| Getting Down to Business |
| Written by Sarah Cartin | |||
| Monday, 03 May 2010 12:08 | |||
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It's a rainy New York Monday morning and we are just preparing to head over the the United Nations Plaza for the first day of the NPT Review Conference. Watching the local news it seems that there is going to be a protest outside in opposition to Iran's President Mahmood Ahamdinejad attending the conference. It's unsurprisingly a strong theme over here. While we were on the fantastic 'Disarm Now' demonstration yesterday, press crews were interviewing us and other protestors and the common question was 'What do you think should be done about Iran trying to develop their own nuclear weapons?' This attitude for me sums up one of the fundamental problems we encounter in our arguments for global disarmament. Those of us from the nuclear states don't sit on some plateau of judgement, we are equally dangerous and irresponsible in our drive for nuclear superiority. The critical judgement needs to begin at home. Watching the Hibakusha leading the demonstration yesterday and the thousands of Japanese delegates streaming into the UN plaza at the end of the march I wondered if those media crews had taken time to hear their stories and the impact of the destruction imposed on their lives by nuclear weapons. I'll put up some photos of the protest later on and will spare you the tedious tale of our 4-hour wait to collect our UN passes. I have a sneaking suspicion the shade and air-conditioning is saved for the Diplomats and Governmental representatives. Good job we are made of tough stuff! Years of blockading ws good preparation! This afternoon I have the honour of representing CND at a meeting hosted by Gensuikyo, The Japan Council Against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs, so will report back with a round-up of that and the other news of the day. There are lots of good blogs on the NPT, Dave Webb's on the Yorkshire CND website, CND's blog and Bruce Gagnon's 'Organising Notes' are a good place to start. Right, I'm off to the UN. Catch you later.
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