‘Expensive nuclear weapons making Britain bankrupt’

Posted on September 29, 2018 by petrel41

This video says about itself:

Nicola Sturgeon – Stop Trident (CND)

National UK march and demonstration against the renewal of Trident nuclear weapons, organised by CND and supported by Stop the War Coalition. Trafalgar Square, London, 27th February 2016.

By Peter Lazenby in Britain:

Saturday, September 29, 2018

MoD ‘heading for bankruptcy’ over Trident

THE Ministry of Defence is heading for bankruptcy over its spending on a replacement for the Trident nuclear weapons system, an international campaign group claimed yesterday.

The British American Security Information Council (Basic) has produced a report, Blowing up the Budget: The Cost Risk of Trident to UK Defence, stating the Trident replacement system “will far outstrip the MoD’s allocated budget of £41 billion” and that its total costs is likely to be between £110bn and £114bn.”

The group used the government’s own figures from the National Audit Office and public accounts committee to reach its conclusions.

Report author Toby Fenwick said: “It is regrettable that the government’s Trident cost estimates have consistently been underestimated. The MoD will likely blow its budget given historic decisions and the fall in sterling since Brexit.”

Basic director Paul Ingram said Britain “needs to face up to the harsh realities of Trident renewal.

“Parliamentarians did not vote for renewal with a spending black hole that undermines conventional forces. It is time for an honest debate on cost of Trident and the strategic rationale of the UK’s nuclear forces.”

CND general secretary Kate Hudson said the report highlights “the MoD’s budget crisis.

“It’s high time there was a proper discussion about government spending priorities. There can be no justification for wasting public money on weapons of mass destruction. Housing, education, health and jobs are the people’s priorities, not a redundant cold war status symbol”, she said.

British physicist Stephen Hawking, RIP

Posted on March 14, 2018 by petrel41

This video says about itself:

The Theory of Everything – Official Trailer (Universal Pictures) HD

The Theory of Everything is the story of the most brilliant and celebrated physicist of our time, Stephen Hawking, and Jane Wilde the arts student he fell in love with whilst studying at Cambridge in the 1960s. Little was expected from Stephen Hawking, a bright but shiftless student of cosmology, given just two years to live following the diagnosis of a fatal illness at 21 years of age.

He became galvanized, however, by the love of fellow Cambridge student, Jane Wilde, and he went on to be called the successor to Einstein, as well as a husband and father to their three children. Over the course of their marriage as Stephen’s body collapsed and his academic renown soared, fault lines were exposed that tested the lineaments of their relationship and dramatically altered the course of both of their lives.

From Reuters news agency today:

LONDON (Reuters) – Stephen Hawking, who sought to explain some of the most complicated questions of life while working under the shadow of a likely premature death, has died at 76.

* His children Lucy, Robert and Tim:

“He was a great scientist and an extraordinary man whose work and legacy will live on for many years. His courage and persistence with his brilliance and humor inspired people across the world. He once said: ‘It would not be much of a universe if it wasn’t home to the people you love.’ We will miss him forever.”

* Tim Berners-Lee, the inventor of the World Wide Web:

“We have lost a colossal mind and a wonderful spirit. Rest in peace, Stephen Hawking.”

* Professor Stephen Toope, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge:

“Professor Hawking was a unique individual who will be remembered with warmth and affection not only in Cambridge but all over the world. His exceptional contributions to scientific knowledge and the popularization of science and mathematics have left an indelible legacy. His character was an inspiration to millions. He will be much missed.”

In 2016, a United States American Christian religious fundamentalist threatened to murder Stephen Hawking for not being a religious fundamentalist, but an atheist.

Stephen Hawking campaigned against Tony Blair’s Trident nuclear arms plans; continued by Blair‘s Conservative successors Cameron and May.

Hawking maintained a generally left-wing political stance throughout his life, declaring that the 2003 invasion of Iraq was a “war crime”: here.

This 2014 video is about the book by Stephen Hawking, A Brief History of Time.

This video says about itself:

Memorable scene from Star Trek TNG, Season 6, Episode 26 The Descent (part 1). Lieutenant Commander Data is playing poker with the most famous physics scientists of our recent history, Stephen Hawking, Albert Einstein and Isaac Newton. Simulated on the holo-deck.

