Nicola Sturgeon speaking at the anti Trident rally. Photo ZR

Warfare v welfare

The speakers at the anti Trident rally organised by CND in Trafalgar Square last weekend made it clear why spending billions of pounds on a weapon of mass destruction would be madness, writes HOT’s Zelly Restorick, who attended the rally. It is illegal to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons; the systems are open to being hacked; it’s not a deterrent against terrorist attacks, nor bio or chemical weaponry; owning them makes us a target and there’s a global movement to make them illegal, joining other weapons of mass destruction, making them a poor investment – and yet, the pressure is on the UK to be Amongst the Big Boys with the Most Up To Date Big Guns, so that we can re-assure ourselves we’re a global Super Power. 

Isn’t it time all these warmongering power people were sectioned under the Mental Health Act? Declared a risk to themselves and others.

At a time of austerity, national debt and of major cuts to spending in many significant areas of our lives, is it senseless to spend such a vast amount of money on nuclear weaponry, when we already have some that are perfectly able to do the job? The job of deterrence. As an alternative to joining the global Purveyors and Procurers of Death and Destruction, why not become a country that is a Beacon of Morality, Ethics, Peace and Wisdom?

Photo ZR

The issue of Pressing The Button was raised: David Cameron says he would. Jeremy Corbyn says he won’t. Irrelevant. The fact is that neither would have the opportunity, as it would be an American military decision and an American finger doing the pressing.

A neighbour said to me that he has concerns about the Russians, as they have an insane leader. I pointed out that within our country and around the world, our leader is also considered insane. Is seen as part of a global terrorist squad of leaders. And just who is stirring my neighbour up about the Russians? Is this opinion based on ones he knows for real in his own life – or the Orwellian propaganda poisoning the world, planting seeds of mistrust and hatred and perpetuating and satisfying a demand for enemies?

I hear talk of this being A Dangerous World that we live in – and I’m aware of the power of the propagators’ messages. Selling fear and terror to the masses with a specific agenda. Surely this is insanity?

If you were given billions of pounds, would you spend it on updating weaponry that is already sufficient, if only needed as a symbolic deterrent? What would you do, if the choice was yours?

Photo ZR

Photo ZR

Photo ZR

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