Global Zero (campaign)
Global Zero is an international initiative launched in December 2008 to promote the elimination of nuclear weapons. It proposes a phased withdrawal and verification for the destruction of all devices held by official and unofficial members of the nuclear club. The Global Zero campaign works toward building an international consensus and a sustained global movement of leaders and citizens for the elimination of nuclear weapons.
Goals include the initiation of United States-Russia bilateral negotiations for reductions to 1,000 total warheads each and commitments from the other key nuclear weapons countries to participate in multilateral negotiations for phased reductions of nuclear arsenals. Global Zero works to expand the diplomatic dialogue with key governments and continue to develop policy proposals on the critical issues related to the elimination of nuclear weapons.
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[edit] Action plan
The Global Zero plan[1] for the phased, verified elimination of all nuclear weapons is a four-phased strategy to reach a global zero accord over 14 years (2010–2023) and to complete the dismantlement of all remaining nuclear warheads over the following seven years (2024–2030).
Phase 1 (2010–2013) Following conclusion of a START replacement accord, negotiate a bilateral accord for the United States and Russia to reduce to 1,000 total warheads each.
Phase 2 (2014–2018) In a multilateral framework, the U.S. and Russia reach agreement to reduce to 500 total warheads each (to be implemented by 2021) as long as all other nuclear weapons countries agree to freeze their stockpiles until 2018, followed by proportional reductions until 2021. Establish a comprehensive verification and enforcement system, and strengthen safeguards on the civilian nuclear fuel cycle to prevent diversion of materials to build weapons.
Phase 3 (2019–2023) Negotiate a global zero accord, signed by all nuclear capable countries, for the phased, verified, proportional reduction of all nuclear arsenals to zero total warheads by 2030.
Phase 4 (2024–2030) Complete the phased, verified, proportional reduction of all nuclear arsenals to zero total warheads by 2030 and continue the verification and enforcement system.
In releasing the plan, the Commission noted that over the past twenty years (1989–2009), the United States and Russia retired and destroyed twice as many nuclear warheads (40,000+) as this action plan proposes (20,000+) over the next twenty years (2009–2030).
[edit] History
Global Zero was launched in Paris in December 2008 by more than 100 political, civic, and military leaders. There, they announced a framework plan for the elimination of nuclear weapons, starting with deep reductions to the U.S. and Russian arsenals.[2] Global Zero gave letters signed by more than 90 Global Zero leaders to President of the United States Barack Obama and President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev, urging them to commit to the elimination of nuclear weapons. Global Zero Commissioners Senator Chuck Hagel and Ambassador Richard Burt met with President Medvedev in Moscow and discussed the agenda.
On April 1, 2009 the two presidents met in London and issued a historic joint statement committing their “two countries to achieving a nuclear free world” and three days later in a speech in Prague, President Obama declared his intention to “seek to include all nuclear weapons states in this endeavor.”[3] On the day of the meeting, the Times (of London) published an op-ed authored by six Global Zero leaders.[4] Negotiations began between the two countries for a New START nuclear arms reduction treaty.
Prior to the July 6–8, 2009 Obama-Medvedev Summit, the international Global Zero Commission of 23 political and military leaders released a comprehensive, end-to-end plan for the elimination of nuclear weapons over the next 20 years. At their Summit, Presidents Obama and Medvedev announced a framework agreement for new reductions to U.S. and Russian arsenals[5]– a critical first step toward multilateral negotiations for the elimination of all nuclear weapons as called for in the Global Zero Action Plan (GZAP).
At the 35th G8 summit in July 2009, world leaders announced their support of the Obama-Medvedev commitment to eliminate all nuclear weapons and called on all countries to “undertake further steps in nuclear disarmament.”[6] Global Zero leaders believe the international consensus for the elimination of nuclear weapons is reaching a critical mass,[2] especially given the declarations of political leaders during the special U.N. Security Council session on proliferation and disarmament convened by President Obama (September 24, 2009).[3] President Obama received the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize in acknowledgment to his efforts for nuclear disarmament.[7]
During 2010, the initiative has continued with the Global Zero Summit (February 2–4, 2010), signing of the New START treaty (April 8, 2010), the Nuclear Security Summit (April 12–13, 2010) and the Non Proliferation Treaty Review Conference (May 3–28, 2010).
