More than 100 Christians gathered outside Faslane Naval Base in Scotland yesterday to make a fresh call for a world free of nuclear weapons.
The peace vigil was led by representatives of Scotland’s three largest Christian Churches and other faith groups to mark the 80th anniversary of atomic bombs being dropped on Japan.
It is estimated that 140,000 people in Hiroshima were killed and at least 74,000 people died in Nagasaki in August 1945, leading to the Japanese government surrendering on 2 September of that year, ending the Second World War.
The No To Nuclear Weapons peace gathering was organised by Justice & Peace Scotland. It was led by Most Rev William Nolan, Catholic Archbishop of Glasgow and Bishop-President of Justice & Peace Scotland, Rt Rev Rosie Frew, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, and Most Rev Mark Strange, Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church. Representatives of the Quakers, the Iona Community, the United Reform Church and more than 100 people of faith were also present.
In the last few days, President Trump has ordered two nuclear submarines to move closer to Russia, following a war of words with its former president. Dmitry Medvedev, who warned the country still has 'Soviet-era capabilities' and that any ultimatum from the US is a 'step closer' to war.
Archbishop William Nolan said: “The phrase ‘never again’ gained much currency 80 years ago.
“But the actions of nuclear powers, including our own, run contrary to that.
“As the late Pope Benedict articulated, the very concept of a nuclear deterrence has instead fuelled an arms race as those on opposing sides keep seeking to outdo the other.
“We have seen this in the replacement for Trident. Deterrence itself, therefore, has increased insecurity and does nothing to build up trust which is necessary to encourage disarmament and build up peace.”
The current generation of nuclear warheads – held by nine nations – is understood to be 80 times more powerful than those dropped in Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
HM Naval Base Clyde is home to the Royal Navy's four Vanguard-class submarines – HMS Vanguard, Vengeance, Victorious and Vigilant – which each carry Trident 2 D5 nuclear missiles. They can be fired at targets up to 4,000 miles away.
Rt Rev Frew said: “On the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, it seems right to stand with other Christians saying ‘No’ to nuclear weapons and ‘Yes’ to peace.
“My hope and prayer is to live in a world without war or the threat of war, a world without the threat of the deployment of nuclear weapons.
“The Church of Scotland stands in solidarity with all those who work at Faslane in the service of the United Kingdom, while praying for peace in a world where there is no threat of nuclear weapons ever being used.”