Apologies: Juan Carlos Chirgwin, Karin Harada, Sergey Kolesnikov, Masao Tomonaga.

Transcription

1 MINUTES - IPPNW BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING VILLINGEN-SCHWENNINGEN, GERMANY MAY 29-30, 2013 Present: Daniel Bassey, Vladimir Garkavenko, Bob Gould, Ira Helfand, Bjorn Hilt, Kati Juva, Andrew Kanter, Peter Karamoskos, Helmut Lohrer, Arun Mitra, Robert Mtonga, Andreas Nidecker, Niloufar Rahim, Ogebe Onazi, Lars Pohlmeier, Tilman Ruff, Ahmed Saada, Tipu Sultan, Wenjing Tao. Staff: Michael Christ, John Loretz, Maria Valenti Apologies: Juan Carlos Chirgwin, Karin Harada, Sergey Kolesnikov, Masao Tomonaga. Observers: Xanthe Hall, Antti Junkkari, Walter Odhiambo, Vappu and Ilkka Taipale, Gunnar Westberg DAY 1 -- WEDNESDAY, MAY Opening by the Board Chairs Lars Pohlmeier and Wenjing Tao, Chair and Deputy IPPNW Board Chairs: opened the meeting with introductory remarks. 2. CO report Michael: thanked Helmut Lohrer and IPPNW Germany staff, esp. Frank Hue, for all their hard work and partnership to make BoD meeting and the HT Congress possible. Since Hiroshima Congress, staff have been focusing on supporting/promoting core priorities: ICAN+NW work, Aiming for Prevention, and student work. Staff: 3 full time (Christ, Loretz, Morizono), 3 part time (Valenti, Garrett FiztGeraldfundraising, Kline). One bookkeeper one day a week. Sad news: Doug Kline leaving IPPNW at end of Dec after 15 years. Huge loss. Doug has promoted sound financial management, transparency and accountability, and has contributed in so many other ways to support affiliates and mission. Michael introduced budget: overall in good shape financially. End this fiscal year with another surplus. Proposed balanced budget for next fiscal year, which begins July 1 st. We have decent reserves: 3-4 months operating expenses in bank. But we still face financial challenges. Need work together to find ways to raise new funding. One very concrete way is the Peace House (presentation tomorrow by Vappu and Ilkka Taipale.) Recent program success should open new opportunities for grants. Our anti-nuclear work and armed violence/small arms work really coming together thematically with emphasis on humanitarian concerns. IPPNW s message for the past 30 years is now at the heart of these new movements. Tremendous opportunities ahead given momentum behind ICAN and catastrophic humanitarian consequences ; new scientific work that Ira and others have been producing; and victory of the Arms Trade Treaty and new AfP Page 1 of 13

