Press Release: 4 day protest fast against Trident with 24 hr a day action in Whitehall Gardens, London

An international (Note 1) 4-day fast (water only) will begin on Thursday 6th August and will take place in the UK (London and Edinburgh), in France (Paris, Dijon-Valduc, Bordeaux-Mégajoule), Germany (Büchel) and in the USA (Livermore Lab, California, Los Alamos, New Mexico, Kansas City, Missouri). We are fasting from August 6th, the anniversary of the nuclear annihilation of Hiroshima, till August 9th, the anniversary of the Nagasaki destruction, to express our total opposition to nuclear weapons, and to call for their abolition.The 9 nuclear states (Note 2) consider they have a right to possess nuclear weapons, whereas 75% of the countries of the world consider they should immediately dismantle them. The recent Review Conference of the Non-Proliferation Treaty at the United Nations in May 2015 highlighted the irreconcilable opposition between these two groups.The current global stockpile of 16,000 nuclear bombs threatens the whole of humanity. Nuclear strikes whether provoked by human folly, error, or by accident, could trigger a nuclear war and lead to the destruction of humankind.The nuclear weapons states assert that they need these bombs for their own security, a claim of extraordinary arrogance in view of the fact that security is a matter for all. The expenditure on nuclear weapons modernisation programs is set to exceed 1,000 billion Euros over the next 10 years, a totally unacceptable figure in the light of the needs of humankind, and of the urgency of positive action for the environment.In 2016, the UK Parliament will vote on the replacement of the Trident nuclear weapons system. If confirmed, replacement will cost over £100 billion of public money, money taken from safe renewable energy, healthcare, education, and environmental protection projects. Trident addresses none of the real threats facing our country, whether terrorism, cyber-security, or climate change. Possession of nuclear weapons is meaningless without the willingness to use them, and use of nuclear weapons, entailing certain destruction of innocent lives on a massive scale, would not only be a war crime but also terrorism on a massive scale. Possession of Trident nuclear weapons already undermines international law, creates fear and insecurity all around the world and threatens us all.

The fasters are demanding the abolition of Trident and certainly not its replacement. The UK is urged to join the majority of nations and support an international treaty to ban all nuclear weapons. We will be joined by French and German citizens outside the Ministry of Defence and will maintain a presence there for 4 days and 3 nights (Note 3).

Angie Zelter, from Trident Ploughshares (Note 4), stated, ‘I am fasting for real security for all. Nuclear weapons must be banned and the world community must work together to tackle climate change. Major political and economic changes must be made if our world is to support life in the future. Our presence outside the Ministry of Defence on this 70th anniversary of the nuclear war crimes committed by the USA in Hiroshima and Nagasaki is a demand for change. Trident must not be renewed’

Marc Morgan, from Haringey CND and “France Sans Armes Nucléaires” stated, ‘The international dimension of the fast is absolutely critical. The folly of nuclear weapons is perpetrated by a small number of rogue nations – and I am ashamed that this includes my two countries (I am dual national French-British); but that folly threatens the whole of humankind, and all citizens everywhere are called upon to protest until it ceases.’

For more information contact: Angie Zelter at <[email protected]> or on 074-565-88943

NOTES

Note 1.
The international network of fasts is supported by the International Campaign for the Abolition of Nuclear Weapons, and by a wide range of organisations worldwide.
The London fast is being organised by Trident Ploughshares, and is Supported by Christian CND, London Women in Black, Action AWE and Quakers.

Note 2.
The 9 nuclear states are: China, France, India, Israel, North Korea, Pakistan, Russia, UK, and USA.

Note 3.
Programme in London is as follows:-

Thursday 6th August 2015
8.15 a.m. Commemoration and vigil at the time of dropping of Hiroshima bomb in Victoria Embankment Gardens, ‘Whitehall Extension’ (by the Ministry of Defence, near Horse Guards Avenue)
SW1. Gather at 8 a.m.
2 – 2.30 p.m. Die-in outside main entrance to Ministry of Defence.
All night vigil from 7p.m. to 7 a.m. next day in in Victoria Embankment Gardens.

Friday 7th August 2015
Peaceful protest outside Westminster Houses of Parliament from 10 a.m.
2 – 2.30 p.m. Die-in outside Houses of Parliament.
Skype meetings with co-fasters across Europe and USA.
All night vigil from 7p.m. to 7 a.m. next day in in Victoria Embankment Gardens.

Saturday 8th August 2015
Peaceful protest outside Downing Street from 10a.m.
2 – 2.30 p.m. Die-in outside Downing St.
Skype meetings with co-fasters across Europe and the USA.
All night vigil from 7p.m. to 7 a.m. next day in in Victoria Embankment Gardens.

Sunday 9th August 2015
11a.m. Nagasaki Lament in Whitehall Gardens.
2 – 2.30 p.m. Die-in outside Ministry of Defence in Whitehall Gardens.

Note 4.
For more information on Trident Ploughshares see www.tridentploughshares.org

Action AWE
….’acting to halt nuclear weapons production at the Atomic Weapons Establishment factories at Aldermaston and Burghfield’…