tell the story. Both Kennedy and Chrustjov had to deal with politicians and generals around them who wanted to go to war. Wanted war, because that was what they were trained for. Wanted war, as not to lose credibility. With a less restrained US president, and had not Anastas Mikoyan been at the side of Chrustjov, what would have happened?

We survived the Cuba crisis.

In the early eighties the fear within the Soviet leadership of a nuclear attack from NATO, and from President Reagan’s USA, was at times acute. During the NATO exercise Able Archer in November 1983 the KGB warned the Soviet Leaders that this was another Operation Barbarossa, the maneuver which Nazi Germany used as a cover for the attack against the Soviet Union. The NATO leaders had no idea of how the exercise was perceived in Moscow. A mistake at that time could have spelled the end of human civilization. Two well placed Soviet spies, one at the NATO headquarter and one in London, repeatedly assured the the Soviet military leaders that no attack was coming. The Soviet leaders waited, and waited, and the exercise ended.

And there were other critical moments. Two months before the Able Archer crisis, on September 26 1983, two or three objects, soon maybe five,  identified as US missiles on their way to Soviet territory appeared on the radar screens. Colonel Petrov, the officer on duty, was under strict orders to report any such observation immediately to the national command. But Petrov waited. Several minutes, against instructions. Would USA attack with only a few missiles? And the ghosts on the screens disappeared.

We survived.

John Foster Dulles, US Secretary of State for six years during the nineteen fifties, afterwards often bragged of the Brinkmanship he had displayed when confronting the “Godless communism”. How can anyone even talk about Brinkmanship in the nuclear age?

We survived. We survived even John Foster Dulles.

Dear Ambassadors, you have at great length told us of the steps of disarmament your countries Russia and USA have taken.But we are not satisfied. It is of little importance of there are 60 000 nuclear warheads in the world, or just 10 000. You can still destroy the human civilization. You must go for Zero. If you do not clearly aim for zero nuclear weapons in a foreseeable future, be it 10 or 15 years, your reductions will not discourage nuclear proliferation. This is also emphasized by the four harbingers of nuclear abolition, the elders Shultz, Perry, Nunn and Kissinger.

Nuclear weapons cause war. If nuclear proliferation is to be stopped while you keep your own nuclear arsenal, you may have to resort to war. If the threat of a nuclear mushroom cloud had not appeared behind Condoleeza Rice in her “no smoking gun” speech, the US public would probably not have acdepted an attack on Iraq. And now the specter of an Iranian nuclear bomb may “force” the USA closer to the brink of “preventive” war again. It will not be the last time. Nuclear weapons case war.

You did not speak of Zero.

Neither did you speak of No High Alert. Your governments do not want you to speak of this, of mankind under the sword of Damocles, where you hold the scissors close to the thread. The latest Nuclear Posture Review, presented by President Obama, tells us that steps will be taken to decrease the risk of nuclear war by mistake. Decrease, not remove.

The risk of global nuclear war today is much lower than during the Cold War. But it is not zero. And if the relationship between USA and Russia deteriorates the risk will increase. Better act now, agree on a road to nuclear weapons abolition when the feeling is good. Read and negotiate the Nuclear Weapons Convention and bring these negotiations to conclusion as demanded by the International Court.

And remember, that even a limited nuclear war, when less than one percent of the nuclear arsenal of the world is used, will cause a change in the global climate for many years. A global famine of unprecedented proportions, with many hundreds of million people starving to death, will be the consequence.  You do not believe this? If so, read the scientific reports and disprove them if you can.

If nuclear weapons are allowed to persist, they will be used.

If nuclear weapons are allowed to persist, they will proliferate

But your countries do not want to go for Zero.

We say: Zero in our lifetime.!

Christian Schönenberger referred not only to the excellent speech by Micheline Calmy-Rey, the Swiss Foreign Minister in the plenary that morning, but also to the study that caused such a stir at the NPT Review Conference on “Delegitimising Nuclear Weapons“. The fact that nuclear weapons contravene international humanitarian law is a recurring theme, both in New York and here in Basel, and is fast becoming the central argument for the abolition of nuclear weapons. That might seem like a no-brainer for us but on the other hand but needs to be said repeatedly, especially since our friends at “Global Zero” are pushing the argument of fear against terrorism as being the main issue.

Since IPPNW and ICAN have the humanitarian aspect at the centre of their arguments for the abolition of nuclear weapons, I attempted to explain to the journalists present why that was so. And other than what would happen to people if nuclear weapons were used, which has been well documented by IPPNW, both in the case of accidental nuclear war and a so-called limited exchange (which would of course still be global because of the impact through the resulting smoke and drop in global temperature causing failure of harvests and mass starvation). But the point I wanted to make is that it is a humanitarian issue right now, because of the diversion of resources for nuclear programmes and our continuing failure to understand what kind of security humans need in the 21st century.