2 research and educational tools. Most important at this meeting is to come together around specific action plan to seize new opportunities and to engage all the IPPNW affiliates 3. Nuclear weapons/ican John, Ira and Tilman presented. John: Introduced the topic, highlighting major accomplishments since Hiroshima congress and opportunities ahead, which were not accidental but the result of deliberate planning. Humanitarian consequences of nuclear weapons becoming the driving force for a ban treaty. ICRC/Red Cross/Red Crescent relationship has been very productive and collaborative. The big news was of course the Oslo conference attended by 127 States. Three IPPNW speakers brought forward IPPNW s core message. IPPNW was invited to organize a 50-person delegation at the intergovernmental conference and the immediately preceding civil society forum organized by ICAN was attended by 500 participants from 70 countries. Thematic focus on medical/environmental. Follow-up conference to occur in Mexico in Feb ICAN is up to 300 partners in 70 countries. ICAN International Steering Group (ISG) has expanded. Recently received 3-year core funding grant of ~US 3.3 million dollars from Norway. Launched new petition for ban treaty and another one for parliamentarians. Political strategy: shift away from dependency on NWS and towards wide engagement of NNWS in a ban treaty process that NWS will no longer be able to ignore. Outlaw nuclear weapons to compel NWS. John then noted a number of useful new ICAN and IPPNW resources. Priorities for next months: inputs to and expanded State representation at Mexico conf.; expanding relationships with national RC/RC societies; new opportunities with Rotary International and new research on nuclear famine, which Ira will describe later; and continued close collaboration with ICAN partners. Rotary International has 1.2 million members worldwide; was active on nukes in 1980s. John: brief Middle Powers Initiative (MPI) update: very successful Berlin Framework Forum, Feb 21-22, Xanthe Hall and Berlin staff worked very hard on this. IPPNW served as fiscal agent for conference; fiscal sponsorship for MPI has moved to Nuclear Age Peace Foundation. Ira: Emphasized the new opportunities outlined by John. Our premise today is the same as at our founding: that is, if we educate people about the true horrors of nuclear weapons use, then, people will want to get rid of them. Our task is to focus at this meeting on how we use these new opportunities to advance this mission. Ira: described new research being conducted on nuclear famine, with new findings on impact of regional nuclear exchange of Chinese grain production. Threat is even greater than we first concluded: not one but two billion people at risk of starvation as under the same 5 million tons of smoke scenario, declines in spring and winter wheat production in China are predicted to be 40-60%, not 15-20% as for rice and corn; with the world s largest population, second largest economy and a nuclear arsenal. So not just hoarding and price effects in China as previously reported, but major famine and chaos in China, the region and the world. This new data will be published late summer/early fall. We need to discuss what Page 2 of 13

3 are the implications of this new data, and how do we use it effectively. Need to develop a 15 minute health message on NW and get it out to physicians worldwide. Arun: IDPD translating Famine into different languages. Tilman: ICAN has moved from puberty to adolescence. IPPNW has been ICAN s midwife. Where ICAN is at now: Oslo: extraordinary that 68 years after the Japan bombing, first inter-governmental conference to examine medical and public health effects. Oslo and humanitarian consequence movement didn t come out of nowhere, but rather a lot frustration over failures to move abolition forward at NPT. Important to expand the humanitarian focus including but beyond recognition of the salience of International Humanitarian Law. Twothirds of all governments came. Atmosphere was warm, friendly, collaborative. Powerful partnerships created, and emerged from, the conference, with common humanitarian focus. Ready cohesion achievable among Latina and African governments. Stage is set for important follow-up conference in Mexico. Lessons: Widespread acceptance of evidence: Catastrophic humanitarian consequences of any use of nw. o Lack of current or conceivable collective capacity to effectively address humanitarian needs following nw use; o Risk of use as long as nw exist; o First widespread recognition in such a forum of the climatic, agricultural and famine effects of even relatively limited regional nuclear war; Role of Red Cross movement significant Political resistance is a good sign o P5 collective boycott arrogant, defensive, justification not plausible; o States willing to target nw at each other achieve ready unanimity when their nw are challenged; o Nuclear allied states like Australia and Japan insincerity and inconsistency of window dressing on disarmament fall away quickly when challenged. Leading governments want one coordinated civil society partner. It is possible to engage and enthuse young people and people in low income countries in nuclear disarmament. ICAN Strategy Towards Mexico: Objective: Governments to sign on to a political commitment to start negotiations on a treaty banning nuclear weapons within a specified timeframe at the upcoming international conference on the humanitarian impact of nw in Mexico To get there: o Expand ICAN network Target countries Existing and new partners: env, humanitarian, health, human rights, development Incl Rotary Clear targeted advocacy strategy Page 3 of 13

