Nuclear Anniversaries
Fri., June 13, 2008. 12:12.
Nuclear anniversaries to be marked
Protesters at Faslane tomorrow will mark the first anniversary of the first successful Parliamentary vote in Britain against nuclear weapons, and the fortieth anniversary of the first nuclear submarine patrol from Faslane. The protest also comes 50 years after the first Aldermaston march against Britain's weapons programme. (1)
Last year Holyrood backed a Green motion opposing Labour's plans to replace Trident (2), shortly after a majority of Scottish MPs opposed similar plans at Westminster. The protesters tomorrow, including Robin Harper MSP and other supporters of Scottish CND, will make a peace chain around the camp as a show of opposition. (3)
Robin Harper MSP said:
"Almost 50 years ago I took part in the march from Aldermaston, not long after the foundation of CND. We knew then, as we know now, that nuclear weapons are immoral, unusable, and unaffordable.
"So if you'd told me then that Scotland would still be home to weapons of mass destruction in 2008, I would have been profoundly disappointed. However, I am proud to have taken this campaign into the Scottish Parliament and helped deliver a Green motion against Trident, the first successful Parliamentary vote in Britain against nuclear weapons.
"The fight may have been a long one, and we may have many years to go, but I remain absolutely certain that we will see nuclear disarmament, quite possibly starting right here in Scotland."
Notes
1. Robin attended the 1959 march from Aldermaston to London.
2. The Green motion passed last year at Holyrood read as follows:
That the Parliament congratulates the majority of Scottish MPs for voting on 14 March 2007 to reject the replacement of Trident, recognises that decisions on matters of defence are matters within the responsibility of the UK Government and Parliament and calls on the UK Government not to go ahead at this time with the proposal in the White Paper, The Future of the United Kingdom's Nuclear Deterrent.
3. See Scottish CND
Notes from SCND:
Why are we doing this?
40 years ago, 14 June 1968, the first British nuclear patrol - HMS Resolution - sailed from Faslane. The Peace Chain marks this anniversary and is a peaceful protest against the UK Government's plan to build a new nuclear weapon system ('Trident replacement'), which would be at Faslane until 2055. All the nuclear weapons held by the UK are based in Scotland. Opinion polls show that 72% of the Scottish people are against the plan to build a new nuclear weapon system. One year ago, 14 June 2007, the Scottish Parliament voted against it. The new system would cost £75 billion! What else could £75 billion buy? There are better ways to use this money.
Contact the Scottish Greens' press team on 07909 933 074.