I'm sure you have all heard the buzz. The next few months are a busy time for nuclear activists. One highlight this spring will be the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty Review Conference (“NPT RevCon”) in May at the United Nations. This conference takes place every five years, and convenes all the signers of the Treaty, worldwide.

But what makes this event so great?

The NPT is the cornerstone of nuclear nonproliferation—the most comprehensive binding document for nonproliferation and nuclear disarmament. Since 1970, when it entered into law, the Treaty has laid the groundwork to allow countries to obtain nuclear energy without obtaining nuclear weapons, to disarm South Africa, and disarm former Soviet Republics such as Kazakhstan, Belarus, and Ukraine in the 1990’s. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) oversees not only inspections of suspected nuclear weapons facilities, but also oversees worldwide use of nuclear energy, under the NPT.

Most importantly, the NPT prevents nuclear-armed states from sharing the technology with non-nuclear armed states. And the NPT requires nuclear-weapons states to be working towards total disarmament. The RevCon follows up on this, taking direct action for nuclear disarmament, and it can work to head off such problems as an arms race in the Middle East.

The 2010 RevCon aims for concrete steps toward disarmament. By the time the RevCon comes around, Russia and the US should have signed have a new arms reduction treaty, a positive example for other nuclear-weapons nations. Reducing the number of weapons reduces the risk of an accidental launch, of stolen weapons or nuclear materials.

So what? So—this is something presidents and prime ministers talk about, right? What does this have to do with you?

This has everything to do with you. The NPT is a tool—past, present, and future. During the Cold War, it provided us with the teeth to keep more countries from obtaining nuclear weapons. Now, it works to negotiate with Iran as they are signers of the NPT and bound by its rules. But the NPT also offers us the promise of the future: a future without nuclear weapons. The NPT provided the bedrock for treaties like the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, which bans all nuclear testing. This keeps our air, our water, our livestock, our agriculture, and people safe from the fallout and side effects of nuclear testing.

OK, I get it. So really, WHAT CAN I DO?

You too can join in these events—take part in Ban All Nukes – US, Japan, Europe—Everywhere!
A lot of people around the world care about this treaty. From Japan, to Germany, to the USA, the grassroots movement is growing more every day through creative campaigns. Some organizations in Japan are showing their solidarity by collecting millions of hand-signed petitions for global disarmament. Bang-Europe has a Global Postcard Campaign, and will be in New York, joining thousands of others (like these Peace Walkers from Tennessee) to show support at the many events that will be happening there. Check out the list of events that you can participate in at PeaceandJusticeNow.org.

Ban All Nukes Generation will cover all of it with our newly launched online video project: Disarm-TV. Check out the videos we have collected so far from youth and citizen activists on what they're doing in preparation for the NPT. May is a still a few months away, so there's time for you to send in your report, too! We're looking for 4-5 minute events coverage, interviews, animations, and blog posts-- anything you have to get your voice out there. Tune into the channel NOW. Contact Kim at kimthao.pna@gmail.com for questions, and to submit your blog or video. See you in the spring, on Disarm-TV.