Too often the weapons of destruction are blessed by clergy, inhumane atrocities white-washed by religion or simply the military snuffing out lives commemorated by crosses. The craziness of war seems to be lost on today's generation and the ngo's for peace have evolved into think-tanks funded by wealth and right-wing groups or individuals. In The Netherands we have lost many renowned organizatons with a goal and study towards peace between nations and cultures. Likely with peace at heart, this would be a first step to save planet Earth from destruction by industrial activity and waste.

It's disgraceful that nuclear weapons are being celebrated at Westminster Abbey | The Guardian Opinion |

On 27 October 1962, at the height of the Cuban missile crisis, the US navy dropped depth charges on the Soviet nuclear submarine B-59. With the vessel damaged and cut off from communication with Moscow, its captain, Valentin Savitsky, assumed that the US and USSR were now at war, and thus initiated steps to fire its nuclear torpedo at US forces. Protocol demanded that all three of the senior officers should approve the launch. Although one officer agreed with Savitsky, the other, Vasili Arkhipov, vetoed the decision. The world came within a whisker of thermonuclear war.

The continued proliferation of nuclear weaponry represents one of the greatest threats to humanity's long-term survival. Yet tomorrow Westminster Abbey is hosting a service to "celebrate" 50 years of Britain's "continuous at-sea deterrent" - that is, having a nuclear-armed submarine on constant sea patrol, ready to attack or threaten anyone, anywhere, any time. As part of a series of events led by the Royal Navy, the invitation-only congregation (including Prince William) will be asked to rejoice at this dubious achievement and, somewhat incongruously, to "pray for peace".

Protests and peace vigils are planned to take place outside the abbey during the service, and nearly 200 Anglican clergy have signed a letter calling for it to be cancelled. They point out that in July 2018 the Church of England's General Synod passed a motion declaring that "nuclear weapons, through their indiscriminate and destructive potential, present a distinct category of weaponry that requires Christians to work tirelessly for their elimination across the world".

Despite the most elaborate precautions, it is conceivable that technical malfunc-tion or human failure, a misinterpreted incident or unauthorized action, could trigger a nuclear disaster or nuclear war. -- U.S.-Soviet Accident Measures Agreement, September 1971

○ Nuclear Close Calls - an Overview
○ Close Calls with Nuclear Weapons | Union of Concerned Scientists |
○ Stanislav Petrov: The man who may have saved the world in 1983

Cold War 2.0 is much more dangerous as the two major nuclear powers do not cultivate cultural exchange or have basic high level meetings to avoid a catastrophy. U.S. Congress is a major factor in setting a foreign policy based on war, not peace. The choice for extremists as advisors to the President in the White House is another major risk for war. Trump's first term was mainly to depose of all the gains made by his predecessor Barack Obama, the wordt case scenario will start by a Trump re-election.

'Sapere aude'