CANBERRA, 18 SEPTEMBER 2008: The Medical Association for Prevention of War has welcomed the recommendations of the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties that Australia does not proceed with uranium sales to Russia until far more stringent measures are in place to separate Russia’s civilian and military facilities.

Five Liberal and National party members of the committee issued a dissenting report, seemingly on the basis of faith that things will improve when Australian exports begin. Liberal member Kevin Andrews did not sign either document. 

Association President Dr Sue Wareham congratulated the Committee on taking seriously both the inadequacy of current safeguards as they relate to Russia, and Australia’s responsibilities as a uranium exporter.

“The committee, in proposing that the separation of civilian and military uses of uranium be verified by IAEA inspections, have understood the alarming truth of the existing system” Dr Wareham said.

“As MAPW told the committee, the current safeguards cannot guarantee that Australian uranium would not end up in Russian nuclear weapons”

“The five nuclear weapons states which are party to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPTi), including Russia, are under much less scrutiny than states that do not yet have nuclear weapons. For example, the International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA, has confirmed that Russia’s military sites are off limits for inspection."

"Worse still, no IAEA report or safeguards statement since 1995 makes mention of actual inspections in Russian facilities,” said Dr Wareham.

The Committee has also recommended that Russia should fulfil its obligations under the NPT treaty, before Australia considers selling Russia our uranium.

“MAPW believes that Australia should not sell uranium to any nuclear weapons states, including Russia. All of the 5 nuclear weapons states that are party to the NPT are in breach of the treaty by their refusal to get rid of their nuclear weapons,” Dr Wareham concluded.

• Media comment: see our media release or contact our office.
• JSCOT Committee report: On APH website - scroll down, Chapter 2 is the Russia report
• Dr Sue Wareham's oral submission to the Committee: See Hansard transcript - page 2.

CANBERRA, 18 SEPTEMBER 2008: The Australian Government has received a Committee report recommending against ratifying a treaty which would have allowed uranium sales to Russia to proceed. 

The Joint Standing Committee on Treaties has recommended that stringent conditions be met before the treaty is ratified. MAPW has welcomed this outcome (see separate story and media release).

The report's recommendations are as follows:

List of recommendations regarding Agreement with the Russian Federation on cooperation in the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes

Recommendation 1
The Committee recommends that the Australian Government not proceed with ratification of the Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of the Russian Federation on Cooperation in the Use of Nuclear Energy for Peaceful Purposes until:
(a) Russia’s reform process to clearly separate its civilian nuclear and military nuclear facilities is completed and independently verified;
(b) IAEA inspections are implemented for Russian facilities that will handle Australian Obligated Nuclear Materials;
(c) The Government is satisfied that the Russian Federation is complying with its obligations under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPTi) noting that this treaty is scheduled for review in 2010;
(d) The Government is satisfied that Russia will not subsequently abandon this treaty or other nuclear treaties;
(e) Further consideration is given to the potential ramifications for this agreement of recent political events affecting Russia;
(f) Further consideration is given to Article IX of the Agreements, ‘State Secrets’, and the Government is confident that this article will not undermine the intent of this agreement;
(g) Further consideration is given to the justification for secrecy of ‘Material Unaccounted For’; and
(h) The Australian Government discusses with the United States, United Kingdom, European Union, Canada and Japan, whether the problems of the past in relation to Russian nuclear material being stolen, have now been addressed satisfactorily.

Recommendation 2
The Committee reiterates its earlier recommendation, made in Report 81:
The Committee recommends that the Australian Government lobbies the IAEA and the five declared nuclear weapons states under the NPT to make the safeguarding of all conversion facilities mandatory.

Recommendation 3
The Committee recommends that Australian efforts to strengthen the resourcing of the IAEA be continued.

JULE 2008: TWO NEW REPORTS based on recently released documents, show Australia's willilngness to test and use weapons of mass destruction during the cold war period.

US PLANNED TO TEST NERVE GAS ON AUSTRALIAN SOLDIERS
Newly declassified Australian Defence Department and Prime Minister’s office files show that the United States was strongly pushing the Government for tests of VX and GB — better known as Sarin — nerve gas. Only a few of the guineapig soldiers would have been informed. Full details of what eventuated are not yet available.

See reports including:

• http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23979410-601,00.html
• http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=287260  

1968: PM GORTON WANTED AUSTRALIAN BOMB
Newly released secret documents shed fresh light on Australia's push for its own nuclear arsenal and reluctance to sign the NPTi.

• See report by Sunday Age Foreign Editor Tom Hyland, at www.theage.com.au/national/when-australia-had-a-bombshell-for-us-20080705-32ai.html?skin=text-only

ICANi Australia's report on the nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty Preparatory Committee (NPTi PrepCom) held in Geneva from 28 April to 9 May, has now been finalised.

ICAN Board member Tim Wright prepared the report for the information of ICAN and MAPW supporters. Tim attended the PrepCom on behalf of ICAN, participating in the many NGOi forums and workshops held in parallel to the official meeting.

