Nukes Banned
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This week will be historic: nuclear weapons will be illegal under international law.
This Friday, January 22, the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) will enter into force. Nuclear weapons will become illegal under international law.
This day is the culmination of over a decade of advocacy to ban nuclear weapons. The General Board of Church and Society, worked in partnership with the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, other faith groups, and over 135 nations to adopt the treaty in 2017.
The new treaty bans nations from developing, producing, using or threatening to use nuclear weapons, or storing nuclear weapons on their lands.
The United Methodist Church supports the abolition of nuclear weapons. The Book of Resolutions states “We reject the possession of nuclear weapons as a permanent basis for securing and maintaining peace.” (#6129, “The United Methodist Church and Peace”)
Take Action:
- Attend a virtual or in-person event to celebrate Entry into Force Day this Friday. Find a gathering near you or a virtual event in your time zone at the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons. (The General Board of Church and Society is a member ICAN.)
- Ring your church’s bells on January 22 in support
- Call your Representative and Senators to tell them you support a nuclear weapons free world. Urge them to support legislation and measures that lead the U.S. and other nuclear weapons countries to get rid of their nuclear weapons.
- Call the Capitol Hill Switchboard at 202-224-3121 to be connected to your elected officials.
Mark W. Harrison serves on the staff of the General Board of Church and Society.