Nuclear weapons crime in the UK has been reported to Thames Valley Police.
Pinning our security on a nuclear deterrent encourages others to do the same
Anti-Trident submarine and missile system protesters outside Faslane submarine base. Photograph: Murdo Macleod for the Observer
The election campaign to date suggests that decommissioning Trident nuclear weapons is a dangerous, minority demand led by the SNP, the Greens and Plaid Cymru. Yet poll after poll reveals that it is in fact a majority popular demand throughout the UK. One poll recently revealed that 81% of 500 general election candidates are opposed to renewal. There are increasingly obvious reasons why we think it’s time to move on from Trident.
Pinning our security on a nuclear deterrent encourages others to do the same. The UK should become the first permanent member of the UN Security Council to give up all its nuclear weapons, transforming the nuclear club from within. Instead of protecting us, hosting nuclear weapons makes us a target for the disaffected. And any accident would lead to a humanitarian disaster. Having nuclear weapons diverts resources and attention from tackling our most urgent security problems, including climate and environmental destruction.
Finally, continuing to invest in nuclear weapons is actively depleting military and other effective defences we might need in the 21st century. We should invest military spending on conflict prevention. By moving on from Trident, we can more effectively serve the needs and the potential of our country and a changing world.
www.moveontrident.org ; Helena Kennedy QC; Young Fathers, Mercury prizewinners; Prof Peter Higgs, 2014 Nobel prize for physics; Vivienne Westwood, designer and activist; Frankie Boyle, comedian; Neal Lawson, Compass; Gabrielle Rifkind, Oxford Research Group; Konnie Huq, presenter; Massive Attack; Sir Michael Atiyah, ex-president of the Royal Society; Marina Cantacuzino, founder of The Forgiveness Project; Jonathon Porritt, Forum for the Future; Robin McAlpine, director, Common Weal; Kamila Shamsie, writer; Lindsey Coulson, actress
Source: The Guardian
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TRIDENT: TIME TO MOVE ON - Will you join?
With the election too close to call, there is a real possibility that May will deliver a centre left government which could open up the way for a truly progressive politics across the UK. Decommissioning Trident nuclear weapons could be a key issue that could still make or break this massive political opportunity.
Compass has launched an ambitious campaign [1] to create the biggest possible call from the public to let politicians of all parties know that decommissioning Trident would be a popular move. Will you sign our petition and join the campaign?
It is time to move on from nuclear weapons. It’s time to move on from an old world order of nations constantly squaring up to each other, comparing nuclear capabilities. Nuclear weapons don’t defend us or make the world safer - they make us a target and are a daily threat to all of us.
Instead of investing in a deterrent that is old, expensive and dangerous, we should be tackling real security threats like climate destruction and investing in safe, economically advantageous, green jobs that offer a sustainable future for everyone. Let’s take the lead, face the future and transform the nuclear club from within. It’s time to move on.
The Mercury Music Prize winning Young Fathers say: “The people that want to renew Trident in 2016: Have a good look in the mirror.” Join them and many others by signing our petition, and following us on Facebook andTwitter.
Help spread the word by tweeting: Nuclear weapons don’t keep us safe they make us a target. Be part of a UK-wide call to #MoveOnTrident. Sign here http://www.moveontrident.org/petition/.
This can be a game-changing general election.
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