4 o Increase political support for a ban treaty Strengthen momentum around humanitarian focus Ban as the next step (not the final step) Encourage nnws to become leaders Develop media outreach Raise public interest in and expectations of the Mexico conference 4. International Medical Student Report and Discussion Niloufar reported that student website has been problematic and there is now a new host. Problems with financial issues; don t have money for students to participate in activities that are coming up in one month; don t know how to get the money or where to get it from. Asked whether it is permissible for students to try to fundraise among affiliates. Student recruitment is also a problem, especially in Latin America and southern European countries; need help from affiliates to identify students who are involved in activities and recruit others. Ogebe: IFMSA has been a source of new students in the past and could assist again, if approached properly. Peter: Important for the students to prepare budgets for the year s activities and plan for expenditures and fundraising strategies. Michael: relationship with IFMSA was established as far back as the 1998 Melbourne Congress, with a number of agreements about reciprocal activities; worth going back to review that and reestablish relations. Ogebe recommended Skype conversation with president of IFMSA and regular Skype conversations with ISRs and RSRs. Tilman: Ban All Nukes Generation is very visible and may be a fruitful point of contact; many Red Cross societies have youth extensions. Bjorn: important to communicate with affiliate leaders if you are fundraising in their countries. Bob: ICAN small grant program might be worth trying Antti: (EuroSR): any advantage to setting up administrative structures for raising money independently? Tilman: Preferable to use existing structures rather than creating additional structures Michael: students can apply to the international fund Xanthe: international fund was established and is funded largely by Germany precisely to support student projects and travel (and Global South medicos) that do not have direct involvement by German students or affiliate members; more affiliates should contribute to increase capacity. Page 4 of 13

5 5. Kazakhstan Congress Proposal Vladimir: Kazakhstan affiliate ready to host the next congress in Astana; propose having a meeting in August in Astana. Helmut: supports the idea of the Congress, but has serious concerns about the process, the lack of a concept, and communications, and thinks that August is too late to start for a congress one year later. Bjorn: Board needs more information about nature of support from government, which might involve questions of principle. Ira: seconds what Helmut said about time frame; delegation in August should not be going there to start the process; preliminary program should be available in a matter of weeks for Board review so input can be brought to August meeting. Vladimir: can have this preliminary document by 20 th of June. Michael: we also need the outline of a budget and a fundraising plan. Xanthe: has perspective on meeting held last year in Astana, both in terms of control by Nazarbayev Center and location, which is nothing but buildings with a business focus. Ira: If the June 20 deadline is not met, we have to begin thinking about an alternative site for the Congress. John: two programmatic concerns: ICAN strategy and Nazarbayev disarmament proposal are following different paths, and ICAN has moved away from the kinds of strategies outlined in the Nazarbayev proposal. This could create a very awkward and confusing situation if Nazarbayev expects us to come in behind his proposal. The second problem is Kazakhstan s uranium exports, as the world s largest uranium producer, which are closely and explicitly linked to his disarmament proposals; we need the freedom to speak freely about our own positions and programs, including nuclear energy, as we d expect at any other Congress; and we need to prevent even the appearance of endorsing those parts of Nazarbayev s proposals that are incompatible with ours. Lars: need to trust the affiliate and Vladimir to solve these problems that have been raised. Arun: echoed call for trust, and seconded notion that we need to provide the affiliate with specific information about what we want on the 20 th. Michael: reinforced John s concern about confusion/conflict that could be caused if our policies and ICAN strategy are incompatible with Nazarbayev. Helmut: the message that comes out of the IPPNW congress needs to be IPPNW s message. Ogebe: should we appoint a working group now or, as Peter suggested, is that premature; Aiming for Prevention also needs to be an important part of this Congress. Outcome: A working group comprising Michael, Lars, Vladimir, Andi, Arun, and Ira was tasked with meeting to draft specific elements of a request for additional information from the affiliate, and to report back to the Board tomorrow, when a decision would be taken on how to proceed. Page 5 of 13

