from Pax Christi International
Introduction
There is an increasing momentum in the efforts to achieve a ban on nuclear weapons based on the humanitarian imperative. In 2010, all NPT member states, expressed “deep concern at the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of any use of nuclear weapons.” In 2011, the International Red Cross/Red Crescent movement adopted a resolution titled “Working towards the Elimination of Nuclear Weapons.” These efforts were partly influenced by books and reports including Alan Robock’s “Climate effects of nuclear war” (2008), Brian Toon’s “Self-assured destruction: The climate impacts of nuclear war” (2012), and Ira Helfand’s “Nuclear Famine: A Billion People at Risk” (2012), among others. Growing governmental recognition of the humanitarian consequences of any use of nuclear weapons led the Government of Norway to prepare a conference taking place on 4-5 March to hold a facts-based discussion of the humanitarian and developmental consequences associated with a nuclear weapon detonation…
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