Donald Gann, AFSC
New York, 29 May 1997

The American Friends Service Committee, together with its British partner, the Friends Service Council, accepted the peace prize 50 years ago on behalf of the Religious Society of Friends. That body, the Quakers, has been committed since its founding to the establishment of a world without weapons. Despite that clearly absolutist position, we believe that this goal must inevitably be achieved incrementally. Consequently, we are joining enthusiastically in the initiative of President Arias for a Code of Conduct on weapons transfers. We are committed to developing a grassroots campaign in support of the Code, emphasizing in our educational efforts the linkages among violence in ourselves, violence in our communities and violence among peoples and nations, and their connection in turn to the availability of weapons.

(Remarks by Donald Gann, chairperson of the American Friends Service Committee, at the public signing of the Nobel Peace laureates' International Code of Conduct on Arms Transfers.
New York, Cathedral of Saint John the Divine)

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