PRESS RELEASE – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday 16 July 2008,
Geneva , Switzerland
Contact: Fruzsina Molnar, molnar@wfuna.org
Hans Blix inspires student movement against nuclear weapons
Hans Blix said on Monday to the winners of the Students for a Nuclear Weapons-Free World competition: “The best way to avoid nuclear weapons is to make governments feel that they don’t need them”.
Hans Blix, President of the World Federation of United Nations Associations, inspired students from around the world and from a diversity of disciplines to write an essay, design a poster or make a video to express their ideas on how to free the world of nuclear weapons. The 15 winning students are from Afghanistan , Australia , Belgium , China , Colombia , Jamaica , Malaysia , New Zealand , Nigeria , Russia , Singapore , Slovenia , and the United States.
After three days of intensive meetings at the Palais des Nations, Geneva , the students decided to create a mass movement of youth against nuclear weapons. “We want to solve these problems before we inherit them,” said Catriona Standfield, a student from Australia . The students talked about both strategy and substance.
Terhemba Aindigh from Nigeria suggested that the OPEC countries should tell the U.S. that they will not increase the supply of oil unless the US eliminates its nuclear arsenal. If the U.S. takes the lead in disarming, the rest will follow.”
“We have to shock people into realizing the seriousness of the problem,” said Sven Sobrie from Belgium .
The youngest winner, 15 year-old Nicolas Forero Villarreal from Colombia , focused on how to educate students about the issue. “After consultation with my teachers, I identified John Estler’s Model of Rational Choice and used it to sketch an educational program for 6th to 9th graders.”
The students are working on a statement that they will send to the heads of nuclear weapons states, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, and U.S. Presidential candidates. Will the world finally take notice?
Hans Blix’s initiative received high-level support from the UN and governments. Mr. Sergei Ordzhonikidze, the Director General of the UN in Geneva , and Mr. Sergio Duarte, Under-Secretary-General for Disarmament Affairs, both sent messages to the students. Their conference program included sessions with the Ambassadors of Canada, Pakistan , Iraq and Sweden and meetings with Alyn Ware from Parliamentarians for Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament, renowned investigative journalist, Phillip Knightley, and civil society activists, Susi Snyder and Colin Archer.
Students for a Nuclear Weapons-Free World has over 30 partner organizations, and is co-sponsored by the World Academy of Art and Science.