A Nobel message

THE decision to award the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize to the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) is an entirely appropriate rebuke to President Donald Trump, who seems unable to understand that his nuclear high-wire act with North Korea and Iran is a form of lunacy far beyond any issue immediately in play.

ICAN is an organisation that describes itself as a coalition of grassroots, non-governmental groups in more than 100 countries. It came to life in Australia and was officially launched in Vienna just 10 years ago. Little did its founders know that its objectives would, in a post-Cold War world, assume a new urgency — but then who could have predicted President Donald Trump?

In recent days he has accused Iran of not living up to the “spirit of the agreement” of its nuclear deal. At a meeting of military leaders, Trump warned that those present were witnessing “the calm before the storm”.

Tragically, his behaviour inspires nothing but pessimism and it is unlikely he will take any notice of the message in this year’s Nobel prize.