Letter to MPs re TPNW meeting of States Parties, Vienna

The text below is an example of what you might wish to write to your MP regarding attendance as observers at the first meeting of the States Parties to the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.

See also
– our news piece on this
– and background information page on the treaty.

Even better than using the text below, write in your own words.

Dear **MP**

Over 21-23 June, the first meeting of the States Parties to the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons will take place in Vienna. ** I am/ we are** disappointed that the United Kingdom has not signed this treaty.

Nuclear weapons continue to threaten the world with war and terror and the international climate is particularly worrying at the moment; it is clear that an implicit threat by Russia to use nuclear weapons has undermined the idea that such weapons are purely for deterrence. Around 12,000 nuclear weapons are in the hands of Russia and three NATO governments (United States, UK and France). Recent events provide a stark reminder of what can go wrong when possessing and relying on nuclear weapons for deterrence: dangerous leaders, miscalculations, escalation, ‘use them or lose them’ pre-emptive strikes. It only takes a hundred Hiroshima-sized bombs to cause nuclear winter and global starvation.

The growing number of countries that are now ratifying the UN Treaty means that there will be increasing opportunities and encouragement to move away from a world that bases security on such threats.

We know that the UK will not be in Vienna as a party to the Treaty, but hope that parliamentarians and Government representatives will attend as observers. As a nuclear armed state and a permanent member of the Security Council, it seems important that the United Kingdom engages with the work arising from the Treaty, as its provisions will have implications across the world.

Item added to cart.
0 items - £0.00