On Monday and Tuesday this week, the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is hosting officials from 132 countries and civil society representatives in Oslo to discuss the humanitarian, environmental, developmental and economic consequences of nuclear weapon detonation.
Counter Proliferation
Iran Update 165
- Next E3+3 talks finally scheduled; Iran-U.S. bi-lateral talks a possibility
- Another round of IAEA talks conclude without progress; next meeting scheduled for mid-February
- Iran’s nuclear program prominent subject for Obama’s nominees at confirmation hearings
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.
Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT)
The Obama Administration committed itself to submitting the CTBT to the Senate for ratification, but support there is uncertain (it requires the support of 67 Senators). This is crucial to several other key states' ratification, and necessary for the Treaty to come into force.
Treaty text (has not entered into force), Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Organization
Iran Update 164
- Iranian officials meeting with IAEA delegation today
- International concern over developments at Bushehr
- Iran displays ‘downed’ ScanEagle drone
- Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak to resign
- Associated Press publishes inaccurate document that claims to show advanced nuclear program
Announcements made on the Helsinki ‘2012 Conference’
The long-awaited announcements on the delay to the Helsinki ‘2012 Conference’ on a nuclear and other WMD free zone in the Middle East came out over the weekend from the co-sponsors.
Iran Update 163
- IAEA reports that Iran has added more centrifuges at underground enrichment facility, but additional centrifuges not operating
- Iran and IAEA to resume talks on December 13th
- Iran says willing to attend conference for Middle East zone free of weapons of mass destruction
- Close calls regarding Israeli attacks on Iran come to light
- Britain may not cooperate in any military attack by the United States and Israel
- EU reinforcing sanctions against Iran
- Iran fires upon U.S. drone
- Iran’s nuclear power plant likely experiencing more problems
Nuclear weapons beyond the election
The U.S. election season now draws to a close, and as expected, not too much was made of nuclear weapons during the presidential race. The economy, and near the end of the campaign season the mega-storm in the northeast, overshadowed almost all other issues.