6 5. Board Issues A) Gender Balance Wenjing: met with a consultant on gender issues, who recommended several ideas for raising awareness within the organization and taking steps to achieve greater balance; Wenjing asks whether the Board wants to commit to this. Nomination committee would be important, particularly for the long term in identifying candidates for future elections. Bob G: the task is important, but concerned that an overambitious process might not get implemented; need to choose and work on some achievable goals. Andy: achievable target might be getting 50/50 representation on Board. Michael: need an analysis of how the nomination process works in the affiliates; some have strong participation by women in the leadership, others find it more of a challenge; the Board composition is a result of what happens at the national level. Arun: supports the idea very much and sees it linked to the larger issues of violence against women. Ira: we shouldn t discriminate against women, but should not have a quota system; expressed concern that investment of resources in a major process could divert time and energy from our mission. Kati: The women are there; they need to be encouraged to run for leadership positions; more at large positions might result in more balance. Xanthe: disagrees strongly with Ira; in most organizations it s just an accepted fact that you try to bring more women into leadership; part of social responsibility is getting gender balance. Peter: obvious from looking around the room that there s some kind of discrimination, whatever its nature; consultant might be a good idea Lars: agrees we need to do better; not in favor of quotas Maria: the discrimination is real and subtle; mentorship is important; many granting agencies demand evidence of gender balance as a condition of funding Ogebe: encouragement and support are crucial Ira: Perhaps survey women who have been on the Board to see if they ve experienced problems with the internal culture. If there are such problems we need to address them. Bjorn: give nomination committee another try; encourage nomination of women Tilman: proposed that all women who have been on Board in past 10 years be surveyed about their experience and advice about what we can do better; whenever we send out material about governance issues, including elections, we include specific language about gender diversity Page 6 of 13

7 Wenjing: Called for vote on Tilman s proposal for survey Unanimous vote in favor Wenjing volunteered to implement survey B) Communications / Reporting John and Michael distributed a draft list of Board priorities, including programmatic priorities for nuclear abolition work and Aiming for Prevention, with a request that by the end of the meeting Board members make specific commitments to work on some or all of the items (attached). Lars: We have regular EC calls that have been very effective; separation from other Board members is a concern. How can we better include the Board as a whole in decision making? How can we improve communications between meetings? Helmut: can there be Skype conferences of entire Board? Andy: trial Board meeting on Skype after Astana meeting? Xanthe: Skype gets overloaded easily; may be better platforms. Lars: what about regional communications? In Europe, we don t share enough information about our work in progress. Helmut: we can easily get overwhelmed by information, and that can actually impede good communications Lars: Is it too much to ask RVPs to communicate regularly with their affiliates about progress in IPPNW campaigns and report back to the Board? General assent from RVPs that this is a good idea Ahmed: also try to get feedback about countries where there are no affiliates Michael: referred back to short list of priorities and asked how Board can promote greatest possible affiliate engagement with the tasks on that list Discussion of courtesy and norms (Wenjing called it hygiene and volunteered to draft guidelines for the use of our lists) John: Asked regional vice presidents if they would commit to a regular schedule, of their own choosing, of communications with their affiliates to review each programmatic priority on the draft list, to report back to the Board regularly on affiliate activities (or reasons for lack of activity) related to each item. The RVPs present assented to this request. Lars: further proposed extending regular invitations to RVPs and others to EC calls to report on affiliate activities Page 7 of 13

8 Proposal: That RVPs periodically (at least quarterly) communicate with their affiliates about progress on IPPNW s priority campaigns and activities and report back to the EC and Central Office. Outcome: Proposal approved by consensus. Adjourn for the day DAY 2 -- THURSDAY, MAY Aiming for Prevention Maria: noted that accomplishments listed in written report were a result of commitments made and fulfilled at the last Board meeting. As the only health organization in the Control Arms network, IPPNW was presenting information at the ATT that no one else could provide. Delegates at UN praised Ogebe and other IPPNW speakers. Reviewed other accomplishments (see written report). Identified problem producing new One Bullet Stories; asked for discussion of possible obstacles and how to get this project moving again. Have also had little success building on the ICRC collaboration; Red Cross was reluctant to sign onto ATT materials, Nobel Laureates letter, etc. Nobel Laureates letter, however, built up a lot of good will among people such as Oscar Arias, Desmond Tutu, Jimmy Carter. Need the same kinds of commitments from Board members at this meeting so we can get programs done. There are capacity-building needs, including media outreach. Can we have a media liaison in an affiliate on occasions when we might have an important news item? (See AFP Moving Forward document in Board packet) Peter K: Described program in Australia for getting at root causes of violence by helping young people develop life skills. Key is using football to engage them in the program. Funded by major corporations. Governments have been interested in facilitating the programs, because they can see the positive outcomes. Bob M: reflected on a personal involvement in the same kind of activity in Zambia. Maria: question is, can we work on some kind of primary prevention projects in addition to the vector issues such as gun trafficking? Helmut: ATT is a good achievement and Germany will be the first to sign it, but despite the rules, Germany is the number 3 exporter of arms. Even the German government says the rules need to be stronger, so we need to go further. Andy: We need to make sure there s some consistency of message that can be leveraged to advance our international work, not just put bandages on specific local problems because there s a funding opportunity. Projects to help school children are great, but maybe not the kind of thing we should invest in organizationally. Maria: Not saying we should necessarily take on after school programs, but isn t there some kind of role for a health organization to bring a message about primary prevention to governments? Walter: a big problem is that arms have commercial value, and manufacturers make a lot of money by selling them. Risk of starting wars to ensure profits is still very high. Removing the commercial value from arms is key. Page 8 of 13

