John Loretz - Preventing Nuclear War: The Medical and Humanitarian Case for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons

Preventing Nuclear War: The Medical and Humanitarian Case for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons provides a window into the work of the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW) health professionals, advocates, and activists as they persuaded diplomats, parliamentarians, the media, and the public to ban nuclear weapons.

Why are doctors speaking out about nuclear weapons and nuclear war, an issue that seems to be the exclusive province of diplomats, politicians, and security experts? This volume offers an answer in the unique perspective of health professionals on the nature of nuclear weapons, their medical and humanitarian consequences, and the responsibility to prevent what cannot be treated. On 7 July 2017, the UN successfully concluded negotiations on the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW). The ban treaty emerged from a humanitarian initiative that shifted the focus away from deterrence-based rationales used by the nuclear-armed states and toward an evidence-based understanding of the existential threat nuclear weapons pose to humanity. Since 1980, IPPNW has been the leading medical organization primarily dedicated to the abolition of nuclear weapons. With its civil society partners in ICANthe International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear WeaponsIPPNW brought the scientific evidence about nuclear weapons and nuclear war into the treaty negotiations and into the language of the TPNW itself. The contributors to this volume show the dedication and diverse strategies that have together made up a unified and very significant contribution to ridding the world of nuclear weapons.

Reflecting honestly on what has been learnt and having the potential to contribute to wider learning outside the anti-nuclear community, Preventing Nuclear War: The Medical and Humanitarian Case for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons will be of great use to medical and health professionals, humanitarian professionals, and anyone wanting to work toward a more peaceful and equitable world.

The chapters were originally published as a special issue of Medicine, Conflict and Survival.

John Loretz retired as Program Director for International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War in 2017. He represented the organization on the international steering group of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, the 2017 Nobel Peace Laureate.

Marion Birch is a public health professional with extensive experience in countries affected by conflict. She was director of Medact for eight years and is an Honorary Lecturer at the Institute of Global Health, University College London.

Leo van Bergen is an independent researcher and medical historian.

The Medical and Humanitarian Case for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons

Edited by
John Loretz, Marion Birch and Leo van Bergen

First published 2020
by Routledge
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ISBN13: 978-0-367-45674-0

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The publisher accepts responsibility for any inconsistencies that may have arisen during the conversion of this book from journal articles to book chapters, namely the inclusion of journal terminology.

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Every effort has been made to contact copyright holders for their permission to reprint material in this book. The publishers would be grateful to hear from any copyright holder who is not here acknowledged and will undertake to rectify any errors or omissions in future editions of this book.

The chapters in this book were originally published in the Medicine, Conflict and Survival, volume 34, issue 4 (June 2019). When citing this material, please use the original page numbering for each article, as follows:

Chapter 1

Towards abolition: a special issue from the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War

Marion Birch and Leo van Bergen

Medicine, Conflict and Survival, volume 34, issue 4 (June 2019) pp. 237

Chapter 2

Consequences matter: why nuclear weapons had to be banned

John Loretz

Medicine, Conflict and Survival, volume 34, issue 4 (June 2019) pp. 238246

Chapter 3

My Journey before and after the birth of the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons

Kelvin Kibet

Medicine, Conflict and Survival, volume 34, issue 4 (June 2019) pp. 247252

Chapter 4

Australia: fertile ground for banning the bomb

Sue Wareham

Medicine, Conflict and Survival, volume 34, issue 4 (June 2019) pp. 253257

Chapter 5

Austria and its efforts towards the prohibition of nuclear weapons

Klaus Renoldner

Medicine, Conflict and Survival, volume 34, issue 4 (June 2019) pp. 258262

Chapter 6

Teaching about the Treaty to Prohibit Nuclear Weapons to three generations

Mary-Wynne Ashford and Jonathan Down

Medicine, Conflict and Survival, volume 34, issue 4 (June 2019) pp. 263268

Chapter 7

How Physicians for Social Responsibility - Finland has managed to grow and be active for over 35 years

Kati Juva

Medicine, Conflict and Survival, volume 34, issue 4 (June 2019) pp. 269275

Chapter 8

French physicians against nuclear weapons (AMFPGN) IPPNWs French affiliates adventures in atomic bomb fan club country

Abraham Behar and Ella Faiz

Medicine, Conflict and Survival, volume 34, issue 4 (June 2019) pp. 276278

Chapter 9

Promoting the nuclear ban treaty in Germany - obstacles and opportunities