International Day against Nuclear Tests 2014, August 29th

International Day against Nuclear Tests, August 29th
Día Internacional contra los Ensayos Nucleares, 29 de Augusto
Journée internationale contre les essais nucléaires, 29 Août.
禁止核试验国际日, 29月8日.
 Международный день действий против ядерных испытаний, 29 августа.
 اليوم الدولي لمناهضة التجارب النووية، , 29 آب/أغسطس

Internationa Day Against Nuclear Test, 29 august 2014

Today is a reminder that the world is united against the devastating effects of nuclear testing on the lives of people and the environment. It’s a reminder that the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) must enter into force. The CTBT not only closes the door on nuclear testing -- it is a critical step towards the elimination of nuclear weapons. CTBTO Executive Secretary Lassina Zerbo

 According to the resolution establishing it, the International Day against Nuclear Tests aims to prevent more of the “devastating and harmful effects on the lives and health of people and the environment” caused by nuclear testing. Over 2,000 Nuclear Tests have been conducted since the very first nuclear explosion, the Trinity test on 16 July 1945 in New Mexico, United States. Together, the fallout from these tests dwarfed the amount of radioactivity released into the environment from any nuclear accident.

 Currently 183 States have signed the Treaty and 162 have ratified it (see interactive map). However for the CTBT to enter into force, eight States - from a list of 44 defined as nuclear technology holders - have yet to ratify to meet the Treaty’s stringent entry into force requirement: China, DPRK, Egypt, India, Iran, Israel, Pakistan and the United States.

United Nations Secretary-General's message for the fifth observance of the International Day against Nuclear tests in 2014.

On this day in 1991, Kazakhstan closed the nuclear test site near Semipalatinsk. On that same date in 1949, the Soviet Union conducted its first nuclear test, followed by another 455 nuclear tests over succeeding decades, with a terrible effect on the local population and environment.
These tests and the hundreds more that followed in other countries became hallmarks of a nuclear arms race, in which human survival depended on the doctrine of mutually assured destruction, known by its fitting acronym, MAD.
As Secretary-General, I have had many opportunities to meet with some of the courageous survivors of nuclear weapons and nuclear tests in Hiroshima, Nagasaki and Semipalatinsk. Their resolve and dedication should continue to guide our work for a world without nuclear weapons. 
On this International Day against Nuclear Tests, let us all take a fresh look at those survivors’ stories.  Listen to their words and imagine the effects of these detonations as if they were experienced by each of us.  Only then can we can better understand the imperative to renew our commitment to a world free of nuclear weapons and nuclear tests.
I wish to appeal particularly to citizens of those States that have not yet ratified the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), especially the eight remaining Annex 2 States whose ratification is required for the Treaty’s entry into force: China, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Egypt, India, Iran, Israel, Pakistan and the United States.
Together, let us demand an end to all nuclear tests, get on with the unfinished business of achieving a world free of nuclear weapons, and usher in a safer and more prosperous future.

Ban Ki-moon

United Nations Secretary-General's message for International Day Against Nuclear Tests 2014

On this International Day Against Nuclear Tests, the international community reaffirms its commitment to secure the entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), which would prohibit all nuclear explosions. This would mark a welcome step toward a world without nuclear weapons. The CTBT has already made real progress toward achieving universal membership – more than 90 percent of UN Member States have signed the Treaty and 162 countries have ratified it. Eight states must ratify the Treaty in order for it to enter into force: China, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Egypt, India, Iran, Israel, Pakistan and the United States of America. I urge those states to act without further delay. I also call on all countries to refrain from nuclear tests, the use of new nuclear weapons technologies or any action that would defeat the object and purpose of the CTBT. We have recently witnessed a substantial growth of interest in better understanding the catastrophic humanitarian effects of nuclear weapons. Decades ago, awareness of the human and environmental consequences of nuclear detonations led to the global ban on nuclear tests. Today, the effects of nuclear weapons upon civilian populations, agriculture, livestock and ground-water supplies are better known and well documented. They have contributed significantly to our collective efforts towards achieving the prohibition and elimination of all nuclear weapons for all time. Together, let us demand an end to all nuclear tests and get on with the unfinished business of achieving a world free of nuclear weapons.

