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Letter to Christian leaders
Christian CND worker Russell has generously re-written our letter to religious leaders for a specifically Christian audience. Feel free to copy, edit and share this letter to promote the London Nuclear Ban Communities initiative in your locality!
Dear [NAME ]
You may be aware that earlier this year the United Nations Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons entered into legal force. This means that nuclear weapons are now illegal under international law, just like chemical and biological weapons. More than 80 states have signed the Treaty and every continent is represented among those that have ratified. Last year 130 voted in support of it at the United Nations.l
Around the world Christians have been leading the efforts to bring the Treaty into law. The Holy See was one of the first states to sign and ratify the Treaty in 2017 and the church has been an active voice for disarmament around the world, including across the Pacific and throughout Africa. At home leaders in every major denomination have spoken out in favour of the ban and called on the UK government to engage with the process.
Despite this broad international support, the UK government not only opposes the Ban Treaty but is planning to increase our nuclear stockpile by more than 40%. As part of local efforts being made around the country, [I / We] write to seek your support for the London Nuclear Ban Communities initiative, which aims to lead the city of London to join the growing ranks of cities pledging their support for a global ban on nuclear weapons internationally. Those who have already done so include Manchester, Edinburgh, Paris, Geneva, Helsinki and Washington DC
Nuclear weapons are capable of murdering millions of innocent people by the press of a button. Were there ever to be a nuclear war our world would be changed beyond comprehension forever. People of all faiths across the world have hope for a better world where we can be rid of this threat.
You will find enclosed the London Nuclear Ban Communities Pledge, which you can also sign directly on our website: https://www.londoncnd.org/sign-the-pledge. You can either sign in a personal capacity or on behalf of your church.
[I /We] would be pleased to discuss this initiative and the Treaty further with you. Please get in touch at info@londoncnd.org.
Yours in peace,
...
Links
- For Christian leaders, link Christian CND’s page on the Biblical case against nuclear weapons https://christiancnd.org.uk/the-biblical-case-against-nuclear-weapons/
- For leaders of other faiths, link Religions for Peace (https://www.rfp.org/)
New leaflet! - Nuclear Ban Communities
London CND has produced a leaflet with Yorkshire CND, providing background and details about the Nuclear Ban Communities initiative. The leaflet has received the approval of CND for national use.
It is freely available to all CND groups. Feel free to get in touch if you’d like us to add your local group’s contact details at the end.
Click on the buttons below to download the leaflet. We currently have two versions: one has the contact details of CND in the final contact box, and one is left blank for local groups to add their own contact details.
Download the leaflet…
A letter to religious leaders
With the help of Bruce Kent and Christian CND, we have written a letter calling religious leaders to participate in the London Nuclear Ban Communities initiative. We hope it will help you collect pledge signatures from religious individuals in your locality.
We’ve added it to the Toolkit among other letters to London Borough Councils, Majority Groups, Councillors, local organisations and local Labour Parties. You can find the Toolkit below:
The letter
Dear [NAME ]
[I / We] write to seek your support for the London Nuclear Ban Communities initiative, which encourages London to join the growing ranks of cities pledging their support for a global ban on nuclear weapons internationally.
The London Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament is part of a peace campaign taking place across Britain to persuade the UK government to sign and ratify the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) which passed into international law on 22 January 2021.
Nuclear weapons are capable of murdering millions of innocent people by the press of a button. There is no faith on earth which would support such a position, and the leaders and members of all the major faiths have opposed nuclear weapons since their invention. People of faith have hope for a better world where we can be rid of this threat.
[I / We] enclose:
· an appeal for support from Emma Dent-Coad, who is leading the campaign in London,
· The London Nuclear Ban Communities Pledge, which can also be signed directly on our website: https://www.londoncnd.org/sign-the-pledge
[I /We] would be pleased to discuss this initiative further with you and/or let you have more information about the Treaty and the campaign. Please get in touch [contact details]
Yours in peace,
Links
- For Christian leaders, link Christian CND’s page on the Biblical case against nuclear weapons https://christiancnd.org.uk/the-biblical-case-against-nuclear-weapons/
- For leaders of other faiths, link Religions for Peace (https://www.rfp.org/)
News from CND Sydenham & Forest Hill
We are a combination of Greenwich and Lewisham CND, Bromley and Forest Hill and Sydenham CND Plus the local Stop The War and other members with similar views. Gini Bevan, David Leal and Anne Garrett are the coordinators and we are called Southeast London Network for Peace, Justice and Solidarity. Stop the War locally work closely with us.
