The advisory board as an instigator for change – from supporting disarmament education to promoting youth voices and global awareness about the dangers of nuclear weapons

In February 2011, then-Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon opened the fifty-fifth meeting of the Board by acknowledging that my city of Christchurch, in New Zealand, had suffered a devastating earthquake overnight and asking me to convey his heartfelt condolences to our citizens. All members took the opportunity to share their sympathies. In my emotional response, I challenged us all to think about what the horrific health and environmental effects would have been if a nuclear weapon had been used, or if a nuclear power plant had been attacked or damaged by a tsunami following a large quake. Seventeen days later, a quake-induced tsunami severely damaged the Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan. What I take away from these events is that we simply cannot risk continuing to co-exist with nuclear weapons. For all our sakes, our future, our planet, we must eliminate them. It takes but one miscalculation or accident for catastrophic consequences to be unleashed. Nuclear power plants are also vulnerable and can provide fissile material for nuclear weapons.

Sustainable Development Goals:

Gender Equality

Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

Partnerships for the Goals