 Ban Ki-moon 

Message for the International Day Against Nuclear Tests 2014 by the President of the 68th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.

On 29 August 1949, the first nuclear device was detonated at the Semipalatinsk test range in Kazakhstan. 60 years later, the United Nations General Assembly, in its resolution 64/37, declared 29 August as the International Day against Nuclear Tests, a day devoted to enhancing public awareness and education about the effects of nuclear weapon test explosions or any other nuclear explosions and for highlighting the need for their cessation as one of the means of achieving the goal of a nuclear-weapon-free world.
Due to their massive power of destruction, the use of nuclear weapons would have catastrophic global consequences and would cause severe and long-lasting emergencies –  humanitarian, global health, climate, social order, human development, and economic. Access to social goods and services is predicated on the existence of peace and security. Development goals can only be achieved if we prevent such catastrophes on our planet. This must be a collective effort, because we face the risks posed by these weapons collectively, not as States with narrow national security interests.
As President of the 68th session of the General Assembly, I will mark this important international day by convening an informal meeting of the plenary of the General Assembly on 10 September 2014. I invite you to commemorate the International Day against Nuclear Tests with me to renew our commitment for the promotion of peace and security, one of the main purposes and principles of our United Nations.

John W. Ashe

2014 Events 

INFORMAL MEETING OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO MARK THE OBSERVANCE OF THE INTERNATIONAL DAY AGAINST NUCLEAR TESTS

Programme

The Meeting is convened by H.E. Mr. John Ashe, President of the United Nations General Assembly, and organized in cooperation with the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
 
Date:  Wednesday, 10 September 2014
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Venue: Trusteeship Council, United Nations Headquarters

Opening Statements by:

• H.E. Mr. John Ashe, President of the United Nations General Assembly
• H.E. Mr. Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations
• H.E. Mr. Ermek Kosherbayev,  First Deputy of the Governor of Eastern Kazakhstan (Semipalatinsk region)

High-Level Interactive Panel on the Path to Zero: The Role of the United Nations in Nuclear Disarmament and Non-Proliferation

The official opening ceremony will be followed by a High-Level Panel on the above theme. The panelists are expected to cover some key issues, including necessary steps for further progress on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, the establishment of nuclear-weapon-free zones, confidence building and other relevant issues.
 
Panel Details  
Moderator
H.E. Ambassador U. Joy Ogwu, Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the United Nations
Speakers

• Ms. Angela Kane, High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs
• H.E. Ambassador Libran Cabactulan, Permanent Representative of Philippines to the United Nations
• H.E. Ambassador Guillermo  Rishchynski, Permanent Representative of Canada to the United Nations
• Mr. Geoffrey Shaw, Representative of the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency to the United Nations

The panel will be followed by observations and questions from Member States.

Entry
The Informal Meeting is open to all diplomats, think-tanks, the academic community, civil society and the media. Those without a UN Grounds Pass interested in these events should kindly contact: itilegen@yahoo.com,
or tel: 1-212-2301900, ext 322.

Resources :

Since the International Day against Nuclear Tests was first declared, there have been a number of significant developments, discussions and initiatives relevant to its goals and objectives as well as conferences convened to elaborate and advance these developments.

•  2013-2014 developments
•  The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT).
•  The Comprehensive Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) Preparatory Commission.
•  The Road to Nuclear Test Ban Started Today
• ‘Hiroshima and Nagasaki’ CTBTO Newsroom
• Capacity Development Initiative (CDI) at CTBTO 
  Putting an end to nuclear exposions, CTBTO preparatory Commission