MEDIA ADVISORY
Religious Leaders Call for the Universal Elimination of Nuclear Weapons
Vienna, December 1, 2014: Leaders from the World Evangelical Alliance, the United Religions Initiative, Religions for Peace, and the Global Security Institute join the Government of the Philippines to call for a strategy to obtain a nuclear weapon-free world.
These voices—speaking from moral, religious, legal and ethical perspectives—are pleased to join the organizations and states gathered at the Conference on the Humanitarian Impact of Nuclear Weapons on December 8-9, 2014.
Co-sponsored by the Governments of the Philippines and the Global Security Institute, on December 8, the World Evangelical Alliance, the United Religions Initiative, and Religions for Peace will hold an extraordinary panel event to help strengthen advocacy for nuclear disarmament through a humanitarian approach.
Ambassador Cabactulan: “Nuclear weapons are at the apex of man’s genius at finding ways to destroy his fellow human being.”
Mr. Granoff: “Nuclear weapons have forced us to consider whether we will be the last generation. They challenge the moral dimension of our humanity. Our technological abilities must not outstrip our moral insights and render us less than fully human. For in this age, acting without the gifts of morality, law and wisdom will be lethal.
Citing a critical need for a moral compass, the December 8 event is part of the co-sponsors’ efforts to work together with a common vision, message, and strategy to obtain a nuclear weapon-free world.
Speakers also include the Honorable Ela Gandhi, Dr. Mustafa Ceric, Tyler Wigg Stevenson, Dr. William Vendley. See below for biographical information.
See also: Event Flyer
CONTACT:
Jonathan Granoff
+ 1 (484) 620-4967
Aviva Kushner
+1 (617) 304-7171
Honorable Ela Gandhi: Co-President of Religions for Peace and granddaughter of Mahatma Gandhi, Ms. Gandhi served as a Member in the South African Parliament and is currently a researcher, author, and lecturer on Gandhian thought.
Dr. Mustafa Ceric: Co-President of Religions for Peace, as an imam, Dr. Ceric is the former Grand Mufti of Bosnia. He is the co-recipient of the 2003 UNESCO Felix Houphoet Boigny Peace Prize for Contribution to World Peace and recipient of the International Council of Christians and Jews Annual Sir Sternberg Award for exceptional contribution to interfaith understanding.
Dr. William F. Vendley: Secretary-General of Religions for Peace International, Dr. Vendley is an advisor to a number of governments, including the Barack Obama administration. He was appointed by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and re-appointed by Secretary Kerry as one of ten members of the US State Department’s Advisory Committee on Strategic Partnership with Civil Society and he is currently a Co-Chair of the State Department’s Religion and Foreign Policy Working Group.
Ambassador Libran Cabactulan: Ambassador Cabactulan is the Permanent Representative of the Philippines to the United Nations. The Ambassador served as the President of the 2010 NPT Review Conference.
Jonathan Granoff: Mr. Granoff is President of the Global Security Institute and Special Representative for the United Religions Initiative, as well as Chair of the Task Force on Nuclear Non-proliferation of the International Law Section of the American Bar Association, an Adjunct Professor of International Law at the Widener University School of Law, and Special Adviser to the Nobel Peace Laureate Summit Secretariat.
Religions for Peace is the world’s largest and most representative multi-religious coalition advancing common action among the world’s religious communities for peace. www.religionsforpeace.org.
United Religions Initiative is a global grassroots interfaith network that cultivates peace and justice by engaging people to bridge religious and cultural differences and work together for the good of their communities and the world. www.uri.org.
World Evangelical Alliance is a global ministry network of churches in 129 nations that give a worldwide identity, voice, and platform to more than 600 million evangelical Christians seeking holiness, justice and renewal at every level of society. www.worldea.org.
Global Security Institute is dedicated to strengthening international cooperation and security based on the rule of law, with a particular focus on nuclear arms control, nonproliferation and disarmament. www.gsinstitute.org.
