Indian nun campaigns for Global Peace at United Nations

(August 17, 2012) An Indian nun who campaigns for global peace by lobbying for the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) participated in last month’s UN Conference on Disarmament on Arms Trade Treaty in New York where she organized an interfaith prayer for participants. Bethany Sr. Mariola, who has been involved in the faith based peace initiative since 2006, participated in the last 5 days of the July 3-27 UN conference whose aim was to get member states agree upon an ATT to regulate the more than $60 billion arms industry and end illegal and irresponsible arms trade. Sr. Mariola prepared an interfaith prayer for Arms Trade Treaty which was widely circulated to all the NGOs and Delegations of the states in order to mobilize their home governments and to influence the positive decision for ATT. Sr. Mariola along with other grassroots organizations continue to lobby for global peace also among the various educational institutions in India through signature campaigns. She believes such involvement is needed also in future by the Religious and laity and all people of good will to contribute towards Global peace. About 744 Religious leaders around the globe signed the interfaith declaration together with signature campaigns and submitted it to the UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon. Catholic groups such as Caritas and Pax Christi want that the development of the poor receives priority over military spending in national budgets.