9 Gunnar: Sweden is number 1 gun exporter per capita, and export deals are done in secret, with no parliamentary review. We have a lot of work to do at home. Arun: supports ATT, but has reservations about its effectiveness. A step forward, but need to seek amendments to strengthen it. When our federation talks about reducing gun violence, we also have to talk about the inequities in wealth, because so much violence is a result of desperation due to poverty. Tipu: Pakistan is exporting large numbers of cheap, locally made guns to Middle East and African countries; many of them are used in northern Pakistan and in Karachi; 146 doctors have been killed. Bjorn: supports idea of coordinated fundraising among key affiliates; also suggests that some northern affiliates, such as Finland and Norway, might develop One Bullet Stories. Wenjing: Richard Horton at Lancet has invited papers on global health and violence; needs a university component; can this be developed? Tilman: OBSs seem ideal for students; should be real synergies between AFP and Red Cross programs on violence. Andy: need to build the argument about consequences from data and first principles, tie this in to a vision of a healthy, sustainable, happy future for everyone. Walter: OBS can t be done by a student without mentorship of a doctor. This, along with ethical hurdles, may be one of the problems in getting more produced. Helmut: Ownership of online Google tool that can show country-by-country arms exports has now been returned to the independent authors, after a debate about whether Google should be the owner of such information. Asked whether partnerships with Google or with the World Bank are appropriate; should the Board not consider the pros and cons of such partnerships and make a decision, yes or no? Xanthe: really need a media campaign for AfP to introduce the messages to journalists. Ogebe: need to bring the small war and big war (i.e., nuclear) messages together around the medical perspective. All three core programs of IPPNW (nuclear abolition, AfP, medical students) need to be the programmatic focus of the 2014 World Congress. 2. Kazakhstan Congress Proposal, continued from previous day Lars distributed an outline prepared by Board working group; need a conference call around June 10 or 11. Ira: Vladimir will call the affiliate and explain the process to them, including deliverables required by June 20 in order to make a final decision on whether we can hold the Congress in Kazakhstan. Helmut: reminded Board of decision taken earlier to include North-South perspective in Congress programs; urged Board to do this in appropriate ways in Kazakhstan Page 9 of 13

10 Tilman: we need dates; a venue; budget; fundraising strategy; organizational process and people. Michael: need a day-by-day outline of whole event, including governance meetings; block out the time Bjorn: make EC s role explicit Xanthe: need gender balance and other forms of diversity (south) in speakers; should set that as a goal Outcome: Vladimir will write a letter to the Kazakhstan affiliate explaining what needs to be delivered to the Board by June 20. A small group will participate in a conference call with representatives of the affiliate around June 10 or 11. Based on what the affiliate provides to the Board by the June 20 deadline, the Board will take a final decision on the affiliate s proposal to host the Congress. 3. Finances A) Fiscal Year 2013 report Michael: summary of year-to-date finances (see financial report in Board packet). We will end the fiscal year with a surplus, due to significant bequests. Ira commended staff for managing IPPNW s budget so effectively; Board applauded. B) Fiscal Year 2014 draft budget and discussion Michael presented proposed budget, and explained variances from previous year (see Board packet) Bob G: Is decline in membership a trend affecting all affiliates? Michael: Yes, small declines each year. Perhaps we could put together some member recruitment materials that could be used by all affiliates. Budget for FY2014 approved unanimously C) Peace House Ilkka Taipale described the concept of the Peace House. Discussion of whether Board would approve a down payment and mortgage, and what percentage would have to be paid up front. Andy noted that there are additional expenses for operating and maintaining a house that need to be calculated. Michael said there are too many variables to be able to estimate such costs before knowing what we are going to buy, but that all of this would be factored in at the appropriate time. Page 10 of 13

