Friday's Links

Here come your Friday’s Links!

Johan Bergenäs at World Politics Review published a great article calling on the disarmament movement to do a better job of engaging youth to provide urgency to the campaign against nuclear weapons.

Check out Travis Sharp’s response to Bergenäs’ article in the Nukes of Hazard blog. He argues that the lack of funding for entry level careers in the arms control field hamstrings the disarmament movement’s ability to reach out to interested youth. Couldn’t agree more.

WFUNA, however, is offering an amazing opportunity to young people engaged in disarmament work. Design your own grassroots campaign to rid the world of nuclear weapons, submit your ideas to hub@wfuna.org and you could win a trip to Mexico to present your ideas at the DPI/NGO conference on Disarmament, Peace and Security. But, TODAY IS THE LAST DAY THAT WE ARE ACCEPTING SUBMISSIONS! So if you haven’t submitted your campaign yet, don’t wait any longer! Check out the Global Disarmament Hub Website for more details. 

McCain and Lugar Contemplate CTBT Ratification

Influential Republican Senators John McCain (AZ) and Richard Lugar (IN) (pictured above with a Soviet Era Typhoon Nuclear Submarine in Russia) have hinted at supporting the ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT). Both senators voted against the treaty in 1999, which failed along partisan lines. To get the needed 67 Senate votes for ratification, Obama will have to rely upon Lugar and McCain to drum up the support of fellow Republicans, no small task.

Check out the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists’ article about the strategy involved in passing the CTBT as well as these 3 reasons why the Senate should ratify the CTBT. 

Also, WFUNA's Students for a Nuclear Weapons Free World Campaign Contest is wrapping up. Submissions will only be accepted through July so make sure to check out the disarmament hub website for more details. Remember, the contest is for a planned campaign against nuclear weapons, you do not have to have implemented the campaign yet. 

Friday's Links

Here come your friday links:

Check out the text of President Obama’s speech at the New Economic School in Moscow. In it he states that:

"The notion that prestige comes from holding [nuclear] weapons, or that we can protect ourselves by picking and choosing which nations can have these weapons, is an illusion."

The NYTimes ran a fantastic obit on Robert McNamara. It was interesting to read about his stance on nuclear weapons:

"Nuclear weapons serve no military purposes whatsoever. They are totally useless — except only to deter one’s opponent from using them."

As far as McNamara's claim that nukes are useful for deterring a nuclear attack, I recall this Times op-ed arguing that McNamara's line of  reasoning " bears a disturbing resemblance to the argument used by a Brooklynite who, when asked why he called a purple powder that he sprinkled around his house ''elephant repellent,'' replied, ''Well, you don't see any elephants around here, do you?''

Also, be sure to check out Disarmament Hub's website for info on the Students for a Nuclear Weapons-free World Campaign Contest! We're only accepting submissions through July, so you have to move fast! 

ATT Talks to Begin at the UN Next Week

The open ended working group discussing the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) will meet from the 13th-17^th of July at the UN headquarters here in NYC. Proponents of the ATT hope that it will become the first comprehensive, binding international treaty focused on the trade in conventional weapons. 

Yesterday I had a chance to go to a brownbag luncheon sponsored by the NGO committee on Disarmament, Peace and Security  to hear representatives from Oxfam International,  IANSA  and Amnesty International explain the basics of the ATT.  Cesar Marin from IANSA explained the need for the ATT from the Latin American regional standpoint, and Mike Lewis of Amnesty International discussed the need for the ATT to cover arms production equipment and ammunition.

 I’ll be at the UN all next week for different ATT events, so check back frequently and I’ll be sure to keep you posted! Also, make sure to visit the disarmament hub website and participate in our Students for a Nuclear Weapons-free World Campaign Contest!
       

Tougher G-8 Sanctions against Iran Could Come in September

Reuters reported yesterday that the G-8 could approve tougher sanctions against Iran in September if Tehran does not submit to negotiations over its nuclear program.  Although Canadian spokesman, Dimitri Soudas, claimed that “All G8 Nations are united”, it appears that Russia pushed for the later September deadline instead of agreeing to immediate sanctions. 

Clearly Russia’s political will has to be questioned: since voting with the other permanent members on the Security Council in favor of resolution 1747 which called on states to exercise “vigilance and restraint in the supply” of arms to Tehran, Russia continued arms sales to Iran throughout 2007-2008 even discussing the sale of anti-aircraft missile systems to Iran in 2008. 

