Scottish Scrap Trident Coalition
Press Release: 6th October 2017
 
DELIGHT AS NOBEL PEACE PRIZE GOES TO ICAN
Campaigners against nuclear weapons are delighted by the news that the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, the advocacy group that has worked for the new UN Treaty to Prohibit Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), is the winner of this year’s Nobel Prize for Peace.

Trident Ploughshares’ David Mackenzie said:

It is wonderful that ICAN now has global recognition of the work it has done in supporting and resourcing all those who have worked for the TPNW, such as the international network of anti-nuclear campaigners, the far-sighted diplomats, but above all the the Hibakusha, whose first-hand testimony to the the horrifying consequences of these weapons has been a critical element in the establishing the Treaty.

This Award also means that it will now be impossible to ignore the TPNW and the challenge it poses to the nuclear-armed states, including the UK. It is hugely encouraging to us in Scotland, given the popular, parliamentary and govermental rejection of weapons of mass destruction. More than ever we have to see ourselves as part of that normal and majority world that wants nukes eliminated.”

Brian Larkin, of the Edinburgh Peace and Justice Centre, said:

“The award of the Peace Prize will massively boost awareness of the Campaign to Abolish Nucelar Weapons. With the crisis in North Korea, and, the uncertainty of Donald Trump – who has repeatedly threatened the use of nuclear weapons – in the White House, the risk of nuclear war is greater than at any time since the Cold War. It is vital that people everywhere understand the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of any use of nuclear weapon and that the only way to prevent any future their use is to ban them.

But the countries that possess nuclear weapons, and those that want them, will not relinquish them without a fight. The UK should take note, and shift from opposing this treaty and sign it now.”

Arthur West, Chair of Scottish CND, said:

This is a well deserved award to a campaign which does outstanding work in the struggle to rid our world of the evil of nuclear weapons and played a major role in achieving the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, adopted this year with the support of 122 countries. Scottish CND are proud to be a partner of this international campaign and will continue working with them to achieve a nuclear free world.”

Contact: David Mackenzie 07876593016 Arthur West 07826 127759

Notes:

  1. From the Prize Committee’s release:

    The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided to award the Nobel Peace Prize for 2017 to the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN). The organization is receiving the award for its work to draw attention to the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of any use of nuclear weapons and for its ground-breaking efforts to achieve a treaty-based prohibition of such weapons.”

  2. The ICAN website (icanw.org) is currently difficult to access due to understandable additional pressure. Basic information about the TPNW can be found at nuclearban.scot. And also athttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Campaign_to_Abolish_Nuclear_Weapons

  3. There are currently four ICAN partner organisations in Scotland: Scottish CND, UN House, Medact and the Edinburgh Peace and Justice Centre.

  4. Scotland’s First Minister supports the TPNW. From the Parliamentary Business of 28th September:

    Bill Kidd (Glasgow Anniesland) (SNP):

    What engagement does the Scottish Government undertake with the Scottish Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament? What position does it hold on the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, which was recently successfully passed at the United Nations?

    The First Minister (Nicola Sturgeon):

    I support that treaty. I want to see a world free of nuclear weapons and I think that countries such as the United Kingdom should lead by example. Instead of spending tens of billions of pounds on a new generation of Trident nuclear missiles, we should get rid of Trident nuclear missiles from the Clyde. We will continue to support action for unilateral nuclear disarmament because, if countries lead by example, the world will be a safer place in the long term as a result. We will support action on that internationally from the UN and elsewhere, because it is the right thing to do morally, financially and for practical reasons.

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