... the majority of the world’s nations agree that any use of a nuclear weapon is illegal under international law We have done it! The text of the most significant multi-lateral nuclear weapons treaty of the past 20 years was agreed in New York today. Over 130 states and many civil society …
Peacemaking
A time for Palestine?
In the House of Commons today, MPs are debating Israel and Palestine. In 2014, MPs voted for the UK Government to recognise Palestine; a move that the UK Government says it will only make in “the right time”. Has that time now come? The prospect of a two-state solution is disappearing rapidly as …
The beginning of the end for nuclear weapons
Today, representatives of the majority of the world’s nations will gather in New York to negotiate the text of a new “Convention on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons” (commonly known as the Nuclear Ban Treaty). The Nuclear Ban Treaty has been demanded by millions of citizens across the world. …
Towards a UN-sponsored Nuclear Ban Treaty
Five UK Churches have issued a statement to support and encourage those meeting in New York to negotiate a treaty banning nuclear weapons. They have also expressed their shared disappointment that the UK Government has refused to take part in these talks, despite it’s longstanding international …
Being peacemakers in a nuclear age
Nuclear weapons have been back in the news again. In the final few days before his inauguration, President Trump appeared first to challenge Russia to an arms race before then using nuclear weapons as bargaining chips in the ongoing debate over sanctions against Russia. In a climate where there is …
Admiral West’s Offer to MPs
MPs are frustrated with the UK Government’s “stupid”[ref]Admiral Lord Alan West in evidence to the Defence Committee, Tuesday 24 January[/ref] secrecy over the failure of the UK’s Trident missile test in June 2016. Admiral Lord West, who previously had responsibility for the …
Joint Statement on Syria
The Baptist Union of Great Britain, the Church of Scotland, the Methodist Church in Britain and the United Reformed Church have released a joint statement on military action in Syria: Our churches: – Express our abhorrence of the actions of ISIS/Daesh in Syria and their support of terrorist …