The Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), is up for review at the UN in New York between 2 and 27 May 2005.
This Peace News NPT special section provides a basic introduction to what the NPT is and focuses on what some British groups and NGOs are doing around the forthcoming Review Conference.
We aim to show the diversity in ways in which different groups are working towards disarmament. Some focus entirely on the treaty, collecting names for petitions or finding means to strengthen the NPT. Others take nonviolent direct action towards specific WMD manufacturers -- “pouring sugar into the war machine” itself.
Whether you believe in treaties or not, the Non-Proliferation Treaty is the only one which contains a binding commitment to disarmament by its signatories. Obviously, it will only work if everyone cooperates -- the whole point of a treaty -- this cooperation paradoxically represents both the strongest and the weakest link ...