ACRICE 2017 PROCEEDINGS FINAL VERSION

Abstract

Those involved in arms control issues call for more education and outreach activities to promote the aims of international treaties governing weapons systems. This is true for all treaties be they concerned with chemical, biological, nuclear or other radiological weapons. The call for more education has been made largely by those in foreign and defence ministries with hardly any involvement by education ministries. As a result activity on the education front has been limited and local. If outreach activities are to become more widespread and effective a number of questions need addressing. What needs to be said, to whom, and why? What is the evidence that the messages will be effective in achieving the desired goals which, by and large, are the non-use of these indiscriminate weapons? Should everyone be taught about the issues even if they will never use the weapons? Should we treat the education about weapons much as we might the need to wash hands to prevent infections, or the need to learn about managing money to avoid getting into debt? But are the risks the same? Most people are at risk of infections and debt is widespread. Why does this work if the majority of states have got rid of their chemical weapons, for example? Is the odd rogue scientist who might be tempted to make a chemical weapon worth all this trouble? Or is the issue about civilian support for international regimes that police industry what we are after? Why is industry the threat? These and other questions will be explored in this presentation.'