United Church Social Policy Positions

WHEREAS the General Council of The United Church of Canada, in regular session, September 1962, declared its opposition to nuclear bomb testing; and

WHEREAS the Committee on International Affairs has protested, without any positive results, to the French Embassy in Ottawa, the decision of France to carry out a series of atmospheric nuclear tests in the South Pacific; and

WHEREAS the British Columbia Environmental Council visited the Vancouver-based Consul General of France on July 18th and delivered a statement to the Consul General which stated, in part,

"…we are convinced the aggressive, unfriendly and nuclear role that France has chosen to pursue is hostile and displays a disregard for the environmental health of Man and Planet Earth. For these reasons the British Columbia Environmental Council will endeavour to persuade environmentally-concerned persons to resist purchasing French goods and services until such time as France gives assurance that it will cease all nuclear testing."; and

WHEREAS the World Conference Against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs, meeting in Japan in early August of this year, had before it a call for support of this action and some French newspapers have reportedly published editorial warnings to the French government of the possibility of its nuclear testing program creating serious diplomatic setbacks; and

WHEREAS we are aware of the far-reaching effectiveness of certain "Don't Buy" programs in changing the policy and practice of those whom the program was devised to influence, and that this is done most effectively when done selectively:

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

THAT this General Council reaffirm the stated opposition of the United Church to, "…the testing and use of nuclear weapons anywhere in the world as being a miscarriage of man's stewardship for human life, the earth and the resources of creation as revealed in Christ";

THAT the Church and International Affairs Committee urge the Canadian government, through the United Nations, to continue to press for the banning of all nuclear testing anywhere in the world;

THAT the Church and International Affairs Committee, in consultation with the British Columbia Environmental Conference, continue to urge the government of France, through the French embassy, to abandon their program of atmospheric nuclear testing;

THAT this General Council of the United Church request the World Council of Churches to address France on this issue, in the name of Christians, of its jurisdiction to ask for a cessation of such tests;

THAT United Church people be encouraged to refrain from buying goods manufactured in France until, in response to world opinion, France changes its policy of nuclear atmospheric testing.

General Council: 25th General Council, 1972

Record of Proceedings Page Ref. 1972 ROP, p. 67–68.