18 April 2008

Faith Leaders Appeal For Ban On Cluster Bombs

Faith Leaders Appeal for an International Treaty to Ban Cluster MunitionsAs people of faith, we raise our voices for the protection of life and promotion of peace by calling on all governments to end the production, transfer, stockpiling, and use of cluster bombs.For more than 40 years, cluster bombs have killed and wounded innocent people, causing untold suffering, loss and hardship for thousands in more than 20 countries across the planet. These weapons cause death and injury to civilians during attacks and for years afterwards because of the lethal contamination that they cause. Cluster bombs hamper post-conflict rebuilding and rehabilitation and the dangerous work of cluster bomb clearance absorbs funds that could be spent on other urgent humanitarian needs. Without determined action, the civilian harm caused by these weapons both during and after conflict will continue to grow.The voices of those whose lives have already been shattered by cluster munitions call us to take meaningful and courageous action. Our faith traditions call us to stand with those who have suffered, and to work for the well-being of the human family through relationships of respect, justice, and peace.We are speaking out today on the Global Day of Action to Ban Cluster Bombs where people across all continents, cultures and faiths are taking action and calling for a ban on cluster bombs.A comprehensive ban on cluster bombs can and must be negotiated one month from now in Dublin, Ireland, in May 2008. We urge governments to take up this heavy responsibility by seizing this opportunity to take concrete action for the protection of the vulnerable and for the promotion of peace.Sincerely,The Most Reverend Desmond TutuAnglican Archbishop Emeritus of Cape TownDr. Christoph Cardinal SchönbornCardinal Archbishop of Vienna, Catholic Church of AustriaArchbishop Gunnar StålsettCommittee World Council Religions for Peace, Lutheran Church of NorwaySister EmmanuelleFounder and Honorary President of ASMAE (Association Soeur Emmanuelle), France.Archbishop Antonio LedesmaVice President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines and Bishop-President of Pax Christi Pilipinas (Philippines)Archbishop John DewArchbishop of Wellington, Catholic Church of New ZealandArchbishop Anders WejrydChurch of SwedenChief Rabbi David RosenChairman of the International Jewish Committee for Interreligious Consultations, IsraelArchbishop John OnaiyekanArchbishop of the Abuja Diocese of the Catholic Church and President of the Christian Association of NigeriaDr Muhammad Abdul BariSecretary General, Muslim Council of BritainIndarjit SinghDirector of the Network of Sikh Organisations, UKRabbi Danni RichChief Executive of Liberal JudaismMonsignor Samuel GandiApostolic Administrator, Archdiocese of Freetown and Bo (Roman Catholic), Sierra LeoneReverend Osman J. FornahPresident, Inter-Religious Council of Sierra LeoneSheik Abu Bakarr Conteh1st Vice President, Inter Religious Council of Sierra Leone, Imam of FreetownMunicipality Council and Masjid HamdallahSheik Abu-Bakarr Tejan-JallohChief Imam of Freetown Central Mosque, Sierra LeoneMonsignor Laurent MonsengwoArchbishop of Kinshasa, DR Congo and Co-President Pax Christi InternationalBishop Kike FigaredoApostolic Prefect of Battambang, the Catholic Church in CambodiaBishop Émile DestombesApostolic Vicar of Phnom Penh, the Catholic Church in CambodiaBishop Anthony SamiCatholic Church in CambodiaBishop Yves Ramousse GustaveThe Catholic Church in CambodiaBishop Ragnar PerseniusDiocese of Uppsala, Church of SwedenBishop Eliezer M. PascuaGeneral Secretary of the United Church of Christ in the PhilippinesBishop Jessie SuarezSouth Luzon Jurisdictional Area, United Church of Christ in the PhilippinesBishop Peter CullinaneBishop of Palmerston North, Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New ZealandBishop Denis BrowneBishop of Auckland, Catholic Church of New ZealandBishop Barry JonesCatholic Diocese of Christchurch, New ZealandBishop David StancliffeBishop of Salisbury, Church of EnglandBishop William KennyAuxiliary Bishop of Birmingham and Spokesman on European Affairs for the Bishops' Conference of England and WalesReverend Jonathan EdwardsGeneral Secretary of the Baptist Union