The event has been called by a wide coalition of groups active against nuclear weapons and NATO, and pro-independence campaigns, including Scottish CND, Trident Ploughshares, Stop the War Coalition, Faslane Peace Camp, the Scottish Green Party and the Radical Independence Campaign. In recent weeks, many more have added their names to the list of supporters, with both the Scottish Trade Unions Council and the National Union of Students deciding to officially endorse the event. On 26 April, anti-Trident MSPs are holding a press conference at the Scottish parliament in support of our call for action.
The political situation
As the independence debate continues to rage in Scotland, Trident is getting unparalleled political and media attention. On 20 March, the Scottish parliament debated the issue of calling for Trident removal prior to (and regardless of) the ‘main gate’ replacement decision tabled for debate in Westminster in 2016. The motion, calling for Westminster to begin exploring Trident’s removal was carried by 71 votes to 16, after a lively debate.
While the motion distinctly lacked ‘teeth’, the debate highlighted the commitment of those in Holyrood who oppose Trident, a clear majority, to keep this issue alive as the defining feature of Scotland’s push for self-determination.
Those objecting to the motion, mainly Labour and Conservative Party MSPs, struggled to portray anything other than a dogmatic commitment to multi-lateralism and a global cynicism as justification for opposing disarmament. Jackie Bailie, the Labour MSP for Faslane, was effectively booed for suggesting that the moral issue in question was the impact on the local economy and not weapons of mass destruction.
Predictable objections aside, the majority of speakers gave passionate arguments for Scotland, as the unwilling host to these weapons, to do something about them and much as we would have liked to see an anti-Trident motion with more substance, the whole debate was a far cry from anything likely to be witnessed in Westminster.
Scottish independence
Whilst the Scrap Trident weekend is not pro-independence, the organisers acknowledge the unparalleled opportunity to disarm that independence presents.
We should no longer continue to play host to 200 nuclear warheads and a multitude of nuclear reactors 30 miles from a major city.
For us, this ‘We, the people of Scotland’ argument for disarmament rings true whether we get independence or not, and it is time we stood united against nuclear weapons on the Clyde and the ongoing plans to replace them.
There is a growing feeling in Scotland that we are being presented with a tangible and real chance for disarmament. The politicians are already taking tentative steps but we must mobilise to ensure the anti-Trident will of the Scottish people is present and acknowledged.
What’s happening
We will be marching through Glasgow on Saturday 13 April as a reminder that these weapons keep our cities under constant threat of a nuclear accident.
The march will consist of blocks and speakers representative of the various interest groups and issues connected to Trident (the ‘Scrap Trident, Fund Education!’ block; ‘Scrap Trident, Fund Welfare!’).
On Sunday we will hold meetings on the issues connecting to Trident with anti-cuts, human rights, anti-NATO and independence campaigners, along with direct action training.
On Monday 15 April, we will solidify our message by taking nonviolent direct action to shut down the Faslane naval base, where the daily business is preparing for nuclear war, also marking the Global Day of Action on Military Spending.
Join us in calling for Scotland to lead the way in world nuclear disarmament!
ParaNoIndent