Faith leaders call for cluster bomb ban


	Faith Leaders’ Appeal for an International Treaty to Ban Cluster Munitions As 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 Tutu Anglican Archbishop Emeritus of Cape Town Dr. Christoph Cardinal Schönborn Cardinal Archbishop of Vienna, Catholic Church of Austria Archbishop Gunnar Stålsett Committee World Council Religions for Peace, Lutheran Church of Norway Sister Emmanuelle Founder and Honorary President of ASMAE (Association Soeur Emmanuelle), France. Archbishop Antonio Ledesma Vice President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines and Bishop-President of Pax Christi Pilipinas (Philippines) Archbishop John Dew, Archbishop of Wellington, Catholic Church of New Zealand Archbishop Anders Wejryd Church of Sweden Chief Rabbi David Rosen Chairman of the International Jewish Committee for Interreligious Consultations, Israel Archbishop John Onaiyekan Archbishop of the Abuja Diocese of the Catholic Church and President of the Christian Association of Nigeria Dr Muhammad Abdul Bari Secretary General, Muslim Council of Britain Indarjit Singh Director of the Network of Sikh Organisations, UK Rabbi Danni Rich Chief Executive of Liberal Judaism Monsignor Samuel Gandi Apostolic Administrator, Archdiocese of Freetown and Bo (Roman Catholic), Sierra Leone Reverend Osman J. Fornah President, Inter-Religious Council of Sierra Leone Sheik Abu Bakarr Conteh 1st Vice President, Inter Religious Council of Sierra Leone, Imam of Freetown Municipality Council and Masjid Hamdallah Sheik Abu-Bakarr Tejan-Jalloh Chief Imam of Freetown Central Mosque, Sierra Leone Monsignor Laurent Monsengwo Archbishop of Kinshasa, DR Congo and Co-President Pax Christi International Bishop Kike Figaredo Apostolic Prefect of Battambang, the Catholic Church in Cambodia Bishop Émile Destombes Apostolic Vicar of Phnom Penh, the Catholic Church in Cambodia Bishop Anthony Sami Catholic Church in Cambodia Bishop Yves Ramousse Gustave The Catholic Church in Cambodia Bishop Ragnar Persenius Diocese of Uppsala, Church of Sweden Bishop Eliezer M. Pascua General Secretary of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines Bishop Jessie Suarez South Luzon Jurisdictional Area, United Church of Christ in the Philippines Bishop Peter Cullinane Bishop of Palmerston North, Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand Bishop Denis Browne Bishop of Auckland, Catholic Church of New Zealand Bishop Barry Jones Catholic Diocese of Christchurch, New Zealand Bishop David Stancliffe Bishop of Salisbury, Church of England Bishop William Kenny Auxiliary Bishop of Birmingham and Spokesman on European Affairs for the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales Reverend Jonathan Edwards General Secretary of the Baptist Union of Great Britain Reverend Dr Martyn Atkins President of the Methodist Conference, United Kingdom Reverend Gregor Henderson, President of the Uniting Church in Australia Reverend Dr. Setri Nyomi Secretary General of World Alliance of Reformed Churches, the Presbyterian Church in Canada Rabbi Steven Jacobs Temple Kol Tikvah, USA Right Reverend Francis S. Nabieu Head of Methodist Church Sierra Leone Dr. Fauzy Khoury Exarch of the Greek Catholic Melkite Church in the Galilee Muhammad Amir Kpakpo Addo Ag. Executive Secretary, Ghana Conference of Religions for Peace, Ghana Pratap Bhogilal Chairman Emeritus, World Jain Confederation, India M. L. Pindolia President, Hindu Council of Africa, Africa Samdech Tep Vong The Great Supreme Patriarch of the Kingdom of Cambodia, Cambodia Issa Kirarira Chairman, Media for Peace and Religious Tolerance Organisation, Uganda Rev. Pat de Ramos-Bremond Minister, Broadmeadows Uniting Care, Australia Fr. Tom Ryan Paulist Office for Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations, USA Taoist Mission Secretarial Office Taoist Mission Secretarial office, Singapore Ms Farida Ali President Emeritus, Islamic Heritage Society, Pakistan Pal Khn Chon Won Buddhism Overseas Missions, Korea Bishop Erik Norman Svendsen Diocese Copenhagen, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Denmark Bishop Kresten Drejergaard Diocese Fyen, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Denmark Bishop Elisabeth Dons Christensen Diocese Ribe, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Denmark Bishop Steen Skovsgaard Diocese Lolland-Falster, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Denmark Bishop Karsten Nissen Diocese Viborg, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Denmark Bishop Kjeld Holm Diocese Aarhus, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Denmark Bishop Søren Lodberg Hvas Diocese Aalborg, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Denmark Bishop Niels Henrik Arendt, Diocese Haderslev Evangelical Lutheran Church in Denmark Pastor Jørgen Bøytler The Moravian Church in Denmark, member of the Provincial Board in the European Continental Province of the Moravian Church Reverend Dr Anthony Dancer Social Justice Commissioner of the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand Reverend Brian Turner President, Methodist Church of New Zealand, Aotearoa-New Zealand Monsieur Gregory BAUM, théologien et écrivain, professeur émérite, Sciences religieuses, Université McGill, Montréal Développement 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 Peace