End the Nuclear DangerYour Endorsement
is needed
As people of faith, we understand that the universe and everything in it has been created by God. Our world is an astonishingly beautiful, rich, complex, tiny piece of that creation, teeming with life and precious in God's sight.
Since the nuclear age began in 1945 this glorious world has been faced with a fundamentally new kind of threat from nuclear weapons. The vastness of their power can cause more destruction than any other human-made source. Nuclear weapons destroy not only the present, but with long-term radiation effects and the possibility of nuclear winter, they destroy the future. Even while they remain unused, their production and deployment cause significant environmental degradation, divert massive resources from human need, and add destabilizing fear to tense political situations.
Contemplating the use of nuclear weapons is an affront to God. Preparing to unleash such destructiveness runs against all the life-giving creativity that comes from God. As people of faith we choose life, we affirm life and all that nurtures it. We abhor nuclear weapons and the destruction they portend.
End the Nuclear DangerA decade
after the end of the Cold War, the peril of nuclear destruction
is mounting. The great powers have refused to give up nuclear
arms, other countries are producing them, and terrorists are trying
to acquire them.
Poorly guarded warheads and nuclear material in the former Soviet
Union may fall into the hands of terrorists. The Bush administration
is developing nuclear 'bunker busters' and threatening to use
them against non-nuclear countries. The risk of nuclear war between
India and Pakistan is grave.
Despite the end of the Cold War, the United States plans to keep
large numbers of nuclear weapons indefinitely. The latest U.S.-Russian
treaty, which will cut deployed strategic warheads to 2200, leaves
both nations facing "assured destruction" and lets them
keep their total arsenals (active and inactive, strategic and
tactical) at more than 10,000 warheads each.
The dangers posed by huge arsenals, threats of use, proliferation,
and terrorism are linked: The nuclear powers' refusal to disarm
fuels proliferation, and proliferation makes nuclear materials
more accessible to terrorists.
The events of September 11 brought home to Americans what it means
to experience a catastrophic attack. Yet the horrifying losses
that day were only a fraction of what any nation would suffer
if a single nuclear weapon were used on a city.
The drift towards catastrophe must be reversed. Safety from
nuclear destruction must be our goal. We can reach it only by
reducing and then eliminating nuclear arms under binding agreements.
We therefore call on the United States and Russia to fulfill
their commitments under the Nonproliferation Treaty and move
together with the other nuclear powers, step by carefully inspected
and verified step, to the abolition of nuclear weapons. As steps
toward this goal, we call on the United States to:
· Renounce the first use of nuclear weapons.
· Permanently end the development, testing, and production
of nuclear warheads.
· Seek agreement with Russia on the mutual and verified
destruction of nuclear weapons withdrawn under treaties, and increase
the resources available here and in the former Soviet Union to
secure nuclear warheads and material and implement destruction.
· Strengthen nonproliferation efforts by ratifying the
Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, finalizing a missile ban in North
Korea, supporting UN inspections in Iraq, locating and reducing
fissile material worldwide and negotiating a ban on its production.
· Take nuclear weapons off hair-trigger alert in concert
with the other nuclear powers-the UK, France, Russia, China, India,
Pakistan and Israel-in order to reduce the risk of accidental
or unauthorized use.
· Initiate talks on further nuclear cuts, beginning with
U.S. and Russian reductions to 1,000 warheads each.
-Call initiated in June 2002 by David Cortright, Randy Forsberg, and Jonathan Schell
1. Why is this situation urgent?
People of faith and others have experienced the threat posed by
nuclear weapons before. Now we are again in an urgent situation
and several realities are contributing to it:
· The US government is talking about "unwarned"
preemptive strikes and names seven countries against which the
US might initiate the first use of nuclear weapons. Though many
of us share the government's worry about nuclear terrorism, building
more nuclear weapons and deciding that we might use the weapons
first increases rather than decreases the danger of nuclear terrorism.
· The US government is proposing and seeking funds for
new "useable" nuclear warheads. The Administration has
sought authorization for the new "bunker buster". It
is not only a dangerous weapon, but undermines the explicit commitments
not to develop new nuclear weapons that the US made along with
over 180 nations that are party to the Nuclear Non-proliferation
Treaty. The Administration is planning to build new nuclear weapons
for the next 50 years. New nuclear weapons make the world less
secure, not more secure.
· There is a large quantity of poorly secured nuclear weapons
materials in Russia. The danger that these materials may get into
the hands of terrorists is frightening. After September 11, it
is frightening indeed.
· The US Administration has unilaterally withdrawn from
the Anti-Ballistic Missile treaty in order to build the space
defense system. What is defensive in one nation's eyes is often
perceived as offensive in another nation's eyes. The US Senate
also refused to ratify the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. Nuclear
weapons treaties, like the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty described
above, make the nations of the world safer.
· India and Pakistan have moved increasingly closer to
the brink of war over Kashmir three times since they tested nuclear
weapons in 1998.
2. Didn't the treaty signed by presidents Putin and Bush solve
the nuclear weapons problem?
On May 24 2002, Presidents George W. Bush and Vladimir Putin signed
a legally binding agreement on strategic nuclear reductions in
Moscow. It is helpful, but by no means solves the problem. The
agreement requires each side to reduce its number of "operationally
deployed strategic warheads" from today's 6,000 strategic
warheads to no more than 2,200 by 2012, when the treaty will expire.
Under the treaty each side would reduce its deployed strategic
forces by removing the nuclear warheads from missiles, bombers,
and submarines, while allowing the retention of those vehicles.
The treaty also does not require the destruction of the warheads
removed from service.
The Treaty
· Does not require the dismantling of any warhead or nuclear
delivery system. It does require that thousands of warheads be
removed from active deployment, but these can be stored for rapid
re-deployment. This means that there would be as many as 15,000
warheads in the US arsenal even after the treaty is ratified.
· Does not provide additional security to the Russian arsenal
that is already vulnerable.
· Does not include the more than 1,600 tactical (short
range) nuclear weapons. Meanwhile, tactical nuclear weapons are
easier to transport and often more vulnerable to theft than other
nuclear weapons. Theft or accident is particularly worrisome after
September 11th and in Russia where thousands of tactical nuclear
weapons are not subject to stringent controls or accounting procedures.
· Can be reversed at either nation's discretion with only
90 days prior notice to the other party -- leaving serious doubts
about how permanent the reductions will be and how effective the
treaty will be at reducing the risks of nuclear war and nuclear
proliferation.
3. I was
concerned about the nuclear arms race in the 1980s. Why should
I care about it now?
In the 1980s the nuclear weapons issue was a matter of major concern.
Two super powers were engaged in a dangerous and costly nuclear
arms race. A major effort was undertaken to halt that race by
calling for a nuclear weapons freeze. In the immediate aftermath
of the Cold War the world was presented with an opportunity to
dramatically reduce nuclear weapons. Thousands of nuclear warheads
and launchers were destroyed.
But in the mid-1990s these reductions were halted and efforts to ban testing were set back by the US Senate's rejection of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT). By the beginning of the 21st century, about five thousand nuclear weapons remained on hair-trigger alert, poised to launch at a moments notice. This presents a significant danger that nuclear war could begin by accident or miscalculation. Now a new trend calling for production of new "usable" nuclear weapons has emerged in the US government.
The gains of the Nuclear Weapons Freeze of the 1980s are being overturned by plans to start the development, testing, production and proposed use of nuclear weapons. The dangers of nuclear weapons have grown in recent years. The Urgent Call draws upon the campaign that generated considerable awareness and action in the 1980s and provides a vehicle for people who care to express their concerns.
4. Why should
people of faith care about nuclear weapons?
Most religions acknowledge that God alone is the creator of the
whole universe and is the only source of ultimate security. Most
faiths affirm that human beings have a responsibility to respond
to God's gifts by worshipping God alone, caring for all of creation
and meeting the needs of all human beings, especially the most
vulnerable. We worship God faithfully when we protect God's creation
from human destruction, acknowledge that we are only secure in
God and not through nuclear weapons, and care for the well-being
of all of God's people. Also the money used to purchase and maintain
nuclear weapons could care for millions of children around the
world now and protect the earth for future generations.
5. What is this Urgent Call?
The Urgent Call is a new Internet-based initiative. It has been
developed by three leaders of the Nuclear Weapons Freeze Movement
of the 1980s to engage and educate a broad public about the growing
danger that nuclear weapons will be used, and about practical
steps to reduce that danger. The Urgent Call offers a means for
Americans, including people of faith, to show that public concern
is both deep and widely shared. By supporting a common view of
what is wrong and what needs to be done, we can make a difference.
The goal of the Urgent Call is to make nuclear weapons a significant priority on the national agenda by 2004. To do that, we need 1 million endorsers by June 2003 and 10 million endorsers by June 2004. If each signer made an average donation of $10, there would be enough money for national print, TV and radio advertising. The faith community could play a major role in reaching that goal.