Does Russia’s foot dragging on further sanctions against Iran reflect more of the same or will Moscow take a tougher stance in September if Tehran cannot be brought to the negotiating table? 

"High Confidence" in US ABM Capability?

Last Thursday the commander of the U.S. Northern Command, Victor E. "Gene" Renuart, was quoted in the Washington Times stating that he had “high confidence” that US anti-ballistic missile defenses could “interdict [a North Korean ICBM] before it caused huge damage to any U.S. territory”.  

While it remains vague what “huge damage” to US territory would constitute, I find myself focusing more on the high level of confidence in US ABM capability.  Renuart mentioned that he would rely on Aegis (pictured above), Theater High-Altitude Area Defenses (THAAD) and Patriot missiles. The Aegis test record is by no means spotless, and I would be interested in seeing similar comprehensive records of the THAAD and Patriot defenses. Does anyone out there know a good place to get more info on these? 

Also, make sure to visit the disarmament hub website and participate in our Students for a Nuclear Weapons Free World Campaign Contest!

 

Friday's Links a day early!

I’m off later today for a long 4^th of July weekend, so you’ll get your Friday’s links a day early!

I just came from the DPI/NGO Town Hall meeting at the UN where they were discussing logistics for the conference on Disarmament, Peace and Security in Mexico City. Remember to check out the disarmament hub website to learn how you can start your own campaign for a nuclear weapons-free world and win a chance to present your ideas at a WFUNA workshop at the conference!

Last night I had the opportunity to see a screening of the Yann Arthus-Bertrand  film “Home”, hosted by Pamela Kraft, executive director of the Tribal Link Foundation (the image above of the B52 Stratofortress Bombers are from Yann's "Earth From Above" Series).  The film focuses on the severe impact that mankind has had on the environment; not exactly arms control focused, but as the film makes clear, everything is connected.  Resource scarcity and migration of “climate refugees” will continue to affect global peace, so we need to start thinking of climate change as a security issue.  Really a beautiful and stirring film, a must see. Watch it FREE online

Kazakhstan is making headlines! Check out totalwonkerr for an interesting post about Kazakh president Nursultan Nazarbayev’s recent comments about the NPT, Iran and Kazakhstan’s nuclear history.

Global Zero has some cool interactive features on their website. Check out the map and timeline

Finally, Dr. Hans Blix will be speaking at a conference for the International Youth Dialogue for Disarmament held in Philadelphia in October. Learn more and register for the event! 

Proposal to Send Troops to US/Mexico Border Hits Snag

The Washington Post reported yesterday that the DHS and DOD disagree over which agency should provide funding for additional forces to be sent to the US/Mexican border to combat narcotics and gun smuggling.  Secretary of Defense Gates argues that the DOD’s budget is straining under the cost of wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and that the security of the border should be left to agencies that are charged with this specific mission, such as the Border Patrol and local police and state authorities. DHS Secretary and former Arizona Governor, Janet Napolitano, sides with the border-state governors who reason that border security is a federal issue. 

Regardless of which agency ends up paying for the troops, I disagree with the line of reasoning that an additional 1,500 guardsmen patrolling a 2,000 mile border that is crossed legally more than 800,000 times a day will make a significant impact on gun and drug smugglers.  Instead of combating the symptoms of the narco cartels, the US should pass stricter gun laws in border-states to stem the flow of illicit guns to Mexico.  

Check out the New York Times’ interactive feature “Smuggling Guns From Houston” to get an idea of the quantity and caliber of arms that can be smuggled into Mexico by just one gunrunner.  

Also, make sure to visit the disarmament hub website and participate in our Students for a Nuclear Weapons Free World Campaign Contest!

Friday's Links

Every Friday I'll publish a few links on arms control, national security, proliferation and disarmament. Here comes this week's batch!

Earlier this week I published a blog post about the Security Council's political will in leveling a new round of sanctions against North Korea. Arms Control Wonk has published a number of posts this week discussing the feasibility of knowing exactly what is on North Korea's cargo ships. Definitely worth checking out. 

Support a Nuclear Weapons Free Zone in the Middle East

Last week in Cairo, President Obama said, “It is clear to all concerned that when it comes to nuclear weapons, we have reached a decisive point. This is…about preventing a nuclear arms race in the Middle East that could lead this region and the world down a hugely dangerous path.”

