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Campaigners welcome ‘game-changing’ UN treaty banning nuclear weapons

ANTI-NUKE campaigners will welcome the “game-changing” UN treaty banning nuclear weapons when it comes into force on Friday.

Non-violent direct action group Trident Ploughshares will celebrate the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons with banner drops, billboards and projections on buildings, and bell-ringing on their doorsteps and in town centres.

Similar actions will take place across the globe.

Activists are keeping the pressure on all nine nuclear weapon states, including Britain, after they refused to sign and ratify the treaty.

In Edinburgh, messages will be projected on city centre buildings alongside billboards announcing: “UN outlaws nuclear weapons. Time for a clean break.”

One will ask “What about Scotland?” and depict First Minister Nicola Sturgeon alongside her words: “No ifs, no buts, no nuclear weapons on the Clyde, or anywhere.” 

The treaty was adopted at the UN in July 2017 with the support of 122 member states.

Honduras gave support for it on October 24 last year, allowing the treaty to reach the 50 ratifications needed for it to become international law after 90 days.

Trident Ploughshares founder Angie Zelter said: “We have argued many times in court that nuclear weapons are immoral and illegal because any use of these terrible weapons would cause a humanitarian and environmental catastrophe.

“The entry into force of the ban treaty signals a massive change globally. Recognising that nuclear weapons are one of the greatest threats to humanity, the countries of the United Nations have outlawed them.”

“The UK must now take heed,” Ms Zelter said. “It should immediately take Trident off patrol, sign up to the treaty, disarm the warheads and put the freed-up resources into tackling the other existential crisis — climate change.”

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