The threat of nuclear weapons
While the topic of
nuclear war may seem to have lost its former urgency,
in times of international terrorism and with a growing number of
nuclear states
in the world, it has stayed more relevant than many would like to
admit. Fifteen years after the end of the Cold War, Russian missiles
are still
aimed at North America and Western Europe, while NATO still has its
Pershings
targeting Moscow or St. Petersburg. Despite the process
of
European unification, the old target coordinates have remained the
same, with
NATO maneuvers still training the bombardement of Russian cities.
At the same
time, terror organizations like Al Qaida are openly
threatening to obtain fissile material for the construction of so
called „dirty
bombs“ (as if normal nuclear bombs were clean). Additionally, there is
the
danger of nuclear weapons being used by warring states, with India and Pakistan increasing their
nuclear
missile stockpiles and the standoff between Iran and the US heating up.
Mohammed el Baradei, chief of the International Atomic Energy Agency
(IAEA),
has recently stated that the danger of nuclear weapons being used is
higher
today than ever before.
A Nuclear Weapon Free Zone in Europe
The UN, the EU and other international
organizations frequently cite so called "Nuclear Weapon Free Zones" as
a
first step to promoting the global abolition of nuclear weapons. In
Africa, Latin America and the Pacific, such zones already guarantee the
safety from nuclear explosions. But many point to Europe and ask why,
if this is such an important step towards peace and stability, this
region has not become a Nuclear Weapon Free Zone? Why should India and
Pakistan consider it, if those who speak in favour of a Nuclear Weapon
Free Zone in South East Asia are not prepared to negotiate one in their
own region? Europe
should lead with good example and abolish the nuclear relicts of the
Cold War
still present all over the continent. A Nuclear Weapon Free Zone in Europe
would be a milestone on the path towards the global abolition of all
nuclear
weapons. Such an endeavour requires public support, however and
grassroots movement. One such movemen, consisting of numerous sea-side
communitiest and port cities already exists in the Baltic region. With
this bike tour, we are supporting their call to end all development,
transport and stationing of nuclear weapons in or around the Baltic
Sea.
The medical responsibility
As
future doctors, we have the health of our patients in mind and know
that the
explosion of a nuclear weapon (be it through terrorists, captains of
nuclear
subs, human error or by accident) knows no meaningful medical response.
The
only chance we have to prevent people from harm is to prevent such a
catastrophe from ever happening. The complete abolition of all nuclear
weapons
is therefore the only rational choice we have. This bike tour, which is
part of a global campaign, ultimately leading towards the complete
abolition of nuclear weapons, is one way to get involved.
The Baltic Bike Tour
About 25 medical students from all over the world will cycle the 880 km
from
Tallinn via
St.
Petersburg to
Helsinki
between August 21st and September
6th, giving press
conferences, meeting with representatives of “Mayors for Peace” and
raising
public awareness for nuclear abolition through public events on their
way.
Having reached Helsinki,
they will participate in the IPPNW
World Congress, which will also be
dealing with the
issue of nuclear abolition. The
plan is to start in Tallinn, Estonia and drive through St. Petersburg,
Russia, ending up in Helsinki, Finland.
In each of these cities, we
have active student groups who will host us and help us organize
installations of
Target X in each of these cities. Students
from the US, Russia, India,
Israel, Egypt, Finland,
Germany,
Estonia
and the Philippines
have already signed up.
Why a Bike Tour?
This bike tour will not only attract media coverage and bring the
nuclear threat back into public awareness, but also serve as a great
opportunity to make the IPPNW message better know in the countries
around the Baltic, mustering support for the student groups there and
ultimatively raising interest in the topic of nuclear disarmament
amongst medical students. It's also a nice way to reach the conference
- beats taking the plane ;)