Write to President Obama today and ask him to use the convening power of the United States to begin negotiations on a Middle East Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone (NWFZ).

Report on Flow of US Small Arms to Mexico

The News Hour with Jim Lehrer Recently aired a segment about measures that are being taken to combat the flow of US firearms that are fueling Mexico's narco wars. Read the transcript and watch the video here

Create your own Campaign for a Nuclear Weapons Free World and Compete to win a Trip to the UN DPI/NGO Conference in Mexico!

Check out the Global Disarmament Hub to learn how to participate in this year's Students for a Nuclear Weapons Free World Campaign Contest! 

Tougher Sanctions Against North Korea

This is a great time to be active in arms control and disarmament issues. There’s so much happening right now, especially at the UN.  On Friday, the Security Council voted to step up sanctions against North Korea in response to the DPRK’s recent nuclear test and missile launches.

 I spoke recently with a sanctions expert at the UN who told me that one can generally gauge the Security “Council’s political will on a particular sanctions issue depending on whether the Council 1) establishes a Sanctions Committee; 2) establishes a monitoring mechanism; and 3) authorizes/mandates the Committee to designate individuals/entities for sanctions (e.g., assets freeze, travel ban) which violate the sanctions regime”.

In the case of DPRK, there already exists a sanctions committee and a monitoring body.  The most recent round of sanctions leveled against North Korea would grant the Security Council the power to review cases in which UN member state vessels entering or departing from North Korea refuse inspection, and in each individual case the Security Council can opt to sanction the vessel’s government.  This added measure clearly results in a more robust sanctions regime, but because sanctions are not made automatic against violators, the regime against the North is not as muscular as it could be. 

 In addition to keeping an eye on what's happening at the UN, WFUNA is busy preparing for the DPI/NGO Conference on Disarmament, Peace and Security taking place in September in Mexico City. Check out the disarmament hub website for an opportunity to win a trip to the conference!

Youth Committee Pre-Conference: Disarm the World with Knowledge

Yesterday the UN University hosted a pre-conference to get youth engaged in the DPI-NGO conference on Disarmament, Peace and Security in Mexico in September.  

The morning session focused on nuclear issues and featured Kristin Jenssen, Political Affairs Officer, Weapons of Mass Destruction, with UN Office of Disarmament Affairs (UNODA), Kathleen Sullivan, with the Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Education website of the UN, Cyber School Bus and Sheena Nayak, grad student at Monterey Institute of International Studies.  The discussion touched upon the history of arms control, how NGO's can engage youth in the disarmament arena, and the human security aspect of nuclear weapons; that nuclear weapons make all of us fundamentally insecure.  

The afternoon session focused on conventional weapons, small arms and land mines and featured Daniel Prins, Chief of the Conventional Arms Branch of UNODA, Gustavo Laurie, UN Mine Action Service and UN DPKO, Akiko Ikeda, Programme Officer for UN Mine Action Service and Jake Walko, from International Action Network on Small Arms.  The panelists discussed the difficulties in controlling the spread of small arms, successes and challenges in drawing down the number of land mines in violent conflicts, and the human rights implications and victims’ rights associated with land mines. 

The event also featured disarmament-themed posters from DPI-NGO’s youth poster series and was a great precursor to the September DPI-NGO conference on Disarmament, Peace and Security. 

Our First Blog Post!

This blog is designed to keep everyone updated about what is happening at the UN and surrounding NGO community concerning proliferation issues, disarmament and arms control.  As the disarmament coordinator at the World Federation of United Nations Associations (WFUNA)- A People's Movement for the United Nations- I will also make sure that you are all in the loop about what we have going on here as well.  

First, we have some big news! The annual DPI-NGO conference, held this year in Mexico City from September 9th-11th, will focus on the issues of Disarmament, Peace and Security. Building towards the conference, WFUNA is sponsoring a contest: Students for a Nuclear Weapons Free World. Students are encouraged to design/develop a local campaign that educates, invigorates, and mobilizes your community (local, regional, national, online, or anywhere) especially youth, to become a part of the global movement to free the world of nuclear weapons. Winners will win a trip to the DPI-NGO conference in Mexico! Check out the disarmament hub website for details.  Feel free to send me any questions/comments regarding the contest, the disarmament hub website, or anything else regarding disarmament and arms control, I'm looking forward to seeing the contest submissions!