Dear NWIP friends,

it is an inspiration for me to follow the Nuclear Weapons Inheritance Programme, the NWIP, in planning - frustrations – discussions - meetings - reports – progress, all since the inception in Uppsala Sweden 2001. I consider the medical students´ NWIP to be a core part of the IPPNW (International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War) mission, to achieve a world free from nuclear weapons, atom bombs. The NWIP could even be seen as the most important IPPNW programme because it attracts medical students to our mission and brings new members to the IPPNW affiliates, it approaches the roots of the nuclear weapons problem, and it educates our future decision-makers to keep away from the temptation and addiction to nuclear weapons! Even better, the NWIP can outline a new way of security thinking how mankind must and can coexist within our one and only living room, our Biosphere.

I feel honoured to share some thoughts concerning the strategy and the basic questions that build up the NWIP. First let us look at the similarities of a disease in the human body compared to a social “disease”. A social problem/threat like weapons of mass destruction could be looked at in the same way as we discuss a human disease, in three levels:

-The apparent Symptom,

-The Pathology / Pathophysiology in society leading to the symptoms,

-The basic Etiology initiating a pathological reactions in the society “body”.

The NWIP basic questions approach all these three levels of the nuclear weapons disease:

-At the Symptom level: Do you want to keep/maintain your country’s Missiles - stockpiles? What about the Human Factor in relation to nuclear weapons on high alert? (It is and it will continuously be human to make mistakes for different reasons!)

-At the Pathology level, the level of society’s institutions, research and production: Do you want to keep the research ongoing for new weapons of mass destruction? To keep the industry ongoing with this business? To keep military schools for education on this military/political doctrine? What about the money spent on weapons of mass destruction?

-At the level of Etiology: a) Do you want to keep the ethics of Deterrence as the base for your country’s foreign policy? b) Could you imagine a "new security thinking" and would you like to be part of confidence building measures (CBM!) in order to turn fear into trust? To find solutions instead of being part of the problem!

One topic that we have to learn more about if we are to succeed in our mission is “Why, How and When does a person change his/her thoughts – beliefs – behaviour – lifestyle”? The process of Change on an individual level or “Braking Ranks” on a collective level. This topic should be one of the NWIP forthcoming challenges, useful for the IPPNW mission as well as for medical students training in order to be good Doctors!

Good Luck and keep up with your programme! I understand that it needs continuous energy and cheer up - I hope that you get your energy from collaboration and joy rather than anger and despair! You have the technical tools or dialogue and communication all around the Earth – use them for healing and care!