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Trident - What you can do

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Here is a list of action points - things that we can all do to oppose the replacement of Trident and promote a nuclear weapons-free Britain:

  • Parliament will vote on the government's proposals, probably in mid-March.  Therefore, these are the most important and useful things you can do now:
    • Write to / meet with your MP
  • Write to the press
  • Consider taking part in the year-long nonviolent blockade (Faslane 365)
  • Hold a meeting or run a workshop
  • Contact your local interfaith group to discuss the issue

Write to / visit your MP

In March, the House of Commons will probably vote on the government's proposals to retain nuclear weapons after the existing system reaches the end of its working life.

We encourage you to write to your MP as soon as possible, and request a meeting if you are able to organise that.

When writing, 'Trident: Responding to the white paper' may be useful.  Use two or three points from the sheet that you feel are most important/powerful.  You can also give your MP QPSW's submission to the Commons Defence committee inquiry on Trident, included on the site.

You can send a letter to your MP over the internet for free by visiting http://www.writetothem.com/ [offsite link].  You can also find the name of your MP by visiting www.locata.co.uk/commons [offsite link] or by asking atyour local library.  You may find that you receive a standard reply to your letter from your MP.  If that happens and you want to take it further, you could follow it up with another letter raising one or two specific points, which your MP will then have to think about and reply to with a more considered letter.

Try to meet with your MP, preferably in a small delegation from your Meeting or jointly with other churches/faith groups in your area.

It's always important to ask your MP to let you know their own views and to raise your concern with the responsible Minister (the Prime Minister or the Secretary of State for Defence, depending on your query - your MP will decide which).

Ask your MP to sign Early Day Motion 579, which in very moderate language calls for the government to delay the replacement decision until there has been a full public and parliamentary debate:

EDM 579

That this House notes the Prime Minister's statement in the House of 28th June 2006 that the White Paper The Future of the United Kingdom's Nuclear Deterrent would be accompanied by an announcement on the means of consultation for the fullest possible debate; is concerned that there has been no provision made for public consultation; believes that a period of three months is insufficient for a discussion on a decision of this magnitude; and calls on the Government to extend the period of consultation to enable all political parties and other organisations with a legitimate interest to undertake full discussion and consultation which will enable them to present their views and make representations to hon. Members before a debate and vote. 

Also included on the site is a list of key points on Trident. These are meant only as a guide. In order to make your argument more considered, you may like to use the briefing contained in this pack to help focus your argument more specifically.

On the week of the vote

CND will organise an emergency lobby of parliament the week the debate/vote is announced.  Keep an eye on their website http://www.cnduk.org/ [offsite link] or ring them on 020 7700 2393 to keep up to date.

Faslane 365 and Block The Builders

Faslane 365 is a continuous, year-long, nonviolent blockade of the nuclear weapons submarine base in Scotland.  Friends can choose to take part in the sit-down blockade, which may risk arrest, or play a support role on site and join the silent vigil/Meeting for Worship.

Block The Builders is a series of nonviolent blockades and other action centred on the Atomic Weapons Establishment at Aldermaston, where Britain's nuclear warheads are made and maintained.   Visit http://www.blockthebuilders.org.uk/ [offsite link] to find out more.

Ask your MP to sign the parliamentary motions

The new session of Parliament began on 15 November, and all parliamentary motions (Early Day Motions) from the last session were cancelled.  There will be more EDMs about Trident in the new session - ask your MP to sign one or all of them (cite the EDM number when contacting your MP).  To see current EDMs, visit http://edmi.parliament.uk/ [offsite link]

Write to the press

There is a fair amount of press interest in the issue, particularly as nuclear weapons are in the news at the moment with Iran being criticised for its growing nuclear programme.  There is advice about how to work with the media.

You can write letters in response to an article you've read or you can simply submit your own article. You can even write in asking why they've not covered this important issue - especially if they have covered Iran's or North Korea's nuclear ambitions!

Contact your local ecumenical or interfaith group to discuss the issue

Quakers are not the only ones concerned about Britain possessing nuclear weapons.  If you are involved with your local interfaith group, why not raise the issue at your next meeting?  QPSW has been involved with other churches in producing an ecumenical briefing which is helpful in understanding some other Christian perspectives on nuclear weapons and disarmament.  Contact the QPSW Peace and Disarmament programme for a copy.

Hold a meeting or run a workshop

Informing others about the government's plans for the replacement of Trident and the need for action is an important part of the campaign.

Why not hold a meeting to raise awareness and discuss opportunities for action?  You could invite your MP and other faith groups.  You don't need to be an expert to chair a meeting on the issue - there's enough information contained in this pack!  If you feel it is necessary, organisations like CND have speakers available to come and talk to your meeting.

You could also run a workshop on the issue - this is a great way of getting people to think about the issues and to brainstorm ideas for action in your locality. Here are a few tips on holding a workshop on Trident replacement:

  • Keep it simple and don't try to bombard people with too much information.  But do make sure that basic info is available (such as: what Trident is, what is does and why the question of replacement has come up now).
  • Start by getting people to think about what peace and security means to them. Then ask them to think about how this relates to the issue of nuclear weapons.
  • Brainstorm some arguments for and against.  Remember it is just as important to know the arguments for replacing Trident as those against! (You can use the information on this site as a guide.)
  • Close by asking people to consider what can be done in your area to prevent the next generation of British nuclear weapons.
  • If your group would enjoy a more creative activity, why not incorporate a 'making paper cranes' session into the workshop.

Links and Contacts

Contact us at: Peace & Disarmament Programme, Quaker Peace & Social Witness, Friends House, 173 Euston Road, London NW1 2BJ   Email: disarm@quaker.org.uk  Telephone: 020 7663 1067.

There are several other organisations working to prevent the replacement of Trident, many of which have some excellent resources available:   [All offsite links]

Abolition 2000: abolition2000uk.gn.apc.org 
Acronym Institute for Disarmament Diplomacy: http://www.acronym.org.uk/; 020 7503 8857
Aldermaston Womens Peace Camp (AWPC): http://www.aldermaston.net/; 07969 739 812
Atomic Mirror: http://www.atomicmirror.org/; 01799 516189
British American Security & Information Council (BASIC): http://www.basicint.org/; 020 7324 4680
Block the Builders: http://www.blockthebuilders.org.uk/; 07969 739 812
Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND): http://www.cnduk.org/; 020 7700 2393
Christian CND (CCND): www.gn.apc.org/ccnd; 020 7700 4200
Faslane 365: http://www.faslane265.org/; 01263 512049
Greenpeace: http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/; 020 7865 8100
Medact: http://www.medact.org/; 020 7324 4739
Nuclear Information Service (NIS): http://www.nuclearinfo.org/; 023 8055 4434
Oxford Research Group(ORG): http://www.oxfordresearchgroup.org.uk/; 01865 242819
Scientists for Global Responsibility (SGR): http://www.sgr.org.uk/; 07771 883 696
Trident Plougshares:www.tridentploughshares.org; 0845 45 88 366
WMD Awareness Programme: http://www.comeclean.org.uk/; 020 7405 6661
World Court Project: wcp.gn.apc.org; 01323 844 269
World Disarmament Campaign: http://www.world-disarm.org.uk/; 0131 447 4004