Stop Trident 2016

On Saturday 27th February 2016, I took part in the "Stop Trident" March and Rally in London, organised by CND. It was amazing day with 60,000 people taking to the streets to call on the UK Government to cancel Trident Replacement.

Green MP Caroline Lucas at the start of the march at Marble Arch.

On the march, I was handed leaflets focused on promoting a world free of nuclear weapons. There was reference to the call by Pope Francis for an end to nuclear weapons in October, last year: "There is an urgent need to work for a world free of nuclear weapons, in full application of the Non-Proliferation Treaty in letter and spirit with a goal of a complete prohibition of these weapons."  

The marchers were gathered to help take forward this message and called for a decision by the UK Government which stops the renewal of Trident nuclear weapons, later this year.

The march took place from Marble Arch to Trafalgar Square.

There were speakers from across the political spectrum, trade union movement and civic society at the rally in Travalgar Square. I heard the rousing speeches of Leanne Woods, Leader of Plaid Cymru; Nicola Sturgeon, SNP Leader and First Minister of Scotland; and Caroline Lucas, Green MP.

Many of the placards displayed on the march highlighted the importance of current funds allocated for Trident nuclear weapons, an estimated £160 billion, being redirected to invest in local public services, health care, research to fight diseases, education for our young people, retrofitting of existing housing,  new house building, and to develop renewable energy. 

There is a struggle ahead to bring about a change in thinking about nuclear weapons by the UK Government. The only way to ensure that nuclear weapons are never fired is to get rid of them. They do not deter war, conflict or terrorists. The many attacks or atrocities or suicide bombers and so on, in recent years, have not been resolved by possessing nuclear weapons.

In the lead up to the Holyrood Elections 2016, a growing opposition movement will make the case against the use of £160 billion on weapons of mass destruction by the UK Government.

Further information from Scottish CND at: http://www.banthebomb.org/