29 February 2016
“We need welfare, not warfare" was the message of Bournemouth's anti-nuclear demonstrators, which included members of South East Dorset Green Party.
A report and photograph of the event were published in the Bournemouth Echo on Monday 29th February 2016.
As the biggest anti-nuclear demonstration in a generation took place in London at the weekend, the Bournemouth branch of CND staged their own rally.
Tens of people visited the Square to speak to members of the public and hand out leaflets as part of the action, a protest ahead of the potential renewal of Trident.
Sheila Wiggins, of the Dorset People’s Assembly, said the cost of replacing Trident with a new generation of nuclear weapons will reach in excess of £100bn.
“How effective can nuclear weapons be against our new attackers - cyber-crime, terrorism and climate change,” Sheila said. “We need welfare, not warfare.”
Alasdair Keddie, a Green Party activist and campaigner, said: “It saddens me greatly that our country can find £100bn for an outdated weapon of mass destruction, but cannot find money to build social housing, to stop our NHS from being privatised, to build schools and hospitals. There’s always money for war.”
The Bournemouth rally was staged to coincide with action in London. Thousands joined what is thought to be the biggest anti-nuclear demonstration since 1983. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn spoke at the rally in the capital.
Many Green Party members and activists, including Caroline Lucas, took part in the London event.
