Today is the UN International Day Against Nuclear Tests
Posted: 29th August 2022
Today is the UN International Day Against Nuclear Tests – And a day to fight for justice for our nuclear bomb test veteran
As you may know, today is August 29th is the International Day Against Nuclear Tests.
This day commemorates the closing of the Semipalatinsk Test Site – an inspiring achievement of the people-led movement against nuclear weapons in Kazakhstan – in solidarity with anti-nuclear weapons movements around the world.
Nuclear weapons tests continue to have devastating humanitarian consequences for service personnel and Indigenous communities around the world, and today is an important day to educate others and call for the elimination of nuclear weapons.
It is also a great day to call upon our outgoing Prime Minister Boris Johnson to stand by the pledges he gave when he met members of the British atomic and nuclear test veteran community in Downing Street recently. He promised them recognition and justice, and to look into a special campaign medal to recognise their unique service….
22,000 British service personnel as well as civilian scientists, technicians, and transport personnel participated in 45 atomic and nuclear tests in Western and South Australia, in the Pacific and in the USA. The first was in the Montebello Islands on 3 October 1952. Only around 3,000 servicemen remain alive; many continue to suffer with long-term illness, and many of their offspring have also suffered sickness or disability, most likely as a result of exposure to radiation at these tests.
On this 70th anniversary year its time – long past time – for these veterans to receive fair play and time for Boris Johnson to actually do one honourable thing before he leaves office!!!
Our friends in Labrats International are supporting an open letter which will appear both online and in print in today’s Daily Mirror:
The Nuclear Free Local Authorities, being a partner organisation with Labrats in ICAN (the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons), has been proud to support the Labrats / Mirror ‘Look me in the Eye’ campaign . Indeed we wrote to the Prime Minister earlier this year in support of the veterans and their families.
At that time Councillor David Blackburn, Chair of the NFLA Steering Committee, described the failure of successive UK governments to give recognition to our veterans’ community a ‘criminal injustice’: “For seven decades the test veterans who faithfully served this country and faced an ‘invisible radioactive enemy’ have been ignored – they are all now in their 80s. I have urged the Prime Minister and Minister for Veteran Affairs not to waste a single further moment in awarding these veterans a bespoke service medal and a belated financial compensation package for their suffering. We also wish to see Councils fully funded so can support local veterans and their families.”
So as NFLA Secretary I have signed.
Please help. You can also add your own name or that of your organisation by clicking here:
In this 70th Anniversary year, let’s all work together to ensure these veterans and their families get the recognition and justice they have so long deserved.
Thank you for your support.
Richard Outram,
BA (First Class Hons.), DPS (Distinction),
Principal Policy Officer / UK & Ireland Nuclear Free Local Authorities and Mayors’ for Peace Chapter Secretary,
City Policy, Level 3, Town Hall Extension, Library Walk, Manchester M60 3NY
Mobile: 07583 097793
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.nuclearpolicy.info and http://www.mayorsforpeace.org