In a vast, united outpouring of care and commitment, an active public can turn the tide of history. In just a decade, we saw the fall of the Berlin wall, the transformation of South Africa, and the reduction of the world's nuclear arsenals from about 70,000 to about 35,000. It is time for another groundswell of public demand to reduce the nuclear danger, and move us closer to the day when we can end the danger for our children and grandchildren.
6. I am most
worried about nuclear weapons getting into the hands of terrorists.
Will the Urgent Call help?
The plan for the reduction and control of all nuclear weapons
outlined in the Urgent Call is an essential step in preventing
terrorists from acquiring nuclear weapons and their component
parts. Honoring our treaty commitments and furthering the effectiveness
of an international nonproliferation policy is the most effective
comprehensive approach for ensuring that nuclear weapons and materials
do not get into the hands of terrorists. If we maintain thousands
of weapons and even build more, refuse to ratify the Comprehensive
Test Ban Treaty and do not honor other existing nuclear weapons
treaties, and do not secure the nuclear materials in Russia and
all nuclear nations, the possibility of weapons and materials
being used by terrorists is increased.
7. Is the
Urgent Call just for people of faith?
No, the Urgent Call is a vehicle for all Americans to use to
express their commitments to creating a world that is not threatened
by nuclear weapons. It is a tool that helps all of us talk to
our family and friends, describe our commitments to the media,
and share our concerns with our federal legislators.
8. What can
you as a person of faith do to protect creation and the next generations
of God's children from the threat of nuclear weapons?
· Help the Urgent Call reach its goals by endorsing the
Urgent Call and ask your friends and family and members of your
congregation to do so as well.
· Ask your congregation and judicatory (regional body of
your denomination and faith group) to study the issues (a packet,
video and other materials are available from Nuclear Reduction/Disarmament
Initiative ) and to endorse the Urgent Call. Endorsements from
congregations and judicatories are very important.
· Work with others in your denomination or faith group
to respond to the threat of nuclear weapons.
· Work on an interfaith basis with people in your state.
You may hear from your state's interfaith or ecumenical agency
on this issue.
· Share your concerns with your federal legislators. Information
on pending legislation will be sent to you.
9. What kind
of help exists for people of faith who want to respond to the
threat of nuclear weapons?
The Nuclear Reduction/Disarmament Initiative (NR/DI) is a national
interfaith organization that helps people of faith study and take
action on the threats posed by nuclear weapons. It is located
at The Churches' Center for Theology and Public Policy at Wesley
Theological Seminary in Washington, DC. Go to our web site (www.nrdi.org)
to read "For People of Faith An Urgent Call" and to
find other information and resource materials on these issues.
There are links on the web site to denominations, faith-based
organizations and other organizations that can help you study
and take action.
Please also
call or write to the Nuclear Reduction/Disarmament Initiative,
4500 Massachusetts Ave., Washington, DC 20016. Their telephone
number is 202-885-8648; their fax number is 202-885-8559. The
email is enewport@nrdi.org. Their web site is
www.nrdi.org.
The Urgent Call also has a very important web site at www.urgentcall.org.
It lists individual and group signers of the Urgent Call by state,
gives the current status of congressional initiatives, and describes
the current activities of the Urgent Call campaign.
CONSIDER
ENDORSING THE URGENT CALL TODAY
For people of faith there are two ways of endorsing the Urgent
Call. Go on line to www.nrdi.org
to register as an endorseror please print and mail the form below
to the Nuclear Reduction/Disarmament Initiative, The Churches
Center for Theology and Public Policy at Wesley Seminary in Washington,
DC. The phone is 202-885-8648.
Please consider making copies of the form and asking your friends, members of your congregation, and other church bodies to endorse it. Also ask the governing body of your congregation and your judicatory (the regional body of your denomination or faith group) to endorse it as well. Together we can make a difference!
AN ENDORSEMENT OF THE URGENT CALL TO END THE NUCLEAR DANGER
This is an endorsement by: ___ an individual (Please use
one form for each person & give your name and contact information
below)
___
a congregation - Include the name of the congregation_____________________________
___ a judicatory (a regional body of a denomination or faith group) - include the name of the judicatory____________________________________________________
(If this is an endorsement of a congregation or a judicatory, please indicate the contact person)
Date ____________________________________________________
Name ____________________________________________________
Organization (work or affiliation)____________________________________________________
Title____________________________________________________
Address____________________________________________________
City/State/Zip____________________________________________________
E-mail ____________________________________________________
Web site____________________________________________________
Phone ______________________ Fax______________________
Denomination or faith group____________________________________________________
Please mail this endorsement to the Nuclear Reduction/Disarmament Initiative, Churches Center for Theology and Public Policy, 4500 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20016-5690.