[edit] Public opinion
Building public opinion supportive of the elimination of nuclear weapons is part of the goal of the Global Zero campaign. These include encouraging media worldwide to make the elimination of nuclear weapons a leading global policy issue, to launch a global student campaign, and to expand the online citizen membership and the cadre of leaders.
A poll conducted in 2008 in 21 countries found that 76% of over 19,000 people surveyed favored the verified elimination of nuclear weapons.[8]
On April 7, 2009, signatory Queen Noor of Jordan gave a mock-knighthood to Stephen Colbert in exchange for his pledge to spread awareness of the program to the Colbert Nation.
[edit] Former Heads of State
Signatories include former Heads of State (or Heads of Government) from several countries:
| Country | Position | Name |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | Prime Minister | Malcolm Fraser |
| Brazil | President | Fernando H. Cardoso |
| Chile | President | Ricardo Lagos |
| Costa Rica | President | José María Figueres |
| Czechoslovakia | President | Václav Havel |
| Ireland | President | Mary Robinson |
| Italy | Prime Minister | Massimo D'Alema |
| Japan | Prime Minister | Yasuo Fukuda |
| Latvia | Prime Minister | Valdis Birkavs |
| Mexico | President | Vicente Fox |
| Mexico | President | Ernesto Zedillo |
| Netherlands | Prime Minister | Wim Kok |
| Netherlands | Prime Minister | Ruud Lubbers |
| Norway | Prime Minister | Gro Harlem Brundtland |
| Philippines | President | Fidel Ramos |
| Portugal | Prime Minister | Mário Soares |
| South Africa | President | Frederik Willem de Klerk |
| Soviet Union | General Secretary | Mikhail Gorbachev |
| Spain | Prime Minister | José María Aznar |
| Spain | Prime Minister | Felipe González |
| United States | President | Jimmy Carter |
| West Germany | Chancellor | Helmut Schmidt |
[edit] Notable signatories
Signatories include members of the academic, diplomatic, military, and political establishment expert in arms control policy as well as prominent figures in religion, business, the media and non-governmental organizations.
| Name | Country | Profession |
|---|---|---|
| James Arbuthnot | UK | Politician |
| Keiichiro Asao | Japan | Politician |
| Timothy Garton Ash | UK | Academic |
| Jacques Attali | France | Economist |
| Lloyd Axworthy | Canada | Politician |
| Sartaj Aziz | Pakistan | Diplomat |
| José María Aznar | Spain | Politician |
| Kanti Bajpai | India | Academic |
| Hugh Beach | UK | Military |
| Margaret Beckett | UK | Politician |
| Rob Bell | US | Religious |
| Lawrence Bender | US | Media |
| Sandy Berger | US | Diplomat |
| Alexander Bessmertnykh | Russia | Diplomat |
| Ela Bhatt | India | NGO |
| Ian Biggs | Australia | Diplomat |
| Carl Bildt | Sweden | Politician |
| Valdis Birkavs | Latvia | Politician |
| Robert Blackwill | US | Diplomat |
| Bruce Blair | US | Academic |
| Hans Blix | Sweden | Diplomat |
| Nalia Bolus | US | NGO |
| Lakhdar Brahimi | Algeria | NGO |
| Richard Branson | UK | Business |
| Matt Brown | US | Politician |
| Des Browne | UK | Politician |
| Gro Harlem Brundtland | Norway | Politician |
| Richard R. Burt | US | Diplomat |
| Zbigniew Brzezinski | US | Diplomat |
| Richard Butler | Australia | Diplomat |
| Francesco Calogero | Italy | Scientist |
