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In the heady days of the Cold War, there always seemed to be peace activists chaining themselves to the perimeter fences of airbases or whatever, to protest nuclear weapons.
Now, with Trump and Putin both flexing their nuclear muscles, I would think that people would again be protesting for peace... getting into the press and reminding politicians that nuclear war means complete annihilation of the Earth.
Am I missing something? Or has there been a distinct lack of protest, as the world’s two most powerful leaders start wagging their fingers over the red button?
They are all vegan activists now, it's a bit more trendy these days.
Starting a petition via Facebook and Twitter
People still protest, there's been a permanent peace camp at Faslane since 1982. There's not the numbers there used to be, it's much easier to click submit on an e-petition pr https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/anti-nuclear-campaigners-stage-peaceful-protest-at-faslane-1-4803937
I remember an International Air Tattoo I went to at Greenham Common way back before it moved to Fairford & we were accosted by CND supporters asking why we were supporting weapons of mass destruction etc. My BIL said to one of them, 'have you had a holiday or are you here all the time', she said something like, 'no, I'm a lifelong supporter of CND, this is more important etc etc etc' & he said, 'you should go on a cruise'.
It went right over her head & she kept rabbiting on.
I also remember some CND's getting into RAF Fylingdales some years ago & managing to write the logo on some walls. How they weren't shot I'll never know!
Heh - I’ve a lot to thank them for!
Was a comment my dad made as we past the protesters at Menwith Hill of”bloody lesbians” where I first remember even hearing the word. Little did he know 30 years later that his daughter would be...
Rachel
We have a couple in my local who met at the Faslane protest. One of my housemates is an ex submariner who was based there for a while. They do have a lot of fun reminiscing about the old days.
Starting a petition via Facebook and Twitter
And other social media and online stuff which you could argue is actually far more effective and a better use of your time than chaining yourself to a fence...
It’s easier for the sorts to protest about things from behind their keyboards nowadays ... another victim of Brexit!
And other social media and online stuff which you could argue is actually far more effective and a better use of your time than chaining yourself to a fence…
And less risk of being banged up for years by some reactionary ****wit in a wig.
There was a well established protest outside a base in Wales I went to as an Air Cadet. (Brawdy I think) On a patrol with the MPs in the early evening, we swung past the mess, whereupon I was dispatched out the back of the Landy to go and get the supper for the protesters. Loaded up with a soup canteen and bread, we handed over the soup canteen and made sure they were all OK.
In the heady days of the Cold War, there always seemed to be peace activists chaining themselves to the perimeter fences of airbases or whatever, to protest nuclear weapons.
Did you attend any of those protests yourself?
If not, then I’d suggest you’ve answered your own question. 🤷♂️
About to take the grandkids swimming.....
Protests and movements don't get organized overnight.
This might all come to nothing.
Too many things to protest about these days, Brexit, gammons, global warming, immigration, gluten free lattes, hi his jackets, not enough protesters to go around. Austerity innit (you ain't seen nothing yet, c'mon Brexit).
Anti-nuclear protests are SO 1980’s don’t y’ know.
Yes, I know, but it could be argued that they worked... in the sense that people were generally so horrified by the prospect of nuclear war, it created a sense that reached all the way to governments that we should do something to reduce the risk.
I well remember the optimism and joy brought about by Reagan’s treaty with Gorbachev over the missile reduction.
Now, though, the threat seems more real and immediate because, unlike the old days when Sting could sing “If the Russians love their children too”, and expect that the answer was yes, between Putin and Trump, I doubt there is an ounce of love between them.
Yes, I know, but it could be argued that they worked… in the sense that people were generally so horrified by the prospect of nuclear war, it created a sense that reached all the way to governments that we should do something to reduce the risk.
You seem to have made a leap that governments recognising that nuclear armageddon was a bad thing came from CND, and that CND effectively got that message across from the people camping outside military bases. Given the governments arguments for nukes for at least the last 50 years has always been, "we don't want to use them, we just need to have them so anyone else is too scared to use theirs". I'm not sure why you attribute this breakthrough to protestors, its just possible that Gorbachov, Regan and their advisors were not crazy.
its just possible that Gorbachov, Regan and their advisors were not crazy.
Yes, but now we have Trump...
Yes, but now we have Trump…
And he might well see upsetting some lefty liberals as a good reason to use them!
Now that missiles have replaced bombers (Boeing not Marzocchi) as the weapon of choice for MAD, is Britain still the tactical target of the 60s and 70s? Will we be first to go to dust or do we get to fight out a decade of nuclear winter?
People had more free time to protest in back in the eighties, unemployment is much lower now, benefits are less generous too, also students are under a lot more pressure financially so less able to find time to organize and demonstrate.
Is that not covered by this quote? Seeing as the CND didn't result in Nuclear Disarmament why do it some more?
Given some recent big changes online campaigns have delivered maybe there are as said better avenues to explore.
do we get to fight out a decade of nuclear winter?
After Brexit that might seem like a bit of light relief.
After Brexit that might seem like a bit of light relief.
in 5 years time - Gammon faced fattie on Daily Mail webpage:
"if we survived the 2019 purges and riots we can survive WW3, where's your Brexit spirit? Lets stick it up Mr Putin!"
What I find so troublesome, is that there will only be a nuclear winter if there is someone around to call it that. Looking at some of the materials available that measure and after-effects the use of even just a few nuclear missiles, there won’t be anyone left.
If the fallout doesn’t get us, then the failed crops will.
Maybe that movements evolved into Extinction Rebellion, taking on the holistic approach, globally, from a living room near to me: