Trident Debate grows rapidly
Big Trident Debate | 12.10.2006 19:35 | Anti-militarism
The website campaigning to secure a full public and parliamentary debate on the replacement of Britain's nuclear weapons system, Trident has been growing rapidly, today passing the 500 signatories mark.
The Government has said that it would take a decision on this matter before the end of the year and Tony Blair promised the fullest possible debate on the issue. However no steps have been taken to this end.
The Big Trident Debate website - www.bigtridentdebate.org.uk - is the first stage of this campaign and contains a statement on this subject to which individuals and organisations are invited to add their names. Amongst the hundreds signed up are many MPs, MEPs, trade union leaders, bishops and public figures including Benjamin Zephaniah, Mark Thomas and Brian Eno.
Today, signups have passed the 500 mark with many more expected at the CND Conference to be held this weekend at Bradford University.
The website has been facilitated by CND with the single aim of pressing the government to facilitate a full parliamentary and public debate and to provide a public space for debate of the issues.
The full text of the statement which appears on the website is as follows:
We, the undersigned, believe:
The future of the UK's Trident nuclear weapons system is of great national and international importance and will have implications for decades to come. Any decision should only be made after full and informed public and Parliamentary debate.
It is the responsibility of Government to facilitate a thorough, national consultation. This dialogue must inform the decision-making process and take place before the Government makes any decision on the way forward.
The Government must publish comprehensive information and analysis on all the key issues, including nuclear and non-nuclear options, current and future perceived threats to the UK, the deterrent capability of nuclear weapons to address such threats, estimated costs for each option, international obligations and implications for nuclear proliferation.
The Government must allocate sufficient time for a full Parliamentary debate, and the substantive decision on whether or not Britain retains nuclear weapons must be made by Parliament.
For further information on the Big Trident Debate, please visit www.bigtridentdebate.org.uk or ring 0845 094 6058
The Big Trident Debate website - www.bigtridentdebate.org.uk - is the first stage of this campaign and contains a statement on this subject to which individuals and organisations are invited to add their names. Amongst the hundreds signed up are many MPs, MEPs, trade union leaders, bishops and public figures including Benjamin Zephaniah, Mark Thomas and Brian Eno.
Today, signups have passed the 500 mark with many more expected at the CND Conference to be held this weekend at Bradford University.
The website has been facilitated by CND with the single aim of pressing the government to facilitate a full parliamentary and public debate and to provide a public space for debate of the issues.
The full text of the statement which appears on the website is as follows:
We, the undersigned, believe:
The future of the UK's Trident nuclear weapons system is of great national and international importance and will have implications for decades to come. Any decision should only be made after full and informed public and Parliamentary debate.
It is the responsibility of Government to facilitate a thorough, national consultation. This dialogue must inform the decision-making process and take place before the Government makes any decision on the way forward.
The Government must publish comprehensive information and analysis on all the key issues, including nuclear and non-nuclear options, current and future perceived threats to the UK, the deterrent capability of nuclear weapons to address such threats, estimated costs for each option, international obligations and implications for nuclear proliferation.
The Government must allocate sufficient time for a full Parliamentary debate, and the substantive decision on whether or not Britain retains nuclear weapons must be made by Parliament.
For further information on the Big Trident Debate, please visit www.bigtridentdebate.org.uk or ring 0845 094 6058
Big Trident Debate
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