We need your voice!

Written on: September 19, 2016

Beyond War is a movement founded in Palo Alto, CA in 1984. I had the good fortune of being invited to be part of the early life of this movement. The following is excerpted from their internet site and I share it so that you will know that it is a reputable movement, since I am suggesting that you sign the petition below to Pope Francis urging him to write an encyclical  rejecting the just war theory. And by all means check out the other links at the bottom of this page.

“Beyond War seeks to end war, on the premise that, in the broad view, the continued practice of war will ultimately lead to a global catastrophe. From the very start, the Beyond War group strongly held the conviction that “Life is at a crossroads. One direction leads to death, destruction, and possibly the extinction of life on earth. The other direction opens new possibilities for the human species; a world where all people have the opportunity to satisfy their basic human needs, where life has meaning and purpose.”

Pace e bene, Sister Diane Bardol, GNSH 

The Pope! World Beyond War and other supporting organizations are asking everyone in the world, religious or not, to please add your name to this petition to Pope Francis:

We urge you to follow through on the meeting the Vatican hosted on April 11-13, 2016, which recommended in its final statement that you publish an encyclical rejecting the idea that there can be a just war, promoting the teaching and use of nonviolence, and working toward the abolition of war and weapons of war. We ask you to influence as much of humanity as you can to shun participation in war and in the manufacture and trade of weapons. We thank you for this leadership and are hopeful that it will make a world of difference. We are ready to make war a thing of the past. Click here to add your name and comments.

The idea that there can be a just war is critical to maintaining the arms trade and preparations for war that drain the world of approximately $2 trillion per year, half from the United States alone, while just tens of billions could solve hunger, the lack of clean drinking water, and other human and environmental needs.

The investment in war preparations creates momentum for countless unjust wars. Nonviolent resistance to tyranny has proven more effective than violence, and its successes longer lasting. While a just cause can be associated with a war, that doesn’t make the war just.

Criteria of “just war” theory, such as “proportionality” and “right intention,” cannot be measured to prove that a war is just or unjust. They’re just rhetoric that serves to legitimize war. Other “just war” criteria are not possible to meet at all. War cannot be a “last resort” as there are always better options. Nor can noncombatants be kept immune from attack or enemy soldiers be respected as human beings while you’re killing them.

Yet other “just war” criteria, such as that war must be waged by a legitimate authority, do not make war moral. Rather they serve as cover for wars by some and justification for wars against others. The idea of a “just war” was developed by ancient and medieval writers who promoted the killing of heretics, the use of slavery, and monarchy as the best form of government. It’s time we stopped clinging to this vestige of an outdated worldview.

Background:
> Statement and photos from April 11-13, 2016 Vatican Meeting
> Howard Zinn: A Just Cause, Not a Just War
> New book: War Is Never Just by David Swanson

Livestreaming! Watch the livestream of the No War 2016 conference from Washington, D.C., September 23-25.

The Pentagon! Join the protest at the Pentagon Sept. 26th.

Campaign Nonviolence! The Pentagon protest is one of over 650 nonviolent actions planned all over the world, and of numerous other events planned. Check out the Campaign Nonviolence Week of Actions. Check out World Beyond War’s events page.

Paying the Price for Peace! Just following our conference in Washington, D.C., we recommend this screening of Paying the Price for Peace: The Story of S. Brian Willson at 7 p.m. Sunday at 2111 Florida Ave NW Washington, DC. In other cities find screenings at payingthepriceforpeace.com

Sign the Declaration of Peace.

Find events all over the world that you can take part in.

Join us on Facebook and Twitter.

Support World Beyond War’s work by clicking here.

This entry was posted in With a Heart for Justice and tagged: Beyond War, no more 'Just War', nonviolence, Pope Francis, War is never just