Today is the first ever International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons.
To commemorate this historic occasion, CND Vice-President and veteran peace activist Bruce Kent took to an unusual spot to raise awareness of the UK’s Trident nuclear weapons system: Lewes Castle.
The 84-year-old stuck his head above the parapet (sorry, we couldn’t resist) at the eleventh century fort to drop a banner reading ‘Cut Trident: not jobs, health, education’, highlighting the £100bn earmarked for Trident replacement.
CND General Secretary Kate Hudson said:
‘We very much welcome this UN initiative, which shows the momentum around the world for finally ridding ourselves of these monstrous weapons. Ban Ki-Moon is absolutely right to say that “nuclear disarmament is one of the greatest legacies we can pass on to future generations.”‘
‘In December, the Austrian Government will host the third ever conference on the Humanitarian Consequences of Nuclear Weapons. It is vital that the British Government participates in this process: with the previous conference in Mexico attended by over 150 countries, this is a debate which the UK can not afford to be absent from.’
Hi-res photos of the Lewes Castle banner drop available on request.