Hungarian Church Press, 1968 (20. évfolyam, 2. szám)

1968-06-01 / 2. szám

HOP Vol XX Special Number

1968 No 2

142 «

(07925)

Alas, the dream of the world without weapons, in spite of the political. exertions and also of partial achievements, lias not yet become a reality« This failure is more grave and more fatal today than ever before because the circumstances now obtaining call,more imperatively than ever before,for the completion of the task of disarmament©

a) The Need for Disarmament

In this respect, one is to think first of the invention of nuclear energy and the baleful possibilities of its use,.

Nuclear energy put at our disposal lias in common with all the accomplishments of teclmology that its use may be beneficial and harmful according to man*s decision« Stupendous possibilities have been opened up before us in both directions., Technological development holds in store for us the solution of one of the greatest problems cf mankind, the question concerning the sources of energy,, The newly uncovered source cf energy may further the development cf mankind,, the raising of living standard, it may supply us with food, raiment and the amenities of civilisation in an age .in which millions of people face actual starvation.

Yet the perspectives of the misuse of nuclear energy are also staggering, It is a shocking experience to realize that, since the discovery of nuclear energy, mankind has progressed farther in this direction than in the direction of making nuclear energy a blessing fer mankind,. It is for this reason that the expression 11 Atomic Age*' suggests ultimate destruction rather than progress©

The nature of nuclear weapons ard of their possible employment warn us against the dangers which the vrrong use of atomic energy may bring ’upon mankind,107)

In accord with the statement made in the report cf Section III of the World Conference on Church ard Society, wc also note that, because of the availability of nuclear' weapons, nor only the armi es but the civilian populations too are exposed to the danger of inchscriminate extermination; the small, nations have- lost the means cf self-defence; the annihilation of entire cultures ore wathin the limits of historical possibility, ard the after-effects of radiation might involve incalculable harms for future generations.

In the age of nuclear weapons, the time cf the limited wars limited as to their duration, area, instruments and personnel has passed.© Nuclear war means the suicide of mankind©108)

In order to pudge the magnitude of the danger, we ore to consider two further factso Nuclear weapons, today, cure allied with other military instruments of mass destruction such as 'die bacteriological and chemical weapons© Then secondly, nuclear armament is no longer a mere possibility but