We have great news! And a request for ACTION.
As you are probably already aware, last Thursday, April 8th, United States President Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitri Medvedev signed a new STrategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) which will reduce United States and Russian nuclear stockpiles by 1/3. This signing came on the heels of the announcement of a major shift in the Obama Administration’s policy for nuclear weapons use following a Nuclear Posture Review. Obama has pledged NOT to use nuclear weapons on any non-nuclear weapon state that is abiding by the United Nations Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), signed by all but a handful of UN member countries. He has also pledged NOT to test any more nuclear weapons, and to work toward US ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT). Meanwhile, on April 12th-13th Obama is holding a Summit on Nuclear Weapons that will be attended by almost 50 countries. And then, on May 3 2010 in New York City, member states of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) will meet for a Review Conference, lasting until May 28th, which will re-examine the treaty and suggest changes and actions. All of this is great news for organizations in the business of peace!
And yet despite this news,the existence and prevalence of nuclear weapons is still perhaps the single greatest threat to world peace in these times. Though it has been a miraculous 65 years since the last and only nuclear weapons attack, the risk of nuclear proliferation and nuclear attacks by non-governmental military organizations is growing daily, as technology for nuclear weapons becomes widespread. There is serious danger that the United States and the global community will not take strong enough action to curb the nuclear threat to world peace, before it’s too late.
That is why EPF is urging YOU to take ACTION on three CRITICALLY important issues right now.
For President Obama’s Upcoming Nuclear Summit (April 12-13):
We urge you to sign this petition from Global Zero urging the international community to “eliminate all nuclear weapons globally” in advance of President Obama’s Nuclear Summit. It’s not too late to sign up.
For START, Signed April 8th:
If you live in the US, first, we urge you to sign this email from the American Friends Service Committee to your US Senators asking them to ratify the new START that Obama and Medvedev signed on April 8th. It doesn’t become US law until the Senate ratifies the treaty!
Second, we urge you to write to your own email list, using this template from the Friends Committee on National Legislation, once more urging your senators to ratify this treaty!
AND continue writing letters, calling, or emailing your Senators, please.
For the NPT Review Conference (May 3-28):
First, we urge you to sign this petition from Wage Peace urging the President Obama and attendees at the NPT Review Conference to “abolish nuclear weapons, within our lifetimes”.
Second, (if you’re in town), we encourage you to take part in a national day of action in New York City on May 2nd, sponsored by Peace and Justice Now.
Join EPF’s Nuclear Abolition Action Group: epfsaraf@ameritech.net
EPF Thanks our colleagues at the Baptist Peace Fellowship for sharing this e-mail.
