Nuclear abolition resource launched at 9th World Assembly

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Religions for Peace, at its annual assembly in Vienna 20-22 Nov 2013, declared the use of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction as immoral and launched a Nuclear Disarmament Resource Guide for Religious Leaders and Communities.

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Religions for Peace, at its annual assembly in Vienna 20-22 Nov 2013, declared the use of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction as immoral and launched a Nuclear Disarmament Resource Guide for Religious Leaders and Communities.

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The Resource Guide focuses on the special roles of religious believers, including women and youth, and the positive actions they can take to break down the walls of nuclear terror and build the cooperative human security for a nuclear weapon free world. It includes sections on the growing nuclear threat, the economic and environmental costs of nuclear weapons, ethical and religious perspectives on nuclear weapons, diplomatic opportunities to achieve a nuclear-weapon-free world, roles of youth and women, examples of actions by religious communities, useful resources including inspiring videos, and contacts for nuclear abolition organisations.

The Resource Guide was given to every participant at the assembly to take back to their countries and religious communities in order to activate this key constituency – in fact the majority of people in the world belong to a religious faith and could be inspired into action by this resource.

Because of their large member­ship and principled positions, religious groups in particular have enormous potential to advance nuclear disarmament worldwide. Its new publication “Resource Guide on Nuclear Disarmament for Religious Leaders and Communities” is a welcome step forward on the road to a nuclear weapon–free world.
Message by Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations, for the UN launch of the Nuclear Disarmament Resource


Dr Vendley with Rev Sugitani who spoke at the Religions for Peace Assembly in Vienna

Rev. Gijun Sugitani, Chair of the Religions for Peace International Standing Committee on Disarmament and Security, speaking at the launch of the Resource Guide reminded delegates of the call from the Hibakusha – the survivors from nuclear weapons use – that nuclear weapons must never be used again. The only way to prevent the use of nuclear weapons, by accident, miscalculation or intent, is to prohibit and eliminate these weapons of horror.

The Resource Guide notes that nuclear weapons have not been used in wartime since 1945, but the possibility of their use grows daily with nuclear proliferation and an increasingly multi-polar world. And even if nuclear weapons are not used, the production, testing and threat of use of nuclear weapons steal resources from the poor ($100 billion annually is spent on nuclear weapons) and create horrific health and environmental impacts lasting for generations.

Now we have this problem of what we call “jelly-fish babies.” These babies are born like jelly-fish. They have no eyes. They have no heads. They have no arms. They have no legs. They do not shape like human beings at all. When they die they are buried right away. A lot of times they don’t allow the mother to see this kind of baby because she will go crazy. It is too inhumane.
Darlene Keju-Johnson, Director of Family Planning 1987–1992, Marshall Islands, on the impact of U.S. nuclear testing in the Marshall Islands. Religions for Peace Nuclear Disarmament Resource Guide


Alyn Ware launching the Nuclear Disarmament Resource Guide. Photo|Sandeep Virdee

Alyn Ware, principal author of the Resource Guide, noted that ‘There is now a global consensus that a nuclear weapon free world is a necessary global good to ensure humanity’s survival, but governments are unable to achieve this goal by themselves as they still focus on national security through military means rather than on human and cooperative security.’

We must remind policymakers and public that we all share an interconnected world that requires cooperative security based on our common concerns, shared moral values and international law. The threat of annihilation is a false security. Nuclear abolition is a common global good which could foster peace by liberating billions of dollars for sustainable development, remove the “Sword of Damocles” hanging over our heads and foster the common search for collective security.
Dr. William F. Vendley, Secretary General, Religions for Peace


Bishop Gunnar Stålsett speaking just before the launch of the Resource Guide

The Resource Guide includes inspiring quotes from some of the leading participants at the Religions for Peace Assembly in Vienna and other Religions for Peace leaders

There is a growing convergence of ethical and religious perspectives on nuclear arms as a threat to humanity and life on earth. The use of weapons of mass destruction violates the understanding of God as the Creator of the universe and of all human beings.
Bishop Gunnar Stålsett, Bishop Emeritus of Oslo, and Member, Nobel Peace Prize Committee, Norway, and RfP International Executive Committee Member

There is no moral justification for nuclear weapons and people of faith the world over cannot but reject them, including their possession and the threat of their use, as an affront against God and creation.
Honorable Ela Gandhi, Founder, Gandhi Development Trust; Granddaughter of Mahatma Gandhi

The use of nuclear weapons and even their possession is not consistent with our religious values, moral principles, and the humanitarian law. We pray for us and for all humanity to find the wisdom and courage to banish for all time these instruments of destruction.
Honorable Mehrézia Labidi-Maiza, Member of Parliament, Republic of Tunisia, and Coordinator, Religions for Peace Global Women of Faith Network

As people of faith we understand that all of creation is a precious and sacred gift to us and succeeding generations. We acknowledge the sacred duty to nurture and preserve it, and we know of no greater desecration of God’s creation than to assault it, or even threaten it, with the almost limitless destructive power of nuclear weapons.
H. E. Sheikh Shaban Mubajje, Grand Mufti, Uganda Muslim Supreme Council, and Co-Moderator, African Council of Religious Leaders-RfP

Nuclear weapons threaten to destroy what is most precious—human life and the eco­system on which all life depends. The prohibition and elimination of nuclear weapons is, we believe, a deeply spiritual imperative.
H. E. John Cardinal Onaiyekan, Archbishop of Abuja, Nigeria, and Co-Moderator, African Council of Religious Leaders-RfP

From its founding in 1970, Religions for Peace has consistently been working to elimi­nate nuclear weapons. Their prohibition and elimination is a deeply spiritual imperative.
Rev. Gijun Sugitani, Chair, RfP International Standing Committee on Disarmament and Security

To obtain more copies of the Resource Guide or for further information contact:
Alyn Ware, Basel Peace Office. alyn@pnnd.org
Deepika Singh, Religions for Peace Secretariat. dsingh@religionsforpeace.org

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