11 Outcome: Board affirmed its willingness to go forward with project. When at least half the money has been raised, the Board will take a decision on when to make the purchase and how much it is willing to finance through a mortgage. 4. Break to Welcome Student Bike Tour 5. Executive Session Outcome: The Board invites all physician and student activists who for different reasons are not members of a national affiliate of IPPNW or do not have a national affiliate in Latin America to form a regional affiliate (in accordance with our constitution). 6. Nuclear Exits Conference Ilkka updated the Board on the Nuclear Exits conference, which will take place in Helsinki on October Nuclear Energy/Fukushima/WHO report Tilman distributed a draft statement in response to the report of the UN Special Rapporteur on Fukushima; asked if the Board could consider issuing it as a statement from this Board meeting. Raised the question of whether this would require consultation with JPPNW, but thought not, since it s framed as a statement of this Board to the head of a UN agency. Peter: exactly the kind of statement we should be putting out; matches our level of expertise and deals with upper level issues Alex: Something is very wrong about the recent WHO report on the health consequences of Fukushima and IPPNW is remaining silent about it. This can t continue. German affiliate has a lot of expertise and information; there may be some disagreements about details, but we need to speak up about the harmful effects of nuclear energy use, and not whisper. Proposal that small group meet to finish the statement today, circulate to the nuclear energy working group and JPPNW, with intent to release it from this Board meeting. Approved unanimously. Tilman: We have a nuclear energy working group, and we should review it, use it, change it if needed, but run projects such as the WHO response through it. Andy: We actually need a process to come to a greater common understanding of what the issues are, what arguments the science supports, etc., and statements should flow from that. Peter: The science can t be driven by the ideology, even though he agrees with the ideology. Our opponents will say we re being selective in our data and we ll lose credibility. Xanthe: German affiliate has decades-worth of scientific analysis; took offense at the notion that ideology calls any of that into question. Alex: Our agenda is people s health, and if we get criticized for that, fine. But we need to come to a common understanding, however long it takes. Page 11 of 13

12 Ira: agreed that this is important work, but worried that too much time and energy put into nuclear energy and low-level radiation studies takes time away from work to eliminate nuclear weapons. Proposal to review membership of nuclear energy working group and refocus it on this issue approved by consensus. Agreed. 8. Wrap-up and Conclusions John: in absence of time for thorough discussion, made final appeal that the priorities paper distributed the previous day be used by the Board, and by the RVPs in particular, as a basis for encouraging and reporting on affiliate activities related to each item. Outcome: Board empowered Lars as chair, working with the CO, to follow up with RVPs to implement the commitment to communicate with affiliates in an ongoing way about federation program priorities, and to communicate back to the Board about progress in meeting those objectives. Announcement that Wenjing will be stepping down as Deputy Chair because her workload has left her without the time to do her Board work effectively. Ogebe was nominated to succeed her. Outcome: Ogebe elected to replace Wenjing as Deputy Chair. Board gave a formal vote of thanks to Doug Kline, who will be retiring as IPPNW s Director of Finance and Administration at the end of the year. 9. Adjourn Page 12 of 13

