Minute on Nuclear Weapons Development

It was approved, May 22, 2003, at a Called Session of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting, that the Peace and Concerns Standing Committee revise their Minute on Nuclear Weapons Development which was considered at that meeting. After revision, the committee was free to publish and distribute the minute under the Yearly Meeting's name. That minute follows:

The Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) has consistently held that war is contrary to the teachings of Jesus and to the spirit of God. The Religious Society of Friends has also consistently opposed the development and use of nuclear weapons.

Accordingly, the members of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends are truly disappointed and distressed to learn that the Senate of the United States has approved the recommendations of the Bush Administration to fund research as a step in the direction of developing two new types of nuclear weapons.

1. The Robust Nuclear Earth Penetrator. This is intended for use against underground bunkers, and has a yield at least seven times that of the Hiroshima bomb. Research and development funding was included in the Energy Departments FY04 budget request.

2. Low-yield nuclear weapons (mini-nukes). This is intended for use against bunkers or on the battlefield. The annual defense authorization bill for FY04 included a request to repeal the Spratt-Furse amendment that bans research and development of such weapons.

As Senator Jack Reed (RI), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, recently stated: It is extraordinarily difficult, if not impossible, to urge other nations to forswear the development and use of nuclear weapons if we are so routinely talking about the development and use of nuclear weapons. Indeed, the Administrations two budget requests, now approved, for research and development of new nuclear weapons constitute a virtual invitation for other nations to opt out of their obligations under the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

The members of Philadelphia Yearly Meeting strongly urge the United States Congress and Administration to abandon the development of new uses for nuclear weapons and instead to adopt a policy of nuclear disarmament.

Action Steps:

1. Philadelphia Yearly Meeting will send this minute to the Senators from the four states represented by our membership, with Thom Jeavons, General Secretary, and Gretchen Castle, Clerk, as the signatories.

2. Philadelphia Yearly Meeting will send this minute to the President, Secretary of State and Secretary of Defense, with Thom Jeavons and Gretchen Castle as signatories.

3. Philadelphia Yearly Meeting authorizes the Peace and Concerns Standing Committee to contact Monthly Meetings and individual Friends to send their own letters of concern to their Senators, Representatives and other government officials.

Last modified: Wednesday, February 18, 2004 at 08:19 AM

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Minute on Nuclear Weapons Development

Copyright © 2003, Philadelphia Yearly Meeting