TRIBUTES ARE POURING IN FOR LEGENDARY PHYSICIST STEPHEN HAWKING Who died from complications due to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis at the age of 76. [HuffPost]

A brief history of Hawking’s scientific legacy. Professor Stephen Hawking changed the way we understand the universe and leaves a legacy of theory ranging from black holes to the quantum effect on time. By Professor Raymond R. Volkas, University of Melbourne.

Stop British Trident nuclear weapons, peace activists arrested

Posted on July 12, 2017 by petrel41

This video from Scotland says about itself:

Faslane Peace Camp – Fighting Trident

4 March 2009

Faslane Peace Camp in Scotland reached 25 years of age in 2007/08. This film is about the ongoing attempt by one of its longest-serving protesters at ‘civil disobedience.’

By Peter Lazenby in Scotland:

Five activists arrested for Trident base road block

Wednesday 12th July 2017

FIVE peace campaigners were arrested yesterday after blockading the Trident nuclear weapons base at Coulport in Scotland.

The five locked themselves together using concrete blocks and metal tubes at 7am across the access road leading to the base.

Police were forced to use cutting gear to separate them after they blocked the road to the base for two and a half hours.

The action was part of the Trident Ploughshares nuclear disarmament international camp taking place this week near Coulport.

Those arrested included veteran disarmament campaigner Brian Quail, 79, Angie Zelter, 66, a peace and environment campaigner from Knighton in Wales, and Sam Donaldson, 29, a community worker from Hull.

The Spanish campaigners arrested were Women in Black activist Almudena Izquierdo Olmo, 60, from Madrid, and Alternativa Antimilitarista activist Juan Carlos Navarro Diaz, 46, from the Canary Islands.

Last week, the United Nations introduced a Nuclear Ban Treaty in its attempts to halt nuclear weapons proliferation but the British government refused to take part.

Ms Zelter said: “British nuclear weapons are illegal and now there is a United Nations Ban Treaty. It is imperative that all of us get involved in non-violent nuclear disarmament as our government is engaged in state terrorism.”

Ms Izquierdo said: “We demand our government, as part of Nato, sign and ratify the UN Nuclear Weapons Ban Treaty in order to prohibit nuclear weapons from entering foreign military bases and ports in Spain.”

The international protest camp was set up on Saturday, and will remain until July 18. Protesters include a delegation from Finland.

A GOVERNMENT decision to spend £2.5 billion on nuclear-armed submarines was slammed today by local authorities committed against nuclear weapons and nuclear power. Defence Minister Gavin Williamson announced at the BAE dockyard in Barrow that he has signed a £1.5bn contract to build a seventh Astute “hunter-killer” submarine for the Royal Navy. And £960 million worth of contracts have also been signed for the construction for Britain’s four nuclear-armed Trident Dreadnought submarines: here.

Join RMT and CND to put Trident back on the political agenda. With events in the Korean peninsula increasing public awareness of the nuclear threat, it is important we educate our movement on the dangers of ‘us’ possessing these weapons of mass destruction, says PAUL SHAW.

Scrapping Trident nuclear weapons ‘could create thousands of engineering jobs’: here.

Rebutting Tory attack lines: Trident nuclear weapons. With Labour campaigners hitting the campaign trail up and down the country, in the first of a three-part series, IAN SINCLAIR offers some arguments to counter the right-wing anti-Corbyn narrative.

Nicola Sturgeon demands Labour scraps Trident — if they want SNP support: here.

THE Ministry of Defence was accused yesterday of throwing more than £1 billion down the drain after years of delays in repairs to its Trident programme. Anti-war campaigners CND slammed the “inexcusable” overspend: here.

MoD confirms ‘parallel’ US-UK nuclear warhead replacement programme after it was first reported in the US: here.

5% of Trident’s cost could eradicate homelessness, CND days in its alternative budget. The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament highlights the Tories’s the ‘upside-down’ priorities on Budget day: here.

British government covered up nuclear weapons failure

Posted on January 22, 2017 by petrel41

This video from England says about itself:

“Trident is obsolete and too expensive. We are completely against the weapons of mass destruction”

16 March 2016

Momentum at the National Demo in London.

From the Sunday Mirror in Britain:

Failed Trident missile test ‘covered up’ by government before MPs’ decision on nuclear weapons

A Trident II D5 missile may have veered off in the wrong direction off the coast of Florida after it was launched from HMS Vengeance in June last year, according to reports

By Dan Bloom and Courtney Greatrex

23:22, 21 JAN 2017. Updated 08:37, 22 JAN 2017

A failed Trident missile test was allegedly covered up by Downing Street just weeks before MPs were due to vote on its nuclear weapons programme.

