Rebecca Johnson - openDemocracy (Page 5)

The fetishists of nuclear power projection have had their day

Those who build, target, deploy and fire nuclear weapons are not supposed to think about the humanitarian consequences. They are not supposed to behave "like women". But a growing number of nuclear free countries are doing just this, and taking the lead in declaring it's time to outlaw these weapo

By Rebecca Johnson

/ 8 Mar 2013

Banning nuclear weapons: this time lip service will not be enough

A new grassroots network launches this week with the twin aims of scrapping Trident and persuading the UK to join other governments in multilateral negotiations to achieve a global treaty banning nuclear weapons. If we get our strategies right, the peace movement can win this one, says Rebecca Joh

By Rebecca Johnson

/ 26 Feb 2013

Colluders in sexual violence: don't let them off the hook

Jimmy Savile, Cyril Smith, Dominique Strauss-Kahn, recent events within the Socialist Workers Party: all four cases show how socially powerful figures can benefit from a 'culture of collusion' perpetrated by those around them.

By Rebecca Johnson

/ 15 Jan 2013

Standing on the threshold: banning nuclear weapons

On the 25th anniversary of the first real disarmament agreement of the Cold War, Rebecca Johnson looks back at how the 'people to people' and 'women to women' peace campaigns helped to reframe Europe as our shared home rather than the divided and militarised Cold War blocs

By Rebecca Johnson

/ 8 Dec 2012

The politics of alliances: feminist peace action, drones and Code Pink

Meredith Tax raises significant questions about feminist activism, political alliances and fundamentalism, but her attack on Code Pink's campaign trip against the use of remotely-controlled drones in Pakistan is misplaced, says Rebecca Johnson.

By Rebecca Johnson

/ 31 Oct 2012

Facing up to the humanitarian consequences of nuclear policies and mistakes

The NPT PrepCom Review in Vienna closed by underlining the majority view that “any use or threat of use of nuclear weapons would be inconsistent with fundamental rules of international humanitarian law". In her final report from the NPT Rebecca Johnson says that the next few years may see some fun

By Rebecca Johnson

/ 18 May 2012

Summoning political will to rid the Middle East of WMD

Time is running out for the long anticipated conference in Helsinki on how to establish a nuclear free zone in the Middle East, Rebecca Johnson reports on the final day of the NPT Review in Vienna

By Rebecca Johnson

/ 11 May 2012

Non-Proliferation Treaty: the ground is shifting

Civil society, the Non-Aligned Movement, and a cross regional group of 16 countries have brought humanitarian consequences and international law to the Non-Proliferation Treaty Review meeting in Vienna. This may be a potential game changer, says Rebecca Johson

By Rebecca Johnson

/ 4 May 2012

Is the nuclear non-proliferation regime fit for purpose?

While the world turns, nuclear weapons are modernised and revalued in nine nuclear-armed states, causing a growing number of nuclear-weapon-free countries to reassess their options for security. Rebecca Johnson reports from Vienna where diplomats are gathering to review progress on the 1968 Treaty

By Rebecca Johnson

/ 30 Apr 2012

Fukushima: a foreseeable consequence of nuclear dependency

The Fukushima nuclear disaster was both avoidable and inevitable. Nuclear technologies have too many inherent risks with widespread consequences to be a sensible choice for energy production, argues Rebecca Johnson

By Rebecca Johnson

/ 16 Mar 2012

The Occupy movement and the women of Greenham Common

Feminist experience and input into the theory and practice of nonviolence has much to offer a new generation of grassroots Occupy activists. Rebecca Johnson reflects on the lessons of the successful Greenham Common protest

By Rebecca Johnson

/ 12 Dec 2011

Rape: a basic tool of militarism

Women’s groups such as Women in Black have long led the way in challenging the mindsets and structures of patriarchal power and militarism, but men must recognise that they have the primary responsibility to make the changes, says Rebecca Johnson

By Rebecca Johnson

/ 5 Dec 2011