We hold regular zoom meetings, organise events together, and work with other organisations .We are always interested in welcoming new members or linking up with other organisations . We have a broad network of artists such as Bromley Peace Poets ,Jolly Jammers and some musicians from Blackheath Folk Club .
We are currently looking at setting up a Peace drama/Arts local group to work on highlighting peace/nuclear issues through theatre, local filming, music, poetry etc both to entertain and to inform .We are hoping to hold a Zoom at some stage soon and then to hopefully all meet together outside when we are allowed ,with a possible performance, half day in late September if possible .We are keen to hear from any filmmakers, budding playwrights ,etc who would be interested in joining us. Ideas are very welcome
London CND is working on London being a Nuclear ban Community. to join an increasing number of cities such as Edinburgh, New York ,Paris ,Oxford, Manchester Leicester , Washington and many others There are 16 councils in the UK who have declared the Pledge For Peace including Newham and Tower Hamlets .. Our network are writing to our local MPs , councillors, faith leaders, unions etc to provide information and to encourage them to sign the Pledge for Peace .The Mayor of Lewisham is a Mayor for Peace and we are hoping that Lewisham will adopt the Pledge as a council .
We do appreciate that this is such a difficult time for everyone in the midst of the pandemic which has hit our communities hard .However with the United Nations Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons coming into force on the 22 nd January Biden opening up the possibility of the Iran Peace Deal land other encouraging developments this is a time for us to take action, in conjunction with opposing the renewal of Trident.
We would be grateful if any members or interested parties could contact their councillors, MPS, faith leaders, trade unions etc and share the information below .It would be great if they could ask anyone to sign the Pledge and forward it to London CND OR contact us with any questions .This is a National campaign although we are focusing on London here. The following letter has been sent to Councillors in the borough.....
Dear Councillor ....
I am writing to you on behalf of the South East London Network for Peace, Justice and Solidarity to ask you, to support the London Community Pledge against nuclear weapons.
Throughout the world, parliamentarians have supported a “Parliamentary Pledge” which says that they will work for signature of the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons by their governments. Through the London Community Pledge, we are seeking to persuade London MPs to do this too.
The UN General Assembly has long recognised the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of even a limited nuclear war, and in 2017 it agreed the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW). This treaty came into force on 22nd January 2021, after 50 states had ratified it. More states continue to sign and ratify the TPNW.
The TPNW makes it illegal under international law to develop, test, produce, manufacture, acquire, possess, stockpile, transfer, use or threaten to use nuclear weapons. It also makes it illegal to assist or encourage anyone to engage in these activities.
The UK Government refused to participate in the negotiations leading to the TPNW, and has said that it will never ever sign it. We seek to change this.
> See: London Nuclear Ban Communities Toolkit
We will mark Chernobyl Day on April 26th and Hiroshima Day locally on August 7th with vigils and reading poems and speeches. We will mark Nagasaki Day with a vigil and Peace Picnic in the Archbishop Tutu Peace Garden in Chinbrook Meadows , Grove Park on August 9th.
We will join the SE London CND Peace and Justice Coalition for the Peace One Day event on Sept 21st
First London Nuclear Ban Communities organising meeting!
What a success! 33 people responded to Emma Dent Coad and joined the first London Nuclear Ban Communities initiative organising meeting on Zoom. It was great to hear from all the volunteers and what they’ve initiated so far. Several had already started contacting MPs and Councillors and offered us precious advice on how to proceed in the future.
A very energising meeting that fulled us with ideas.
Launch of the London Nuclear Ban Communities initiative
The London Nuclear Ban Communities initiative was launched by Emma Dent Coad, Daniel Blaney and Carol Turner on the occasion of London Region CND’s annual conference.
They outlined the role of the initiative to increase the pressure on the British Government in the context of the recent ratification of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.
WATCH: Emma Dent Coad on the London Nuclear Communities intiative
Emma Dent Coad will soon launch the London Nuclear Ban Communities initiative. She explains why you should get involved…