A Trident II D5 missile may have veered off in the wrong direction off the coast of Florida after it was launched from HMS Vengeance in June last year, according to reports.

It is believed that the test was intended to be fired 5,600 miles to a sea target off the west coast of Africa.

But the missile suffered an in-flight malfunction after launching out of the water, which is believed to be the reason for it veering off course towards America.

News of the failure prompted a news blackout by Downing Street until this weekend, the Sunday Times reported.

A source told the newspaper: “There was major panic at the highest level of government and the military”.

The House of Commons backed the renewal of the Trident missile system in July 2016 – just a month after the test was covered up.

MPs approved the manufacture of four replacement submarines at an estimated cost of £31bn, with another £10bn for potential overspending.

The decision was slammed by anti-nuclear activists, who said the lifetime cost of the project would be over £100bn and help the deadly weapons proliferate across the world.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has long campaigned against nuclear weapons and Labour was split three ways, with 140 MPs voting for renewing Trident – the official party policy [a leftover from the Tony Blair days] – 47 voting against and 41 abstaining or not turning up.

In all 322 Tory MPs voted for renewing Trident and just one, Crispin Blunt, voted against. Four abstained.

When questioned by the BBC, Mrs [Theresa] May repeatedly refused to say if she knew about the misfire ahead of the vote: here.

The Conservative government’s attempt to cover up the potentially catastrophic failure of a Trident ballistic missile has blown up in its face: here.

British nuclear submarine crew have faced sex, drink and drug allegations. Alleged offences were carried out while serving on nuclear-powered and nuclear-armed subs, including four Vanguards, which carry the Trident missile system: here.

Britain’s expensive nuclear weapons

Posted on November 24, 2016 by petrel41

This 2015 music video from Scotland says about itself:

Keith Meisner – No Thanks Trident

Chorus:

No thank you Trident, Try again
Try peace, Try love, Try Understandin’
Try talking, Try listening friends
No thank you Trident, Try again

Call me anything you like, call me naive
But I’m pretty sure it’s not missiles we need
I’m pretty sure, there will be no true peace
Until all these nuclear programmes cease

Chorus

Try instead of building nuclear bombs,
Try building schools, try hospitals
Try imagining how much there would be to go round
Instead of wasting one hundred billions pounds

Chorus

Scotland’s voice is loud and clear,
Try friendship, try hope over fear
Try compassion, try common sense
Try thinking that peace is the best defence

Chorus

You threaten others you say to stop a threat
That’s the thing that I don’t get
So come gather round people and make a stand
And rid these things from our land

No thanks Trident….

From daily The Morning Star in Britain:

Spend cash on people not Trident, says CND

Thursday 24th November 2016

ANTI-NUCLEAR campaigners launched a report in Parliament ahead of the Autumn Statement yesterday calling for Trident to be scrapped and presenting alternative spending proposals.

The CND’s People Not Trident report claims that £205 billion would be wasted by replacing the nuclear weapons system, money CND says could be spent on “jobs, the NHS, homes, education and climate change.”

CND general secretary Kate Hudson said cuts announced in the Autumn Statement would hit the poorest in society but “over the last few months the government has lauded Trident spending as a sign of the economy’s vitality.

“It’s clear that something has gone very wrong. Are we saying as a society that we can’t afford a safety net for the poor or those on low incomes, but we can afford £205bn on a militarily useless weapon of mass destruction?”

The organisation says that the alternative proposals would “address the real problems society now faces.”

Britain: Queen to be given £370 million to refurbish Buckingham Palace: here.

Scottish bishops against Trident nuclear weapons

Posted on July 13, 2016 by petrel41

This video from England says about itself:

Jeremy Corbyn – Stop Trident (CND)

National UK march and demonstration against the renewal of Trident nuclear weapons, organised by CND and supported by Stop the War Coalition.

Trafalgar Square, London, 27th February 2016.

From daily The Morning Star in Britain:

Bishops speak out against Trident

Wednesday 13th July 2016

CATHOLIC bishops questioned the renewal of Trident yesterday and called on Britain to take “decisive and courageous steps” towards eliminating nuclear weapons.

