Even though this treaty has since been ratified by the five official nuclear powers and most other countries, the goal of disarmament has yet to be achieved. In fact, the number of nuclear weapons in the world today stands at 27,000. Many of these are ready to fire at the push of a button. The “nuclear club” once consisted of the USA, the Soviet Union, France, the United Kingdom and China. Now, Israel, India, Pakistan and North Korea are members, too. Many other countries are poised to join them. The dream of a world free of nuclear weapons has grown more remote, not closer.

Once again, the international community faces the question whether it is right for the world to be divided into countries entitled to possess nuclear weapons and countries not so entitled.

THE PURPOSE OF THE IPPNW WORLD CONGRESS IS TO BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN WORDS AND ACTION.

The international public needs to understand the growing security risk posed by the possession of nuclear weapons, whether as a deterrent or for conflict resolution. For the sake of every child, we must get our message out.

The history of physicians working collectively to prevent nuclear war began in 1962, when a group of physicians in the USA (Physicians for Social Responsibility, PSR) investigated the potential consequences of a nuclear attack and articulated certain conclusions and demands. The example of PSR lives on in the work of IPPNW, founded in 1980.

For any physician, the notion of global security predicated on nuclear weapons is an absurdity. To any doctor who is professionally committed to the preservation of human life, the stockpiling of weapons of mass destruction is unacceptable. If used, such weapons will release lethal dosages of radiation. Hundreds of thousands will die on the spot. Countless others will suffer the effects of radiation poisoning. The contamination of the planet will continue for millennia. The only cure is prevention, one of the key goals of medicine.

As a non-governmental organization with over 200,000 members in 60 countries, IPPNW has always been dedicated to an active peace policy. In 1985, it received the Nobel Peace Prize for its work.

 

We are delighted that the 2010 IPPNW World Congress is to take place in Basel, Switzerland. A neutral country, Switzerland has excelled historically in the role of intermediary. With its humanitarian traditions, the Swiss nation is uniquely suited to advance the cause of global peace.

In parallel to the main debates, smaller meetings and workshops will examine numerous other medical and peace-related topics.

• The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference taking place in New York City in 2010

• Status report on nuclear disarmament among the traditional nuclear powers

• Status report on other nations seeking to acquire nuclear weapons

• Nuclear weapons in an increasingly polarized world and the falling threshold or deployment

• Potential nuclear-weapon-free zones in Europe and the Middle East

• Continuing contamination of the biosphere from atmospheric nuclear testing

in the 1940s and 1950s

 

• Radioactive contamination of the biosphere by nuclear technology

• The extraction of uranium and the health effects on the populations of producer countries

• The effects of the nuclear threat on mental health

• Current knowledge about radiation from low-level radioactive materials

• New epidemiological research

• Interpretation of international nuclear law

The congress is intended primarily for doctors, health professionals and students. Some 400 to 600 doctors from all over the world are expected to attend, along with as many as 200 medical students. The aim is to hold public events to stimulate interest among wider sectors of the population.

 

The registration fees for attending the congress fall far short of our costs, because many participants from poor countries can afford to attend only as invited guests. Please see the enclosed budget. We urgently need financial support from donors and sponsors.

If you would like to support the 2010 IPPNW World Congress or to find out more about opportunities for donations and sponsorship, please contact our office. We will also be happy to help with any other questions you may have about the World Congress or our organization. IPPNW is tax-exempt. Donations above CHF 100 are tax-deductible.

 

Claudia Bürgler

Klosterberg 23

CH-4051 Basel

Tel.: +41 (0)61 271 50 25

E-mail: sekretariat@ippnw.ch

Internet: www.ippnw.ch

Professor Dr. med. Andreas Nidecker, MD

Tel.: +41 (0)61 683 11 60 (evenings)

E-mail: andreas.nidecker@ippnw.ch

Internet: www.ippnw2010.org

 

1968: THE NUCLEAR NON-PROLIFERATION TREATY (NPT) IS SIGNED.

THE OBJECTIVE: GLOBAL NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT.

 

2008: THE GLOBAL NUCLEAR ARSENAL NUMBERS 27,000

NUCLEAR WEAPONS.

 

2010: THE NUCLEAR NON-PROLIFERATION TREATY IS SCHEDULED

FOR DISCUSSION AGAIN. DECISIVE ACTION IS OVERDUE.

 

IPPNW IS COMMITED TO KEEPING NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT

ON THE POLITICAL AGENDA.

 

 

To know who and how many people are interested to attend the Worldcongress in Switzerland 2010, we ask you to fill out this form. This is not an application form it serves just as an information tool for IPPNW/PSR/CH for organisational purposes. If you fill out the form  including your email-address you will be informed with an email message about application facility for the worldcongress of ippnw 2010 in Switzerland.