Action continues at Faslane Naval base as UK refuses to back down
THE UK has been left isolated from the overwhelming majority of the global community by a UN vote to ban nuclear weapons.
Campaigners were celebrating over the weekend from UN headquarters in New York to Faslane Naval base on the Clyde, where the UK’s Trident weapon’s system is held. The ban Treaty was agreed on Friday (7 July), but activists have pledged to continue the fight in the face of instransigence from the UK and the world’s eight other nuclear armed states.
The nine nuclear weapon states, including the UK and key allies the US, France and Israel, boycotted the talks which led to the ban treaty being endorsed by 122 nations in New York.
Speaking from celebrations at Faslane North Gate [pictured above], Angie Zelter of the protest group Trident Ploughshares said: “TP actions have always been within the law. It is a crime to threaten mass destruction and this treaty stengthens pressure on the UK government to finally obey international law.”
The Scottish celebrations were joined by activsts from France and Spain.
Scots were a constant presence at the UN ban treaty negotiations. Though they were denied a place in the official UK delegation, Scots campaigners and politicians formed an independent civil society delegation to push for a ban.
Activists stressed that the ban treaty breakthrough brought nuclear weapons into line with international law on a range of other weapons of mass destruction. Trident Ploughshares will deploy a series of peaceful actions against Trident at Faslane over the coming week.
The UK Government, in tandem with the administration of US President Donald Trump have consistently argued against the proceedings, arguing instead to maintain the 1970 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, despite it’s failure to halt the spread of nuclear weapons across the planet.
Other nuclear armed states include Pakistan, India, Russia, China and North Korea.
Trident faces more political opposition within the UK than at any time in living memory, with both the SNP and UK Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn opposing renewal of the nuclear weapons system at a cost of an estimated £205bn.
Picture courtesy of Trident Ploughshares, ICAN
Look at how important CommonSpace has become, and how vital it is for the future #SupportAReporter