Did you know that Britain holds one of the largest nuclear arsenals in the world and is planning to squander billions of pounds on even more?
Despite using the lie that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction to justify war on Iraq, hypocritically Britain is itself a nuclear state, and threatened to its Trident nuclear weapons system — capable of killing millions of people — against Iraq.
Trident is approaching the end of its lifespan and, on June 28, Tony Blair confirmed that ‘a decision will be taken in this Parliament…later this year’ on replacing it.
Britain’s nuclear weapons violate international law, make the world a more dangerous place, encourage a nuclear arms race and increase the likelihood of nuclear conflict. They are also a scandalous waste of resources and risks creating an environmental catastrophe.
In the past, supporters of Britain having nuclear weapons argued that they were a necessary deterrent during the Cold War. This is no longer applicable. The Prime Minister has acknowledged that nuclear weapons would be no defence against a terrorist attack.
The government should abolish its nuclear weapons.
There is enormous and growing opposition to replacing Trident. Now is a crucial time for students to join with opponents of nuclear weapons and make our voice clear: no to Trident replacement!
Britain has a massive stockpile of nuclear weapons, using technology leased from the United States. The Trident submarines have 192 nuclear warheads. Each warhead has eight times the explosive power of the atomic bomb dropped by the US on Hiroshima in 1945 which killed around 140,000 people.
Trident is an enormous waste of resources. Even though the government says there is no money for free education, the costs for replacing Trident with a new system are estimated at up to £25 billion, and Trident already costs £1.5bn per year to maintain. Instead, this money could be used for social good, including:
The government is obligated under international law to abandon its nuclear weapons.
Article VI of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty to which Britain is a signatory states: “Each of the Parties to the Treaty undertakes to pursue negotiations in good faith on effective measures relating to cessation of the nuclear arms race at an early date and to nuclear disarmament… and complete disarmament under strict and effective international control”.
In pushing ahead with plans to upgrade its nuclear weapons system, the British government undermines the Non-Proliferation Treaty, and sends a signal to other countries to develop their own nuclear weapons.
There is a deep concern that Britain, alongside the US, is developing new nuclear weapons to use pre-emptively. George Bush has given the go-ahead for the development of a new generation of nuclear weapons designed for use in its current war drive. His administration has also threatened to use its nuclear weapons against a ‘hit list’ of countries. Last year a US government paper said ‘‘integrating conventional and nuclear attacks will ensure the most efficient use of force” again highlighting US intentions to use its nuclear weapons.
The British government has followed the US’ lead. In the build-up to the war on Iraq, the government stated that Iraq ‘can be absolutely confident that in the right conditions we would be willing to use our nuclear weapons’. Recently it has adopted a new policy to use nuclear weapons pre-emptively, even against non-nuclear states and is developing new nuclear weapons at the Atomic Weapons Establishment in Aldermaston, near Reading.
Such actions by the Britain and the US can only encourage other non-nuclear countries to gain their own nuclear capability, starting a nuclear arms race and increasing the risk of nuclear weapons being used in war.
The majority of the British people do not want to spend their money on these weapons of mass destruction. A recent ICM/CND poll showed 59% of the British public oppose a costly replacement of Trident.
There is a danger that Trident replacement could even be given the go-ahead without a proper debate in Parliament. Over 120 MPs have added their name to a parliamentary motion calling for the government to ‘consider all possible options, including non-replacement and calling on the government not to conclude any agreements, or to engage in preparations to build a new generation of nuclear weapons, until after this debate and a deciding vote held in Parliament.’
A number of trade union leaders, including from public sector trade union UNISON, jointly wrote, ‘It is a matter of great concern that the government is contemplating a replacement for Trident… A replacement would contravene our commitment to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and send out the worst possible signal to the rest of the world.’
In a letter to the Guardian, writers including Harold Pinter — 2005 Nobel Prize winner — wrote: ‘We see no legitimate political, military or moral reason for replacing Trident.’
Students have also made their opposition clear. The NUS NEC passed policy calling for no Trident replacement and for the money to be used for social good instead, including investing in higher education.
No to Trident Replacement
This Union notes:
This Union believes:
This Union resolves:
Thousands of students, as in the rest of society, are outraged that a hugely expensive nuclear arsenal may be replaced — and without a proper debate in Parliament. Below are a few things that you can do on your campus to engage students to demand: no to Trident replacement: