ANTI-TRIDENT CONFERENCE TO GATHER AT HOLYROOD

For immediate use: Tuesday 21st September 2010


Attn: NEWSDESKS
POLITICAL CORRESPONDENTS


The campaign against nuclear weapons comes to Holyrood today with a
meeting of the Nuclear weapons Convention in the Scottish Parliament.


The meeting, which marks the Scottish launch of the campaign, will hear
from representatives including former New Zealand disarmament minister
Marion Hobbs and Rebecca Johnson, Vice Chair of the International Campaign
to Abolish Nuclear Weapons.


Shetland Islands Convener Sandy Cluness of the Mayors for Peace campaign
will also take part.


SNP MSP Bill Kidd, who represented Scotland at the Non-proliferation
Treaty Review Conference in New York earlier this year said:


“Today’s event marks the UN “International Day of Peace” and this is a
fitting way to mark it.


“Scotland holds a pivotal place in the world wide discussion over weapons
of mass destruction.


“It is a privilege to co-host this event attended by world renowned
speakers who are bringing their knowledge and expertise on nuclear
disarmament and the global debate to Scotland.


“As the UK Government twists and turns over the replacement of Trident
this meeting is sending out a clear message that nuclear weapons are
morally and economically wrong and that the replacement of Trident not
only risks damaging Scotland’s economy but damaging our role in the
world.”


ENDS


1. The meeting will take place 6pm in Committee Room 1 of the Scottish
Parliament, hosted by the Nuclear Disarmament Cross Party Group.