Physicians and Nuclear Abolition

Mobilizing the Medical Community

Education and outreach to the medical and health community is key to building support for the goal of abolition. Not only can well-organized medical and health communities exert direct political pressure, in most countries they speak with persuasive authority to the public at large.

At present the world medical community remains inadequately informed and insufficiently involved in the nuclear issue. But, their involvement is vital. Health professionals can speak with authority on the health effects of nuclear war and are persuasive advocates on issues related to public health. Physicians and health workers can play a leading role in building broad public support for the abolition of nuclear weapons.

Two broad objectives of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) are:

1. To document and publicize the health and environmental consequences of nuclear weapons testing and production and of nuclear warfare.
2. To engage in advocacy at the national and international levels for a complete and universal ban on the development, testing, production, sale, transfer, stockpiling, or use of nuclear weapons -- in short, to mobilize support for a Model Nuclear Weapons Convention (NWC).

IPPNW is developing a full range of ICAN materials, including a campaign website, for use by our affiliates, coalition partners, and others who want to help create a global groundswell for the abolition of nuclear weapons. Please return to ippnw.org for campaign news, updates, and action alerts.

For more information about the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), contact John Loretz, Program Director, IPPNW, 727 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 02139; 617-868-5050, ext. 280.