Peter Leary
Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND), the UK
Chairpersons, conference
It is a great honour for me to have the opportunity to address you
today. Being here in the place where humanities destructive power
was so starkly demonstrated 59 years ago today has filled me with
the inspiration to redouble my efforts to strive for a future in
which we all can live free from the scourge of nuclear weapons and
war. Inspired by what I can only describe as the miracle of Hiroshima,
transforming the site of one of the most wicked events in human
history into a beacon of peace and of hope. Inspired by the determination
of the hibakusha to keep their memories alive lest history be forced
to repeat the mistakes it has forgotten. And above all inspired
by so many young and old gathered here in the name of peace.
And yet today we look out upon a frightening and uncertain future.
The United States and its allies, particularly Britain, remain committed
to a project which can only lead to war after war and ultimately
to nuclear war, the consequences of which this city knows only too
well. The ongoing occupation of Iraq reminds us daily of the true
nature of human conflict and reveals before the world the lies and
hypocrisy of those governments who have lead their people there.
It is difficult to imagine anything more ironic than their claim
to be protecting the world from weapons of mass destruction. While
no weapons of mass destruction have been found in Iraq we know that
those who point the finger of accusation at others do so in order
that they may hide their own guilt.
Those of us working in belligerent countries such as Britain understand
only too well the responsibility we face. The responsibility to
stand firm in opposition to our government for the sake of those
whose lives they would extinguish in our names. We have heard much
about the danger that the current Bush administration poses but
we in Britain understand with every step it takes our government
has a critical role to play.
The plan to develop National Missile Defense, previously banned
under the ABM treaty because the ability to use nuclear weapons
with impunity can only serve to accelerate the use of such weapons,
requires the use of bases in Britain which are already being upgraded
for this purpose.
Britain, along with the US is developing new tactical, mini-nukes,
not to bust mythical bunkers, but to make more palatable the use
of nuclear weapons on a sliding scale which stretches from depleted
uranium to all out nuclear war. Britain stands shoulder to shoulder
as a willing, albeit, junior partner in the project for a new American
century filled with more violence and greater injustice. Along with
the US Britain continues to turn a blind eye to Israel, the only
state in the Middle East which we know posses nuclear weapons due
to the courage and bravery of Mordichi Vanunu hero of our movement,
true weapons inspector, imprisoned for eighteen years for the crime
of truth. And above all like all nuclear states Britain refuses
to honour its commitments under the non-proliferation treaty to
abolish its nuclear arsenal.
It is indeed a heavy responsibility that rests upon our shoulders
but one which I pledge to you we are committed to fulfill. And we
will. There is a law of physics as true as those which enabled them
to predict the consequences of splitting an atom, that every action
has an equal and opposite reaction. The events of recent years have
provoked a reaction which if harnessed will prove unstoppable, millions
across the world many for the first time are asking questions they
never thought or dared to ask before, a whole generation of young
people have awoken and will never again believe the lies or fail
to understand the motives for war. Here today we are but a drop
in an ocean, part of a global peace movement better placed than
ever before to challenge a system based on inequality and the war
to which it leads. Together we can, we will and we must begin to
build a new society with peace as its foundation and with justice
as its law. Thank you.
|
