There has never been a better time to build a network of journalists in Scotland opposed to the cynical waste of billions of pounds on Trident – the new generation of weapons of mass destruction. Tens of thousands of people have joined protests against the prospect of Britain’s vile nuclear silos being filled with still more nuclear warheads – a “deterrent” whose only purpose can be to kill millions.
The New Labour-led administration in Edinburgh would prefer we didn’t talk about Trident, or Iraq, or the dawn raids by Home Office snatch squads to deport the families of asylum seekers. They would rather wash their hands of these growing tumours on Scotland’s conscience, saying to voters going to the polls for the Scottish Parliament on May 3 that there is nothing they can do, the war is a matter for Westminster. But the fact is it’s key to the elections.
Media Workers Against the War in believes not is the time for journalists to campaign against the waste of Scotland’s young people, press-ganged by poverty into fighting Blair’s wars.
For me, MWAW is a very simple issue for journalists. It’s an issue of health and safety. Over 170 media workers have died in Iraq, and the toll continues to rise. In many cases – like that of Terry Lloyd – the killings were the direct action of American troops.
MWAW began by campaigning to save Farzad Bazoft, the observer journalist hanged by Saddam Hussein.
Calling for the war to end is directly related to the freedom of journalists to do their job in safety. MWAW can help give journalists the confidence to stand up and speak out.
By Pete Murray, member of the NUJ national executive committee (personal capacity)