In a joint statement, eight bishops in Scotland said: “Lives are being lost now because money that could be spent on the needy and the poor is tied up in nuclear arsenals.”

The House of Commons will vote on the matter next week after the government recommended renewing the Trident fleet, which is located at Faslane naval base on the River Clyde.

“The bishops of Scotland have for a long time pointed out the immorality of the use of strategic nuclear weapons due to the indiscriminate destruction of innocent human life that their use would cause.

“The renewal of Trident is questioned not just by those concerned with the morality of nuclear weapons themselves but also by those concerned about the use of scarce financial resources.

“Lives are being lost now because money that could be spent on the needy and the poor is tied up in nuclear arsenals.

“We endorse the words of Pope Francis: ‘Spending on nuclear weapons squanders the wealth of nations’.”

The bishops pointed out that Britain signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty in 1968, which binds those who have nuclear weapons to work towards disposing them.

“Britain should take more decisive and courageous steps to revive that aspect of the treaty and not seek to prolong the status quo,” they added.

Archbishop of Glasgow Philip Tartaglia, Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh Leo Cushley, Bishop of Motherwell Joseph Toal and Bishop of Aberdeen Hugh Gilbert are among the figures which have signed the anti-Trident statement.

This video from London, England is called Tariq Ali – Stop Trident (CND) – Feb. 27th 2016.

By Kate Hudson in Britain:

Theresa May needs to wake up to reality on Trident

Wednesday 13th July 2016

Britain’s WMD are an out-of-date security risk, not fit for the 21st century, writes KATE HUDSON

LAST week, when Theresa May was still just a Tory leadership hopeful, she asserted: “It would be sheer madness to contemplate even for a moment giving up Britain’s independent nuclear deterrent.”

No doubt she thought this made for a good stump speech that would help the votes roll in.

But I — and no doubt countless others — found this extremely alarming, even more so now that May is being confirmed as Prime Minister.

We need more rigorous, up-to-date thinking than this, and at least some evidence that she is willing to make an informed decision rather than a knee-jerk reaction about something that seems — for the political class at least — to be an ideological weapon to be wielded in a completely uninformed way.

She’s got some quick thinking to do, because Parliament is due to vote on this very question of Trident replacement next Monday — July 18. I suggest she and other MPs consider the following points.

The decision to buy Trident was made in the 1980s. Whether to replace it has to be judged by what we need today.

It would be sheer irresponsibility not to contemplate giving up Trident. We need a 21st-century approach to our security needs. Is there any sector where we just unthinkingly carry on with the same old policy?

In fact, May’s own government has twice concluded in its national security strategies that the main threats we face come from terrorism, climate change, pandemics and cyber warfare.

It would be sheer folly to spend £205 billion on a weapons system that does nothing to address these threats and actually puts us at greater risk by making us a target. It would surely be wise to contemplate — even for a moment — spending that money on more useful things.

Let’s spend a moment contemplating the technological viability of Trident, as we hear from experts that the submarine systems will be vulnerable to cyber-attack.

So Trident is not only irrelevant to our needs, it is likely to be rendered obsolete. Former Labour defence secretary Lord Des Browne — who helped Tony Blair push the first step towards Trident replacement through Parliament in 2007 — has pointed out that a cyber-attack could knock out Trident.

And industry experts agreed that “any national public or private infrastructure service or defence facility” could be hacked.

The MoD has rushed to assure us that appropriate safeguards will be made, but the fact is, this is a 20th-century system and it looks and acts like one.

When those subs were first built they were undetectable underwater so enemies never knew where they were.

How can that possibly be the case in the 21st century? Trident is the size of two jumbo jets.

Vast amounts of money are being poured into underwater drone technology and politicians need to make decisions based on these contemporary realities, not just wave these developments aside as if they are in a cold war time warp.

Eventually Trident will be both detectable and targetable. It’s old times technology, and attempts to update it are not going to offset these huge security risks. It would be sheer profligacy to waste British taxpayers’ money on a system with built-in redundancy.

I hope our new Prime Minister will carefully scrutinise the case for and against Trident. Those precious moments contemplating this crucial issue would be well spent, for to replace Trident would be sheer madness.

There is no case where nuclear weapons make us safer or enhance our security. These are weapons of mass destruction, the use — or threat of use — of which is illegal. In 1996 the International Court of Justice advised that: “The threat or use of nuclear weapons would generally be contrary to the rules of international law applicable in armed conflict, and in particular the principles and rules of humanitarian law.”