of Great BritainReverend Dr Martyn AtkinsPresident of the Methodist Conference, United KingdomReverend Gregor HendersonPresident of the Uniting Church in AustraliaReverend Dr. Setri NyomiSecretary General of World Alliance of Reformed Churches, the Presbyterian Church in CanadaRabbi Steven JacobsTemple Kol Tikvah, USARight Reverend Francis S. NabieuHead of Methodist Church Sierra LeoneDr. Fauzy KhouryExarch of the Greek Catholic Melkite Church in the GalileeMuhammad Amir Kpakpo AddoAg. Executive Secretary, Ghana Conference of Religions for Peace, GhanaPratap BhogilalChairman Emeritus, World Jain Confederation, IndiaM. L. PindoliaPresident, Hindu Council of Africa, AfricaSamdech Tep VongThe Great Supreme Patriarch of the Kingdom of Cambodia, CambodiaIssa KirariraChairman, Media for Peace and Religious Tolerance Organisation, UgandaRev. Pat de Ramos-BremondMinister, Broadmeadows Uniting Care, AustraliaFr. Tom RyanPaulist Office for Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations, USATaoist Mission Secretarial OfficeTaoist Mission Secretarial office, SingaporeMs Farida AliPresident Emeritus, Islamic Heritage Society, PakistanPal Khn ChonWon Buddhism Overseas Missions, KoreaBishop Erik Norman SvendsenDiocese Copenhagen, Evangelical Lutheran Church in DenmarkBishop Kresten DrejergaardDiocese Fyen, Evangelical Lutheran Church in DenmarkBishop Elisabeth Dons ChristensenDiocese Ribe, Evangelical Lutheran Church in DenmarkBishop Steen SkovsgaardDiocese Lolland-Falster, Evangelical Lutheran Church in DenmarkBishop Karsten NissenDiocese Viborg, Evangelical Lutheran Church in DenmarkBishop Kjeld HolmDiocese Aarhus, Evangelical Lutheran Church in DenmarkBishop Søren Lodberg HvasDiocese Aalborg, Evangelical Lutheran Church in DenmarkBishop Niels Henrik Arendt, Diocese HaderslevEvangelical Lutheran Church in DenmarkPastor Jørgen BøytlerThe Moravian Church in Denmark, member of the Provincial Board in the European Continental Province of the Moravian ChurchReverend Dr Anthony DancerSocial Justice Commissioner of the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New ZealandReverend Brian TurnerPresident, Methodist Church of New Zealand, Aotearoa-New ZealandMonsieur Gregory BAUM, théologien et écrivain, professeur émérite, Sciences religieuses, Université McGill, MontréalDéveloppement et Paix - Organisation Catholique Canadienne pour le Développement et la Paix (OCCDP / CCODP) Canadian Catholic Organisation for Development and Peace, Canadian Catholic Organisation for Development and PeaceMadame Élisabeth GARANT, directrice du Centre justice et foi et de la revue Relations (Relations est une revue d'analyse sociale et religieuse, initiative des Jésuites à Montréal)Sister Donna GEERNAERT, Congregational Leader, Sisters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul, Présidente de la Conférence Religieuse Canadienne - CRC - Canadian Religious Conference (Association of Major Superiors of Women and Men Congregations in Canada)Madame Heather EATON, théologienne, professeur à la Faculté de théologie, Université Saint-Paul, membre du Canadian Forum on Religion and EcologyPasteur David FINES, rédacteur en chef de la revue Aujourd'hui Credo, magazine de l'Église Unie au Canada - Director of Aujourd'hui CredoMonseigneur Pierre MORISSETTE, évêque de Baie-Comeau, Vice-président de la Conférence des Évêques Catholiques du Canada (CECC) - Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB)Madame Carolyn SHARP, théologienne, professeur à la Faculté de théologie, Université Saint-Paul, OttawaMgr. A. H. van Luyn S. D. BPresident Pax Christi Netherlands, Bishop of Rotterdam, Catholic Church in the NetherlandsMonseigneur Zacharie Masimango KatandaEvêque du diocèse Anglican de Kindu, République Démocratique du CongoRévérend Pasteur MASTAKI AHONGO, Délégué de la 5ème Communauté, Eglises Libres de Pentecôte en Afrique en sigle «CELPA », Province du Maniema en République Démocratique du CongoAbbé MILAMBO BAIKA Augustin: Conseiller Juridique de l'Evêque WILLY NGUNGMBI de la Diocèse de Kindu, province du Maniema en République Démocratique du Congo.Msgr. Marc StengerBishop of Troyes and Bishop President of Pax Christi FranceBishop Sofie PetersenEvangelical Lutheran Church and Bishop of GreenlandBishop John BluckBishop of Waiapu, Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and