The threat of a nuclear holocaust did not go away with the end of the Cold War. Large numbers of very nasty nuclear weapons are, at this very moment, pointed at the United States. And American nuclear bombs are on hair-trigger alert pointed at others. But New Zealand’s former Minister of Disarmament and Arms Control Marian Hobbs wants us to resist the temptation to be terrified, because however legitimate, fear stops people in their tracks, she knows.

Instead, Marian Hobbs says, ordinary people must, once again, get active. Demand action from their political leaders. That’s what it took to get the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) signed in 1968. Now this Non-Proliferation Treaty is the solemn law of the 188 signator nations (everyone in the world except India, Israel, Pakistan.) And there's no backing out.

In May, 2005, 190 nations will gather in New York for a month-long, five-yearly review of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treat. Yes, issues of horizontal proliferation (from one country to the next) will be on the table. Minister Hobbs says issues of vertical proliferation (building further nuclear capacity inside a "have" nation, as the United States has threatened to do) are also vital.

The countries that did not have nuclear weapons and agreed to forswear them have proven the Treaty remarkably successful. It has in fact acted to restrain the spread of nuclear weapons' capability. But many "have-not" countries now say that the "have" nuclear countries have not lived up to their side of the bargain. They agreed to dramatic reductions in weapons and have not done it. Bombs on all sides are still on hair-trigger alert. Nuclear nations even have their weapons on other people's soil.

It's time to strengthen the Treaty, Minister Hobbs and many other world leaders say. She is convinced that this can happen if enough regular people speak up and force their politicians to act on behalf of life.

While she dreams of and works for disarmament, Minister Hobbs, diplomats, and politicians from around the world are realistic. They know disarmament won’t happen overnight. Interim successes are their goal. Many have-not nations are calling for the haves to create REAL security. De-alert hair-triggered bombs. Remove nuclear weapons situated in other countries. Be serious. Act in good faith.

T.H. Ms. Hobbs says she has great faith in grass roots movement. Around the world, people must begin to talk about issues of peace -- peace in the playgrounds, peace in our communities, international peace and how we can arrive at it, plus the big picture of nuclear disarmament.

Talk to each other and talk to politicians, she urges. Set the standards of how we will live together, in terms of nuclear weapons as well as the environment (another of her ministerial portfolios.) It's your job as a human being, she insists. Remember, Minister Hobbs says. It was regular people who demanded the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty in the first place. And got it.

 

 

[This Program was recorded January 28, 2005, in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.]