On September 24, the U.N. Security Council, in a meeting chaired by by President Obama, took a huge step towards realizing the vision of a world free from nuclear weapons.
The most powerful countries in the U.N. reaffirmed their commitment to "general and complete disarmament under strict and effective international control." Specifically, they committed to stop the spread of nuclear technology, materials and weapons; to ban nuclear weapons tests, and, ultimately, to ban nuclear weapons.
In resolution 1887, the Council called on countries to sign and ratify the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), and created additional deterrence for withdrawal from the treaty.
In addition, the Council called on all States to refrain from conducting a nuclear test explosion and to sign and ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), thereby bringing it into force as soon as possible.
A key step toward achieving the vision of a world free from nuclear weapons is whether the
Senate will ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT).
Ask your senators to speak publicly in support of the President
Obama's leadership at the Security Council this week. Ask them for real
action to free the world from the threat of nuclear weapons by supporting the CTBT that would ban nuclear weapons test explosions.
General Assemblies of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), have been guided by the understanding of peace as God’s intended life abundant as they have confronted issues related to nuclear weapons. Since 1946, assemblies, acting out of faith in Jesus Christ the Prince of Peace, have understood that working for God’s intended order and life abundant involves seeking international disarmament and arms control measures. They have called for a world free of nuclear weapons, ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty by the United States, and implementation of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty by all parties to the treaty. Read a summary of the statements [PDF].