REQUEST FROM URI : ENDORSE THE APPEAL FOR DIPLOMACY IN KOREA

Hello friends,

I was fortunate enough to meet Alyn Ware during my recent URI trip to the US.

Alyn is from New Zealand and is an extremely capable and passionate person dedicated to nuclear disarmament. It was great meeting with him and learning about his work in this space. He has sent on the following email and I am forwarding it to you all in case it is of interest.

Take care and wishing you all well.
Nivy Balachandran

Regional Coordinator, Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands

Part time - Office days are Wednesday and Friday.

Phone: +61 433 238 406 | Skype: nivy.bala | www.uri.org

Please see more here

URI 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.


---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Alyn Ware
Date: Fri, Sep 1, 2017 at 8:56 AM
Subject: Invitation to United Religions Initiative to endorse the call for a diplomatic solution to the Korea nuclear crisis
To: Bishop Swing , Monica Willard
Cc: MBWillard@aol.com, JonathanGranoff@gmail.com, Sari Heidenreich , Nivy Balachandran


Dear Bishop Swing and Monica

We invite United Religions Initiative, a valued member of Abolition 2000, to endorse the Appeal for a diplomatic solution to the Korea nuclear crisis, which has been drafted by members of Abolition 2000.

In addition, members of United Religions Initiative are invited to endorse the appeal in their individual capacities.

We will send the appeal to the leaders of China, Japan, North Korea, Russia, South Korea and the United States, as well as to the United Nations and European Union.

Best regards
Alyn Ware

Dear Friends,

We invite you to endorse an Appeal of Abolition 2000 Members for a diplomatic approach to address the Korea nuclear crisis.

The escalating tensions and threat of military conflict over North Korea's nuclear and missile capabilities make a diplomatic solution of vital importance and the highest priority. The increasing risk of war - and possibly even the use of nuclear weapons by miscalculation, accident, or intent - is frightening.

Below is the appeal drafted by members of Abolition 2000. We plan to send the appeal and list of endorsers to leaders of China, Japan, North Korea, Russia, South Korea and the United States, as well as to the United Nations and European Union.

Please reply to info@baselpeaceoffice.org by September 5 if you can endorse, indicating whether you endorse as an individual or on behalf of your organization.

Dear Friends,

We invite you to endorse an Appeal of Abolition 2000 Members for a diplomatic approach to address the Korea nuclear crisis.

The escalating tensions and threat of military conflict over North Korea's nuclear and missile capabilities make a diplomatic solution of vital importance and the highest priority. The increasing risk of war - and possibly even the use of nuclear weapons by miscalculation, accident, or intent - is frightening.

Below is the appeal drafted by members of Abolition 2000. We plan to send the appeal and list of endorsers to leaders of China, Japan, North Korea, Russia, South Korea and the United States, as well as to the United Nations and European Union.

Please reply to info@baselpeaceoffice.org by September 5 if you can endorse, indicating whether you endorse as an individual or on behalf of your organization.

Appeal for a diplomatic solution in North East Asia

The Abolition 2000 members listed below, representing peace and disarmament organisations from around the world, call on the United States and North Korea to step back from the brink of war in North East Asia, and instead adopt a diplomatic approach to prevent war.

We call for the immediate commencement of negotiations to prevent a military conflict from erupting, and to resolve the underlying conflicts. Such negotiations should take place both bilaterally and through a renewed Six-Party framework involving China, Japan, North Korea, Russia, South Korea and the United States.

The escalating tensions and threat of military conflict over North Korea's nuclear and missile capabilities makes a diplomatic solution of vital importance and the highest priority. The increasing risk of war - and possibly even the use of nuclear weapons by miscalculation, accident, or intent - is frightening.

More than three million citizens of Korea, Japan, China, USA and other countries lost their lives in the Korean War from 1950-1953. Should a war erupt again, the loss of lives could be considerably worse, especially if nuclear weapons are used. Indeed, a nuclear conflict erupting in Korea could engulf the entire world in a nuclear catastrophe that would end civilization as we know it.

In supporting diplomacy rather than war, we:
1.     Oppose any pre-emptive use of force by any of the parties, which would be counter-productive and likely lead to nuclear war;
2.     Call on all parties to refrain from militaristic rhetoric and provocative military exercises;
3.     Encourage China, Japan, North Korea, Russia, South Korea and the United States to consider the phased and comprehensive approach for a North-East Asian Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone with a 3+3 arrangement[1], which already has cross-party support in Japan and South Korea and interest from the North Korean government;
4.     Encourage China, Japan, North Korea, Russia, South Korea and the United States to also consider options and modalities for turning the 1953 Armistice Agreement into a formal end to the 1950-1953 Korean War;
5.     Welcome the call of the UN Secretary-General for a resumption of Six-Party talks and his offer to assist in negotiations;
6.     Welcome also the offer of the European Union to assist in diplomatic negotiations, as they did successfully in the negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program;
7.     Call on the United Nations Security Council to prioritise a diplomatic solution to the conflict.

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[1] The 3+3 arrangement would include Japan, South Korea and North Korea agreeing not to possess or host nuclear weapons, and would require China, Russia and the USA agreeing not to deploy nuclear weapons in Japan, South Korea or North Korea, nor to attack or threaten to attack them with nuclear weapons. 
 

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