This week the 24th United Nations Conference on Disarmament Issues, 'Creating a Peaceful and Safe Future: Pressing Issues and Potential Solutions', takes place in Shizuoka, Japan. Topics delegates will be discussing this year include humanitarian issues on the use of nuclear weapons, Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zones, current challenges to the nuclear non-proliferation regime, the role of civil society and nuclear safety and security.
Programmes
Brian Eno chats with Tom Robinson
Former BASIC board member Brian Eno was featured on the Tom Robinson show on BBC Radio 6, discussing his career, involvement with BASIC, and interest in reducing nuclear dangers. Brian explains: 'We still have tens of thousands of ready to go nuclear weapons and they are still as dangerous as they once were…by luck nothing has gone wrong with them.
Roundtable on British policy towards NATO’s nuclear posture
BASIC hosted a private roundtable on the United Kingdom\’s approach to NATO\’s nuclear posture after Chicago 2012 and nuclear deployments in Europe. Post-Chicago Summit analyses seem to agree that whilst a clear consensus on the general thrust of NATO’s nuclear policy was achieved, it is unclear how long this will pertain.
Strategic Dialogue on Nuclear Weapons Spending: What Does the United States Need and Why?
BASIC held its fourth Strategic Dialogue event, asking presenters to reflect on how the United States should approach possible spending cuts to its nuclear forces.
Ten ways Obama’s second term will shape Britain
Alex Stevensen from Politics.co.uk interviewed Paul Ingram in this article about the most important challenges facing newly inaugurated Barack Obama in his second term. On the issue of Middle East diplomacy, Stevensen writes that both London and Washington want to see engagement with Tehran, but Paul Ingram belives that Obama is 'boxed in' with anti-Iranian sentiment on the Hill.
Read the full article on Politics.co.uk:
Lib Dem leadership in government stakes out its ground ahead of Trident Alternatives Review
Interviewed in today's Guardian, Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander outlined his Liberal Democrat perspective on Trident renewal.
Nuclear Deterrence Summit
BASIC is partnering with the Exchange Monitor to host a panel discussion during the Annual Nuclear Deterrence Summit in Arlington, Virginia, February 19-22, 2013.
Evidence submitted by Rt Hon Lord David Owen
January 2013