2020-09-03
By the Green Issue Editorial Team
This August marks the 75th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima on 6th August 1945 and Nagasaki three days later. Most of us have lived our entire life under the shadow of nuclear weapons. Despite some precarious moments, like the Cuban missile crisis in 1962, a war involving nuclear weapons has not yet occurred. There is argument as to whether this is due to the effectiveness of the “balance of terror”, or just luck. The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists now sets the Doomsday Clock at 100 seconds to midnight, the perceived closest we have ever been to nuclear holocaust. Just thinking about the consequences of existential threats, like nuclear holocaust and climate change beyond tipping points, is enough to induce fear and despair in any sane person. But these threats must be faced if we are not to be overwhelmed by them, and fortunately there are those willing to lead the way in addressing these threats.
Indeed, The Greens (WA) emerged largely from anti-nuclear, as well as environmental, movements. With WA being a major source of uranium deposits, campaigning has focussed on preventing their mining. Successful so far but the fight goes on. The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) has successfully nursed along the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, to the point of now needing the signatures of six more countries for it to become international law. But also at sub-national levels, citizens have for long been actively campaigning for the abolition of nuclear weapons, such as through the Mayors for Peace initiative.
In this issue we include MP updates from Senators Rachel Siewert and Jordon Steele-John, and Members of the WA Legislative Council, Alison Xamon (North Metropolitan), Robin Chapple (Mining and Pastoral), Diane Evers (South West) and Tim Clifford (East Metropolitan).
Header photo: A south view of the Genbaku Atomic Bomb Peace Memorial Dome, Hiroshima. Wikimedia Commons Licence No. 20190417 1