WCC NEWS: Religions for Peace in Norway urges government to join UN Treaty on Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons

An appeal from representatives of Religions for Peace in Norway is urging the Norwegian government to join the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, which will come into force on 22 January.

10 December 2017, Oslo, Norway: In the evening of 10 December some 4,000 people from around the world gathered in central Oslo for a torch light march for peace. The event took place after the Nobel Peace Prize award 2017, awarded to the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), for "its work to draw attention to the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of any use of nuclear weapons and for its ground-breaking efforts to achieve a treaty-based prohibition of such weapons". Photo: Albin Hillert/WCC

18 January 2021

“We deeply regret that Norway has not joined the treaty,” reads the appeal. “The threat of a catastrophic mass eradication using nuclear weapons was one of the most important reasons for more than 400 religious leaders to be brought together in Kyoto in Japan in 1970 for the first World Conference of Religions for Peace.” During its 50-year existence, Religions for Peace has worked actively to prohibit the use of nuclear weapons. “As Norwegian representatives of Religions for Peace, we are deeply convinced that the existence and use of nuclear weapons is fundamentally in conflict with our religious values and ethical principles,” reads the appeal. “We can in the name of humanity not accept the use of nuclear weapons.” As long as nuclear weapons exist, there is a danger that they may be used, notes the appeal. “Therefore, we claim that Norwegian current support for the use of nuclear weapons that violate human dignity is unacceptable,” reads the text. “We see no decisive conflict between international law, moral principles, Norway’s membership in NATO, and the ratification of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.” The appeal further notes that annual expenses used on nuclear weapons globally are estimated to at least 100 billion US dollars. “More of our resources should be used for human development and protection of the creation, and not for investing in weapons that can eradicate the world’s human population,” reads the text. Religions for peace

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