MAPW Vice President Tilman Ruff , together with Yarra Councillor Jenny Farrar, were NGO representatives on the official Australian delegation to the meeting. They believe that it was well worth attending and that there have been positive changes in the Australian position.

The report is comprehensive and beautifully presented, and well worth a read, and is available to read and download here.

GENEVA, 8 MAY 2008. The Australian government has raised several important issues which could help advance the abolition of nuclear weapons, during meetings on the nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty this week.

MAPW Vice-President Dr Tilman Ruff, attending as an NGOi representative on the official delegation, believes that this position has allowed NGO input to be considered in the drafting of Australian government statements. This is the first time in that Australia has had NGO representatives on an NPTi delegation.

MAPW is pleased to see that official Australian government statements to this meeting have raised three important issues highlighted by MAPW and other concerned community organisations: 

• The possibility of a Nuclear Weapons Convention has now been raised officially by Australia.
• Australia welcomed the efforts of African states "to bring into force Pelindaba (African nuclear weapons free zone) treaty; and to practical cooperation among "existing nuclear weapons free zones in the Southern Hemisphere." 
• MAPW has been strongly advocating for medical isotopes not to be sourced from highly enriched uranium, which can be used for bombs. An Australian statement has now raised this issue: "We encourage States to work towards the minimisation of highly enriched uranium (HEUi) in civil applications, including radiopharmaceutical production."

Tim Wright, observing the meeting on behalf of ICANi, reports that NGOs will establish a working group to advance an African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty, which needs countries which haven’t yet done so to ratify the Treaty in order to bring it into force. This would be a key step towards a nuclear weapons free southern hemisphere. Read ICAN's Geneva Blog

GENEVA 30 APRIL 2008. ICANi'S TIM WRIGHT REPORTS:Australia today delivered a statement on nuclear disarmament to the Non-Proliferation Treaty meeting in Geneva. It was much different from statements made in previous years.

It even included a reference to the need for a nuclear weapons convention (NWC) for the first time ever. This is something which disarmament experts have described as quite significant. The reference is a cautious one, but using those words in this forum is rare. The only other countries so far to have mentioned an NWC at the meeting have been Costa Rica, Malaysia and Iran.

The statement from Caroline Miller, Ambassador for Disarmament, Permanent Representative to the United Nations, read: “Australia under a new Government is fully committed to realizing a world free from nuclear weapons … A world free of nuclear weapons will require carefully calibrated steps that buttress international peace and security.

Every state, whether holding nuclear weapons or not, must play a part in realizing that world. And at an appropriate time, the international community will likely need to consider complementary legal frameworks, including a possible nuclear weapons convention, for the eventual abolition of nuclear weapons . . . .”

MAPW Vice-President Dr Tilman Ruff is a NGOi representative on the official Australian delegation. ICAN's Tim Wright is also at the meeting.

Read the rest of the statement in Tim's latest report, at icanw.blogspot.com/

GENEVA, 30 APRIL 2008: MAPW Vice-President Tilman Ruff is currently in Geneva attending the NPTi PrepCom (28 April – 9 May), an important meeting of states which are parties to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Tilman is one of two NGOi representatives invited to be on the official Australian delegation.

ICANi Board Member and volunteer Tim Wright is also at the meeting and is posting excellent and informative daily reports: icanw.blogspot.com/

Tim Wright writes:

• On the Australian government’s role:

“This week’s Non-Proliferation Treaty meeting is an ideal opportunity for the new Australian Government to start restoring our nation’s former reputation in this field — by putting into action Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s promise to engage in “creative middle power diplomacy”. Our contribution to the elimination of nuclear weapons could be significant.”

“In a statement to the meeting this morning [Monday], Australia’s disarmament ambassador Caroline Miller announced that the Rudd Government is committed to playing 'a new, more active role in multilateral affairs' with respect to nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament.”

However, Miller did not confirm whether the government will carry through the ALP’s pre-election promise to “lead the international agenda for a nuclear weapons convention” – a treaty to ban nuclear weapons and ensure their elimination.”

• NGOs call for a NWC

“One of the really positive things about this meeting so far has been the emphasis on the NWC among NGOs. It truly is central to everything that’s happening here. It’s generally acknowledged that ICAN should take much for the credit for this renewed enthusiasm for the NWC – so well done, everyone! Most of the NGO events have been about the NWC, and even when the events aren’t about the NWC, the questions directed at people seem to be about the NWC!”

More detailed NGO reports: www.reachingcriticalwill.org/

Australia’s opening statement:
www.reachingcriticalwill.org/legal/npt/prepcom08/statements/AustraliaApril28.pdf).

CANBERRA 21 APRIL 2008. Nuclear disarmament was included in the  "priority themes" developed at the weekend summit. 

