CND's Press Round-Up - 19th May 2021
Posted: 20th May 2021
Please find today’s press round up below. Thank you to all for their continued help and support.
Nuclear Weapons
Further coverage of CND’s new legal opinion on the UK warhead increase, as well as Chinese-U.S. nuclear diplomacy and a new study is announced on the effects of nuclear testing on British veterans.
CND Legal Opinion
The Guardian carries a piece on CND’s new legal opinion. It also reports that Lord Macdonald, the former Permanent Secretary at the Foreign Office, is opposed to the UK warhead increase and believes it is incompatible with the UK’s Non-Proliferation Treaty obligations. He told the House of Lords the other month that the increase ‘is expensive and incompatible with our obligations under the nuclear non-proliferation treaty’. The report notes that, historically, there have been tensions between different parts of the Whitehall machinery on issues surrounding the NPT, with the Foreign Office more concerned about how changes in defence policy could affect Britain’s diplomatic outlook.
The Scotsman also carries a report on the legal opinion and quotes CND General Secretary Kate Hudson.
China-U.S. Diplomacy
The U.S. Disarmament Envoy Robert Wood has claimed China is prevaricating over bilateral nuclear risk reduction talks, according to Reuters. The remarks were made at the UN Conference on Disarmament. Wood compared the Chinese approach unfavourably to the Russian one, with further discussions expected between Presidents Biden and Putin in the near future. The Chinese representative rejected the claims.
Effects of UK Nuclear Testing
The families of British veterans of nuclear testing in the 1950s and 1960s who live in Kent are being asked to take part in a new study examining long-term health impacts, according to local press. Academics based in London and Belfast will focus on the psychological effects of veterans’ participation in the testing programme.
Anti-War
Debate ramps up within the Democrats over a large sale of arms to Israel.
U.S. Arms Sales to Israel
The Washington Post has a report on the Biden administration’s decision to proceed with a $735 million dollar arms deal with Israel, which includes weaponry which can be used against civilians in Gaza. The deal has sparked opposition in some unlikely quarters, with the Democratic Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Gregory Meeks, writing a letter to President Biden asking for the deal to be delayed. Tensions between Biden, who was once chided by Menachem Begin for belligerent rhetoric during the 1982 invasion of Lebanon, and the progressive wing of the Democratic party have increased on the question of the attacks on Gaza.
Nuclear Power
A hearing on the future of Sizewell C continues, with the local council raising doubts.
Nuclear Power-UK
A Planning Inspectorate hearing over the future of parts of the Sizewell C project has been told why the local council is opposed, according to regional BBC coverage. Suffolk Country Council has said it thinks the economic benefits of the project are over-stated and that further work on rail and sea transport options are needed. The developer EDF claims that 25,000 new jobs can be linked to the project. Local people have also objected on the grounds that the construction is likely to have a negative impact on the local environment, including birdlife.
With best wishes,
Michael Muir
Press and Communications Officer
Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament