Nuclear Disarmament and Scottish Independence

It is possible to take the view that there is a greater and more urgent threat to the climate than even global warming. This is the threat posed by nuclear weapons. A large-scale nuclear war would lead to a sudden change in climate, called a nuclear winter, which could threaten all life on the planet.

In the last decade, climate scientists have used advanced climate modelling to show that even a small exchange of nuclear weapons, between 50 and 100 Hiroshima-sized bombs, would produce enough soot and smoke to block out sunlight, cool the planet, and produce climate change unprecedented in recorded human history. There is research by the National Centre for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) which suggests that a “limited” nuclear war would also burn a hole through the ozone layer, allowing extreme levels of ultraviolet radiation to reach the Earth’s surface, which would greatly damage agriculture and most likely lead to a global nuclear famine.

There is an international campaign focused on the universal humanitarian imperative to abolish nuclear weapons due to their catastrophic humanitarian and environmental impact.The Second International Conference, attended by 140 Governments from regions across the world, concluded on 15^th February 2014 with the call for a diplomatic process to ban nuclear weapons.

This is a decisive move which gives support to the development of new international standards on nuclear weapons, which are legally binding. This process will be taken forward in Vienna later this year. The UK Government did not participate in this conference and currently it is proposing to continue to base nuclear weapons on the Clyde. However, it is increasingly difficult for UK Government ministers and military leaders to justify the manufacturing, testing and modernising of nuclear weapons in huge numbers as international negotiations to ban them take shape.

There are over 200 nuclear bombs in Scotland. The majority are on board Trident submarines which operate from Faslane and some are stored at Coulport, about 30 miles from Glasgow.

There is a plan for a new fleet of nuclear-armed submarines that would come in to service in 2028, with a new design of nuclear bomb operational in the 2030s and a new missile in place by 2040. There is an expectation that there will be a base in Scotland for a new nuclear weapons system until 2067. This is estimated to cost about £100 billion over the duration of the 50 year programme.

What would happen to these plans for Trident nuclear submarines if Scotland were to become Independent? Scottish Independence would make a difference. A sovereign Scottish government will have the right to insist that nuclear weapons must be removed from Scotland as swiftly as possible.

Greens are calling for the written constitution of a newly independent Scotland to include a ban on nuclear weapons. Because we believe there is no viable alternative site for Trident nuclear submarines in other parts of the UK, Scottish Independence could result in there being no nuclear weapons in Britain.

By reaching agreement on the removal of nuclear weapons and stopping Trident Replacement, Scotland's Independence could help promote the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, and further the goal of achieving a ban on nuclear weapons. By voting Yes and supporting Scottish Independence, we can help to secure a more sustainable, peaceful world.

Signing the Scottish CND "Leave us in Peace" Postcard 

at "A Nuclear Free Scotland is Possible" Rally, George Square, held today.

Useful link:

Scottish CND - www.banthebomb.org