The stream discussing Australia's security and prosperity in a rapidly changing region and world, listed among five priorities:

Assert new leadership in global governance:

• Reaffirm our commitment to working in international institutions and to the international rule of law.
• Ensure Australia’s commitment to gender equality is reflected in domestic and foreign policy.
• A properly resourced nuclear disarmament diplomacy, built on regional cooperation on nuclear expertise and non-proliferation, including the appointment of an Ambassador for Disarmament.
• Deeper institutional engagement to nation and peace building

To read the full initial 2020 report, go to: www.australia2020.gov.au/report/index.cfm

• Read Felicity Hill's participants-eye-view of the event and see pictures of the security stream in action.

MAPW immediate Past President Dr Tilman Ruff has been invited to represent Australian non-governmental organisations on the Australian delegation to the 2008 Preparatory Committee for the nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty (NPTi PrepCom), which begins in Geneva in late April. 

City of Yarra Councillor Jenny Farrar, from Mayors for Peace, is the second NGOi representative.

Dr Ruff is the Australian Chair of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons. The invitation to join the delegation comes after a successful round-table discussion on the NPT PrepCom, where representatives of 19 NGOs - including churches, peace organisations, environment groups and the ACTU - met with officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

This is the first time that NGO representatives have been invited to join an official Australian delegation to an NPT meeting, and represents a significant advance in recognising the important role and expertise of civil society organisations.

ICANi's Tim Wright will also be attending the PrepCom, as an NGO participant.

Steven Starr is a US nuclear weapons expert currently visiting Australia (until April 9). His areas of expertise are:

• The “operating status” of nuclear weapons – many weapons ready to be launched with minimal human decision or intervention - and
• The catastrophic humanitarian effects of nuclear weapons – even just one weapon being fired, would cause humanitarian disaster including famine.

 Media enquiries: via MAPW EO,  0431 475 465

Background
Steven Starr, MT (American Society for Clinical Pathology). Member of International Network of Engineers and Scientists Against Proliferation (INESAP)

 Mr Steven Starr is a visiting expert on nuclear weapons operating status and the predicted climatic effects of nuclear war and has studied extensively both these subjects and their implications for human society.

 From Australia, Mr Starr goes to the UNi Preparatory Committee on the NPTi (nuclear Non Proliferation treaty) in Geneva where he will present new research on these issues. In 2006 and 2007, he presented information on this subject to an NGOi panel held in conjunction with the UN General Assembly First Committee, attracting great interest (including from some governments). You would be aware that the L.29 resolution on operational status that followed was adopted with very strong support, with Australia unfortunately abstaining.

 He addressed our Department of Foreign Affairs last week.

 As Australia prepares for the UN’s NPT PrepCom which will be held from the end of April, MAPW believes that it is imperative that Australia’s stance promotes the twin goals of disarmament and non-proliferation. Reducing the operational status of nuclear weapons is an urgent short term step.

Stene Starr's publications:

published by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists in May, 2004, "Let's Go No-LOW" (on operating status) see http://thebulletin.metapress.com/content/u6568123110r6381/fulltext.pdf

 2 online publications at the Strategic Arms Reduction (STAR) website of the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology Center for Arms Control, Energy and Environmental Studies, "Change Launch on Warning Policy" at http://www.armscontrol.ru/start/ (English and Russian), and "Nuclear Primacy is a Fallacy" at http://www.armscontrol.ru/ (Russian); also this version available in English at the website of Global Research.ca, see http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=4991

 1 article, in press, in the Bulletin of the International Engineers and Scientists Against Nuclear Proliferation (INESAP), "Catastrophic Climatic Consequences of Nuclear Conflict", preview article now online at http://www.inesap.org/bulletin28/index.htm and http://www.inesap.org/bulletin28/IB28_Starr.pdf

 3 online publications at the website of the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation; "The Effects of a 300-kiloton Nuclear Warhead Detonated above Washington, D.C." see http://www.wagingpeace.org/articles/2005/11/00_starr_effects-of-300-kilo..., "Eliminate Launch on Warning" see http://www.wagingpeace.org/articles/2004/09/00_phillips_eliminate-launch..., "An Explanation of Nuclear Weapons Terminology" see http://www.wagingpeace.org/articles/2007/11/29_starr_explanation_termino...

 1 online publication at website hosted by World Federalist Movement (Canada) www.RLOAD.org "Replace Launch on Warning Policy"

 1 online publication at the website of the Yorkshire Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, "Nuclear Winter: the Forgotten Danger" see http://cndyorks.gn.apc.org/news/articles/nwinter.htm

 “ I am actively working with scientists from Rutgers, the Univ. of Colorado-Boulder, and UCLA to promote a better understanding of their recent research on the catastrophic climatic consequences of nuclear conflict. I also am working with a retired Russian Colonel (Valery Yarynich) to create a joint working group of U.S. and Russian experts to model and study nuclear war; this project is now being funded by the Nuclear Threat Initiative and is in the first stages of completion.”

The Government of Norway, with the Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) and the Hoover Institution, convened an international conference on Achieving the Vision of a World Free of Nuclear Weapons, in Oslo on 26 – 27 February 2008. The conference explored how all states –  with or without nuclear weapons – can contribute to reducing nuclear dangers, to overcome the current impasse in the nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament regime. Conference papers are available at disarmament.nrpa.no/