Justice for nuclear test veterans: stop the nuclear arms race – CND emergency webinar

On Thursday, the Ministry of Defence released several reports into missing health records sought for years by British nuclear test veterans, which included blood and urine samples taken before and after nuclear detonations.

For the first time publicly, the MoD has admitted that these records have been lost or destroyed. It reiterated previous statements denying that long-term, widespread cases of cancers, miscarriages, birth defects, and serious medical conditions were linked to the soldiers’ exposure to multiple nuclear explosions carried out by the British government. Instead, the report stated the impact of the explosions caused “very localised and just measurable, but radiologically insignificant, fall-out activity.”

Veterans have called these reports a whitewash. On Monday, 20 July, CND will be holding an emergency webinar to discuss this scandal and the need for justice for the nuclear test veterans. In an exclusive interview, CND General Secretary Sophie Bolt will be joined by Alan Owen, a descendent of a nuclear test veteran and co-founder of Labrats International, a campaign group fighting for justice for nuclear test veterans and their families and raising awareness about the global impact of nuclear testing.

Today marks the 81st anniversary of the Trinity test, the world’s first nuclear detonation. Within weeks of the explosion, the US would kill hundreds of thousands by dropping nuclear bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the only time nuclear weapons have been used in war.

Nuclear testing would continue in the decades since, with countries like Britain commencing their own independent nuclear testing programmes. Between 1952 and 1967, over 25,000 British military personnel, scientists, and civilians took part in British nuclear testing at sites located in Australia and islands in the Pacific.

These tests would leave lasting environmental damage, while both the indigenous populations, test veterans, and their descendants – like those who survived Hiroshima and Nagasaki – would go on to suffer from serious multi-generational health complications and illnesses. They rightly believe that exposure to the toxic radioactive fallout caused by the blasts is to blame.

Just as it is vital that we reverse this government’s plans to upgrade and expand its nuclear weapons, it is vital that nuclear test veterans get justice. As the threat of nuclear war grows, and with the risk of political leaders like Trump consider re-starting nuclear testing, it is vital that we end the horror of nuclear weapons for good.

Join us for this exclusive interview with Alan Owen on Monday.

• Monday, 20 July 
• 7:00pm
• Online, register here

All out this Saturday for Palestine!

This Saturday, the Palestine Coalition will be back in London for a major demonstration ahead of Andy Burnham becoming Britain’s new Prime Minister. Last week he sought to row back on the government’s support for Israel’s genocide against Palestinians. However, the situation in Gaza and the rest of Palestine remains catastrophic and the British government needs take more urgent action. With the fragile ceasefire between the US and Iran perilously close to collapse, it is vital that we increase the pressure on our political leaders to support a return to talks and an end to the bombing. 

Join us in calling on the new PM to end Britain’s support for Israel’s attacks on the Palestinian people and their rights and to ensure Britain ends its role in escalating tensions in the Strait of Hormuz.

• Assemble 12 noon, Russell Square
• March route, accessibility information, and end rally location will be posted on our event page once confirmed.