Nuclear Weapons Elimination Day – Has it worked?

September 26th, 2013. The United Nations held its first ever high-level meeting on Nuclear Disarmament. After these discussions they declared that 26th September would be commemorated as the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons, or Nuclear Weapons Elimination Day as it is more commonly known.  

First commemorated 10 years ago today, the international day gives countries a chance to raise awareness about the extreme dangers of nuclear weapons and the necessity for their total elimination. 

I got the chance to speak to Janet Fenton, secretary of the Scottish Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament. Fenton explained for me exactly why she and her group believe that Trident and such nuclear deterrents in fact weaken the UK in potential disputes with other nations: 

“It increases the risk of conflicts worsening, reduces the possibility of us being able to offer a credible alternative to policies based on might is right. Potential dispute could be avoided if the UK chose to divest itself of colonial and racist attitudes and recognise that it can contribute to world peace through the technologies and learning from its own mistakes. 

Janet Fenton (left) with SCND chair Lynn Jamieson (right) campaigning during this summer’s general election. Image Credit – Scottish Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament.

As seen by much of the input to disarmament and human rights globally that is the result of Ireland’s input to diplomatic and humanitarian initiatives. (Ireland has a robust legal prohibition of nuclear weapons and shares much culturally and demographically with Scotland.)” 

The Treaty of the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) is an agreement that was signed by 94 countries in 2017, and later entered into force in January 2021. The treaty has since been ratified by 73 nations including Ireland, Mexico, and New Zealand. It is an international agreement that effectively prohibits nuclear weapons with the final goal leading to their complete elimination. 

Scotland does not have the right to sign the TPNW, but it is listed by the SNP as one of the key factors for another independence referendum.  

The Scottish campaigner emphasised how key she believes it is that Scotland should be allowed to sign the TPNW: 

“All the UK’s nuclear weapons are in Scotland; the UK Gov cannot manage to move them elsewhere in the UK so of course we would be safer if Scotland signed the TPNW. It would provide global support for insisting that the UK dismantles and removes their weapons. A double benefit because Scotland in the TPNW could disarm the UK as well.” 

Earlier this year, a poll from YouGov discovered that 53% of Britons believe that World War 3 is likely within the next 5-10 years. Many are worried about what could happen to the world after such a war, with almost 6 in 10 Britons believing that nuclear weapons would likely be used. Only 6% deemed such a thought implausible.

Keir Starmer during his first speech as he was elected the UK’s Prime Minister. Image Credit – Wikimedia Commons

During this summer’s general election, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer stated that his “whole shadow cabinet was behind him” on his plans to maintain the nuclear deterrent. “It is there as a part, a vital part of our defence” the now Prime Minister said. 

When asked what impact Nuclear Weapons Elimination Day has had since it was first commemorated in 2014, Renton highlighted the positive effects she has seen: 

“There is a new realisation that deterrence is a flawed theory that only works till it fails, and we are seeing an exponential increase in states seeing that we need more than just some reduction in the number of weapons. The only safe future lies in complete elimination.” 

“Nuclear weapons are the most inhumane and indiscriminate weapons devised and everyone should have the information needed to understand that.” 

YOUGOV POLL 

https://yougov.co.uk/politics/articles/48527-world-war-3-likely-in-next-5-10-years-think-most-britons