| Menzies Campbell | UK | Politician |
| Fernando H. Cardoso | Brazil | Politician |
| Frank Carlucci | US | Diplomat |
| Jimmy Carter | US | Politician |
| Raymond Chambers | US | Finance |
| Naresh Chandra | India | Diplomat |
| Chung Kun-Mo | South Korea | Scientist |
| Joseph Cirincione | US | NGO |
| Richard Cizik | US | Religious |
| Stephen Colbert | US | Media |
| Massimo D'Alema | Italy | Politician |
| Ivo H. Daalder | US | Diplomat |
| Romeo Dallaire | Canada | Military |
| Frederik Willem de Klerk | South Africa | Politician |
| Kemal Derviş | Turkey | Economist |
| Jayantha Dhanapala | Sri Lanka | Diplomat |
| Michael Douglas | US | Media |
| Yuri Dubinin | Russia | Diplomat |
| Mahmud Ali Durrani | Pakistan | Military |
| Lawrence Eagleburger | US | Diplomat |
| Rolf Ekéus | Sweden | Diplomat |
| Mohamed ElBaradei | Egypt | Diplomat |
| Gareth Evans | Australia | Politician |
| Muhammad Amin Fahim | Pakistan | Politician |
| José María Figueres | Costa Rica | Politician |
| Vicente Fox | Mexico | Politician |
| Malcolm Fraser | Australia | Politician |
| Lawrence Freedman | UK | Academic |
| Yasuo Fukuda | Japan | Politician |
| Jake Garn | US | Politician |
| Hans-Dietrich Genscher | Germany | Diplomat |
| Bates Gill | US | Academic |
| Felipe González | Spain | Politician |
| Mikhail Gorbachev | Russia | Politician |
| Chuck Hagel | US | Politician |
| Lee H. Hamilton | US | Politician |
| David Hannay | UK | Diplomat |
| Gary Hart | US | Politician |
| Václav Havel | Czech Republic | Politician |
| Yoshimasa Hayashi | Japan | Politician |
| Stanley Hoffmann | France | Academic |
| Pervez Hoodbhoy | Pakistan | Scientist |
| Charles Horner | US | Military |
| Douglas Hurd | UK | Diplomat |
| Wolfgang Ischinger | Germany | Diplomat |
| Igor Ivanov | Russia | Politician |
| Peter Jankowitsch | Austria | Diplomat |
| Max Kampelman | US | Diplomat |
| Sergei Karaganov | Russia | Academic |
| Jehangir Karamat | Pakistan | Military |
| Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri | Pakistan | Diplomat |
| Yoriko Kawaguchi | Japan | Politician |
| Naoki Kazama | Japan | Politician |
| Peter Kellner | UK | Media |
| Bob Kerrey | US | Politician |
| Shaharyar Khan | Pakistan | Diplomat |
| Alan Khazei | US | NGO |
| Steve Killelea | Australia | Business |
| Wim Kok | Netherlands | Politician |
| Lawrence Korb | US | Academic |
| Ricardo Lagos | Chile | Politician |
| Anthony Lake | US | Diplomat |
| Ruud Lubbers | Netherlands | Politician |
| Vladimir Lukin | Russia | Politician |
| Kishore Mahbubani | Singapore | Diplomat |
| Mikhail Margelov | Russia | Politician |
| Jamsheed Marker | Pakistan | Diplomat |
| Talat Masood | Pakistan | Military |
| Jack Matlock | US | Diplomat |
| Robert McFarlane | US | Military |
| Merrill McPeak | US | Military |
| Brajesh Mishra | India | Diplomat |
| C. Raja Mohan | India | Academic |
| Walter Mondale | US | Politician |
| Amr Moussa | Egypt | Diplomat |
| Satish Nambiar | India | Military |
| Klaus Naumann | Germany | Military |
| Queen Noor | Jordan | NGO |
| Sari Nusseibeh | Palestine | Academic |
| Edwin O’Brien | US | Religious |
| David Owen | UK | Politician |
| Ana Palacio | Spain | Diplomat |
| Gopalaswami Parthasarathy | India | Diplomat |
| Peng Guangqian | China | Military |
| Thomas R. Pickering | US | Diplomat |