PolynesiaBishop James MoriartyRoman Catholic Church, IrelandBishop Raymond FieldChairman Irish Commission for Justice and Social Affairs, Roman Catholic Church, IrelandBishop John KirbyChairman Trocaire, Roman Catholic Church, IrelandBishop Ragnar PerseniusDiocese of UppsalaV. Rev. Leonid KishkovskyDirector of External Affairs, Orthodox Church in America & Moderator, Religions for Peace, USARev. Nichiko NiwanoPresident, Rissho Kosei-kai, JapanDr. Khurshid KhanAmeer/President of the Islamic Circle of North America, USAKhalid RasheedSecretary General, Islamic Centre of India, IndiaRev. Canon Charles P. GibbsExecutive Director, United Religions Initiative, USAMohammad SammakSecretary General, Christian-Muslim Committee for Dialogue, LebanonKaren HurleyPresident General, World Union of Catholic Women's OrganisationsDr William VendleySecretary General, Religions for Peace, USARev. Vebjørn L. HorsfjordGeneral Secretary, European Council of Religious Leaders, Religions for Peace, NorwayDr Sayyid M. SyeedNational Director, Islamic Society of North America, USARev. W. Douglas Mills, PhDAssociate General Secretary, The United Methodist Church, USAMr Stein VillumstadDeputy Secretary General, Religions for Peace - USA, NorwayDaniel BartonEcumencial Youth Council in Europe, BelgiumDr Günther GebhardtVice-Moderator, Religions for Peace - Europe, GermanySr. Mary-Ellen FrancoeurReligions for Peace - Canada, CanadaChristina BrownCo-Founder, Center of Inter-Faith Relations, USAJim SchragExecutive Director, Mennonite Church, USARolando SantiagoExecutive Director, Mennonite Central Committee, USAArli KlassenExecutive Director, Mennonite Central Committee, USAJames E. WinklerGeneral Secretary, General Board of Church and Society, the United Methodist Church, USAMarie DennisDirector, Maryknoll Global Concerns, Co-President, Pax Christi InternationalMary Ellen McNishGeneral Secretary, American Friends Service Committee, Philadelphia, USAClaudette WerleighSecretary General Pax Christi InternationalElla StoreslettenNorwegian Church Aid, NorwayRoel AalbersbergCoordinator for Worldwide Program, ICCO, NetherlandsRev. Stig UtnemFormer general secretary of the Council on Ecumenical and International Relations of the Church of Norway, Advisor to ECRLCrescencia C. GabijanBoard Member, Religions for Peace - Philippines, PhilippinesElizabeth YoungSA Interfaith Network, AustraliaZiad MoussaFormer IYC Coordinator, LebanonArne SæveraasSpecial Advisor, Norwegian Church Aid, NorwayGopika DassRegional Representative, Sudan-KenyaEla GandhiEditor/Chair of Satyagraha, In Pursuit of Truth, South AfricaEdy Korthals AltesFormer Ambassador, Netherlands, NetherlandsGabriele CiprianiConselho Nacional de Igrejas Cristâs, BrazilLuiz Alberto BarbosaIgreja Episcopal Anglicana do BrasilThe Most Revewrened Dr. John R W NeillArchbishop, Church of IrelandRev. John StephensMethodist District Superintendent, IrelandRev. Bishop Donal McKeownAuxiliary Bishop BelfastDr. Joachim DiestelkampPastor of the Lutheran Church, Ireland Imam Yahya Al Hussein, IslamicFoundation of IrelandMgr Maixent ColyArchevêque of Ziguinchor, SenegalRev. Norman GriggChairman and Suprintendent of the Methodist Mission, GambiaAlhagie Ousman JahDeputy Head of the Supreme Islamic Council, GambiaKarin Wiborn General Secretary, Baptist Union of SwedenSten-Gunnar HedinGeneral Superintendent, the Pentecostal Movement of SwedenGöran ZettergrenPresident, Mission Covenant Church of SwedenPe. Gabriele CiprianiIgreja Católica Apostólica Romana, BrasilRev. Luiz Alberto Barbosa daIgreja Episcopal Anglicana do Brasil)Sra. Janette LudwigIgreja Evangélica de Confissão Luterana no Brasil - Secretária da Diretoria do Conselho Nacional de Igrejas Cristãs do Brasil e Coordenadora da Ação Ecumênica de MulheresSra. Lídia Fernanda Crespo CorreiaIgreja Episcopal Anglicana do Brasil - Tesoureira da Diretora do Conselho Nacional de Igrejas Cristãs do BrasilDom Filadelfo Oliveira NetoIgreja Episcopal Anglicana do Brasil, 2º Vice-presidente do Conselho Nacional de Igrejas Cristãs do BrasilDom José Alberto MouraIgreja Católica Apostólica Romana, 1° Vice-presidente do Conselho Nacional de Igrejas Cristãs do BrasilRev. Gerson Antonio UrbanIgreja Presbiteriana Unida, 3º Vice-presidente do Conselho Nacional de Igrejas Cristãs do Brasil