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A call for global disarmament?

This article explores the United Nations' role in promoting disarmament for global security, discussing different types of disarmament, current trends, the importance of nuclear disarmament education, and relevant international organizations and agreements.

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A call for global disarmament?

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  1. Examining the United Nations’ role in disarmament for global security A call for global disarmament? By : Professor Flowers Strayer University 6 April 2011 Keywords: international relations, global peace, security, disarmament, arms control, United Nations, 1925 Geneva Protocol

  2. Disarmament is… • “The reduction or limitation of the size, equipment, armament, etc., of the army, navy, or air force of a country,” (Dictionary.com).

  3. Four (4) Types of Disarmament • the penal destruction or reduction of the armament of a country defeated in war • Ex) Versailles Treaty [1919] where Germany and its allies disarmed • bilateral disarmament agreements applying to specific geographic areas • Ex) Rush–Bagot Agreement [1817] where the naval forces of both the US and Great Britain disarmed • the complete abolition of all armaments, as advocated by utopian thinkers and some governments; • the reduction and limitation of national armament by general international agreement. • Ex) United Nations

  4. STRATFORREPORTS Current Trends Current trends include an increase interest in disarmament for nations. Ex) Indonesia, Japan, and Australia holding disarmament meeting at UN General Assembly in New York, September 2010, according to STRATFOR. Photo taken by Professor Flowers inside the Palais del Nations (United Nations) Geneva, Switzerland (August 2010)

  5. What people are saying? Nuclear weapons cost! Despite a downward trend in conflict, in 2008, the world’s governments spent US $1,464 billion to arm themselves, amounting to $216 for each person alive today. • Melissa Gilles, Author of The Disarmament : A Basic Guide, 2009.

  6. What people are saying?Nuclear weapons does not save life—it destroys it. • …Nuclear weapons are not only the most indiscriminately inhumane weapons ever invented, but the only ones capable of destroying life on this planet as we know it…. • Gareth Evans, a former foreign minister of Australia, University of Melbourne fellow, and co-chair of the International Commission on Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament, 2010.

  7. What people are saying?Learn from Hiroshima and Nagasaki • …The communication of the experiences of Hiroshima and Nagasaki appears to be facing a real problem. This needs to be addressed urgently because the hibakusha (atomic bomb survivors) are aging rapidly, and when they die, they will take with them the only first-hand knowledge of the unspeakable horrors of nuclear destruction. We must consider new ways to teach children about war and the prospects for peace.… In this article, the importance of nuclear disarmament education in a wider context of peace education is stressed and suggestions are offered to improve current nuclear disarmament education in Japan, and elsewhere.…. • Yumiko Nogami, Resident of Hiroshima, Japan, 2006.

  8. UNODA UN ‘s role in disarmament United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) promotes the goal of nuclear disarmament andnon-proliferation and the strengthening of the disarmament regimes in respect to other weapons of mass destruction, chemical and biological weapons.. Photo taken by Professor Flowers of the courtyard of the Palais del Nations (United Nations) Geneva, Switzerland (August 2010)

  9. Disarmament document:The 1925 Geneva Protocol • Prohibits the use of chemical and biological weapons in warfare. • Protocol was signed under the auspices of the League of Nations, held in Geneva, from May 4 – June 17, 1925, and it entered into force on 8 February 1928.”

  10. Conference on Disarmament, 1979 • Established in 1979 • Is the single multilateral disarmament negotiating forum of the international community • Resulted from the first Special Session on Disarmament of the United Nations General Assembly held in 1978.

  11. Convention on Disarmament at the United Nations (Palais des Nations) • Conventions are held worldwide, and often at the United Nations Headquarters. • “Salle du conseil,” is a room where the disarmament discussions are held at the UN. Salle_du_conseil, Palais des Nations, United Nations, Geneva, Switzerland where disarmament conventions are held

  12. Keeping up with Arms Control: Disarmament among Nations • Stockholm International Peace Institute “maintains extensive records of the states which have signed and ratified arms control and disarmament agreements.” • To view the Arms Control and Disarmament Documentary Survey, go to www.sipri.com.

  13. Disarmament education resources • PDF book: Disarmament: A Basic Guide by Melissa Gillis. • Online educational resource: UN CyberSchoolBus. • Graduate courses & degree: Masters programme in non proliferation studies at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS). More information at http://policy.miis.edu/international_security/index.html

  14. Summary • Disarmament: • reduction or limitation of the size, equipment, armament, etc., of the army, navy, or air force of a country • The Geneva Protocol • signed during the League of Nations convention from May 4-June 17, 1925 • Entered into force on February 8 1928. • The UN has held disarmament conferences since 1979. • The Conference on Disarmament (CD) • Established in 1979 (by UN) • is the single multilateral disarmament forum of the international community • The UN provides Disarmament education for lifelong learners, teachers and students. • A noted reference among disarmament education is Disarmament: A Basic Guide by Melissa Gilles.

  15. Summary (cont.) Four (4) types of disarmament • the penal destruction or reduction of the armament of a country defeated in war • bilateral disarmament agreements applying to specific geographic areas • the complete abolition of all armaments, as advocated by utopian thinkers and occasionally by governments • the reduction and limitation of national armament by general international agreement through such international forums, presently used by the UN Palais des Nations, United Nations

  16. Summary (cont.) Stockholm & UN Sept 2010 Disarmament Convention • Stockholm International Peace Institute “maintains extensive records of the states which have signed and ratified arms control and disarmament agreements.” To review, see the Arms Control and Disarmament Documentary Survey • Current trends show that nations will continue to move towards disarmament. It has been reported that Indonesia and Japan are scheduled to have a disarmament convention at the UN General Assembly in New York onSeptember 2010.

  17. Questions? Feel free to post your comments in the “Ask the Professor” section under Course Home, and I will gladly reply to your response.

  18. References Disarmament. (2010). In Dictionary.com. Retrieved August 10, 2010, from Dictionary.com, an Ask.com Service: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/disarmament Disarmament. (2010). In Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved August 10, 2010, from Encyclopædia Britannica Online: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/165165/disarmament Evans, G. (2010, August 10). Taking disarmament seriously . The Globe and Mail. Retrieved from http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/taking-disarmament-seriously/article1663233/ Gillis, M. (2009, August). In Disarmament: A Basic Guide (Section 1). Retrieved from http://www.un.org/disarmament/HomePage/ODAPublications/AdhocPublications/PDF/guide.pdf Nogami, Y. (2006). Nuclear disarmament education and the experiences of Hiroshima and Nagasaki [Abstract]. ISYP Journal on Science and World Affairs, 2(1), 9-18. Retrieved from http://books.google.com/books?id=Oi_gFIjZI4AC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. (2010). Arms Control and Disarmament Documentary Survey. Retrieved from http://www.sipri.org/research/disarmament/agreements/?searchterm=disarmament STRATFOR (2010, August 4). Indonesia, Japan: Disarmament Collaboration Sought . Retrieved from http://0-www.stratfor.com.library.regent.edu/memberships/168537/sitrep/20100804_indonesia_japan_collaboration_sought_disarmament United Nations Office of Disarmament Affairs (2010). About Us. In UNODA. Retrieved from http://www.un.org/disarmament/HomePage/about_us/aboutus.shtml

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