On the eve of the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the World Council of Churches (WCC), joined by more than 80 religious organizations from across the globe, issued a powerful interfaith statement condemning nuclear weapons and calling for disarmament, peace, and "right relationships" among people and with the planet.

The statement — signed by Christian, Buddhist, Sikh, Hindu, and interfaith groups — denounces the devastating legacy of the nuclear age, from the 1945 bombings in Japan to disasters at Chernobyl and Fukushima, and from uranium mining to nuclear waste disposal. The signatories emphasize that the entire nuclear chain inflicts lasting harm on nature, human health, and vulnerable communities, particularly Indigenous populations.

Rejecting the notion that nuclear arms represent progress, security, or national pride, the statement declares: “Nuclear technologies are not a sacred right — nor are they where we place our hope.” Instead, faith leaders urge a shift away from violence and toward reimagining global priorities centered on justice, peace, and sustainability.

The signatories sharply criticize the nearly $100 billion spent in 2024 on developing nuclear arsenals, arguing that such resources could be better used for healthcare, education, human rights, and environmental restoration.

The statement also reaffirms support for the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), adopted in 2017 and now ratified by 73 countries. While recognizing the role of states, the authors emphasize that a nuclear-free world depends equally on grassroots movements — educators, students, artists, clergy, laborers, and local governments.

“We come together not only out of apocalyptic fear of nuclear catastrophe,” the declaration concludes, “but through the inspiring power of cooperation for peace and justice.”

The message serves as a global moral appeal just days before the world remembers the horrors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki — and as nuclear tensions remain high in various regions of the world.