And it’s not just CND that opposes nuclear weapons. Senior military figures describe Trident as useless and call for it to be scrapped. They want the £205bn or more replacement cost spent on military equipment and troops.

Crispin Blunt, Conservative chair of the foreign affairs select committee and a former army officer, is outspokenly against replacing Trident.

As he points out: “The price required, both from the UK taxpayer and our conventional forces, is now too high to be rational or sensible.”

The debate in Britain has moved on and so has the debate globally. The majority of the world is organised in nuclear weapons-free zones and the overwhelming majority of states back a global nuclear weapons ban treaty.

After all, if there is a nuclear exchange, all countries will be affected, irrespective of whether they are involved in the conflict or not. Rearming Britain with a new nuclear weapons system goes against the trend. It also goes against what is proven to work in complex international and regional conflicts and disputes — painstaking diplomacy and the willingness to go the extra mile for a peaceful solution.

Rearming with nuclear weapons — which is what replacing Trident will be — just makes nuclear war more likely. May needs to get informed about all these elements of the Trident debate. It’s time to choose the rational and sensible option: no Trident replacement.

Kate Hudson is general secretary of CND.

Please join us to protest against Trident replacement during the parliamentary vote on Monday July 18 at 6pm in Parliament Square.

The Guardian: Apologist for nuclear war: here.

British construction workers against nuclear weapons

Posted on May 20, 2016 by petrel41

This video from England says about itself:

Tariq Ali – Stop Trident (CND)

National UK march and demonstration against the renewal of Trident nuclear weapons, organised by CND and supported by Stop the War Coalition.

Trafalgar Square, London, 27th February 2016.

By Conrad Landin in Britain:

Ucatt Conference: Builders back the end of Trident

Friday 20th May 2016

BUILDERS rallied behind Jeremy Corbyn’s opposition to Trident replacement yesterday, branding nuclear weapons a “moral threat to humanity’s survival.”

The union also urged members to join Labour, calling for a campaign to recruit reps in support of Jeremy Corbyn and “a transition to a socialist society here in Britain.”

Glasgow delegate David McGurk branded Trident “a genocidal weapon,” and said Britain was “out of step” with a modern world where the vast majority of countries favour disarmament.

“If Britain replaces Trident, does that make us more of a target for extremists?” he asked.

“But what protection does it give us against cyber attacks? None.” A motion passed unanimously called for both the British and Scottish governments to develop “defence diversification strategies” to ensure “a just transition for communities and those workers whose livelihoods are based in the defence sector.”

Delegates also called on Ucatt’s leaders to “use what influence [they have] to end the backstabbing … against the democratically elected leader.”

Ucatt executive member Andy Jones slammed “so-called rebel MPs” attacking Mr Corbyn, calling on them to “shut up, stop sniping, get behind the leader and remember that it’s the Tory scum that’s the enemy.”

Jamie Bramwell, who represents Ucatt on Labour’s national executive, said reps must take matters into their own hands.

“We need Ucatt members to be Labour Party members, to get involved in their constituency Labour Parties and fight for socialism in our communities,” he said.

Mass anti-nuclear weapons demonstration in London

Posted on February 29, 2016 by petrel41

A section of the 60,000-strong ‘Stop Trident’ demonstration in London on Saturday

From daily News Line in Britain:

Monday, 29 February 2016

60,000 MARCH AGAINST TRIDENT

‘WELFARE not warfare’ chanted protesters from all over the UK on a 60,000-strong Stop Trident march from Marble Arch to a rally in Trafalgar Square on Saturday.

The national demonstration was organised by Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament and was dominated by CND placards and banners with the occasional Unison banner and a lively refugees welcome delegation.

Large numbers of the participants were students and youth. Many trade unionists took part though there were no national union banners on display. The Trafalgar Square rally was addressed by Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn in defiance of opposition to his participation by ex-Labour leader Neil Kinnock and other right wing Labour MPs.

This video says about itself:

Jeremy Corbyn – Stop Trident (CND) – Feb. 27th 2016

27 February 2016

National UK march and demonstration against the renewal of Trident nuclear weapons, organised by CND and supported by Stop the War Coalition.

Trafalgar Square, London, 27th February 2016.