13 Federation-Wide Opportunities for Medical Action, Approved by IPPNW Board, 30 May 2013 IPPNW s medical message is at the center of governmental and NGO efforts to abolish nuclear weapons and to reduce armed violence. Now is the time that we need all hands on deck to spread our message and influence in each of IPPNW s 63 national affiliates. The following is a starting point for the Board meeting in Germany. The aim is to identify the specific, core opportunities for action that will advance our programmatic objectives for the coming year. These are medical education and advocacy tasks that ALL affiliates can take up, which require little or no financial resources. Board members, and especially the regional vicepresidents, should commit to actively informing and engaging affiliates as follows: 1. MEXICO -- Urge high-level government participation in Mexico conference on humanitarian impact of nuclear weapons (expected in February 2014), and to provide data and analysis to State delegation using IPPNW and ICAN research and resources. 2. RED CROSS/CRESCENT -- Contact national Red Cross / Red Crescent society to promote and implement the RC resolution on nuclear weapons and, if possible, to develop joint educational activities on the humanitarian consequences. 3. ICAN Promote public and parliamentarian petitions calling for a treaty to ban and eliminate nuclear weapons 4. ROTARY -- All affiliates with a national Rotary society should request speaking engagements at Rotary meetings and encourage Rotary support for the ban treaty advocated by ICAN. In addition to encouraging affiliates in this activity, all Board members seek one Rotary speaking engagement of their own. 5. ATT -- Urge national government to sign and/or ratify the Arms Trade Treaty and help build public awareness and support for the humanitarian-based ATT through educational events and media activities. 6. AIMING FOR PREVENTION -- Inform affiliates about the opportunities to engage in Aiming for Prevention projects described in the AfP program plan. Regional VPs commit to reviewing these proposed activities with the affiliates in their region at the conclusion of this board meeting, and to encourage and support participation. 7. PEACE HOUSE -- All affiliates and all Board members are encouraged to promote the IPPNW Peace House project and to assist with collecting the necessary funds for a permanent home to leave to the next generation of students and physician leaders of our movement. Page 13 of 13

14 INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES IPPNW 20TH WORLD CONGRESS, HIROSHIMA, JAPAN AUGUST 23, 2012 LOCATION: HIMAWARI Affiliates present (30 affiliates = IC quorum is 24) Australia, Bangladesh, Belarus, Canada, China, Congo, Egypt, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, India, Iran, Israel, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Serbia, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom USA, Zambia Opening by the Speaker -- Roll call Review of last IC minutes, Basel 2010 Herman Spanjaard (IC speaker): Welcome to the recently reinstated affiliates China, Serbia, Georgia. Central Office report (presented by Michael Christ) Michael Christ: summary of finances includes a surplus of $13,500, this fiscal year which ended in June, the surplus was almost $200,000 which allowed us to replenish our reserves. EC has recently approved this year s budget. The surplus is in part due to recent generous American bequests. Treasurer s report (presented by Lars Pohlmeier) Lars Pohlmeier: Perhaps we should have a more structured approach to broaden the potential bequests to IPPNW. Herman Spanjaard: Appreciation to Doug Kline for doing good work on this budget. Affiliation Matters (presented by Bjorn Hilt) Bjorn: Please refer to the Affiliate Status Report put together by Doug Kline in the packet. Constant challenge: receiving activity reports from affiliates Officially welcome Macedonia as a new affiliate member. Romania disaffiliation approved with 29 votes. Uruguay disaffiliation approved with 27 votes. Bjorn Hilt: Affiliates from China and Serbia are present at the meeting. Georgia was also reinstalled this morning by the Board. We currently have 15 silent affiliates. Herman Spanjaard: officially we currently have 62 affiliates. Vappu Taipale: Pakistani affiliate has invited IPPNW affiliate members to Pakistan by Tippu Sultan. Core Program Presentations and Discussions Nuclear Abolition John Loretz o Humanitarian Consequences / Nuclear Famine Ira Helfand o ICAN Tilman Ruff Aiming for Prevention Robert Mtonga Medical Student Report Ogebe Onazi/Leila Moein SECTION II: MINUTES IC MEETING AUGUST 23, 2012 Page 1 of 2