Madame 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 Ecology Pasteur David FINES, rédacteur en chef de la revue Aujourd’hui Credo, magazine de l’Église Unie au Canada – Director of Aujourd’hui Credo Monseigneur 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, Ottawa Mgr. A. H. van Luyn S. D. B President Pax Christi Netherlands, Bishop of Rotterdam, Catholic Church in the Netherlands Monseigneur Zacharie Masimango Katanda Evêque du diocèse Anglican de Kindu, République Démocratique du Congo Révérend Pasteur MASTAKI AHONGO, Délégué de la 5^ème Communauté, Eglises Libres de Pentecôte en Afrique en sigle «CELPA », Province du Maniema en République Démocratique du Congo Abbé 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 Stenger Bishop of Troyes and Bishop President of Pax Christi France Bishop Sofie Petersen Evangelical Lutheran Church and Bishop of Greenland Bishop John Bluck Bishop of Waiapu, Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia Bishop James Moriarty Roman Catholic Church, Ireland Bishop Raymond Field Chairman Irish Commission for Justice and Social Affairs, Roman Catholic Church, Ireland Bishop John Kirby Chairman Trocaire, Roman Catholic Church, Ireland Bishop Ragnar Persenius Diocese of Uppsala V. Rev. Leonid Kishkovsky Director of External Affairs, Orthodox Church in America & Moderator, Religions for Peace, USA Rev. Nichiko Niwano President, Rissho Kosei-kai, Japan Dr. Khurshid Khan Ameer/President of the Islamic Circle of North America, USA Khalid Rasheed Secretary General, Islamic Centre of India, India Rev. Canon Charles P. Gibbs Executive Director, United Religions Initiative, USA Mohammad Sammak Secretary General, Christian-Muslim Committee for Dialogue, Lebanon Karen Hurley President General, World Union of Catholic Women’s Organisations Dr William Vendley Secretary General, Religions for Peace, USA Rev. Vebjørn L. Horsfjord General Secretary, European Council of Religious Leaders, Religions for Peace, Norway Dr Sayyid M. Syeed National Director, Islamic Society of North America, USA Rev. W. Douglas Mills, PhD Associate General Secretary, The United Methodist Church, USA Mr Stein Villumstad Deputy Secretary General, Religions for Peace – USA, Norway Daniel Barton Ecumencial Youth Council in Europe, Belgium Dr Günther Gebhardt Vice-Moderator, Religions for Peace – Europe, Germany Sr. Mary-Ellen Francoeur Religions for Peace – Canada, Canada Christina Brown Co-Founder, Center of Inter-Faith Relations, USA Jim Schrag Executive Director, Mennonite Church, USA Rolando Santiago Executive Director, Mennonite Central Committee, USA Arli Klassen Executive Director, Mennonite Central Committee, USA James E. Winkler General Secretary, General Board of Church and Society, the United Methodist Church, USA Marie Dennis Director, Maryknoll Global Concerns, Co-President, Pax Christi International Mary Ellen McNish General Secretary, American Friends Service Committee, Philadelphia, USA Claudette Werleigh Secretary General Pax Christi International Ella Storesletten Norwegian Church Aid, Norway Roel Aalbersberg Coordinator for Worldwide Program, ICCO, Netherlands Rev. Stig Utnem Former general secretary of the Council on Ecumenical and International Relations of the Church of Norway, Advisor to ECRL Crescencia C. Gabijan Board Member, Religions for Peace – Philippines, Philippines Elizabeth Young SA Interfaith Network, Australia Ziad Moussa Former IYC Coordinator, Lebanon Arne Sæveraas Special Advisor, Norwegian Church Aid, Norway Gopika Dass Regional Representative, Sudan-Kenya Ela Gandhi Editor/Chair of Satyagraha, In Pursuit of Truth, South Africa Edy Korthals Altes Former Ambassador, Netherlands, Netherlands Gabriele Cipriani Conselho Nacional de Igrejas Cristâs, Brazil Luiz Alberto Barbosa Igreja Episcopal Anglicana do Brasil The Most Revewrened Dr. John R W Neill Archbishop, Church of Ireland Rev. John Stephens Methodist District Superintendent, Ireland Rev. Bishop Donal McKeown Auxiliary Bishop Belfast Dr. Joachim Diestelkamp, Pastor of the Lutheran Church, Ireland Imam Yahya Al Hussein, Islamic Foundation of Ireland Mgr Maixent Coly Archevêque of Ziguinchor, Senegal Rev. Norman Grigg Chairman and Suprintendent of the Methodist Mission, Gambia Alhagie Ousman Jah Deputy Head of the Supreme Islamic Council, Gambia Karin Wiborn General Secretary, Baptist Union of Sweden Sten-Gunnar Hedin General Superintendent, the Pentecostal Movement of Sweden Göran Zettergren President, Mission Covenant Church of Sweden Pe. Gabriele Cipriani Igreja Católica Apostólica Romana, Brasil Rev. Luiz Alberto Barbosa da Igreja Episcopal Anglicana do Brasil) Sra. Janette Ludwig Igreja Evangélica de Confissão Luterana no Brasil - Secretária da Diretoria do Conselho Nacional de Igrejas Cristãs do Brasil e Coordenadora da Ação Ecumênica de Mulheres Sra. Lídia Fernanda Crespo Correia Igreja Episcopal Anglicana do Brasil - Tesoureira da Diretora do Conselho Nacional de Igrejas Cristãs do Brasil Dom Filadelfo Oliveira Neto Igreja Episcopal Anglicana do Brasil, 2º Vice-presidente do Conselho Nacional de Igrejas Cristãs do Brasil Dom José Alberto Moura Igreja Católica Apostólica Romana, 1° Vice-presidente do Conselho Nacional de Igrejas Cristãs do Brasil Rev. Gerson Antonio Urban Igreja Presbiteriana Unida, 3º Vice-presidente do Conselho Nacional de Igrejas Cristãs do Brasil