Nobel Peace Prize in Benalla

Published on 31 August 2018

On Friday 7 September, Benalla’s Dr Tilman Ruff will bring the Nobel Peace Prize ICAN won in 2017 to BPACC in an effort to raise awareness and to call on Australia to sign and ratify the global nuclear weapon ban treaty.

In 2017, the Melbourne-born International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) was awarded a Nobel Peace Prize for its role in the adoption of the landmark Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons by the United Nations – an effort led by co-founder Dr Tilman Ruff.

A team of cyclists are undertaking a 900 kilometre bike trek from Melbourne to Canberra to raise awareness of the Treaty and Australia’s role in ensuring it is upheld.

The cyclists will be highly visible with hand-sewn bike flags and decorations, and are stopping en route to share the medal, hold events and pot luck dinners and to talk to communities about the new disarmament treaty.

“Nuclear disarmament is unfinished business and the new ban treaty provides a fresh chance to finally get rid of our worst weapon. Many people are unaware of this important new treaty so we’re biking to Canberra to raise awareness, build support, and to share Australia’s first home-grown Nobel Peace Prize,” said Gem Romuld, ICAN’s Australian Director.

“Finally, nuclear weapons are prohibited along with chemical and biological weapons, landmines and cluster munitions. It’s time for Australia to get on the right side of history and join the ban on nuclear weapons,” said Dr Tilman Ruff.

To conclude the journey and mark the first anniversary of the Treaty opening for signature at the UN, the riders will be joined by local and interstate supporters in Canberra to take the message to Parliament House on September 20. The Nobel Peace March will be escorted by a fire engine and ICAN flags flying on Commonwealth Avenue, thanks to the support of the ACT Chief Minister.