Take Pakistan as an example. Back then, when the decision was taken to build the nuclear bomb, the then Premier Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto said (and I don’t have the exact quote to hand) that even if Pakistan had to eat grass, they would make the bomb. Well, they are doing that now, because there is not enough money to help the people of Pakistan feed themselves in the face of these terrible floods. The diversion of resources into the military has left Pakistan unable to cope with this catastrophe.

This shows that investment in our security is completely inadequate. Houses are not built to withstand natural disasters, emergency relief is pitiful, even in daily life there is no protection from the big killers like malaria, dirty water, HIV, etc. Security is instead based on nuclear weapons, a weapon that cannot be used because of its own humanitarian and environmental impact.

It is time, in the 21st century, to understand that climate change and disease are the threats to our security and nuclear weapons do not protect us from them, so they are useless.

Time to retire the bomb.

Xanthe Hall, Basel, Aug 28 2010

Dimity Hawkins, Xanthe Hall and Tilman Ruff (from left to right)

Goodnight x

Russian President Dmitri Medvedev

I’m pleased to congratulate you on the Thirtieth Anniversary of the organization International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War.

Over the years this organization has united thousands of medical workers from various countries and continents. It has made a great contribution to the enhancement of peace and stability on this planet.

Saving humanity from a nuclear threat is one of the key tasks of the modern time. The realization of this goal is of crucial importance for global security, safe and happy life for millions of people.

It is essential, that with your high authority, experience and public influence you support the work of states towards disarmament and nonproliferation and call for moving forward the key initiatives in this area. It is precisely this approach that is the gauge of success in the international efforts to counter the new challenges and threats and to eliminate the causes that compel the states to strive to acquire nuclear weapons.

I wish you a fruitful discussion and all the very best.

D. Medvedev
President of Russia

Hiroshima Mayor Tadatoshi Akiba

It is my great honor to send a message to the 19^th IPPNW World Congress in Basel, Switzerland. I very much wish I could be with you at what I know will be a crucial event.

Sixty-five years ago, the hibakusha, A-bomb survivors, experienced the inhumanity of the atomic bombings and the “end of the world.” Since then, they have asserted that, “No one else should ever suffer as we did.”

The NPT Review Conference in New York this past May gave evidence of the guiding influence of that message. The Final Document expresses the unanimous intent of the parties to seek the abolition of nuclear weapons; underscores the catastrophic impact of any nuclear weapon use; notes the valuable contribution of civil society; notes that a majority favors the establishment of timelines for the nuclear weapons abolition process; and highlights the need for a nuclear weapons convention or new legal framework.

The urgency of nuclear weapons abolition is permeating our global conscience; the voice of the vast majority is becoming the preeminent force for change in the international community. We must now do everything in our power to complete the task. The recent Hiroshima Conference on the Abolition of Nuclear Weapons by 2020 contributed to this task. Its Appeal identified two critical areas of work: first, achieving a greater level of unity and coordination among not just the anti-nuclear-weapon forces but also with other sectors of civil society, including groups concerned with climate change, humanitarian law, and the global economic crisis; second, eliciting true governmental leadership for the establishment of a nuclear-weapons-free world.

The Appeal recognizes the valuable contributions of IPPNW and ICAN on the first point, and regarding the second point, proposes the convening of “a special disarmament conference in 2011 to facilitate the start of negotiation on a nuclear weapons convention.” We believe this is a challenge governments are ready to rise to, but they need a bit of encouragement from civil society. I do hope you will all make the “special conference” one of your key objectives in 2011.

To achieve our overall goal within the 2020 timeframe, we will have to generate tremendous global momentum. People everywhere will have to press their nations hard to develop the political will required to abolish nuclear weapons. In this context, your Congress is a wonderful opportunity to discuss our future without nuclear weapons, and I hereby express my deepest respect for your commitment and endeavors.

Eliminating nuclear weapons from the world will be one of humanity’s greatest achievements. To celebrate this achievement in 2020, the City of Hiroshima is exploring the feasibility of bidding for the 2020 Olympics, which we would make a “Festival of Peace.”

I sincerely hope that, with your support, we can make our two dreams — a nuclear-weapon-free world and the Hiroshima Olympics — come true in the current decade. I have no doubt that your Congress will lead to an influential outcome that will guide the international community to a powerful unified campaign.

Tadatoshi Akiba

Mayor

The City of Hiroshima

Two weeks after Hiroshima a meeting of Swiss government members decided to consider the building of a nuclear weapon. The plans developed and a US-made nuclear reactor, useful for plutonium production, was bought. The price was heavily subsidized in order to prevent Switzerland from buying a Russian contraption. The reactor was loaded and started.

