19th September 2020
online via zoom
Introduction & Context
Since the nuclear bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki 75 years ago we have lived under the threat of nuclear annihilation. This omnicidal power and the outrageous amount of resources spent on it is unacceptable, especially at a time where climate change is challenging our survival. The COVID-19 pandemic and the recession which will follow, teach lessons we must embrace to overcome the existential threats of the 21st century: nuclear war and global warming.
The world is at a crossroads and Europe has to make a strategic choice: remain part of the arms race or demonstrate global leadership by promoting a peaceful approach towards common global security.
We, a group of organisations willing to free Europe from the threat of nuclear weapons, invite you to join us online to discuss how best we can join our forces to raise awareness and promote solutions such as the implementation of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear weapons, the end of the «nuclear sharing» and of the upgrading of nuclear weapons in Europe, and the reduction of military spending to subsidize social and environmental needs.
Last year, on September 14th, a group of organisations – IPB, Pax Christi, ITUC, Bertrand Russel Foundation, IPPNW, and INES organised a meeting in Brussels “Nuclear security in Europe after the collapse of the INF Treaty”. Many other groups from 15 countries participated and the concerns about the raising nuclear threats in Europe are widely shared from different perspectives: the humanitarian and environmental threats, the geopolitical confrontations, the outrageous waist of means in times of social and sanitarian crisis, the ethical and philosophical concerns.
We decided to join our efforts to raise awareness among our fellow citizens and change Europe policies on nuclear weapons along 3 demands.
We call on European governments to
• End the modernization of all nuclear weapons.
• End nuclear sharing.
• Sign and ratify the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW).
We have organised a working group that issued an Appeal for the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings and a petition that you can find following this link: https://www.nukefreeeurope.eu
Now, it is time to broaden our efforts, involve other groups, and refine the campaigning strategy for 2021!
To register for the Zoom Conference contact: arielled@ipb.org
Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/91839202802
Event Program
Session 1: Overview of the situation
12:00-12:10 Welcome – Owen Tudor/ Deputy General Secretary ITUC
12:10 – 12:25 Lucas Wirl / Coordinator INES, Reiner Braun / Executive Director IPB – Germany
12:25 -13:00 Discussion
Session 2: Actions and opportunities
13:00 – 13:25 Activities to support the campaign – CND Representative – UK Angelica Klausen IPPNW
13:25-13:35 Overview on the TPNW campaign- Daniel Högsta ICAN Campaign Coordinator
13:35-14:30 Discussion
14:30-15:00 Break
Session 3: Building common actions
15:00 -15:25 Common campaign against the nuclear sharing in the 4 host countries – Ludo de Brabander, Director Vrede (Belgium), Other common actions/ nuclear calendar Arielle Denis- IPB France
15:25-16:20 Discussion
16:25-16:30 CONCLUSION by Tom Unterrainer / Bertrand Russel Foundation, & Reiner Braun / IPB
