The Role of Parliamentarians in Advancing a Nuclear Weapons-Free World
Lacy Orme | Reaching Critical Will of WILPF
*This article appeared in the News in Review, the daily publication of ReachingCritical Will, available at: www.reachingcriticalwill.org
Hosted by Parliamentarians for Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament (PNND) and chaired by PNND International Coordinator Alyn Ware, this panel featured former United States Ambassador Robert Grey, Canadian Member of Parliament (MP) Bill Siksay, Mayra Gomez of PNND, Japanese MP Hideo Hiraoka, Scottish MP Bill Kidd, and an opening statement by Congressman Dennis Kucinich by video.
The participants discussed the pivotal role parliamentarians and their constituents play in the disarmament and abolition movements.
Ambassador Grey spoke passionately of the importance of NGOs as lobbyists of government officials and noted the “unique opportunity” given to the disarmament community with the election of US President Barack Obama. He said we must be persistent in our efforts but be wary not to “wear out our welcome.”
Mayra Gomez echoed that the push on governments to take action, such as on the ratification of the CTBT, must come from constituents. The opportunities for change are there, Ms. Gomez remarked, citing the PNND network as proof that those at the federal level believe like us that “it is a time for a better world—a world free of nuclear weapons.”
Both in Canada and Scotland, there are promising discussions of abolition issues, including Canada’s relationship with the United States and NATO, as well as Scotland’s relationship with the United Kingdom’s Trident program. Citing the fourteen accidents and two hundred fires on UK Trident ships over the years, Scottish MP Bill Kidd boldly stated that he and his counterparts in the Scottish Parliament stand against misinformation and against maintaining an arsenal that accomplishes nothing more than to make the world a dangerous and uncertain place. He called on constituents and NGO representatives in all countries to make their voices heard and to “stand against this Dr. Strangelove logic.”
In an opening statement to those present, Congressman Kucinich gave a similar appeal. In the end, although the parliamentarians play a crucial role in the abolition movement, they are nothing without the support and activism of their constituents.
Alyn Ware noted that the key task of PNND was to facilitate communication and collaboration between parliamentarians, governments, international organisations and citizens. Quoting from a Maori proverb from his native New Zealand, he said in his closing remarks, “He ahe te mea nui i te Ao. He tangata. He tangata. He tangata. What is the most important thing in the world? It is the people the people, the people.” The panel could not agree more.
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