Käßmann calls for arms freeze

Rev Dr Margot Käßmann, former chairman of the Council of the Evangelical Church in Germany, called for a worldwide arms freeze at the opening of the International Ecumenical Peace Convocation in Jamaica. Churches all over the world should appeal respectively to their governments, Käßmann said. The International Ecumenical Peace Convocation in Kingston/Jamaica lasts until May 23rd, 2011. UEM offers two workshops to the participants, one today on the topic of climate justice, and another one on Monday on impunity. At the workshop today the two UEM climate consultants will tell about their work, and a new film about UEM supported climate programs in Asia will be shown. Several delegates from UEM member churches take part in the meetings. At the opening ceremony the Anglican priest Paul Ostreicher called the delegates to work towards peace on the earth. Centuries ago it did not seem possible to abolish slavery, but it was possible, Ostreicher said. In this way war should be banned as a political mean.