A Safer World – Treating Britain’s harmful dependence on nuclear weapons

Correction Notice : we must apologise for the inclusion of New Zealand as an example of a nuclear-dependent state on page 7 of the initial version of this report. In fact, in 2017 New Zealand celebrates the 30th anniversary of its historic nuclear free legislation

The world now has an international treaty making it illegal for ratifying states to possess any nuclear weapons. Yet the UK continues to keep and modernise its nuclear weapons at huge cost and risk to life, and is increasingly seen as out of step with the rest of the world.

On July 7th 2017 the UN General Assembly adopted, by a vote of 122 to 1, the text of a legally binding ‘instrument’ to prohibit nuclear weapons.

This landmark treaty signals a growing international desire to protect the world from the horrors of a nuclear war.

In A Safer World – Treating Britain’s Harmful Dependence on Nuclear Weapons, we build on the international significance of the Treaty, and re-examine the arguments for and against the UK possession of nuclear weapons.

We argue that the dangers attached to the policy of nuclear deterrence have grown and explain why the high-risk gamble of nuclear weapon states deploying thousands of active nuclear warheads will result in disaster.

If you feel concerned about the threat of nuclear weapons, please share this report, or the associated social media content. This small act will help raise the profile of this hugely important issue.

For hard copies of the report, please contact the office.

Medact represents members of the health community in the UK who want to inspire social change through evidence based information and campaigning. Find out how you can get involved.