Letter to PM: Urging you to ratify Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW)

Khursheed Ahmed, Ph.D. is a long-term member of IPPNWC and has worked with many peace and community groups. The original letter can be downloaded here.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau

Office of the Prime Minister

80 Wellington Street, Ottawa, ON K1A 0A2

RE: Urging you to ratify Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW)

Dear Prime Minister Trudeau:

A nuclear weapons detonation, whether deliberate or accidental, could result in a humanitarian catastrophe so immense that it is impossible to comprehend. The direct effects would be far worse than any pandemic as there is no known meaningful

medical response. A nuclear winter could be triggered causing widespread famine throughout the world.

In 1946, Mahatma Gandhi remarked, “I regard the employment of the atom bomb for the wholesale destruction of men, women, and children as the most diabolical use of science.”

Nuclear weapons, designed to kill vast numbers of people indiscriminately, have always been immoral. On January 22, 2021, nuclear weapons became illegal under international law for countries that have ratified the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, a Treaty whose text has been endorsed by 122 nations.

On June 9, 2020 François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Foreign Affairs reaffirmed Canada’s commitment to nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament. Former Prime Ministers have also expressed their support for nuclear disarmament. However, no concrete steps have ever been made to get rid of the threat of nuclear weapons, which Hon. Doug Roche called ‘The Ultimate Evil’.

We urge you to make history and take the bold step now to ratify and adopt the TPNW now.

Sincerely,

Khursheed Ahmed, PhD

Member, Gandhi Peace Festival Planning Committee

Member, International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War Canada

Cc: Mr. Marc Garneau, Minister of Foreign Affairs

Mr. Bob Rae, Canada’s UN Ambassador