There were discussions about weapon carriers. The government decided to by 100 fighter planes capable of carrying the nukes. The agreed price was increased, doubled and tripled and Swiss business-wise politicians did not like that. So the number of airplanes was reduced and reduced. Finally there were doubts whether the whole enterprise really was not getting too expensive after all, and there were also opponents who asked whether the nukes would be useful.

In 1969 the nuclear reactor exploded. The damage to the environment was limited as it had been placed underground. And after 25 years of “progress” the program was finally terminated. Nukes are useless, expensive and dangerous.

This is what I remember from a guide who spoke in the Historical Museum. I wish museums were the only place for nukes.

The parallel to the Swedish nuclear weapons program would be worth exploring. Has anyone done that? Several books have been written why certain countries do and others don’t acquire nukes. There may be need for one more, at least a chapter.

IPPNW, now in its third decade, has provided a strong and sustained voice for peace, not just through the medical community around the world but through the non-government community working on these issues. Campaigns like the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear weapons (ICAN) and Aiming for Prevention (the wonderful small arms campaign) have been successfully launched from the solid foundation of IPPNW.

As an activist with some years of association with IPPNW, I delight in seeing this organisation continue to offer so much energy to the broader movement for peace. The advocacy towards a Nuclear Weapons Convention, supported by IPPNW since the first Model Nuclear Weapons Convention was produced in the mid-1990′s, continues to be an integral part of the conversations at this Congress. As delegates gather, ICAN is urging them to don a red wristband with the words “NWC (for Nuclear Weapons Convention) NOW WE CAN!” Every voice is needed on this push for a Convention or Treaty to finally ban these ultimate weapons of mass destruction, and as the government voices increasingly chime in on the calls also, IPPNW members around the world are needed to help to advocate and lobby for this. Visit http://icanw.org/nuclear-weapons-convention to learn more…the Model NWC is provided in 7 languages on the site.

Finally, my compliments to the Swiss affiliate of IPPNW for their superb hosting of this wonderful and momentous event. It has been a warm and well coordinated beginning to the Congress, with the energy and vitality of the students giving a great entree to the work of the days to come.

Hiroshima Mayor Tadatoshi Akiba

It is my great honor to send a message to the 19^th IPPNW World Congress in Basel, Switzerland. I very much wish I could be with you at what I know will be a crucial event. Sixty-five years ago, the hibakusha, A-bomb survivors, experienced the inhumanity of the atomic bombings and the “end of the world.” Since then, they have asserted that, “No one else should ever suffer as we did.” The NPT Review Conference in New York this past May gave evidence of the guiding influence of that message. The Final Document expresses the unanimous intent of the parties to seek the abolition of nuclear weapons; underscores the catastrophic impact of any nuclear weapon use; notes the valuable contribution of civil society; notes that a majority favors the establishment of timelines for the nuclear weapons abolition process; and highlights the need for a nuclear weapons convention or new legal framework. The urgency of nuclear weapons abolition is permeating our global conscience; the voice of the vast majority is becoming the preeminent force for change in the international community. We must now do everything in our power to complete the task. The recent Hiroshima Conference on the Abolition of Nuclear Weapons by 2020 contributed to this task. Its Appeal identified two critical areas of work: first, achieving a greater level of unity and coordination among not just the anti-nuclear-weapon forces but also with other sectors of civil society, including groups concerned with climate change, humanitarian law, and the global economic crisis; second, eliciting true governmental leadership for the establishment of a nuclear-weapons-free world. The Appeal recognizes the valuable contributions of IPPNW and ICAN on the first point, and regarding the second point, proposes the convening of “a special disarmament conference in 2011 to facilitate the start of negotiation on a nuclear weapons convention.” We believe this is a challenge governments are ready to rise to, but they need a bit of encouragement from civil society. I do hope you will all make the “special conference” one of your key objectives in 2011. To achieve our overall goal within the 2020 timeframe, we will have to generate tremendous global momentum. People everywhere will have to press their nations hard to develop the political will required to abolish nuclear weapons. In this context, your Congress is a wonderful opportunity to discuss our future without nuclear weapons, and I hereby express my deepest respect for your commitment and endeavors. Eliminating nuclear weapons from the world will be one of humanity’s greatest achievements. To celebrate this achievement in 2020, the City of Hiroshima is exploring the feasibility of bidding for the 2020 Olympics, which we would make a “Festival of Peace.” I sincerely hope that, with your support, we can make our two dreams — a nuclear-weapon-free world and the Hiroshima Olympics — come true in the current decade. I have no doubt that your Congress will lead to an influential outcome that will guide the international community to a powerful unified campaign.

