ON August 19 this year, ground-breaking UN talks on nuclear disarmament concluded by making a clear recommendation to start negotiations on a treaty banning nuclear weapons. Known as the “Open-Ended Working Group” (OEWG), the talks took place in February, May and August of this year and have outlined elements to be included in a new treaty outlawing nuclear weapons. The majority support for the treaty was clearly underlined by joint statements delivered by many countries.

This breakthrough is result of the new global discourse on nuclear weapons. Bringing together governments, academia and civil society, a series of three conferences have uncovered new evidence about the devastating humanitarian impact of nuclear weapons and the risks of their use, whether accidental or intentional. The momentum generated by the “humanitarian initiative” has now culminated with the international community on the verge of negotiating a nuclear weapons ban. Many prominent global figures - the Pope, the Dalai Lama, Ban Ki Moon, Henry Kissinger, George Shultz, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Martin Sheen et al support this initiative.

Naturally, the nine rogue nuclear states oppose any such treaty. They want to continue playing Russian roulette with the planet, as if they and they alone had a divine right to arm themselves with weapons forever forbidden to the rest of humanity.

In this impasse Scotland plays a crucial role. An independent Scotland with a constitution banning nuclear weapons from our land and waters will break the nuclear cabal. Since Trident cannot operate from anywhere else in the UK other than the Coulport/Faslane complex, a nuclear-free Scotland means no Trident in Britain.

Either we have a future without nuclear weapons, or we have no future at all. By showing that escape from the nuclear nightmare is possible, Scotland can offer hope to the rest of the world. This places enormous moral responsibility on us. Do we have the imagination and courage to make the right choice?

Brian M Quail,

2 Hyndland Avenue, Glasgow.