International Day Against Nuclear Tests commemorative event
Thursday, September 9, 2021 | Central Hall Westminster, UK and Online
An intergenerational dialogue on nuclear weapons and climate change – two existential threats to humanity.
The event included students and youth leaders in dialogue with legislators (parliamentarians), policy/academic experts, members of the diplomatic community, representatives of civil society organizations and others.
It was a hybrid event with some speakers and invited guests participating in person at the event hub, while others participated online. The event hub was in the historic Central Hall Westminster in London, which was the venue for the very first United Nations General
Program
Opening Session:
- Moderator: Professor Dan Plesch, Director, Centre for International Studies and Diplomacy at SOAS University. Founder and Director, Strategic Concept for the Removal of Arms Proliferation – SCRAP (in-person)
- Welcome message: Mukhtar Tileuberdi, Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan (video)
- Introductory comments: Alkey Margulanuly, Deputy Executive Director, Nursultan Nazarbayev Foundation (video)
- Opening presentation: Lord Hannay of Chiswick, Co-Chair of the UK All Party Parliamentary Group on Global Security and Non-proliferation (in person)
Panel Sessions:
Moderator: Vanda Proskova, Co-convenor, Youth Fusion. Vice-Chair, PragueVision Institute for Sustainable Security (online)
Panel 1: Short and Long Term Environmental Impacts of Nuclear Weapons Testing & Use
- Olzhas Omaruly Suleimenov, Poet. C0-founder, Nevada-Semipalatinsk Movement. Kazakhstan Ambassador to UNESCO. (video)
- Moetai Brotherson MP. Member of the National Assembly of France. Member of the French Polynesian Assembly (in person)
- Aigerim Seitenova, Head of Programmes, ‘Wings of Liberty’ Public Foundation. Mmember of OSCE Core Group of Youth Experts (in person)
Panel 2: Nuclear War and Climate Change: Nuclear Winter, Famine, Darkness
- Professor Andreas Nidecker MD, Radiologist. Board Member, Physicians for Social Responsibility IPPNW Switzerland. President, Basel Peace Office (online)
- Marie Claire Graf, Vice-President, Swiss Youth for Climate. Global North Focal Point for YOUNGO, the Children and Youth constituency to United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (online)
Video message: Dr Robert Floyd, Executive Secretary of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization
Panel 3: Move the Nuclear Weapons Money:
- Dr Philip Webber, Chair, Scientists for Global Responsibility (online)
- Kehkashan Basu, Founder and CEO, The Green Hope Foundation. Member, World Future Council. Winner, 2016 Children’s International Peace Prize. Winner, Inaugural Voices Youth Gorbachev-Shultz Legacy Award for Nuclear Disarmament (online)
Panel 4: The Nuclear-Climate Nexus, International Law and Civil Society Action
- Rob van Riet, Lawyer, Senior advisor to PNND and the World Future Council (in person)
- Nicole Ann Ponce, Young lawyer. Member, World’s Youth for Climate Action. Co-Founder and Coordinator, I am Climate Justice movement. Research Fellow, Normandy Chair for Peace (online)
Open discussion:
Moderator: Professor Dan Plesch, Director,Centre for International Studies and Diplomacy at SOAS University. Founder and Director, Strategic Concept for the Removal of Arms Proliferation – SCRAP (in-person)
Closing remarks:
- Alyn Ware, Member, World Future Council. Global Coordinator, Parliamentarians for Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament. International Representative, Aotearoa Lawyers for Peace
Closing remarks:
- HE Mr Erlan Idrissov, Kazakhstan Ambassador to the UK (in person)
For more information about the speakers see the event booklet.