Genesee Valley Citizens for Peace Statement on the War in Ukraine
Genesee Valley Citizens for Peace (GVCP) stand opposed to the use of force to solve disputes. We oppose militarism and increased US military spending. The war in Ukraine is a disaster for the people of Ukraine and Russia, and a grave threat to every person on the planet.
We unequivocally condemn the ongoing war in Ukraine and call for an immediate comprehensive cease fire, diplomacy, and negotiations between the US, Russia, and Ukraine.
GVCP maintains:
U.S. action helped create the conflict by providing Ukraine weapons and training. Since the war began the U.S. has sent many tens of billions of dollars in weapons, amounting to more than $110 million per day. Another $38 billion will be voted on soon. Sending more and more weapons to Ukraine has escalated the crisis. Hundreds of thousands of people have died.
All people and nations have the right to a secure world free from militarism and threats to their safety. This includes all Ukrainians. It also includes the right of Russians to be free from the militarization of their borders by the U.S. and NATO.
We support the resistance of Ukrainians and Russians on both sides of the conflict who resist subjugation to the war machine.
The conditions that led to this war, and the U.S. reaction to it, are part of a broader decades-long project of U.S. global domination through selling of arms, use of arms, financial servitude and corporate domination (notably the fossil fuel industry.) The U.S. has over 800 military bases in more than 70 countries across the globe. By comparison, China and Russia combined have 3.
The atomic clock stands at 100 seconds to midnight, awaiting the annual January update by the Union of Atomic Scientists. We have never been closer to nuclear Armageddon. There is no time for delay. The endless flow of weapons into Ukraine prevents negotiations that must eventually come unless nuclear war comes first.
War accelerates the worldwide climate crisis. Competition for fossil fuel markets leads to climate change, militarism and war. The biggest purveyors of fossil fuels are the U.S. and Russia. The biggest users are the world’s militaries. Militarism is the most oil-intensive activity on the planet. The exclusion of military pollution from climate agreements must be rectified.
Most of the world wants an end to the war in Ukraine. In September, 66 nations at the UN General Assembly meeting in New York, urgently called for diplomacy to end the war in Ukraine through peaceful negotiations. These 66 nations calling for peace represent most of the earth’s population. Said one leader, “We call for de-escalation and a cessation of hostilities in Ukraine, as well as for a negotiated solution, to avoid the catastrophic risk of a potentially global conflict.”
The people of the world want an end to nuclear weapons. The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW)—approved by UN assembly in New York in 2017 by a vote of 122 nations, is now approved by 138 nations. 68 nations have signed the Treaty and made it the law of their land. 26 nations have signed but not yet passed internal laws. Thus, 94 nations (47.7% of all nations) have accepted binding obligations in international law under the TPNW. Including the 44 other nations that voted for the treaty but have yet to sign, it is clear that 70% of all nations support nuclear disarmament.
GVCP encourages peace loving citizens to contact your representatives and tell them to support:
An immediate ceasefire and negotiated peace in Ukraine. Barring that, a Christmas Armistice, as called for by faith leaders around the world. An end to hostilities will stop the killing and benefit all parties.
U.N. peacekeepers joining the U.S., Ukraine and Russia at the table in a neutral location to negotiate a settlement that respects the security needs of Ukraine, Russia and the wider world.
A renewed commitment to new arms control treaties. No more weapons to Ukraine.
Massive reductions in military spending by all countries and a redirection of those funds to combat worldwide inequality and the climate crisis. We must swiftly shift resources away from war and nuclear weapons to counter the twin hyper threats of climate collapse and nuclear war.
The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. While the US has yet to sign the Treaty, 5 US states, 3 US counties, and 68 US cities have passed resolutions in support of the Treaty, including Ithaca, Syracuse, Lansing and New York City. Furthermore, 12 members of Congress have signed the ICAN Pledge in support of the Treaty. Ask our elected officials to do so as well:
Charles E. Schumer Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510 Phone: 202- 224-6542 Website: www.schumer.senate.gov
Kirsten Gillibrand Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510 Phone: 202- 224-4451 Website: www.gillibrand.senate.gov
Representative Chris Jacobs* Website: www.jacobs.house.gov (*until 1/3/23)
Representative Claudia Tenney Website: www.tenney.house.gov Geneseo/surrounding area
Representative Joe Morelle Website: www.morelle.house.gov Monroe County
12/10/22
Note: This statement originally appeared in the Livingston County News, December 8, 2022.