The News Line article continues:

Corbyn told the enthusiastic crowd: ‘Everyone has the right to speak up for peace.’

He said that if a nuclear weapon was used ‘it would cause mass destruction on both sides’. He added that he had pledged: ‘If elected Labour leader I would be committed to replacing Trident not with more nuclear weapons but with jobs and skills.

‘Scrapping Trident is not a reason for jobs to be lost, but to invest in socially useful jobs and skills. I would like to see resources invested and the dividend we get from peace. You don’t achieve peace by planning for war, grabbing others’ resources and attacking human rights. I am here because of my belief in a nuclear-free future. I stand for a world that meets the needs of the poor and hungry.’

First to speak after an introduction by CND leader Kate Hudson was Unison assistant general secretary Roger McKenzie. He said: ‘They are destroying public services and at the same time they want a weapons system that won”t work. They say they can’t find the money for the NHS yet they can find the money for Trident. We need to go out and tell people to tell the government “put money into public services”.’

Moving on to the next speaker Hudson pointed out that renewing Trident will cost £186bn. SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon said: ‘Renewal of Trident is one of the biggest and most important discussions of this parliament.

‘We demand the scrapping of Trident, it’s immoral and also impractical. Trident does not protect us from terrorism. Osborne has warned of more cuts yet has £167bn for financing Trident, money that should be spent on health and education.’

PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka told the rally: ‘Nuclear weapons are immoral. We also know they do not contribute to the defence of this country. I want to address my colleagues in the trade union movement who say that you have to keep Trident to defend jobs. That’s a lie.

‘Defence workers could do socially useful jobs. Why don’t they nationalise the steel industry and build wind turbines? Why don’t we build housing – people would have homes and workers, jobs. Kinnock said people wouldn’t vote for a party that opposed Trident. He’s wrong. Make much more noise, keep fighting.’

NUT general secretary Christine Blower said: ‘I was worried about the future of my children, now I’m worried about the future of my grandchildren. But you can’t just worry, you have to do something about it. There have been two world wars in my lifetime. The 1945ers built the welfare state. That’s where we need to put our resources.’

She added: ‘Say no to nuclear weapons, say no to Trident. To all my colleagues in the trade union movement, don’t worry about jobs, if we weren’t building Trident we would have jobs.’

John Boulton of Veterans for Peace warned: ‘Look at what nuclear war means – it means working people unleashing terror on other working people. The rich who benefit will be safe in their towers.’

Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood said: ‘The world has been and continues to be an unstable and unpredictable place but there are some values that we should hold on to through peace, through war, through instability and unpredictability.

‘It is never acceptable, it is never justifiable to unleash weapons of mass destruction on a population. Nuclear weapons belong in the dustbin of history alongside the Cold War.’

News Line spoke to several demonstrators as the march assembled. London BECTU member Matthew Hurry said: ‘I’m against Trident, the money would be better spent on the NHS and public services. Trident is not an effective deterrent in any case. I’m opposed to all these wars and to the West’s attacks on Middle Eastern countries in the name of democracy and liberty.

‘The trade unions should stand up and take action, they should be in the forefront of all this. I agree they should call a general strike to bring the Tory government down.

‘I’m opposed to any government action that limits the power of trade unions. The unions must take strike action to defend their rights.’

Bill Noble, Unite union retired section, said: ‘I’m here to do my wee bit against Trident. I’m for a general strike. It should have been done a long time ago. My union, Unite, doesn’t do enough. There has to be some action to get rid of this government. I’m thinking of the future.

‘We need a decent living and a decent wage. All these zero hours contracts – get rid of them. The government just want a casualised labour force with no rights. The way to stop all these cuts is to get them out.’

Unite member Axel Martinez, a charity fundraiser, said: ‘The Unite leader should be here today. We all have to stop Trident. As far as I’m concerned, a nuclear deterrent is an out of date concept.

‘The government should be spending money on social programmes like the NHS, not cutting these. Trident promotes more countries having nuclear weapons. A demonstration like today is important to show that many people are opposed to nuclear weapons. The unions should be in solidarity against Trident. I’m all for a general strike to bring the government down and ending capitalism.’

School youth Conal Longden, 16, from Croydon told News Line: ‘I’m here to oppose Trident, all the money that is spent on war, when it could be spent on healthcare and education.

