”What's
PNND ?
Parliamentary Network for
Nuclear Disarmament (PNND)
A non-partisan
forum for parliamentarians, nationally and
internationally, to share resources and information,
develop cooperative strategies and engage in nuclear disarmament issues,
initiatives and arenas.
The
Parliamentary Network for Nuclear Disarmament was formed
in March 2001 to engage parliamentarians and other
legislators in the disarmament process. As citizen
representatives to government, parliamentarians are a
vital link between civil society and national leaders.
The PNND open to any parliamentarian to join and is free
of charge.
PNND
recognises and affirms existing parliamentary activities
and initiatives, and aims to cooperate with and
complement these.
Why Parliamentarians?
"....The
parliaments of the world are the bridges between
government and civil society. They provide the funds to
pay for national initiatives. Through their
deliberations, they help to shape policy, and through
their investigative and oversight powers they build
public accountability. They provide a bulwark to ensure
that governments comply with their international
commitments and pledges -- a role that at times requires
the enactment of domestic legislation. These functions
are absolutely vital to the future of nuclear
disarmament. They help to give disarmament not only
vision, but also some backbone, muscle, and teeth."
UN
Under-Secretary-General Jayantha Dhanapala, British House
of Commons, July 3, 2000
Why worry about nuclear disarmament?
The Cold War
ended a decade ago, yet there are still 30,000 nuclear
weapons stockpiled, with over 5,000 deployed on hair
trigger alert. Plans by the US to develop a ballistic
missile defence are prompting China and Russia to enhance
their nuclear capabilities. India and Pakistan are
preparing to deploy nuclear weapons following tests in
1998. The increasing availability of fissile material,
nuclear technology and missile technology is increasing
the likelihood of nuclear threats from other states and
non-state actors. However, a window of opportunity exists
to move toward a comprehensive and verified ban on
nuclear weapons. There is thus a need to build political
will amongst governments.
What does the network provide?
- Information
for parliamentarians on nuclear disarmament
issues and on international events including
United Nations disarmament meetings
- Samples of
parliamentary resolutions, motions, questions and
legislation from around the world
- Contacts
with parliamentary colleagues in other countries
with whom to share information and ideas
- A forum for
developing joint strategy between parliaments on
international initiatives such as implementation
of the Non Proliferation Treaty disarmament
obligations, NATO Review and United Nations
resolutions
- Links with
non-governmental experts
Key issues for the network
- A ban on
all nuclear testing including entry into force of
the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty
- De-alerting,
stockpile reductions and fissile material control
- Nuclear
doctrine
- Disarmament
obligations arising from treaties and other
international law
- Possibilities
for a Nuclear Weapons Convention including
consideration of the legal, technical and
political requirements for the elimination of
nuclear weapons.
- Militarisation
of space
- Missile
proliferation and anti-ballistic missile
programs.
Engaging
in international disarmament arenas
Parliamentarians
can make an impact in international disarmament arenas
through engaging in them in a number of ways:
- Getting
appointed to regional and international
Parliamentary Assemblies such as the NATO
Parliamentary Assembly and the Organisation for
Security and Co-operation in Europe Parliamentary
Assembly
- Joining
your governmentfs delegation to
disarmament treaty negotiations and review
conferences such as the Non-Proliferation Treaty
Review Conferences and the Biological Weapons
Treaty Protocol negotiations
- Attending
international conferences as an observer
International disarmament arenas in which the network
engages
For more information contact
Alyn Ware
Global Coordinator, Parliamentary Network for Nuclear Disarmament
PO Box 23-257, Cable Car Lane
Wellington, Aotearoa-New Zealand
Tel: +64 4 496 9629 Fax: +64 4 496-9599
alyn@pnnd.org
Karel Koster
European coordinator
Obrechtstraat 43 NL-3572
EC, Utrecht, the Netherlands
pH 31 30 271 4376 fax
30,271 4759
karel@amok.antenna.nl
Hiromichi
Umebayashi
Japanese coordinator
3-3-1 Minowa-cho,
Kohoku-ku, Yokohama, 223-0051
Tel: 81-45-563-5101 Fax:
81-45-563-9907
CXJ15621@nifty.ne.jp
PNND is a project of theMiddle Powers Initiative, an international
coalition of non-governmental organisations with the aim
to influence and assist middle power governments to
encourage and educate the nuclear weapon states to commit
to immediate practical steps to reduce nuclear dangers
and commence negotiations to eliminate nuclear weapons.
|
