August 6 was Hiroshima Memorial Day. We remember this day every year because of the
thousands of Japanese who died in 1945 when the atomic bomb was dropped. What have
we learned?
Our government is planning to develop a new version of Trident at the cost of £76
billion or more. The cost is not the only reason to oppose the replacement of Trident.
The key question has to be, does it add to our security and defence. Increasingly
the view is no. Retired senior military figures have said that Trident is militarily
useless and should be scrapped.
It remains the case that while we say we need nuclear weapons for our own security
other countries will come to the same conclusion.
The MoD’s plan is for the government to decide on Trident replacement in September
2009 during the parliamentary recess. This would mean that the process would go ahead
without any Parliamentary scrutiny. About 160 MPs have signed an early day motion
660 calling for a debate
Now is the time for the government to act. If it is serious about preventing nuclear
proliferation, it has to lead by example and end its plans for Trident replacement.
Otherwise, we shall help to provide a spiral of nuclear weapons proliferation that
could eventually lead to nuclear war.
______________________________
To make the letter more relevant to the over-60s Dorothy adds: “What has this to
do with pensioners? We have lived under the shadow of nuclear weapons for too long.
What do others think?”. It is signed “Dorothy Forsyth Chair of Eastbourne for Peace
and Liberty”.
PEACE campaign-ers marked the 64th anniversary of the bombing of the Jap-anese city
of Hiro-shima, despite an official event being rained off.
On August 6, 1945, an American B-29 bomber, nick-named Enola Gay, dropped an atomic
bomb on Hiroshima, devastat-ing the city and bring-ing about the begin-ning of the
end of World War Two. An estimated 140,000 people died, either instantly or within
months of the blast.
Every year since the early 1980s, peace campaigners
reminder of the devastation with which the 30,000 nuclear weapons still deployed
threatens the world.
He said, "This year, we live in some hope for the future. President Obama has pledged
to work seriously for the abolition of all nuclear weapons everywhere.
"Many military and political leaders have spoken out for
this, too.
"Here we
are adding our voices, as citizens, to this burgeoning call for freedom from the
nuclear menace"
have gathered at the Hailsham Common Pond to float lighted lanterns in commemoration
of the first atomic bomb being dropped.
But this year, for the first time, heavy rain
made the gathering impossible.
Undeterred, George and Jean Farebrother, of Summerheath Road, Hailsham, took a few
moments the next day to mark the anniversary.
Mr Farebrother, secretary of the Eastbourne for Peace and Liberty group, said Hiroshima
stood as a continuing
Meanwhile, Dorothy Forsyth wrote to the Herald: However, it was published in the
Septem-ber issue of “Mature Times” which has a readership of 500,000