Tadatoshi Akiba

Mayor

The City of Hiroshima

Soon after arrival had to dash to get the intensive packed tram which whisked us off to dinner on a boat by the Rhine. The tram, jam-packed with fellow doctors and medical students from all 4 corners of the world, appeared to receive a number of puzzled looks from Basel residents. They were probably wondering why we had chosen to suffer such cramped conditions and yet appear to be enjoying the ride.

Dinner provided a well earned opportunity to mix drinks and to mingle with my fellow international medics. As this is my first IPPNW congress, lots of new and unfamiliar faces. But the conversations soon started flowing and were as varied as the individuals I was lucky enough to meet: A chat about Obama’s healthcare bill with US delegates and a discussion of the Israel- Palestine conflict with the Israeli bunch were just a couple of my conversations.

New friends were made.
Very much looking forward to tomorrow’s main congress and its high profile speakers. I am particularly keen to hear what the Swiss foreign minister has to say on the issue of nuclear disarmament.

Press Information from the IPPNW 19th World Congress in Basel

“The danger that nuclear weapons will be used in the future is underestimated” warned Prof. Dr. Andreas Nidecker, President of the Organisation Committee for the Swiss affiliate of International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War, on the eve of IPPNW’s World Congress, taking place this year in Switzerland. As many as 800 doctors and medical students are expected to meet in Basel to discuss the status of disarmament efforts and debate how to reach a world without nuclear weapons.

At the Review Conference of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) this spring in New York, the Swiss Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey labelled nuclear weapons as “illegal”. She announced Switzerland’s support for a Nuclear Weapons Convention (NWC), a legal framework that would complement Article VI of the NPT. This article obligates the Nuclear Weapon States to eliminate their nuclear weapons. “Switzerland is new to the large circle of NWC supporters that are promoting a rapid implementation of Article VI” said Nidecker. He sees a next step towards abolition of nuclear weapons as being the creation of nuclear weapon-free zones. The final document of the NPT Review Conference contains the obligation to create a nuclear weapon-free zone in the Middle East. A conference is to take place in 2010 with all the affected countries to agree upon the first binding measures to establish such a zone.

Prof. Tilman Ruff, Chair of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear weapons (ICAN) is a vehement supporter of a NWC. ICAN was started two years ago as a citizen’s movement taking up the call of an overwhelming majority of the world’s population and 140 governments for a world free of nuclear weapons. “Every type of indiscriminate, inhumane weapon that has been banned was abolished through a treaty. Chemical and biological weapons, landmines and cluster munitions – why not nuclear weapons too?” asks the Australian IPPNW doctor. “The medical prescription is clear: negotiating a Nuclear Weapons Convention  is the most urgent priority for global health,” said Ruff.

Dr. Claudio Knüsli, President of the Swiss IPPNW affiliate, pointed out the damage to health caused by radiation from the bombs that were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The incidence of cancer, and also heart disease, is still increasing in the victims. New findings show that the risk posed by radioactivity has been underestimated up until now. This has substantial consequences for the basis for future calculation.

The issue of major economic interests at work behind nuclear armament is the subject that Steven Staples is presenting at the IPPNW World Congress. The Canadian disarmament expert thinks that the financial crisis has revealed that the G8 is becoming increasingly dependent on the help of developing countries with growing markets to solve global crises. “Power is shifting away from the traditional economic and military powers, towards many new states which do not see nuclear weapons as a requisite for their own global influence or national prestige,” said the Director of the Canadian Rideau Institute. He believes that this shift will delegitimise nuclear weapons as a symbol of power and strengthen the growing international call for the abolition of nuclear weapons.

Alex Rosen, a young paediatrician from Düsseldorf, relies on public education. He and a group of 40 young medics from all over the world rode bicycles 700 kilometres from Düsseldorf to the IPPNW Congress in Basel, in order to canvass support for a nuclear weapon-free Europe. On their way from Germany to Switzerland, they met with politicians, organised publicity events in inner cities and talked to passers-by about abolishing nuclear weapons. Medical students continue the decades-old commitment of the IPPNW founders and today’s activists.

Contact person: Angelika Wilmen, IPPNW, Tel. 0049 (0)162 205 79 43, IPPNW Germany, Körtestr. 10, 10967 Berlin, Email: wilmen@ippnw.de, www.ippnw.de; Claudia Bürgler, PSR / IPPNW Schweiz, ÄrztInnen für soziale Verantwortung/ zur Verhütung eines Atomkrieges, Klosterberg 23, CH-4051 Basel, Tel./Fax 0041 (0) 61 271 50 25, sekretariat@ippnw.ch, www.ippnw.ch