Nuclear weapons

Press, 16 July 1982, Page 12

Nuclear weapons

Sir,—The United Nations Special Session on Disarmament, involving all governments, warned in June, 1978: “Mankind today is confronted with an unprecedented threat of self-extinction arising from the massive and competitive accumulation of the most destructive weapons ever produced... we must halt the arms race and proceed to disarmament or face annihilation.” After four years with no progress, then failure of the Special Session on Disarmament just completed, we are told: “... the nuclear arms race has assumed more dangerous proportions... ” ("The Press” July 12 1982). With Governments admitting failure, is.there anyway that humanity can stop the continuing slide down the road to self-extinction? The super-Powers seem powerless against impending holocaust; other nations and peoples are too busy or too apathetic to bother. Perhaps the last faint hope lies with small nations such as New Zealand, with enough courage and sense to cut loose from the engines of mutual destruction—Yours, etc., - LARRY ROSS, Secretary,' New Zealand Nuclear Free Zone Committee. July 12, 1982.