22 January 2021 marked the entry into force of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), the first international treaty to comprehensively ban nuclear weapons.
We congratulate, celebrate and appreciate the countries that have ratified and signed the Treaty, as well as all who have worked for nuclear disarmament and abolition for many decades.
A prayer to mark this landmark day:
God who calls us on the path to reconciliation,
one year ago today, the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons opened a new door wide.
We remember with gratitude the hibakusha (nuclear bomb survivors), the victims of nuclear testing and concerned citizens who have struggled for this milestone, gathering 13 million signatures and convincing 51 nation states to ratify the treaty.
As we pass through this door, we are deeply aware of the injustices brought by the nuclear industry upon the indigenous peoples and those who have been marginalized in society.
We are also aware that ours is one of the nine nations who possess nuclear arms.
God, help us to take practical steps to reduce nuclear risks, to eliminate nuclear weapons, and to build a common path for the survival of life on this planet.
Let us walk through this doorway once again in solidarity with all of those who dream of a-nuclear-weapon-free-world.
Amen.
— by Jeffrey Mensendiek, serving the United Church of Christ in Japan
