ICAN Meets Goals for UN Nuclear Weapons Treaty, Weeks After Death of Sister Ardeth Platte
Less than a month after the unexpected death of Sister Ardeth Platte, her greatest dream of nuclear weapons abolition was realized, as Honduras added its name to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. The treaty was promoted by International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), an international coalition which won the Nobel Prize in 2017, in which Sister Platte played an active role. The latest signature puts ratified signatories at 50 nations, meaning the treaty goes into force (though existing nuclear weapons states, including the U.S., are expected to blithely ignore it). The folks at Nukewatch in Luck, Wisconsin sent out the following message:
Dear nuclear abolitionist,
We would like to share some very exciting news from International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN).
Congratulations everyone!
WE banned the Bomb!
Please take a little time to celebrate and enjoy this overwhelming success.
In peace,
John LaForge, Kelly Lundeen and Christine Manwiller for Nukewatch
The big moment is finally here: the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) just reached the 50 ratifications needed for entry into force! Just now, Honduras ratified the treaty bringing about a historic milestone. In 90 days the TPNW will enter into force and become binding international law!
We congratulate and thank each and every one of you who stood with us to help make this moment happen. This is an incredible moment for our movement and we are so unbelievably proud of what we’ve all achieved together.
With the treaty now ready to enter into force, everything will change, but our work is not done. We are going to need to get even louder to make sure the treaty lives up to its full potential. In countries that have not joined (like the US), it is up to us to make sure that companies, governments and people know that nuclear weapons are illegal and that they need to stand on the right side of history. Watch for updates from Nukewatch about how you can participate!
We want to thank you and celebrate this special moment with you and begin the countdown for entry into force.
Thank you for everything you do,
Beatrice Fihn
Executive Director
International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN)
