Today Is the International Day Against Nuclear Tests 2012

“August 29th is the International Day Against Nuclear Tests 2012. We are not making enough progress. There are still 8 countries that will not ratify: China, DPRK, Egypt, India, Iran, Israel, Pakistan and the United States. It’s time to ban the bomb and the mayhem and tragedy that comes with it.”. – Dr Helen Caldicott

Today (August 29th) is the International Day Against Nuclear Tests 2012.

The 64th session of the United Nations General Assembly held on December 2, 2009, declared 29 August as the International Day against Nuclear Tests. The resolution was initiated by the Republic of Kazakhstan, together with a large number of sponsors and cosponsors with a view to commemorate the closure of the Semipalatinsk Nuclear Test site on 29 August 1991 where the Soviet Union conducted 456 nuclear tests from 1949 until 1989 with little regard for their effect on the local people or environment.

This resolution unanimously adopted by 64/35 votes called for an increased awareness and education about the effects of nuclear weapon test explosions. Its goal was to achieve a nuclear-weapon-free world. It advocated the necessity of banning nuclear weapon tests as a valuable step towards achieving a safer world.

The International Day against Nuclear Tests has promoted a worldwide environment with increased prospects for a world devoid of nuclear firepower. While there are clear indications of progress on numerous fronts, challenges are still there. The United Nations hopes to eliminate all nuclear weapons, eventually. Until then, as we work towards achieving global peace and security, we must observe the International Day against Nuclear Tests.