15 Herman Spanjaard: IC members please bring medical student reps to the next Congress and try to help develop student national chapters. Presentation by Nuclear Energy Working Group (presented by Lars Pohlmeier) Lars Pohlmeier: Goals help ensure adequate representation of IPPNW s position on nuclear energy at the IPPNW World Congress. Symposium will be held in Tokyo and also an educational trip to Fukushima after the Congress. Bottom line goals of working groups: Further discuss nuclear chain topics. Gather data and sharing content on health consequences. Organize concrete activities. Meet the Board Candidates Forum Brief 2-minute introductory remarks by each candidate. Balloting on Number of Co-Presidents VOTE RESULT: 17 voted for 4 co-presidents (so all four candidates will become copres). Election of new (Co-) President(s) New Co-Presidents for : Vladimir Garkavenko, Ira Helfand, Robert Mtonga, Tilman Ruff Project for permanent IPPNW home (presented by Vappu Taipale) Medicine, Conflict and Survival as IPPNW Resource (presented by Frank Boulton) Aim of the journal is in health and human rights and follows a peer review structure. Gunnar Westberg: is electronic distribution possible to decrease the cost of the publication? If the amount were 25 Euro, SLMK would probably have 40 subscriptions. Frank Boulton: It s under discussion to work on an electronic option. Also there is help/assistance if English is not the first language of the author. Adjourn SECTION II: MINUTES IC MEETING AUGUST 23, 2012 Page 2 of 2

16 INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES IPPNW 20TH WORLD CONGRESS, HIROSHIMA, JAPAN AUGUST 26, 2012 LOCATION: HIMAWARI Affiliates present (33): Canada, China, Congo, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, India, Iran, Israel, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Netherlands, Nepal, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan (no vote), Russia, Serbia, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, UK, USA, Zambia Ratification of Regional VP Elections and International Medical Student Reps Africa: Daniel Bassey Europe: Lars Pohlmeier Latin America: none available (Vappu and Ilkka Taipale will travel to Latin America as special envoy for IPPNW. Middle East: Ahmed Sa ada North America: Juan Carlos Chirgwin and Andrew Kanter North Asia: Masao Tomonaga Russia/Russia: Vladimir Garkavenko South Asia: Because Pakistan is working on becoming a not-silent affiliate; Asoka Hettiarachichi said that they will coctact the board in one month s time. Southeast Asia Pacific: Peter Karamoskos ISRs: Niloufar Rahim from the Netherlands and Karin Harada from Japan Election of At-Large members, IC Speaker, and Deputy Speaker For , as of this meeting there are 4 co-pres, 2 medical student representatives, 2 VP vacancies; this means 6 open places for at-large members with 10 candidates. Election of six At-Large members to the Board: Bob Gould, Helmut Lohrer, Arun Mitra, Andreas Nidecker, Onazi Ogebe, Wenjing Tao IC Speaker: Kati Juva Deputy Speaker: Bjorn Hilt 21 th World Congress 2014 Presentation Welcomes a proposal within two-three months from the Kazakh affiliate that includes budget, financing and details about the Congress. Program Priorities for and Opportunities for Action Priorities continue to be AFP, ICAN, and Medical Student development. Opportunities for Action: December 14-16, 2012, The Middle East without Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Society Forum/Conference in Helsinki March 2-3, 2013, Civil Society Conference in Norway. May 30-June 2, 2013, Human Target International Congress on the Social and Health Effects of the Global Arms Trade Villingen-Schwenningen, Germany October 15-16, 2013, conference in Helsinki, Finland SECTION II: MINUTES IC MEETING AUGUST 26, 2012 Page 1 of 2

17 Resolutions IPPNW Concern about growing tension in Middle East See below: IPPNW Concern about growing tension in the Middle East The International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW), recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize 1985, have gathered in Hiroshima from August24-26, 2012 to hold their 20 th World Congress. The nuclear menace was discussed in all its aspects. IPPNW is extremely worried about the escalating tension between the western world and Iran as well as Syria. We hear increasingly aggressive language, and military intervention is being proposed. We are particularly concerned that at stake lies the possibility that nuclear weapons may be used. IPPNW at its 20 th World Congress calls on all parties involved to keep to diplomacy and negotiations without resorting to any kind of military intervention. We also refer to the Ankara Declaration for peace and health in the Nuclear Free Middle East of December 10, Ultimately we propose the region be declared a zone free of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction. Adjourn SECTION II: MINUTES IC MEETING AUGUST 26, 2012 Page 2 of 2