Statement regarding Coronavirus: 30th March 2020
António Guterres, Secretary-General of the UN, called for a global ceasefire in light of the coronavirus, saying: The fury of the virus illustrates the folly of war. The threats we face as a planet, health pandemics and climate change among them, demand a coordinated international response with no room for continuing to waste resources on armed conflict.
The Network of Christian Peace Organisations urges our government to robustly support this call by discontinuing the sale of arms during this crisis and calling on all involved in current conflicts around the world to lay down their arms.
We are encouraged by the prompt, creative response of British manufacturers to the urgent need for new ventilators and the London ExCel Centre which hosts the DSEI Arms Fair, being used instead for a socially productive purpose as the Nightingale Hospital.
This crisis is teaching the world much about the values of compassion and fairness, and the ability of societies to care for the most vulnerable as the basis of security. All our efforts now are rightly focused on preserving life and we have been heartened by the huge efforts made to this end, and by the strengthening of community bonds across the nation. The coming weeks will be painful for society. We will need time to grieve and to reflect. We hope that the bonds of common humanity, coupled with the compassion and imagination being deployed today can create a lasting legacy for future generations.
Sue Claydon, Chair, Anglican Pacifist Fellowship
John Cooper, Director, Fellowship of Reconciliation
Theresa Alessandro, Director, Pax Christi UK
Martin Tiller, Co-Chair, Christian Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament
Andrew Jackson, Paul Maxwell-Rose, Co-Directors, Christian International Peace Service
Oliver Robertson, Head of Worship & Witness for Quaker Peace & Social Witness
Philip Austin, Coordinator, Northern Friends Peace Board
Andrew Fox, President, Community of Christ (British Isles)
Roger Stuart, acting Chair, Congregational Peace Fellowship
Lydia Funck, General Secretary, Church and Peace
Helena Ripley, Trustee, Student Christian Movement
David Rice, Chair, Methodist Peace Fellowship
Andrew Clark
March 30th, 2020 at 15:59
Excellent statement. Very well expressed. Be wary of one unintended implication: namely, in para 2 the inclusion of the phrase “during the crisis” is both unnecessary and mistaken simply because, whenever the crisis is over, none of the peace organisation signatories would be ready to see the sale of arms resumed.
Peter Schweiger
March 30th, 2020 at 20:15
How amazing that this pandemic has taken over the world. The skies are cleared of aircraft, the roads have few vehicles and the streets and places of worship are deserted.
Neighbours help each other and so it is natural that nations should as well .Let’s pray that there are silver linings to the clouds of sorrow for the bereaved.
Donald Reece
March 31st, 2020 at 18:35
Delighted to know that Nightingale Hospital has replaced an arms fair.
May this be the catalyst for healing, and justice to prevail in the face of military weapons.
Thanks to the UN for calling for a ceasefire.
Let us clap for them as we do for health workers.
Would Holy Saturday April 11th be a good day, at 1100?
CLAP to CEASE FOR PEACE.
Donald Reece