As Labour continues to politically shoot itself in the foot, JULIAN VAUGHAN sees its electorate deserting it en masse
This pandemic is only a small taste of nuclear annihilation
In order to ensure a future for ourselves and future generations, we need beat the virus — then go on to build a common security through nuclear disarmament, writes BILL KIDD
Europe is acquiescing in Trump’s manoeuvrings — where Europe takes over the US forever war in Ukraine while Washington gets ready for a future fight with China. And it’s working people who will be left paying the price, says DIANE ABBOTT MP
STEVE WITHERDEN argues for an immediate revoking all UK arms export licences to Israel
With Labour governments either side of the border, the distressing times we live in demand much more collaborative working, argues JESS TURNER
JACKIE OWEN and DYLAN LEWIS-ROWLANDS argue that Welsh Labour conference this weekend is the be-all and end-all moment if Labour wants to avoid a rout at next year’s election
The US’s bid for regime change in the Islamic Republic has become more urgent as it seeks to encircle and contain a resurgent China, writes CARLOS MARTINEZ
ON January 23 this year the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists set the Doomsday Clock to “100 Seconds to Midnight.” That is the closest to planetary disaster our world has ever been and it’s due to the dual threats of climate change and nuclear weapons — policies that are way out of control.
Honestly, if you think that the Covid-19 pandemic has had life-altering impacts on you, your community and the world in general then I have to quote Al Jolson and say: “You aint seen nothing yet.”
The infrastructure of our civilisation still stands around us — and although it’s the truth and one that shouldn’t be understated, that the virus is a real danger — the madness of impending nuclear disaster would take all of our civilisation away.
Further, the cost of these weapons of mass-murder stands, at today’s estimate, at $1 trillion world-wide — think of the achievements that could be made towards the UN’s 23 Sustainable Development Goals, or indeed fighting the coronavirus.
The established route to disarmament would have seen all UN member states, disarmament experts, parliamentarians and civil-society experts meeting at the UN for the 50th Anniversary Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference in April-May 2020 — this has now of course been postponed due to Covid-19 until next year.
Remember the “100 Seconds to Midnight” and potential planetary disaster? Well maybe, just maybe, the nuclear weapons states can hold off on Armageddon for a wee bit longer.
In July 2017 the UN adopted the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, which it called on all states to adhere to as complementary to the NPT as an effective measure as foreseen in Article V1.
This has been opposed by the nuclear-weapons states and their lieutenant states who would rather waste vast sums of money and other resources on maintaining and developing even larger arsenals as well as on an advance of artificial intelligence and cyber-weapons operations.
Covid-19 is a killer virus stalking our communities and I believe it’s been seen that most of us are pulling together to face it down – we need to do the same to face down the existential threat of nuclear weapons already in our midst.
Bill Kidd is constituency MSP for Glasgow Anniesland and co-president of Parliamentarians for Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament.
More from this author
As Labour takes control across Britain, the SNP’s progressive policies have set a benchmark for Starmer in many areas, while nuclear disarmament remains a key issue Labour neglects, writes BILL KIDD MSP
We are going backwards: we now face a new wave of nuclear weapons manufacturing and a new era in the shadow of catastrophic accidents and nuclear war, writes BILL KIDD MSP
I was honoured to play my part as a politician in the international cause of peace at the United Nations this year — but the body is fundamentally undermined by the main nuclear powers and their veto, writes BILL KIDD MSP
BILL KIDD MSP stresses the importance of the SNP’s commitment to unilateral nuclear disarmament in light of growing global tensions and the prospect of Scottish independence
