 Gil Paterson, a veteran of the anti-Trident movement. HUMAN error with nuclear weapons of mass destruction could be “cataclysmic” for Scotland, MSP Gil Paterson has warned. In a speech in the Scottish Parliament, the Clydebank and Milngavie MSP highlighted how mistakes and miscalculations by Trident’s engineers could cause “untold misery”. He pointed out the cover-up made by the UK Government over last June’s malfunction of the Trident missile system when testing near America. In the speech he blasted Trident scientists as “playing God” and called for Scotland to lead the way in nuclear disarmament. In the chamber, Mr Paterson said: “In the event of human error, the consequences could be cataclysmic. “My constituency, Clydebank and Milngavie, would be utterly eradicated in the event of a detonation – along with the whole of the central belt all the way through to Edinburgh. “The aftermath in such an event would wipe out almost the entire Scottish nation. “It might seem ludicrous, standing here in the Scottish Parliament talking about a nuclear holocaust in Clydebank. But the notion of a thousand bomber raids over Clydebank also seemed eccentric before World War Two. “If there were to be a radiation leak when these weapons are being driven through my constituency, thousands of people would be exposed to it. It would cause untold misery. The point I am making is human error is inevitable. It is just a matter of time. We must surrender these weapons before it is too late.” ENDS Once again we stand in this chamber making the case against nuclear weapons of mass destruction. I am sure we will all agree, for the sake of our small planet that we must find a way to disarm. What these weapons of mass destruction are designed to do is almost unimaginable to us. Bombs we have built to reduce cities to ashes... A missile designed to fly thousands of miles then split into twelve individual warheads… …Each bomb containing enough destructive power to destroy all life in its target and beyond. At supersonic speeds, they tear through the sky in a trail of fire. Scientists call this wicked sight the ‘Fingers of God’. It does seem more like these people are trying to play God. The madness of the Trident nuclear missile programme is beyond comprehension. It is for that reason I do not believe nuclear bombs will ever be used again. It would be mutually assured destruction. But what invokes horror in me is the potential for human error. Just last month we were told of how a Trident missile malfunctioned. A miscalculation caused by its human engineers. History is littered with the mistakes of mankind. When arrogance overtook rationality. When ignorance eclipsed sanity. We should not be so arrogant to presume nuclear weapons will end well. It is unwise to suppose we can contend with such apocalyptic forces. Just a few miles from my constituency, a vast underground arsenal of nuclear warheads is stored. In the event of human error, the consequences could be cataclysmic. My constituency, Clydebank and Milngavie, would be utterly eradicated in the event of a detonation – along with the whole of the central belt all the way through to Edinburgh. The aftermath in such an event would wipe out almost the entire Scottish nation. It might seem ludicrous, standing here in the Scottish Parliament talking about a nuclear holocaust in Clydebank. …But the notion of a thousand bomber raids over Clydebank ALSO seemed eccentric before World War Two. If there were to be a radiation leak when these weapons are being driven through my constituency, thousands of people would be exposed to it. It would cause untold misery. The point I am making is human error is inevitable. It is just a matter of time… We must surrender these weapons before it is too late. All sides need to strive for nuclear disarmament. For the sake of our small planet… Scotland must make her voice heard. We are a nation known for our resistance to the British State’s nuclear programme. A forward-looking and conscientious people who reject these immoral weapons. ENDS |
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