2017 Nobel Peace prize : ICAN
Nobel prize is always famous. At this time of every year, the news of winning the award are abuzz. This year was no exception. This year, the Norwegian Nobel Committee decided to award the Nobel Peace Prize for 2017 to ICAN. ICAN is the abbreviation for International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons. Nobel Committee said “They are receiving the award for its work to draw attention to the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of any use of nuclear weapons and for its ground-breaking efforts to achieve a treaty-based prohibition of such weapons.” But still many people wondered ‘Why ICAN?’. I can understand them. Because me too.
“The said interest shall be divided into five equal parts, which shall be apportioned as follows: /- – -/ one part to the person who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses.” – the will of Alfred Nobel
Why can ICAN win?
ICAN is a coalition of non-governmental organizations in one hundred countries promoting adherence to and implementation of the United Nations nuclear weapon ban treaty. It has 468 partner organizations in 101 countries(by ICAN homepage) The amazing thing is that ICAN was launched on April 2007! Now do you understand? There are a lot of peace groups to contribute really hard toward the world. Just last year, there are a lot of a prominent candidates. It is a last year posting of Nobel peace prize. Here : 2016 Nobel peace prize : Colombia peace agreement “It is passed. Now remaining task is ‘implementation’ Finally we could know ‘The Norwegian Nobel Committee want to tell something‘. The message is about nuclear weapons. The North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un maybe contributed much to Nobel Peace Prize.
What is ground-breaking efforts?
When voted of 122-1, one third of 193 U.N. member countries boycotted the vote. ‘Authorized’ nuclear nations, U.S, Russia, China, UK, France boycotted. Also ‘Unauthorized’ nuclear nations, India, Pakistan, Israel, North Korea boycotted. The number of actual signature is 53 countries. So actually we can’t expect the whole effect. But the only way to eliminate World War III is to eliminate all nuclear weapons. I am reminded of Gandhi’s quotes. “There is no path to peace. Peace is the path.”
Reaction of The United States and Russia
The U.S. reacted
coldly. The U.S. State Department said “
Unfortunately, we are seeing a deterioration in the overall security environment and growing nuclear capabilities of certain states. This treaty will
not make the world more peaceful, will
not result in the elimination of a single nuclear weapon, and will
not enhance any state’s security.” The
U.S.,
Britain and
France said the prohibition wouldn’t work and would end up disarming their nations.
“This treaty will not make the world peaceful“
The head of the Russia Federation Council Committee on international Affairs Konstantin Kosachev said, “This is now the real front of struggle for peace, not the romance of a nuclear-free future we all, probably, too would like to.” Also it is“not only misleading but also very dangerous opinion, which stimulates the proliferation of weapons and undermines the process of international disarmament.”
“Nuclear weapons are illegal. Threatening to use nuclear weapons is illegal. Having nuclear weapons, possessing nuclear weapons, developing nuclear weapons, is illegal, and they need to stop.”
– ICAN’s Message to Trump and Kim Jong Un
HWPL’s DPCW vs TPNW
First, TPNW vs NPT
TPNW contributed to the continued role of the NPT, emphasizing its “vital role in promoting international peace and security”.
- There is the distinction between states entitled to possess such weapons and non-nuclear weapon states in NPT. But in TPNW it is not.
- The TPNW also forbids states party to the treaty from allowing “any stationing, installation or deployment” of nuclear weapons on their territory, a prohibition that is not explicitly included in the NPT
- States party to the TPNW are prohibited from conducting nuclear tests, while the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) has not yet entered into force
Beyond Nuclear Disarmament
Do you know HWPL‘s DPCW(the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War)? The purpose of DPCW is to end the war. If so, the nuclear disarmament is a natural consequence. Actually DPCW has an article of elimination of nuclear weapons. I know many people think it is a naive desire. But the success of ICAN already show you ‘the world is changing‘. Simply we just walked the path to peace.
- DPCW Article 1 – Prohibition of the threat or use of force
- 3. States should prohibit any act or threat of violence, whatever its motives or purposes, that occurs for the advancement of an individual or collective criminal agenda.
- DPCW Article 2 – War potential
- 2. States should not produce, assist in, encourage, or induce; the production of weapons of mass destruction, inter alia, chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons, or weapons capable of causing indiscriminate or widespread and unnecessary suffering, or weapons incompatible with international humanitarian law.
- 3. States should take measures to ensure that existing weapons of mass destruction, weapons capable of causing widespread and unnecessary suffering and weapons incompatible with international humanitarian law are gradually dismantled or destroyed. States should cooperate in disarmament and the reduction of arms stockpiles, ideally under international supervision. Decommissioned weapons manufacturing facilities should be repurposed, so that they may serve purposes that are beneficial to humanity in general.
“To live according to a Heavenly culture is to live according to the principles and values of heaven, a place that gives light, rain and air without boundaries.” – the chairman of HWPL
Peace is up to you :0 Good luck!
November 11 is Remembrance Day. It is sometimes known as Poppy Day. Remembrance Day is a memorial day for Commonwealth of Nations’s armed forces who died in the First World War(1914-1918). They carried out their mission by strenuous effort. Do you know what the symbol of this is? It is a Remembrance poppy. Surprisingly, It is a artificial flower. Why is this? It is due to the poem “In Flanders Fields” written by Canadian John McCrae, MD, physician.
When one person read this poem, Moina Michael, a professor at the University of Georgia, swore to wear a red poppy. So people started to wear a red poppy on Remembrance Day. She wrote one poem which was filled with everything. It is a “We Shall Keep the Faith“.
Throughout the world, sincere people celebrated that day in many places . I brought this case because they explains the spirit very well. The Richmond Youth Honour Choir (RYHC) is singing for peace on 11 November. RYHC’s artistic director, Heidi Epp said “It is important to remember the tragedies and losses of war, the suffering of many including veterans, their families, civilians and, well, everyone” I think it is very hard. Why? Because it is too difficult to remind these memories. It maybe pierce your heart. Coming face to face is to be our power and our foundation. After some time, flowers surely begin to blossom.
