Ahead of the United Nations Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference in New York, Green MEP Jean Lambert will speak and participate in a number of anti-nuclear events in the city, and will take part in sessions relating to the main UN conference.

Speaking at a workshop entitled ‘Disarm Now: Breaking the Cycle of War and Nuclear Weapons!’ organised by CND as part of the Peace and Planet conference in New York on Saturday, April 25th she will say:

‘Trident is not only eye-wateringly costly it is a relic.  Nobody can think we would actually deploy a nuclear weapon, the world has changed. In the UK where people are using food banks it is surely long over-due to admit the simple truth: the money is better used elsewhere, almost anywhere else.

‘Continuing to maintain that weapons of mass destruction are necessary ignores peaceful and constructive investments. Investments like securing our energy needs through renewable energy, or the provision of zero-carbon housing.

‘We can develop high-quality jobs through ensuring a living wage, decent working hours, protection against unfair dismissal and so many other initiatives that the UK government considers unnecessary.

‘It is 2015 and in the UK we are entering the final days of an election campaign that sees other national parties out-doing each other to show macho support for Trident. It is depressing but more than that is symptomatic of a broken system. Across the world Greens continue to stand up for humanity and for that profoundly important but invisible thing to other politicians – the very future of our planet. The UK coalition government say that they can give an assurance that the UK will not use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear weapon states parties to the NPT that are compliant with the treaty.

‘There is currently no direct threat to the UK that could ever be neutralised through deploying a nuclear weapon, it is an insanity and one that must stop if we want, and we of course do want, a just and sustainable peaceful world.’

Jean also spoke at another workshop and addressed a rally in Manhattan.

75% of Labour candidates polled oppose Trident, it’s clear that internal pressure on the Labour leadership is weak – with more Green voices to support progressive policies and end support for ideas from a different age, this country can invest in what matters, where it matters: schools, hospitals and housing – not waste 100 billion pounds on a relic.

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Dear Editor,

Re: ‘Tories snub Lib Dems over Trident’

The government claims a replacement for Trident is necessary for the creation of high-quality jobs and vital skills. This is profoundly depressing.

To believe we have to invest in weapons of destruction is to totally ignore more peaceful and constructive investments, such as securing our energy needs through renewable energy or providing zero-carbon housing, hospitals and schools. We can develop high-quality jobs through ensuring a living wage, decent working hours, protection against unfair dismissal and so many other initiatives that this government considers unnecessary.

Jean Lambert MEP
Green, London

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/oct/30/more-reasons-defend-indefensible

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The blockade is part of Faslane 365, a continuous year long peaceful demonstration, drawing attention to the dangerous insecurity of Britain’s nuclear weapons of mass destruction calling for them to be disarmed.

Jean Lambert, who has continued to campaign against nuclear weapons for years, today said that the Government’s plan to spend at least £25 billion on renewing the nuclear weapons system demonstrated a lack of concern for the immediate problems the world faces today.

Jean commented; “Trident, and the continued debate over nuclear weapons, is a total diversion from the world’s real security needs: tackling climate change, widespread illness or disease and access to clean water.

“The UK Government can not claim that they want to protect the planet and then make preparations to blow it up at the same time.

“How can the UK warn other countries against nuclear weapons whilst we continue on this path of destruction ourselves. On grounds of legality, diplomacy and politics, such double standards are not acceptable.

“The legality, morality and cost of keeping nuclear weapons in the UK is unjustified and Greens simply can not support the replacement of Trident.  A future of nuclear warheads, with the ability to deliver around 8 times the destructive power of the Hiroshima bomb, is not one that offer us real security. If Tony Blair truly wants to lead the way to a positive future he must end Trident today.”

ENDS

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Jean Lambert, who has continued to campaign against nuclear weapons for years, today said that the Government’s plan to spend at least £25 billion on renewing the nuclear weapons system demonstrated a lack of concern for the immediate problems the world faces today.

Jean commented; “The replacement of Trident is a total diversion from the world’s real security needs: tackling climate change, widespread illness and disease and access to clean water.

“The UK Government can not claim that they want to protect the planet and then make preparations to blow it up at the same time.

“How can the UK warn other countries against nuclear weapons whilst we continue on this path of destruction ourselves. On grounds of legality, diplomacy and politics, such double standards are not acceptable.

“The legality, morality and cost of keeping nuclear weapons in the UK is unjustified and we simply can not support the replacement of Trident.  A future of nuclear warheads, with the ability to deliver around 8 times the destructive power of the Hiroshima bomb, is not one that offer us real security.  I hope this afternoons vote reflects the opinions we have seen so passionately demonstrated on the House of Commons over the past few days.”

ENDS

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Jean Lambert, who is Green MEP for London, has continued to campaign against the renewal of Trident in the UK and today said that the effects of a world free of nuclear weapons and the social benefits such a move would bring could not be underestimated.

Jean warned; “The inherent contradiction between the UK Government’s message telling us how we should be saving the planet and their plans to blow the planet up, is a stark contrast that calls us to question their commitment to tackling climate change and protecting the planet for future generations.

“Renewing the UK’s nuclear weapons will not only threaten our safety and security but will make it extremely difficult to tell other countries not to use and ultimately get rid of nuclear weapons.  We need universal nuclear disarmament, which stops any debate about a replacement of trident altogether.”

Although the Government has agreed to reduce the amount of nuclear weapons held by the UK, the move has simply been seen as a gesture to critics and does not ‘persuade’ others that holding nuclear weapons is the correct and safe decision for the UK or the rest of the world.

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