Something to CELEBRATE: Second Anniversary of TPNW’s Entry Into Force

This image was provided by the Nuclear Ban Treaty Collaborative of which WILPF US is a member.

by  Cherrill Spencer and Ellen Thomas
Co-chairs, DISARM Committee

January 2023

It feels like we don’t have much to celebrate lately so the DISARM Committee invites all WILPFers to get out on their favorite demonstration corner or outside their most despised weapons manufacturer sometime between the 20^th and 22^nd of January 2023 to celebrate the second anniversary of the Entry Into Force (EIF) of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW). Nineteen WILPF branches and members-at-large took to the streets in January 2021 when the TPNW became international law; let’s see if we can beat that number in 2023!

WILPF US is an active member of the Nuclear Ban Treaty Collaborative, which meets online to plan events and strategize how to raise public awareness of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.  Please visit the website to view previous actions and the banners used in 2021.

On the Resources for Actions page you will find new posters, social media ideas, a video to share and more. When you have organized your action for the second anniversary of the TPNW (January 22, 2023), please enter its details here so it will appear on a world map and draw more people to your action.  Please take photos of your action and send them and a short report to disarmchair@wilpfus.org for the next eNews and to post on the @WILPF SMART Facebook page.

Another effective way of presenting our messages to the public is lawn signs. We have designed one with our main message in support of the treaty, with a large QR code that can be scanned by a smart phone from a distance.  That QR code links to an online petition to the President and Senators to sign the TPNW.

The design is in a pdf file. You can print this design on a letter sized sheet to hold up to passing people so they can scan the QR code on their smart phones.

Not able to be outside between January 20th to 22nd? Then please write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper a week before; you can download a sample LTE here.

What About Ukraine?

We ask you to do double duty during January because of course the terrible war in Ukraine continues. We are a member of the Peace in Ukraine coalition which is planning for two Weeks of Action from the 13^th to 27^th of January. We are asking you to hold rallies, protests at your Congressional representatives’ offices, and to table at your local farmers markets; we are calling for

CEASEFIRE Now.
DO NOT RISK NUCLEAR WAR! 
DIPLOMACY to End the War in Ukraine.
$$$ for Climate, Jobs, Healthcare, & Housing
NOT Weapons for Endless War.

Many resources for such actions can be found here. One of the newest flyers answers the question: “Why should Congress stop voting for more weapons?”

When you have organized your event against the war in Ukraine please go to this link and post the details there, or look for events near you that you can join.

Your DISARM/End Wars Issue Committee thanks you for taking part in these vital events. Please write to disarmchair@wilpfus.org  if you have any questions or wish to join our listserv.