Tag: nuclear

Leading through a nuclear free tomorrow

nuclear winter
nuclear winter | Photo/art by Jimmy Brown

My college newspaper recently shared an opinion piece on Obama’s recent nuclear negotiations…

President Obama signed a nuclear arms control agreement with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Thursday to reduce the stockpiles of nuclear weapons of both nations. The agreement, called the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, or START, builds on a previous Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty that expired in December. If passed, it will cut the number of both countries’ nuclear weapons by about a third.

With policies like the START agreement, the public health care bill and charging terrorists in American civilian courts, the Obama administration is weakening the United States’ power to influence other nations. We are stepping down from our destiny instead of rising to the potential of a world leader.

Continue reading Leading through a nuclear free tomorrow

Two futures – which do you choose?

no drugs or nuclear weapons

AS A MATTER OF CHRISTIAN CONVICTION, WE CHOOSE A WORLD FREE OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS

WE BELIEVE that we face two futures: a world without nuclear weapons or a world ruined by them.

WE PROCLAIM that nuclear weapons today are unjustifiable theologically, politically, and militarily.

WE RENOUNCE nuclear weapons as sin against God and neighbor.

WE REPENT of apathy toward devices that cause indiscriminate destruction.

WE URGE the American President’s leadership in fulfilling existing commitments toward global and complete nuclear disarmament.

WE PLEDGE our support to the elimination of all nuclear weapons worldwide, to the glory of God.

I’ve joined and signed the pledge. Will you?

Photo from karstenkneese

Remembering Hiroshima — 63 years later

From e-mail:

I invite you to join Faithful Security in prayers of remembrance marking the 63rd anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima, today, and Nagasaki, on Saturday.

If your community holds a prayer vigil or education session or other activity, send a picture and/or a short description – I’ll post them on our website and they can provide ideas for others next year. One inspiring story I read recently was “Novenas to disarm the world” about Ms. Fatima Portugal and St. Charles Borromeo Church in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

As I’ve been reflecting on the atomic bombings, a news story on sick nuclear weapons workers caught my attention in late July. While thinking about the only times nuclear weapons have been used in war and the devastating long-term health consequences for those who managed to survive initially, this news story on U.S. workers left me shaking my head.

The Rocky Mountain Times special report draws attention to what is a matter of justice: fair care and compensation for impacted workers, some of whom were not alerted to the dangers even when the federal government knew of increased risks of health problems. For example, there is a story in the report on Navajo uranium miners: “Ten thousand Navajo men mined uranium for America’s atomic bombs. The U.S. government knew early on that uranium could cause lung damage. But instead of warning the Navajo miners, the government decided to study what happened to them.”

On this anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, may your remembrances and reflections renew your commitment to engage our government with a clear message: Never again.

T.C. Morrow, Communications Officer

Anyone doing anything this week to remember those killed 63 years ago – along with those left to dealt with the aftermath? I’d love to hear what yall are doing?

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Will destroy nukes for food

From e-mail:

A new bill in Congress called the Global Security Priorities Resolution (H.R. 1045) would shift tens of billions of dollars from nuclear weapons funding into projects which alleviate global poverty.

Cosponsored by Congressmen Jim McGovern (D-MA) and Dan Lungren (R-CA), the resolution calls for reducing U.S. and Russian nuclear arsenals to 1000 deployed/3000 total weapons each by 2015.

It further stipulates that some of the financial savings from such a move would be redirected to the Nunn-Lugar program, as well as $6.5B to “child survival, hunger, and universal education” programs worldwide in an attempt to address the root causes of terrorism.

While the resolution does not advocate complete nuclear disarmament, it sets the proposed actions within the context of our NPT Article VI obligations to pursue nuclear weapons elimination. The Global Security Priorities Resolution is an excellent vehicle for outreach to more conservative members of Congress, and helps to link the elimination of nuclear weapons with vital human needs.

Faithful Security has formally endorsed the resolution, as have the following religious organizations:

U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
U.S. Fund for UNICEF
Friends Committee on National Legislation
Union for Reform Judaism
Conference of Major Superiors of Men
Evangelicals for Human Rights
United Methodist Church – General Board of Church and Society
Leadership Conference of Women Religious
Catholic Relief Services
Mennonite Central Committee U.S./Washington Office

Can you take a moment to send a note to your Representative asking him or her to sign on as a cosponsor? Click here to send a quick email.

There are many other ways that you can help the resolution move forward. Visit the Faithful Security website for statements from prominent endorsers, the full text of the resolution, and other resources. Consider writing a letter to the editor about the resolution, or invite other national religious groups to endorse this important legislation.

Need more ideas? Email us at info@faithfulsecurity.org.

The first step is gathering Congressional cosponsors, so click here to send your Representative a note.

Blessings,

Tyler Wigg Stevenson and Jessica Wilbanks

79 religious groups oppose nuclear bomb plant

“How do you dismantle an atomic bomb? With love”

Found info on this via Brian McLaren’s blog today…

…in the new issue of Sojourners, you can learn how Henry Kissinger and other Reagan administration leaders have joined together to promote not just a limitation in the development of nuclear weapons, but more … the creation of a nuclear-weapon-free world. You may find this hard to believe, but it’s true.
And you can read the moving story of an anti-nuclear activist who has experienced a fusion of activism and Christian faith here.
More good news: over 100,000 people have sent an email to the Department of Energy urging them not to develop new and more powerful nuclear warheads, and urging them instead to work for a nuclear-weapons-free world.
Even more good news – our emails have challenged the Department of Energy to extend the comment period until tomorrow, Wednesday.

Continue reading 79 religious groups oppose nuclear bomb plant