2020 Vision – Outline of the Emergency Campaign
Background
The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) entered into force in March 1970, becoming the central international agreement for the abolition of nuclear weapons. The NPT Review Conference in 2000 adopted a final document containing the promise of “an unequivocal undertaking by the nuclear-weapon states to accomplish the total elimination of their nuclear arsenals.” This promise was seen as a significant step toward the abolition of nuclear weapons, which has long been the most fervent desire of Hiroshima and Nagasaki cities.
However, the current world situation affords little optimism. The United States, the nuclear superpower, is evidently uninterested in implementing its NPT promise. It has publicly reserved the option of a preemptive first strike with nuclear weapons and has openly stated its intention to develop small “useable” nuclear weapons. North Korea has withdrawn from the NPT and has told the US it plans to build and possess nuclear weapons. The NPT regime teeters on the verge of collapse, and the elimination of nuclear weapons remains a distant and elusive goal.
In response to the mounting peril they perceive, the Mayors for Peace, other global associations of local authorities, NGOs and private citizens are now working together to promote an “Emergency Campaign to Ban Nuclear Weapons.” The purpose of this campaign is to eliminate all nuclear weapons by the year 2020.
Objectives
That the 2005 NPT Review Conference agree on:
a) the immediate de-alerting of all nuclear weapons and
b) the launching of negotiations on the elimination of nuclear weapons in 2005, with a mandate to conclude by 2010 a Nuclear Weapon Convention designed to eliminate all the nuclear weapons by 2020.
That the nations of the world bring the Nuclear Weapons Convention into effect at the NPT Review Conference in 2010 and work in good faith to eliminate nuclear weapons within the following decade.
The creation of a peaceful world completely free from the threat of nuclear weapons.
Outline of the Campaign
The Emergency Campaign to Ban Nuclear Weapons targets the following four milestones:
Step 1: The NPT PrepCom 2004
The first milestone of the Campaign was achieved when a Mayoral Delegation was dispatched to the NPT Review Preparatory Committee meeting (PrepCom) held last April. ... At about the same time, official support for the Campaign was expressed by the European Parliament and the United States Conference of Mayors.
Step 2: Year of Remembrance and Action for a Nuclear-Weapon-Free World, 06 August 2004 – 9 August 2005
We will ask our member cities, other major cities and anti-nuclear NGOs around the world to facilitate the organizing of parades, concerts, rallies, vigils, symposia, athletic events, art competitions or other events to draw public attention to the nuclear issue during this year.
Step 3: NPT Review Conference, May 2 to 27, 2005
The campaign will
mobilize at least 100 mayors of major cities to attend the Review Conference and assist the NGO lobbying effort,
mobilize at least 1,000 NGO representatives to attend the 2005 Review Conference and lead the lobbying effort in pursuit of nuclear abolition,
mobilize one million people to be in the streets in New York during the conference to express the will of the people.
Step 4: Hiroshima-Nagasaki Process, June 2005
Set in motion alternative plans if Objective 1 mentioned above is not achieved.
