Public Forum: The Marshall Islands’ Nuclear Zero Lawsuits, followed by the Sean MacBride Prize Ceremony
The Marshall Islands have suffered from the catastrophic health and environmental consequences of nuclear tests. Now they are turning this sad experience into a brave action against nuclear weapons themselves. On April 24th, 2014, the Marshall Islands filed landmark cases in the International Court of Justice against the nine nuclear-armed States, and in a U.S. Federal District Court against the United States. The Marshall Islands claims that the nuclear-armed nations have failed to comply with their legal obligations to negotiate in good faith for the global elimination of nuclear weapons.
Public Forum: 2 – 5:30 pm
With:
- Tony de Brum, Foreign Minister of the Marshall Islands and Co-Agent before the International Court of Justice,
- Phon van den Biesen, Co-Agent and Attorney at Law, Amsterdam; Vice-President, International Association of Lawyers Against Nuclear Arms
- Marylia Kelley, Executive Director, Tri-Valley CAREs (Communities Against a Radioactive Environment), Livermore, California
- David Krieger, President, Nuclear Age Peace Foundation, Santa Barbara, California; Member International Legal Team
Sponsored by the International Association of Lawyers Against Nuclear Arms and the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation.
Contact: John Burroughs johnburroughs@lcnp.org
Sean MacBride Prize Ceremony: 7pm
The International Peace Bureau (IPB) will award the prestigious Sean MacBride Peace Prize to the Marshall Islands. The award is made in honour of Sean MacBride, Co-founder of Amnesty International, Chairman of IPB (1968-74) and Nobel Peace Laureate (1974). Tony de Brum will receive the award on behalf of the Marshall Islands for its leadership in global efforts to highlight the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of nuclear weapons and abolish them.
See full event outline and program at http://ipb.org/uploads/documents/other_docs/Sean.pdf
Contact: Reiner Braun hr.braun@gmx.net
Both events take place at the Vienna University of Technology, Karlsplatz 13, Vienna