What will a world without nuclear weapons look like, and how can we get there? What sort of actual threat do these weapons pose, and what can we learn from those who have survived a nuclear bomb?
Experts and leading academics from around the world will debate these and other topics in Adelaide this weekend. The panel of more than 20 speakers will come together for a two-day conference aimed at advancing debate on the urgent need to eliminate the use of nuclear weapons.
Judge Christopher Gregory Weeramantry, a Panel Judge on the 1996 International Court of Justice Advisory Opinion on nuclear weapons, is the keynote speaker. Other experts include Australian Red Cross’ international humanitarian law expert Dr Helen Durham, Special Adviser to the International Criminal Court in The Hague Prof Tim McCormack, Flinders University’s Professor of International Law Susan Breau, Marshall Islands academic Mary Silk, who has documented the stories of communities impacted by the Bikini Atoll testing, and Hiroshima survivor Junko Morimoto.
Speakers will debate a range of topics including new ideas from civil society to urge governments to act, the legality of the use of nuclear weapons, their devastating humanitarian and environmental impacts, and the role various groups can play in driving the debate. The conference has been organised by Australian Red Cross and Flinders University, with the support of the Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre at UniSA.
What: Towards Eliminating Nuclear Weapons’ Conference
When: Saturday November 3 & Sunday November 4, 2012
Where: Allan Scott Auditorium, Hawke Building, UniSA City West Campus, 50-55 North Terrace, Adelaide
Late last year in Geneva, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement passed an historic resolution calling for a ban on the use of nuclear weapons. The resolution, which now has the support of all Australian political parties, was spearheaded by Australian Red Cross and its counterparts in Japan and Norway. Australian Red Cross is also encouraging the public to get involved in its social media campaign aimed at raising awareness on this issue: http://targetnuclearweapons.org.au/.
For a full list of speakers and sessions or to register for the conference visit http://www.redcross.org.au/conference.aspx. You can also support our work by giving monthly, leaving a bequest in your will or making a one-off donation. Please visit redcross.org.au or call 1800 811
