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Woodstock-Oxford Rotary Endorses Nuclear Weapons Prohibition Treaty

The Woodstock-Oxford Rotary Club has passed a motion to endorse the treaty on the prohibition of nuclear weapons.

OXFORD COUNTY - The Woodstock-Oxford Rotary Club is asking the Rotary District of Ontario and Rotary International to endorse the treaty on the prohibition of nuclear weapons.

Member Doug Vincent says the hope is this resolution will make it to every Rotary Club in the world.

"Our club passed this resolution, it then gets forwarded to our district leaders, then they will submit it to all of the clubs in our district, who will ratify it hopefully." 

If the ratification gets ratified locally, it will be sent to Rotary International for global support. 

"We want to encourage our global Rotary friends and our Global Board of Directors to encourage everyone around the world to pay more attention to nuclear arms and the treaty banning these." 

When Rotary Clubs put their might behind something, it is amazing the things they can accomplish. The eradication of polio started with one small Rotary Club in the Philippines in 1979 saying they wanted to do something about it. 

You can read the full resolution regarding nuclear weapons below: 

WHEREAS, Rotary is committed to promoting world peace.

WHEREAS, there can be no peace as long as there is the threat of nuclear war.

WHEREAS, the TPNW prohibits the development, testing, production, stockpiling, stationing, transfer, use and threat of use of nuclear weapons, with the ultimate goal being their total elimination.

WHEREAS 86 countries are signatories to the TPNW and are looking for leadership to get it endorsed world-wide – and Rotary is a leader when it comes to Peace.

WHEREAS 70-80% of people surveyed in countries around the world (including Rotarians) support the elimination of nuclear weapons and are looking for leadership to make this happen and Rotary is a leader when it comes to Peace.

IT IS RESOLVED by Rotary International that the Board of Directors of Rotary International consider endorsing the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, by working to encourage 18 countries to sign and support the treaty, as well as encouraging Rotary clubs and Rotarians to work to encourage their governments to sign and support the treaty.

PURPOSE AND EFFECT

Rotary already knows how to work for world-wide endorsement of the TPNW by simply following the same successful “political” (but not partisan) strategies used to eradicate polio in Africa (as described in Rotary Magazine, Feb/2021). 

Namely: Rotary and its partners negotiated truces and military protection. Rotary advocated with government leaders and educated the public to dispel persistent myths. Rotary coordinated campaigns with surrounding nations. Rotary members used their respected roles in society - and often their personal charisma - to advocate for their governments to become involved. The only effective way to prevent a nuclear war is to get rid of nuclear weapons.

Deterrence is fear-based and does not work against accidents, miscalculations, or terrorists. It prevents even negative peace (the absence of the threat of violence) and makes positive peace impossible. Despite the enactment of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons over 50 years ago, there is no progress in the reduction of the world’s nuclear arsenal. On the contrary, there is an increase in spending on these weapons and an increase in the number of countries with access to them.

We have comprehensive bans for chemical weapons, biological weapons, landmines and cluster bombs. Nuclear weapons are exponentially more dangerous, could result in the death of billions of people and could destroy our planet. We must ensure the TPNW is endorsed world48 wide.

The reality is that Rotary could do 1,000s and 1,000s of Service Projects and just one nuclear catastrophe could undo them all. Working for world-wide endorsement of the TPNW is also working to support and preserve Rotary’s legacy of Positive Peace initiatives.

Rotary would like to increase membership. Standing for an important Peace initiative that 55 represents the wishes of 70%-80% of the world’s population will be a compelling attraction for new members.

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