SAFCEI congratulates fellow anti-nuke campaigners – the International Campaign Against Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) – for securing the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize

The Southern African Faith Communities’ Environment Institute (SAFCEI) congratulates the Nobel Peace Prize Committee for awarding the 2017 prize to the International campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN).

SAFCEI calls on the leaders of the World to heed the call of ICAN and implement the abolition of nuclear weapons. There should be no nuclear weapons on this small planet, our only home, particularly with the many possibilities of unstable political leadership.

There is a vast arsenal of nuclear weapons – sufficient to destroy all life on this planet. Nuclear is an enormously powerful force that can be extremely harmful to nature – to all of life.

For our well-being as humans we must live in harmony with this planet and the natural laws of the planet. From our many faith perspectives we are called on to establish justice and seek righteousness, not to rely on the strength of our weapons of war.

Psalm 33, verse 5: The Lord loves righteousness and justice;

the Earth is full of the steadfast love of the Lord.

Versus 16 & 17:  A King is not saved by his great army;

a warrior is not delivered by his great strength.

The war horse is a vain hope for victory,

and by its great might it cannot save.

“As a matter of urgency we call on all nations to decommission all nuclear weapons,” SAFCEI.

A number of faith leaders have been vocal about their opposition to nuclear, these include:

“Nuclear abolition is the democratic wish of the world's people, and has been our goal almost since the dawn of the atomic age. Together, we have the power to decide whether the nuclear era ends in a bang or worldwide celebration.” – Archbishop Desmond Tutu (b. 1931). Access the full article It's Time to Rid the World of Nuclear Weapons,  May 22, 2010.

“The existence of nuclear weapons in the world is a grave threat to peace and we need to abolish them.” – Archbishop Joseph Takami (b. 1946) of Nagasaki. Access the full article in the National Catholic Reporter.