Greenpeace: Money blown up on nuclear weapons better spent on sustainable development

NEW YORK 24 April 2000 -- Greenpeace today demanded that the United Nations bring down 'mental walls' separating two meetings taking place at the same time at the UN headquarters where, in one room, expenditure on nuclear weapons is maintained, and in another, the lack of investment on sustainable development is regretted.

The Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) and the conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) are both starting their meetings today at the UN's New York Headquarters. Greenpeace is the only non-governmental organisation attending both meetings.

"In one room, the Rich Few will argue that they have no money to spare for sustainable development, in the other, they will struggle to maintain and further develop their multi-billion dollars nuclear arsenal. If only a portion of what is spent by the nuclear weapons states to maintain and further develop their nuclear weapons arsenals was re-routed towards the protection of the environment, sustainable development could become a reality," said Remi Parmentier, Head of Greenpeace International Political Unit.

"The governments simply have to end this insanity and get their priorities right. Unfortunately, the delegates to either of the two meetings are unlikely to communicate with each other," added Parmentier.

The NPT Review Conference is the first one since the U.S. Congress voted last year against the ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty of 1996, and since the Clinton administration revived the US Ballistic Missile Defence Programme.

"It is also taking place two years after India and Pakistan tested their nuclear weapons thereby confirming that the current non-proliferation regime is under serious threat. Because the nuclear weapons states have failed to meet their disarmament obligations, the NPT has become increasingly undermined and obsolete. A reform is urgently needed", said Parmentier.

The Commission on Sustainable Development is holding talks on the preparations for the tenth anniversary of the Rio Earth Summit, where the body was established. "Rich industrialised countries have not kept their share of the Rio deal in which financial and technical support for the developing countries to protect biological diversity and the environment was promised. Instead, the rich few have continued to promote their own agenda, maintained their own unsustainable production and consumption patterns", said Parmentier.

Greenpeace urged the government representatives to recognise the connection of the problems and use the opportunity to adopt a holistic approach to security by giving priority to environmental security.

Notes to the Editors:

1. The Eighth Session of the Commission on Sustainable Development is taking place 24th April-May. The Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons Treaty (NPT) Review Conference is taking place 24 April-19 May.

Greenpeace is holding a briefing on the NPT and the CSD meetings at the United Nations Headquaters, in front of the conference room 1 in the basement on Tuesday 25th April, at 14:30.

Representatives from the Press, Members of National delegations at the NPT and CSD meetings, and representatives from other NGOs are invited.