The International Day of Peace focuses on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation
The International Day of Peace on the 21 September is a global call for ceasefire and non-violence and this year focuses on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation. European Council of Religious Leaders’ Moderator, Bishop Gunnar Stålsett and Religions for Peace General Secretary, Dr. William F. Vendley have by letters invited religious people to take part in the activities connected to the International Day of Peace each in their own capacity. Religions for Peace has worked with these issues since its foundation in 1970. At the ECRL council meeting in Lille in May this year the council worked under the headline ”A Culture of Peace”, and issued a declaration on a culture of peace offering the council’s definitions of a sustainable peace and members’ commitment – both as individuals and as a council – to further a culture of peace. A culture of peace is hindered by the threat of nuclear weapons says ECRL Moderator, Bishop Gunnar Stålsett.
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Esteemed Members and Advisers of European Council of Religious Leaders,
Representatives of Religions for Peace – Europe’s Chapters and Interreligious Councils, European Women of Faith Network and European Interfaith Youth Network,
I wish to invite you to consider the letter below from Religions for Peace General Secretary, Dr. William F. Vendley. The letter provides us with information about the International Day of Peace 21 September 2009 which this year focuses on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation. These topics and their importance are well known to all of us within the Religions for Peace network. At the ECRL council meeting in Lille in May this year we worked together under the headline ”A Culture of Peace”, and the council issued a declaration on a culture of peace offering the council’s definitions of a sustainable peace and members’ commitment – both as individuals and as a council – to further a culture of peace. A culture of peace is hindered by the threat of nuclear weapons.
The declaration on a culture of peace can be read here: http://www.rfp-europe.eu/index.cfm?id=241887
There are, as Dr. Vendley says in his letter, a number of ways we can honour our commitment to peace and nuclear disarmament: 1) Observe a moment of silence, 2) Organise a multi-religious peace vigil or other public event and 3) Support the UN’s “WMD – We Must Disarm” campaign.
Please view the letter below and share with us at joys@rfp-europe.eu your contributions.
Sincerely yours,
Bishop Gunnar Stålsett
Moderator
4 September 2009
Dear Esteemed Colleagues:
The International Day of Peace, observed each year on 21 September, is a global call for ceasefire and non-violence. This year, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon is calling on governments and citizens alike to focus on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation.
Throughout its history, Religions for Peace has worked toward limiting and eventually eliminating nuclear weapons. This commitment was reaffirmed in December 2008 by a Religions for Peace Executive Committee statement which read: “Nuclear weapons are a grave threat to human life. In addition to their profound danger, they also pose an inherent moral contradiction. On the one hand, our religious traditions affirm the ultimate value of each human life and call us to respect all life, while on the other nuclear weapons threaten indiscriminate death to massive numbers of people and threaten the global ecosystem on which all life depends.”
The Day of Peace is an opportunity to honor our commitment to nuclear abolition. Allow me to invite each of you to affirm your commitment in some of the following ways:
o Observe a moment of silence. A moment of silence is a beautiful and personal way to acknowledge the global call for peace and disarmament. Religions for Peace has joined with the “A Million Minutes for Peace” campaign that is asking people around the world to pledge to observe a moment of silence at 12:00 pm EST on 21 September. You can make your pledge at: http://live.faithstreams.com/site/prayer_pledges/register
o Organize a multi-religious peace vigil or other public event. Come together with those in your community in a meaningful way such as a vigil or concert. Make use of religious services and worship to remember the victims of nuclear weapons and nuclear testing.
o Support the UN’s “WMD – We Must Disarm” campaign. On 13 June 2009, Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon launched a multiplatform campaign under the slogan WMD – We Must Disarm to mark the 100-day countdown leading up to the International Day of Peace on 21 September. You can support this campaign by signing the Declaration and adding your reason for why We Must Disarm at http://www.un.org/en/events/peaceday/2009/ . You may learn more information about the Day of Peace and activities being planned around the world at www.internationaldayofpeace.org.
Your leadership in Religions for Peace is deeply appreciated. Together, we can advance multi-religious cooperation for common action by limiting and eventually eliminating nuclear weapons. Share with us how you will take part in the International Day of Peace by emailing Ms. Allison Pytlak, Religions for Peace Disarmament Program Coordinator, at apytlak@religionsforpeace.org.
Yours in partnership,
Dr. William F. Vendley
Secretary General
I wish to invite you to consider the letter below from Religions for Peace General Secretary, Dr. William F. Vendley. The letter provides us with information about the International Day of Peace 21 September 2009 which this year focuses on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation. These topics and their importance are well known to all of us within the Religions for Peace network. At the ECRL council meeting in Lille in May this year we worked together under the headline ”A Culture of Peace”, and the council issued a declaration on a culture of peace offering the council’s definitions of a sustainable peace and members’ commitment – both as individuals and as a council – to further a culture of peace. A culture of peace is hindered by the threat of nuclear weapons.
Secretary General
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