Nobel Women's Initiative

An all-women team of cluster bomb searchers has been breaking new ground and gender barriers in Lebanon’s still dangerous south. 

The country’s only all female team - once local teachers, nurses and housewives - was set up by de-mining NGO Norwegian People's Aid (NPA) to clear areas littered with unexploded cluster bombs dropped by the Israeli military in the 2006 July War. 

Today marks the International Day Against Nuclear Tests.  On 2 December 2009, the United Nations General Assembly declared 29 August the International Day against Nuclear Tests which is meant for all sectors of society to come together to 'inform, educate, and advocate' for the banning of nuclear tests.

Japan commemorated the 66^th Anniversary of the Hiroshima - Nagasaki disaster on Saturday August 6^th.  Thousands attended the ceremonies to honour and remember all of the victims who died as a result of the attack.

Join us on June 25th, the international day of action to advocate for a treaty to ban all nuclear weapons.   On Nuclear Abolition Day,  you can add your voice to the Nuclear Abolition Movement and continue the momentum towards a binding treaty to put an end to nuclear proliferation.

On the eve of the 25th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster - and six weeks after the devastating nuclear disaster in Japan - ten Nobel Peace Laureates are calling upon world leaders to invest in safer forms of renewable energy.

The six women Peace Laureates of the Nobel Women's Initiative, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Adolfo Perez Esquivel, and Jose Ramos Horta have sent an open letter to 31 heads of state whose countries are currently heavily invested in nuclear power production, or are considering investing in nuclear power.

Take Action - Join the call.

Read the open letter below.

The Nobel Peace Laureates of the Nobel Women’s Initiative, together with the rest of the world, are deeply saddened and concerned by the widespread devastation and suffering in Japan. While our thoughts are with the people of Japan, our hopes are with the rest of the world in taking this moment to reflect upon the disaster. Why do we keep investing in nuclear energy when safer, more cost-effective and cleaner alternatives are available?

Nuclear power, whether as energy or weapons, does not provide for a more secure future. The danger and severe radiation risks from nuclear energy are just beginning to be understood as a result of this crisis. As we have seen, it can lead to radioactive catastrophe, leave us with unsolved nuclear waste, huge debts, and contribute to nuclear weapons proliferation.

—Media Advisory—

Suu Kyi spoke earlier today with Williams, who had called Suu Kyi on behalf of all her Nobel sisters.  Among other things, the two women spoke about the continued use of landmines in Burma.  Williams also congratulated Suu Kyi on her release from house arrest, and pledged her support and that of her sister Laureates to keep up the work to free Burma's other 2100 political prisoners. 

Aung San Suu Kyi spoke earlier today with Jody Williams, who called on behalf of all her Nobel sisters to express congratulations to Suu Kyi.   Suu Kyi asked Williams and her sister Laureates to keep working for the freedom of the more than 2000 other political prisoners in Burma.
"I don't believe in hope without endeavor...endeavor to bring about change," Suu Kyi told Williams.

The two women also spoke about the continued use of landmines in Burma. Today Suu Kyi added her name to the list of Nobel Peace Laureates who have signed a letter to US President Obama, calling upon him to join the Mine Ban Treaty.  

Fifteen Nobel Peace Laureates—including Jody Williams and the other women of the Nobel Women’s Initiative—today sent a letter to US President Barack Obama asking him to join the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty.

This week the United States is participating as an observer in the Tenth Meeting of States Parties to the Mine Ban Treaty in Geneva, Switzerland.

The six Nobel Peace Laureates of the Nobel Women's Initiative have sent an open letter to President Peres and Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel demanding the total and unconditional release of Mordechai Vanunu and lifting of all restrictions placed on his freedom of movement.

Vanunu is a former Israeli nuclear technician who was imprisoned for 18 years after revealing details of Israel's nuclear weapons program in 1986.