The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (Ican) will receive the Nobel peace prize in Oslo on Saturday for focusing the world’s attention on the damage that nuclear weapons do, and for its work to persuade states to negotiate the UN treaty on the prohibition of nuclear weapons, whose adoption the majority of the world’s states have supported. Nuclear weapons cause indiscriminate death, unimaginable, long-lasting suffering and irreparable environmental damage. No responsible state with respect for human life can justify retaining them. However, the UK government has not only refused to sign the treaty, but has remained actively hostile to it – despite the government’s stated commitment to a world free from nuclear weapons. There are no safe hands for unsafe weapons. As UK partners of Ican, we call on the government to work towards joining this treaty as soon as possible.
Elizabeth Minor Article 36
Rebecca Johnson Acronym Institute for Disarmament Diplomacy
Kate Hudson Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament
Sophie Neuburg Medact
Cllr Ernie Galsworthy Nuclear Free Local Authorities
Dr Stuart Parkinson Scientists for Global Responsibility
Stephen Herman Religions for Peace UK
Anne Scott Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom UK
Gina Langton-Durkin 80,000 Voices
Robert Harrap Soka Gakkai International – United Kingdom
Pat Gaffney Pax Christi UK
Frank Jackson Abolition 2000 UK
Brian Larkin Edinburgh Peace and Justice Centre
Fiona MacGregor Hastings Against War
Martin Bridseye Christian CND
Dave Webb Yorkshire CND
Brian Jones CND Cymru
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