| Vladimir Posner | Russia | Media |
| William Potter | US | Academic |
| Vasantha Raghavan | India | Military |
| Sherry Rehman | Pakistan | Politician |
| Fidel Ramos | Philippines | Politician |
| Alain Richard | France | Politician |
| Malcolm Rifkind | UK | Politician |
| Mary Robinson | Ireland | Politician |
| Michel Rocard | France | Politician |
| Douglas Roche | Canada | Politician |
| Sergey Rogov | Russia | Academic |
| Adam Daniel Rotfeld | Poland | Diplomat |
| Roald Sagdeev | Russia | Scientist |
| Jonathan Schell | US | Academic |
| Helmut Schmidt | Germany | Politician |
| Jack Sheehan | US | Military |
| Martin Sherwin | US | Academic |
| Jaswant Singh | India | Politician |
| Jeffrey Skoll | Canada | Business |
| Mário Soares | Portugal | Politician |
| Javier Solana | Spain | Diplomat |
| Jon Soltz | US | Military |
| Song Min-soon | South Korea | Diplomat |
| K. Subrahmanyam | India | Academic |
| Toshiyuki Takano | Japan | Diplomat |
| Strobe Talbott | US | Diplomat |
| John Thornton | US | Finance |
| Desmond Tutu | South Africa | Religious |
| Shashindra Pal Tyagi | India | Military |
| Ehsan ul Haq | Pakistan | Military |
| Hans van den Broek | Netherlands | Diplomat |
| Frank von Hippel | US | Academic |
| Eckart von Klaeden | Germany | Politician |
| Evgeny Velikhov | Russia | Scientist |
| Margot Wallström | Sweden | Politician |
| Wang Jisi | China | Academic |
| Shirley Williams | UK | Politician |
| Yan Xuetong | China | Academic |
| Muhammad Yunus | Bangladesh | Economist |
| Uta Zapf | Germany | Politician |
| Ernesto Zedillo | Mexico | Politician |
| Philip Zelikow | US | Diplomat |
| Gen. Anthony Zinni | US | Military |
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ "Getting to Zero". Global Zero. 2010-12-10. http://www.globalzero.org/en/getting-zero. Retrieved 2011-03-02.
- ^ a b "Group seeks nuclear weapons ban". BBC News. December 10, 2008. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7774584.stm.
- ^ a b Biddle, Jo (2009-09-23). "AFP: World leaders vow to seek nuclear-free world". Google.com. http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jC8UwPN75UQrDS0u6C7Gs-gj-X7g. Retrieved 2011-03-02.
- ^ "Scrapping nuclear arms is now realpolitik". The Times (London). April 1, 2009. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/guest_contributors/article6011286.ece.
- ^ "Barack Obama: US President And Russia's Medvedev Agree To Cut Stockpiles Of Nuclear Weapons | World News | Sky News". News.sky.com. http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/Barack-Obama-US-President-And-Russias-Medvedev-Agree-To-Cut-Stockpiles-Of-Nuclear-Weapons/Article/200907115329973?f=rss. Retrieved 2011-03-02.
- ^ "NTI: Global Security Newswire - Obama Plans Nuclear Security Summit". Global Security Newswire. 2009-07-09. http://www.globalsecuritynewswire.org/gsn/nw_20090709_6777.php. Retrieved 2011-03-02.
- ^ Erlanger, Steven (October 10, 2009). "Surprise Nobel for Obama Stirs Praise and Doubts". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/10/world/10nobel.html?ref=global-home.
- ^ "Publics around the World Favor International Agreement To Eliminate All Nuclear Weapons". 2008-12-09. http://www.worldpublicopinion.org/pipa/articles/international_security_bt/577.php?lb=btis&pnt=577&nid=&id=.
