TAKE ACTION: JOIN THE GROWING NUMBER OF PEOPLE CALLING FOR A GLOBAL CEASEFIRE
Veterans For Peace, as a United Nations Department of Global Communication affiliated NGO, is most gratified to see UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres make his plea for a worldwide ceasefire during this global pandemic.
The first line of the Preamble of the UN’s Charter says that they originated to save “succeeding generations from the scourge of war”. But sadly, because the UN was created by the victors of WW2 who remain the powers of the world, and because the UN depends for funding on those same militarily and economically dominant nation-states, primarily the U.S., much more often than not the UN is very quiet on war.
But not right now. As Guterres said in the call, “The fury of the virus illustrates the folly of war”. Even permanent Security Council members Britain, France, and China support the ceasefire call, but the US and Russia are resisting it. Twelve parties to conflicts around the world have expressed interest in silencing their guns.
Sadly, other methods of aggression like sanctions are not mentioned in Guterres’ statement. Nonetheless, the strong condemnation of armed conflict when cooperation is so needed for health care is most welcome.
Please join Veterans For Peace in appealing to U.S. Ambassador to the UN Kelly Craft to support the Secretary General’s call for a GLOBAL CEASEFIRE!
345 Signatures
Dear friends,
The head of the UN just sent us this urgent call for a global ceasefire. Let’s all sign with one click and share now:
Our world faces a common enemy: COVID-19. The virus does not care about nationality or ethnicity, faction or faith. It attacks all, relentlessly.
Meanwhile, armed conflict rages on around the world.
The most vulnerable — women and children, people with disabilities, the marginalized and the displaced — pay the highest price. They are also at the highest risk of suffering devastating losses from COVID-19.
Let’s not forget that in war-ravaged countries, health systems have collapsed.
Health professionals, already few in number, have often been targeted. Refugees and others displaced by violent conflict are doubly vulnerable. The fury of the virus illustrates the folly of war.
That is why today, I am calling for an immediate global ceasefire in all corners of the world.
