International Physicians for the
Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW)
- Dorothy - 8/5/97

An interview with Dr Jim Methven, Chair New Zealand Branch.

International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War is a

Dr Jim Methven

physicians' organisation that sees Nuclear War as THE Public Health hazard. It seeks, with like-minded international organisations, to have a treaty signed by the year 2000 that commits all nations to the elimination of Nuclear Weapons.

To that end New Zealand must combine with similarly thinking nations to convince the Nuclear Weapon States that such a treaty is an imperative.

An outstanding step in this direction was the statement by sixty retired generals and admirals from the nuclear weapon states in December 1996 that such a step was imperative.

The most forthright of the generals was General Lee Butler, Head of the U.S. Strategic Command for 1992-94. In charge of U.S. nuclear plans he understood the consequences of a nuclear strike and saw no place for these weapons in the armed forces of the world.

General Butler served on the Canberra Commission organised by ex-Australian PM Paul Keating during the public outrage at French nuclear testing in 1995. The Commission included other eminent people such as Field Marshal Lord Carver, ex-UK Chief of Defence Staff, and Michel Rocard, ex-French PM, and produced a plan for the complete elimination of nuclear weapons.

General Butler visits New Zealand
The programme for General Butler's visit is as follows:

Auckland functions - General Butler and his wife are beginning their visit in Auckland where there will be a reception and a lecture at Auckland University on September 29. Members of Parliament and representatives of organisations which support the anti-nuclear movement have been invited. Anyone interested in attending the lecture should contact Jim Methven on phone (09) 817 9075 for details.

Wellington functions - The Erich Geiringer Memorial Lecture General Butler will deliver this on October 1 at the Grand Hall at the Museum of New Zealand.

Open all day meeting October 2 - Anyone interested is invited to this meeting which will be attended by General Butler, and people prominent in the New Zealand anti-nuclear movement. This is to be a planning and development day to move forward initiatives to increase people's awareness of the world situation and to promote action against the passive acceptance of nuclear weapons.

For further information take a look at the IPPNW Web site...