‘And renewing Trident makes worldwide nuclear disarmament less possible. As a young person, you worry for the future with all the wars and conflicts going on. Everybody should take action and speak up for their principles. The Tory government is not working for your average person, specifically young people – it’s just for bankers, with austerity and all that. We should get rid of it. Union action is important.’

Amy Arnold, a graphic designer from Bicester, said: ‘Trident is something I feel really strongly about. I’ve been a lifelong supporter of CND and my parents were involved in CND. There are far better things to spend money on than nuclear weapons.

‘I’m concerned about the NHS, my children’s future, the direction the country is heading. The rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer. I think Jeremy Corbyn is the only one who speaks any sense. The unions should be taking action – a general strike is something that’s got to happen, ideally to bring the Tory government down.’

Bristol student Robert Cogrill: ‘I’m anti-Trident, I really do believe it’s something that should be stopped. The government is spending so much money on weapons they say will never be used when they could be spending that money on healthcare and welfare, just on things that are better for people. I’d like to see them review their decision on Trident.

‘The trade unions should be taking action, everybody should. It’s something that really matters. I’m all for a general strike to put pressure on the government. We’re always being told there’s not enough money to spend on the NHS and yet they’re announcing these massively expensive projects. I’d be for action to bring the government down and go for socialism.’

Gap year student George Penny from Cheltenham, added: ‘I believe Trident is not only morally objectionable but in a time when billions of pounds of austerity cuts are being made, to spend billions on a nuclear weapons system is unacceptable.

‘These billions should be spent on helping people, for example on the NHS. There needs to be political action through parliament and widespread demonstrations and protest actions.’

Dan G a drama student from Surrey, said: ‘We’re here because we want to stand up against the renewal of Trident. It’s about standing up against fear-mongering and the perpetration of conflict.’

Kent University student Dave M said: ‘I’m against the idea that Trident is going to stop terrorism and make this country more secure. I’m for peace – sitting down with countries and talking. The only people who benefit from the renewal of Trident are the companies themselves who produce it.’

Dan G continued: ‘The unions need to organise a general strike. Everyone needs to stand up against Trident and for workers’ rights. If the trade unions organise a general strike that would be effective.’

Bishops Stortford school student Jake Proctor, 16, said: ‘I think £103bn could be better spent than on Trident. It’s really unnecessary. The money could be spent on the NHS on all manner of things like housing and education.”

Fellow school student Austin Moulton, also 16, added: ‘War is never good. I don’t see the point of nuclear deterrents anyway. These weapons are much stronger than the bombs that were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in World War Two. Trident should be scrapped.’

By Zoe Streatfield in Britain:

Sturgeon vows to prioritise ‘immoral’ Trident at election

Monday 29th February 2016

SCOTLAND’S First Minister Nicola Sturgeon vowed to make “immoral” and “impractical” Trident an election issue at the CND demonstration in London on Saturday.

Addressing tens of thousands of peace protesters at the Stop Trident demo in Trafalgar Square, Ms Sturgeon warned that the use of the nuclear weapons system “would bring about human devastation and suffering on an unimaginable scale.”

Ms Sturgeon said that it “is important that while the decision in Parliament is looming, people had the opportunity to make their voice heard” in a peaceful and democratic manner.

Several tens of thousands demonstrated in London Saturday in opposition to the planned renewal of the UK Trident nuclear missile system. The protest was called by the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND). A parliamentary vote on renewing Trident, which is housed on four submarines located in Scotland, is to be held later this year: here.

FORMER defence secretary Lord Browne came out against Trident renewal yesterday, accusing decision-makers of avoiding discussions on security threats posed by the nuclear programme. Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s World at One show, the Labour peer argued that nuclear weapons have been outgrown by other systems, including technologies developed in Britain. His comments came a day after 60,000 people marched in London against Trident: here.

Big anti-nuclear weapons demonstration in London today

Posted on February 27, 2016 by petrel41

This video from Britain says about itself:

15 January 2016

Comedian Jeremy Hardy on why he supports the Stop Trident national demonstration on Saturday 27 February 2016 in London.

By Zoe Streatfield in Britain:

Celebs join activists to block Trident

Saturday 27th January 2016

High-profile figures swell crowds at huge anti-nuke demo

A GROWING number of celebrities and cultural figures have expressed solidarity with crowds marching through London today to call for an end to Trident.

