Congratulations to the Rotaract Clubs of Brindabella and the University of Canberra for conducting the ceremony last Saturday to remember the anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. The environmental and cultural devastation caused by nuclear testing in the Pacific was also noted.

The MC on the day was Steph Davis from the Rotaract Club of the University of Canberra.

A highlight was the presentation of Origami Paper Cranes in the memory of Sadako Sasaki and her 1,000 cranes. Folded by Canberra students from Amaroo Primary School, St Vincent’s Primary, Mawson Primary, Majura Primary, Torrens Primary, Forrest Primary and Sutton Primary the cranes were strung from the pavilion at the Peace bell. All of these schools also have had peace poles donated to them.

After this ceremony all of these paper cranes will be sent to Hiroshima and be hung by the Hiroshima Organisation for Global Peace at the Children’s Memorial in Hiroshima. The cranes will be hung to recognise the International Day of Peace 21^st September.

There were speeches from Dr. Ludmilla Kwitko – Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, Talei Mangioni – International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons(ICAN), and Libby O’Brien President Rotaract Club of the Canberra and Rotaract District Representative Elect.

His Excellency Ambassador Mr Shingo Yamagami gave the keynote speech and then together with Mrs Yamagami they struck the Peace Bell followed by a minute’s silence in memory of those lost in Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Following the ceremony, the Rotaractor’s attending discussed the idea that next year the organisation of this ceremony should become a Rotaract District wide event.

The ceremony was also well attended by Rotarians from a number of clubs and a special thankyou to our club members who attended on the day.

Click to see video from the ceremony at:

https://youtu.be/akLAAC7PskQ

Michael Rabey

Comments on the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW)

Latvia advocates a world free of nuclear weapons, but believes that this should be done gradually and in a balanced way, using a transparent and rigorous verification mechanism within the framework of existing international agreements and taking into account the overall global security situation.

We believe that the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), in force for 50 years, and the agreement between the nuclear powers, set out the basic principles for the gradual and balanced implementation of national nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation policies. The NPT provides a global reach, with 191 Member States joining and nuclear-weapon states committed to nuclear disarmament under strong and effective international oversight. Over time, the regime has shown progress in reducing nuclear arsenals and deterring several countries from developing nuclear programs.

Latvia continues to directly support the NPT process and goals. For example, in recent years Latvia has both participated in the work of the IAEA Board and chaired the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).

The 2017 Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), in force since 22 January 2021, has been ratified by just over 50 countries. The TPNW gives the misleading impression that the immediate and global elimination of nuclear weapons is possible.

We believe that efforts to achieve a total ban on nuclear weapons with this treaty, which is not supported by any of the nuclear-weapon states, and based solely on voluntary and unilateral action without effective control, are not an effective mechanism for nuclear disarmament. This runs counter to the existing non-proliferation and disarmament regime and will not contribute to national security and global nuclear disarmament.

We believe that the TPNW does not take into account the real security situation in which peace and stability are threatened, such as the aggressive development of North Korea's nuclear program.

Latvia as a NATO country also supports a world free of nuclear weapons, but in the meantime, North Korea, Russia and China will have nuclear weapons, and NATO will retain nuclear capabilities. All NATO members have joined the NPT and are fulfilling their obligations.

So in the end, to put the story short, Latvia and myself also are not in favour of a misleading treaty.

Ieva Apine
Charge D`Affaires
Embassy of the Republic of Latvia
 

LAST WEEK'S LUNCHEON MEETING (August 5^th)

Last week’s guest speaker, Honorary Professor Beatrice Bodart-Bailey, from the ANU School of Culture, History and Language gave us a very topical presentation, judging by the 41 members and guests in attendance: “The Impact of the Civic to Woden Light Rail”. The presentation attracted a lot of attention with many questions extending interaction till close on 2 pm.

Professor Bodart-Bailey began her PowerPoint presentation by showing how the world’s first tram that ran in Berlin in 1881 already had the two most important attributes of the light rail  today, namely, that of providing a smooth ride without pollution by running on steel rails using electricity. These two features have made the tram/light rail the appropriate means of transport in well-established, densely-populated areas over the last 140 years. However, the technical advances of solar-powered buses with superior suspension running on today’s smooth roads have challenged the usefulness of the light rail with the large expense of its inflexible tracks.

The so-called trackless tram developed in South China has attempted to reduce the financial and environmental cost of the steel tracks by using rubber tires and magnetic sensors painted on the road. Power is provided by batteries charged at each stop. Like the light rail, trains run in the middle of the road, resulting in lights delaying car traffic or unsightly bridges to bring passengers to the platform of each stop. The manufacturers concede that the only advantage of this hybrid tram over the new generation of electric buses is that the long-term fixed-route attracts urban development around fixed stations. Recent maps show that urban development around light rail stations is a priority for the government in Canberra.

Our speaker pointed out that neither the light rail nor the trackless trams are suitable for the decentralized city of Canberra with its population hubs separated by green spaces. She suggested, moreover, that the government’s plans to transform Canberra into a “compact and vibrant city” (Chief Minister, “Statement of Ambition” 2016) to suit the light rail, are out of date. Rapid climate change with rising temperatures speaks against creating areas of compact housing where in summer the massive amounts of concrete required for construction turn into “heat islands”. Last not least, the spread of Covid has shown that the virus thrives in the compact city with its high-rise housing, and that decentralized Canberra and not the compact and vibrant cities of Sydney and Melbourne should be regarded as the model for the future.

Thanks to Professor Bodart-Bailey for her presentation and her notes for the bulletin.

Graeme Howieson

THIS WEEK'S LUNCHEON MEETING (August 12^th )

Our guest will be Ross Goddard of Goddard and Howse Travel who will speak on the topic of:

“When Will International Travel Return and What Will It Look Like Post-Covid?”

AUGUST DUTY ROSTER

If Unable To Attend On A Day You Are Rostered, Please Organise A Replacement.