In this season of Advent, a time of preparing for the coming of Christ, whose birth the Gospel tells us was welcomed by Angels singing: “Glory to God in the highest and peace on earth to those of good will.” Our world is far from being a place of peace and goodwill, with wars and conflict in Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan and in many other places.
Below is the text of Law of the Innocents – Lex Innocentium, 21st Century. It was put together by a group of people with long and varied histories of involvement in peace activism, non-violence activism, environmental activism, human rights and welfare and animal rights and welfare.
At this time of preparation for the coming of the Lord the text below can serve as a way for us to reflect on the peace that is at the heart of the Christian message, about how it can be achieved and about the personal commitment it calls for.
Lex Innocentium, 21st Century HEREBY DECLARES that war is a crime against humanity, a crime against the earth and a crime against the future.
In no circumstances will this moral people’s law accept justification for war or military aggression or justification for the preparation for war or justification for the waste of resources on war.
INSPIRED BY ADOMNÁN’S LAW, LEX INNOCENTIUM (697 AD) and its protection of ‘innocent’ non-combatants in war; by other pertinent ancient laws, beliefs, traditions, and religious teachings; by international laws of our own time; by the United Nations Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; and by the hard work, dedication and sacrifices of peace activists and environmental activists down the years and throughout the world, WE, THE SIGNATORIES AND SUBSCRIBERS to this new law, Lex Innocentium, 21st Century, believe that it is now time to launch this people’s law, a moral law, a law of principle, that can be used by individuals and groups to highlight failures of governments around the world to save humanity from the scourge of war; to call governments and international leaders to account for those failures; and to challenge all those who have a vested interest in the instigation, justification and normalization of war. We also believe that, given the nature of modern weapons, it is now time to extend protection from the scourge of war to our Planet Earth and to the Future. WE HEREBY DECREE:
1. That it is wrong, and a crime under this people’s law, to kill, hurt, harm, or take hostage Innocent People in war, military operation or armed conflict, deliberately, consequentially or accidentally (whether a war has been declared or not) OR through siege, lockdown or the cutting off of essential supplies OR through damage to civilian infrastructure.
1.1 For the purpose of this clause, the term ‘innocent people’ will include all non-combatants of all ages and gender; conscientious objectors and those who walk away from war, violence or military operations of any kind; aid workers; journalists and peace activists (all ‘Innocents’ under this law). It is also wrong and a crime under this people’s law to kill, injure or harm the crops, livestock or domestic animals (including household pets) upon which these innocent people rely for food or companionship.
1.2 That Innocents under this law will also include ‘Innocent Witnesses’ – all those who are troubled, offended, distressed or traumatized by the harmful impact of war on their Fellow Human Beings, on the Earth or on the Future, caused without their consent, and caused against their principles, against their feelings of empathy and compassion, and against their wisdom.
1.3 That it is wrong, and a crime under this people’s law, to force individuals to commit acts of violence and aggression against their will, their beliefs or their principles.
1.4 That it is wrong, and a crime under this people’s law, to harm, injure or diminish the heart, soul or spirit of humanity through acts of violence, cruelty and war.
2. That it is wrong, and a crime under this people’s law, to hurt, harm, injure or damage Planet Earth (an ‘Innocent’ under this law), her soil, water or atmosphere or any of her wide and varied ecosystems and living creatures, including humanity; whether deliberately, consequentially or accidentally, through war or aggression, military operation or armed conflict, or through the manufacture, testing, storing or decommissioning* of weapons of any kind, including traditional explosive weapons, chemical weapons, biological weapons, nuclear weapons and weapons yet to be invented.
3. That it is wrong, and a crime under this people’s law, to threaten, put at risk or harm Future Generations of Humanity or the Future Welfare of the Earth, her soil, water or atmosphere or any of her wide and varied ecosystems and living creatures (all ‘Innocents’ under this law), whether deliberately, consequentially or accidentally, through war or aggression, military operation or armed conflict, or through the manufacture, testing, storing or decommissioning* of weapons of any kind, including traditional explosive weapons, chemical weapons, biological weapons, nuclear weapons and weapons yet to be invented.
*While we wish for all weapons to be decommissioned, decommissioning can be extremely toxic. Every care must be taken in the decommissioning of weapons to avoid harm. Given their toxicity, it is better not to make such weapons in the first place.
4. That it is wrong, and a crime under this people’s law, to spend money and resources on war, including the stockpiling of weapons. It is also wrong and a crime under this people’s law for any individual, group, business, manufacturing enterprise, or government to assist, aid, abet or facilitate the harms and injuries listed in this law on the Innocents protected by this law. For the purposes of this law, facilitating will include ignoring and failing to try to end the harm through mediation, negotiation and peaceful means.
5. Given the indefensible nature of modern warfare and the destructive nature of its weaponry, defence can no longer justify engagement in war or military aggression of any kind OR the military industrial complex, including the arms industry and all other associated institutions. In its protections, Lex Innocentium, 21st Century renders modern warfare impossible without breaking this law, and, thus, necessarily rejects the Just War Theory.
THIS LAW THUS DECLARES that War, in any circumstances, (whether declared or not) is a Crime against Humanity, a Crime against the Earth and a Crime against the Future.
To Sign the law Click HERE
See Website: Lex Innocentium 21st Century – A Law of the Innocents for the 21st Century for more.
See video about the background and launch of Lex Innocentium
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