*By Teri Calder
Mayors for Peace recently hosted a stand at the National General Assembly (NGA) of Local Government for the second year running.
A global network of Local Governments led by the Mayor of Hiroshima, Mayors for Peace uses its collective voice to advocate for peace and nuclear disarmament.
There are almost 4,000 Local Government members worldwide.
In Australia, membership continues to grow, with 70 Local Governments now members, representing millions of citizens across Australia.
At the NGA, an international nuclear disarmament exhibition titled, ‘From a Culture of Violence to a Culture of Peace: Transforming the Human Spirit’, was displayed.
The exhibition is currently touring many Mayors for Peace member council offices around Australia.
While participating at the NGA, a delegation of Mayors for Peace members met with Federal politicians in Canberra to promote the aims and activities of the network.
They met with Australian Greens Senator Scott Ludlum and ALP Senator Louise Pratt – both members of the cross forum on disarmament – as well as Deputy Opposition Leader Julie Bishop.
This year, at least 18 Mayors for Peace member councils around Australia passed resolutions calling on the Prime Minister to support a Nuclear Weapons Convention and reaffirm the Government’s commitment towards a world free of nuclear weapons.
“This action by Local Government sends a clear message to the Federal Government that there is support for Australia to play a key role internationally in calling for a Nuclear Weapons Convention,” said Mayors for Peace National Convenor, Councillor Helen Relph.
The resolution passed by Local Governments supported recommendations made in a government report of the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties (JSCOT).
Released in September 2009, the JSCOT report reviewed existing and emerging treaties involving Australia on nuclear non proliferation and disarmament.
While the Government supported many of the report’s recommendations, it has not adopted the recommendations in relation to supporting a Nuclear Weapons Convention.
In September 2009 the Lowy Institute released a poll that concluded 75 per cent of Australians believe that nuclear disarmament should be a top priority for the Australian Government.
If your council is interested in becoming a member please contact Helen Relph by email at CrHelenRelph@bigpond.com
*Teri Calder is the Mayors for Peace Coordinator for Australia. She can be contacted by email at teri@icanw.org
