Christians begin march against Trident replacement
-14/09/06
Christians begin march against Trident replacement
-14/09/06
Christians in Scotland have begun a march for peace with other activists, from Faslane naval base to the Scottish Parliament.
Organisers Scotland’s for Peace have called on the UK government not to replace Trident nuclear weapons based near Helensburgh, Argyll and Bute.
The 85-mile Long Walk for Peace aims to reach Edinburgh by Tuesday.
In June, Gordon Brown said he backed replacing Trident, an move which Clare Short listed as one of her reasons for leaving Parliament, today.
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Last year, British church leaders wrote to a national newspaper urging that the Government spell out the conditions under which it might forego a replacement of Trident.
The Rev Alan McDonald, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, and Cardinal Keith Patrick O’Brien, President of the Roman Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Scotland, have already responded to UK Chancellor Gordon Brownís backing for Britainís ‘nuclear deterrent’ by saying that the deployment and use of nuclear arms was theologically and morally wrong.
Alan McDonald, Archbishop Mario Conti and Cardinal Keith O’Brien are all set to take part in the march along the way.
Scotland’s for Peace is a joint initiative by Scottish churches, trades unions and peace organisations, including CND.
Related Searches(UK visitors only)
Gordon Brown
Scottish Churches
Scotland’s for Peace
White Paper
Campaigners will call on the Scottish Parliament to oppose Westminster’s plans to replace or upgrade the Trident nuclear weapons system.
A white paper on the issue will be published before the end of the year.
Rev McDonald, who has attended a number of demonstrations at Faslane over the years, said: “The statistics about Trident are chilling.
“Each Trident submarine can carry the equivalent of 750 Hiroshima atom bombs.
“The potential for the indiscriminate destruction of countless men, women and children is almost beyond belief.
“For me, the issue of nuclear weapons is close to the heart of what it means to be a Christian today.”
The march, which will be covering 15 miles each day, is set to pass through Glasgow on Saturday for a rally from Blythswood Square to George Square.
It is then expected to arrive in Edinburgh on Tuesday.
Isobel Lindsay, convenor of Scotland’s for Peace, said: “On this major issue, whether Gordon Brown or Tony Blair is in 10 Downing Street is irrelevant.
“Both have made a commitment to keep nuclear weapons in Scotland for the next half century, irrespective of the views of the Scottish people.”
Speakers at Saturday’s rally will include Holyrood leader of the Scottish National Party, Nicola Sturgeon MSP and leader of the Scottish Socialist Party Colin Fox MSP.
The walk is supported by 36 MSPs, including Labour, the SNP, the Liberal Democrats, the Green Party, the SSP and Solidarity MSPs.
More information about Scotlandís Long Walk for Peace is available here
Christians begin march against Trident replacement
-14/09/06
Christians in Scotland have begun a march for peace with other activists, from Faslane naval base to the Scottish Parliament.
Organisers Scotland’s for Peace have called on the UK government not to replace Trident nuclear weapons based near Helensburgh, Argyll and Bute.
The 85-mile Long Walk for Peace aims to reach Edinburgh by Tuesday.
In June, Gordon Brown said he backed replacing Trident, an move which Clare Short listed as one of her reasons for leaving Parliament, today.
Related Articles
Last year, British church leaders wrote to a national newspaper urging that the Government spell out the conditions under which it might forego a replacement of Trident.
The Rev Alan McDonald, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, and Cardinal Keith Patrick O’Brien, President of the Roman Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Scotland, have already responded to UK Chancellor Gordon Brownís backing for Britainís ‘nuclear deterrent’ by saying that the deployment and use of nuclear arms was theologically and morally wrong.
Alan McDonald, Archbishop Mario Conti and Cardinal Keith O’Brien are all set to take part in the march along the way.
Scotland’s for Peace is a joint initiative by Scottish churches, trades unions and peace organisations, including CND.
Related Searches(UK visitors only)
Gordon Brown
Scottish Churches
Scotland’s for Peace
White Paper
Campaigners will call on the Scottish Parliament to oppose Westminster’s plans to replace or upgrade the Trident nuclear weapons system.
A white paper on the issue will be published before the end of the year.
Rev McDonald, who has attended a number of demonstrations at Faslane over the years, said: “The statistics about Trident are chilling.
“Each Trident submarine can carry the equivalent of 750 Hiroshima atom bombs.
“The potential for the indiscriminate destruction of countless men, women and children is almost beyond belief.
“For me, the issue of nuclear weapons is close to the heart of what it means to be a Christian today.”
The march, which will be covering 15 miles each day, is set to pass through Glasgow on Saturday for a rally from Blythswood Square to George Square.
It is then expected to arrive in Edinburgh on Tuesday.
Isobel Lindsay, convenor of Scotland’s for Peace, said: “On this major issue, whether Gordon Brown or Tony Blair is in 10 Downing Street is irrelevant.
“Both have made a commitment to keep nuclear weapons in Scotland for the next half century, irrespective of the views of the Scottish people.”
Speakers at Saturday’s rally will include Holyrood leader of the Scottish National Party, Nicola Sturgeon MSP and leader of the Scottish Socialist Party Colin Fox MSP.
The walk is supported by 36 MSPs, including Labour, the SNP, the Liberal Democrats, the Green Party, the SSP and Solidarity MSPs.
More information about Scotlandís Long Walk for Peace is available here