by Sue Wareham
One’s immediate thought on looking at any of the multitude of photos of the devastation of Gaza is a profound sense of sorrow and grief at the capacity of humans to wreak such destruction and suffering. There is mind-numbing despair at the plight of children who have lost everything—their parents, other family members, their own health, their education, their fun, their society, their future.
As catastrophic as this is, it is not even the full picture of the harm being wrought in the destruction of Gaza. One can’t help wondering also: when rebuilding eventually starts, where will whole neighbourhoods of rubble go? It will need new neighbourhoods of rubble simply to hold it all, or that very useful waste dump—the ocean. Moving it all and starting again will be part of a hidden problem in the war on Gaza—its greenhouse gas emissions.
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by Kati Juva
IPPNW was founded more than 40 years ago, and the main objective was to tell people—decision makers, physicians, students and the public about the devastating consequences of nuclear weapons and nuclear war. At the height of the Cold War, the threat of a nuclear war was palpable and even young children had fears of the end of the world. Meanwhile, in many parts of the world, bomb shelters were built that were said to protect from atomic bombs, and children were taught to “duck and cover” under the school desks were they to see an explosion flash.
Read more…by Dr. David Onazi, IPPNW Co-President
On 10-11 May 2024, The Vatican’s Fratelli Tutti Foundation brought twenty Noble Laureates and leaders together for the second World Meeting on Human Fraternity. Represented by three of our four Co-Presidents — Drs. Kati Juva, David Onazi, and Carlos Umaña — IPPNW participated in the meeting and the drafting of the Declaration, “We Reject War: Let diplomacy prevail over arms. We want Peace!”, ensuring that the urgent need to eliminate nuclear weapons was captured in the final statement.
Read more…Call for Sanity, Call for Action
[The following statement was adopted by IPPNW’s International Council (IC) at the conclusion of our June 2024 virtual IC and Board meetings.]
Today humankind faces the twin existential threats of climate change and nuclear war. The former is already making large parts of our planet uninhabitable; far greater climate action is critically needed. For nuclear war, which could kill billions and end human civilisation, prevention is the only cure.
At the same time, war and armed conflict has killed or injured hundreds of thousands of people. Millions more have been forced to abandon their homes. The already devastating conflicts in Ukraine and Palestine involving nuclear-armed states raise the spectre of wider regional wars or even a global confrontation. Respect for international humanitarian law and the protection of civilians, children, and health professionals in armed conflict must be restored.
Read more…Re-engaging WHO on nuclear weapons and health
[The following is an edited version of a presentation made by IPPNW board member and former co-president Tilman Ruff at an IPPNW side event at the World Health Assembly in Geneva on 31 May. The event was co-sponsored by Austria, Kazakhstan, and Mexico.]
I’m honoured to say a few words on behalf of IPPNW to encourage and support renewed engagement by WHO in the issue of nuclear weapons and health, and specifically for an updated report on the effects of nuclear war on health and health services.
Indeed, as the world’s leading technical agency in health, WHO has a unique role in providing authoritative evidence on the most acute existential threat facing humankind, as a key part of the evidence base to underpin informed policies of member states.
Read more…Enforcement of international law is long overdue
International law―the recognized rules of behavior among nations based on customary practices and treaties, among them the United Nations Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights―has been agreed upon by large and small nations alike. To implement this law, the nations of the world have established a UN Security Council (to maintain international peace and security) and a variety of international courts, including the UN’s International Court of Justice(which adjudicates disputes between nations and gives advisory opinions on international legal issues) and the International Criminal Court (which prosecutes individuals for crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and the crime of aggression).
Yet nations continue to defy international law.
Read more…by Dr. Bimal Khadka, originally published to Medact’s blog on May 1, 2024.
Back in December, the 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework on Climate Change (UNFCCC), better known as COP28, hosted an unprecedented assembly of health delegates – setting a historic benchmark. I attended the conference as part of a delegation from International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW), of which Medact is the UK affiliate. Over 1900 health professionals observed a landmark inaugural ‘Health Day’ at the conference. With the goal of Disarmament for Climate Justice and Health, IPPNW and Medact participated at COP28 to ensure human and environmental health was at the center of decision making. Here are some key highlights from the conference, and considerations of the path towards disarmament for health and climate justice.
Read more…Nuclear War: Too much information
Book review of “Nuclear War. A Scenario” by Annie Jacobsen
I had heard some criticism of Annie Jacobsen’s book “Nuclear War” before I even bought it. But also, lots of people were raving about it, so I decided to read it myself. This review contains a few spoilers, but I don’t think the plot is the main motivation for reading this book, although it does read like a dystopian novel.
If you want to know what a full-scale nuclear war might look like and how it could plausibly begin (and end), then this book is very valuable. Just looking at the copious notes and bibliography (almost 60 pages) shows that an inordinate amount of time went into the research. It covers nuclear strategy and targeting plans, the effects of one and of multiple explosions, (lack of) continuance of government, the uselessness of missile defence, the problem of misunderstanding and miscalculation, and many other aspects of the problem.
Read more…The forgotten element in averting nuclear catastrophe
What will it take to end the nuclear nightmare that has gripped the world since the atomic bombings of 1945?
For a time, that nightmare seemed to have abated for, in response to massive popular resistance to the prospect of nuclear war, governments turned to signing nuclear arms control and disarmament agreements. Even previously hawkish government officials proclaimed that “a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought.”
In recent decades, however, nuclear-armed nations have scrapped nuclear arms control and disarmament treaties, begun the massive upgrading and expansion of their nuclear arsenals, and publicly threatened other nations with nuclear war. The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, which has assessed the nuclear situation since 1946, has turned the hands of its “Doomsday Clock” to 90 seconds to midnight, the most dangerous setting in its history.
Why has this renewed flirtation with nuclear Armageddon occurred?
Read more…by 2023 Mombasa Bike Tour participants: Stella Ziegler, Arashdeep Singh, Dennis Opondo, Harrison Kuria Karime, Hemant Rathore, Yusuf Dominic, Victor Chelashow
In April 2023, over a dozen IPPNW medical students and junior doctors from 9 countries braved a 500km bike tour from Nairobi to Mombasa, Kenya, leading to IPPNW’s 23rd World Congress. Throughout the 5 day journey, the young leaders rallied junior doctors and medical students to raise awareness and promote action on disarmament, climate justice, and health. Participants met with local community members, decisionmakers, religious leaders, and more. On the journey, the close-knit group learned about each other’s cultures, sang karaoke, discussed perspectives on the threats to life, and united in the common goal of creating a safer, healthier future for future generations.
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Bimal Khadka
Bjorn Hilt
Charles K. Johnson
Gunnar Westberg
IPPNW
John Loretz
Lawrence Wittner
Maria Valenti
mollymcgint
Sue Wareham
Tilman Ruff
Tim Wright
Xanthe Hall
IPPNW peace and health blog 