Disability Justice is a Politic of Peace

As Russia invades Ukraine and the threat of nuclear war looms, Sins Invalid reaffirms that disability justice is a politic of deep respect for our bodyminds, a key underpinning for peace. As such, Disability Justice is also anti-invasion, anti-colonial, anti-imperialist and anti-war. 

Disability Justice understands the collective power we hold in a stance of peace as it honors the integrity of our bodyminds, the interconnectedness of life, and a commitment to each other that is needed to create a world free of violence. 

War disproportionately impacts disabled people

The UN estimates that over 1 billion people in the world have a disability. They also note that disabled people are frequently targeted for violence in active war zones. 

Sanctions will impact disabled people who rely on access to health care supplies and medications. Further, disabled people may be abandoned by their families during evacuation, deprived of water and food, and die because they can’t get away from active combat like the non-disabled can.

This means war is a disability justice issue. 

War creates disability

War–like poverty, COVID-19, racism and so many other social perils–is disabling. 

War creates disability. It does so through bombs that maim limbs. It does so through starvation. It does so through the wide-reaching lasting effects of PTSD. 

War is a mass disabling event. It is meant to disable those it doesn’t kill. This is true for those who cause wars and those who are targeted by war. Disability and disablement are among the consequences of war. 

War, particularly nuclear war, threatens all bodies  

Nuclear war is a threat to all life on earth. It endangers animal and plant life already under attack by human greed. It endangers people who have little say in the decisions our nation states make in our names. 

Nuclear war, like all war, is unconscionable. However, unlike other wars, nuclear war violates the land, sky, and water on an unimaginable scale. Our collective bodies are dependent upon each other to survive. 

Sins Invalid believes that ending the threat of a nuclear war is a top priority and non-negotiable disability justice issue. 

We love you. See you in the (virtual) streets!