Tiny Pacific nation sues 9 nuclear powers, including Israel

[Jefferson23]

Marshall Islands, site of dozens of U.S. nuclear tests, demands nations disarm nuclear arsenal, accuses them of 'flagrant violation' of international law.

By The Associated Press | Apr. 24, 2014 |

The tiny Pacific nation of the Marshall Islands is taking on the United States, the world's seven other nuclear-armed nations and Israel, with an unprecedented lawsuit demanding that they meet their obligations toward disarmament and accusing them of "flagrant violations" of international law.

Israel is not party to the 1968 Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, but according to foreign media is in possession of a nuclear arsenal.

The island group that was used for dozens of U.S. nuclear tests after World War II was filing suit Thursday against each of the nine countries in the International Court of Justice in The Hague, Netherlands. It also was filing a federal lawsuit against the United States in San Francisco, naming President Barack Obama, the departments and secretaries of defense and energy and the National Nuclear Security Administration.

The Marshall Islands claims the nine countries are modernizing their nuclear arsenals instead of negotiating disarmament, and it estimates that they will spend $1 trillion on those arsenals over the next decade.

http://www.haaretz.com/news/world/1.587139

[Jefferson23]

1. snip*The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament's general secretary, Kate Hudson, said

"The nuclear-armed states continue to peddle the myth that they are committed to multilateral disarmament initiatives, while squandering billions to modernise their nuclear arsenals. The UK government's plans to replace Trident make a mockery of its professed belief in multilateral frameworks – and now in addition to huge public opposition in the UK, it will also face an international legal challenge to expose its hypocrisy."

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/apr/24/marshall-islands-sues-nine-nuclear-powers-failure-disarm

[Purveyor]

2. kick. Thanks for posting. +1 eom

[Jefferson23]

3. Going after the mighty, is that cool or what.

[IronGate]

4. This lawsuit has about as much chance of succeeding as I have of

growing gills and living with the fishes.
IOW, no chance whatsoever.

[Jefferson23]

5. Do you practice international law? n/t

[IronGate]

6. Do you really believe that the US, Russia, France, Pakistan, India, Britain,

Israel will give up their nukes?
If so, I've got a great bridge for sale, really cheap.

[Jefferson23]

7. I asked you if you practice international law, because if you do, I would like to

reference you for discussions on this topic. I take it you are not.

I am well aware of the politics, that is obvious..bringing international attention
to a vital issue is not something that should be scoffed at.

[IronGate]

8. No, just a lowly firefighter paramedic.

And I apologize for the snark.
The only reason I scoff is because I know that nuclear disarmament just isn't going to happen, at least not in my life time.

[Jefferson23]

9. No problem and I admire firefighters..nothing lowly there. We all need to demand better

my friend..it may be our only hope along with courageous small entities such as
the Marshall Islands.

We'll see what develops.