Actors Vanessa Redgrave, Enter Shikari’s Rou Reynolds and comedian Francesca Martinez will address the Trafalgar Square rally, while Massive Attack and hip-hop group Young Fathers have called on their supporters to attend the demo.

Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood, who will address the rally, warned that it is “never, ever justifiable to unleash weapons of mass destruction on any population, under any circumstances.”

Ms Wood branded it a “a disgrace” that billions should be spent on renewing Trident “when foodbank use is at a record high, when the gap between the richest and the poorest is at its widest and when our NHS needs ever greater investment.”

She called on nuclear weapons to be “thrown into the dustbin of history.”

Green MP Caroline Lucas will call for an end to the “outrageously expensive cold war relic,” warning that Trident actually “increases the risks to our safety and security.”

She said that Britain needed no half measures and said that “any suggestion of downgrading our arsenal but keeping the ability to launch weapons of mass destruction simply isn’t good enough.”

Ms Lucas called for “a firm commitment from all anti-Trident politicians to a Britain completely free from the ability to launch nuclear weapons.”

Comedian Jeremy Hardy, who will speak at the event, said: “I’m opposed to Trident because it’s based on this idea of mutually assured destruction.”

He said: “In order to keep us safe you’ve got to be insane enough to use a nuclear weapon and the other person’s got to be insane enough as well. But neither of you have got to be so insane that you actually use it. So you’ve only got to be insane enough to be prepared to use it but not quite insane enough to actually use it.

“And so long as we just keep that balance of insanity absolutely perfect and equal on all sides we’ll be fine. Sounds like a good gamble to me.”

It is believed that the Tories could call a snap-vote on the decision as early as next month, in a bid to block growing anti-nuclear weapons sentiment among the population and within the Labour Party under Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has also been confirmed as a speaker.

TRIDENT whistleblower William McNeilly warned last night that the nuclear weapons system was a “risk to the people and a risk to the land”: here.

JEREMY CORBYN’S decision to address today’s major Stop Trident demonstration in London is the correct call to make. His entire political career has been based on opposition to weapons of mass destruction and it would have been hypocritical and devious were he to dodge the issue now that he is Labour Party leader. Opposition to Trident and all nuclear weapons were at the heart of Corbyn’s election campaign. They are key reasons to explain why he polled 59.5 per cent and romped home in the first round: here.

Vanessa Redgrave Supports Junior Doctors At Rally

London anti-nuclear weapons demonstration this Saturday

Posted on February 24, 2016 by petrel41

This video from Britain says about itself:

Bruce Kent – why I support the #StopTrident demo

7 January 2016

Bruce Kent, CND vice-President, on why he’s supporting the Stop Trident national demonstration on Saturday 27 February 2016 in London.

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By Joana Ramiro in Britain:

Campaigners slam pro-nuke Tories’ blindness to the changing world

Wednesday 24th February 2016

ATOMIC weapons campaigners yesterday condemned the blindness of the pro-Trident Tory government to the dangers of “a changing world.”

The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND), which is holding a national demonstration against Trident in London this Saturday, warned that the £160 billion atomic weapons programme would actually make Britain less safe.

Over 30 MPs joined CND chair Kate Hudson in Parliament to show their opposition to the Tories’ renewal of the Trident programme.

“They are sticking with the same policy they’ve had for decades, without any thought about a changing world. The security threats are different,” she said.

“What Labour is doing is the more sensible and necessary thing you could possibly do — actually have a discussion about whether or not Britain needs nuclear weapons before we go ahead and replace them.”

Labour leader and longtime anti-nuclear campaigner Jeremy Corbyn is expected to attend Saturday’s march alongside the leaders of the SNP, Plaid Cymru and the Green Party.

“I think this demonstration will be different,” Green Brighton Pavilion MP Caroline Lucas told the Star.

“It’s the first time we’ve had a leader of the Labour Party, for example, supporting this kind of initiative for a very long time.

“I think the imminence of the vote in Parliament gives it an extra importance and so I think that people are going to be very mindful that a decision will be made very soon.

“Of course, this whole debate is taking place against the backdrop of austerity and I think that perhaps people who haven’t even thought of Trident and nuclear weapons before will suddenly start to question why we are spending upwards to £160bn over the next 30 years on a weapon that we are being told we will never use and which to my mind is actually going to make us less safe, not more.”

A parliamentary vote on the replacement of Trident’s nuclear-armed submarines is due later this year.