Tony Blair British Nuclear Plans a step backward for Humanity

by Professor Dr. Emmanuel Omoh Esiemokhai

	Tony Blair.

Iain Mackenzie's opinion, which was published in The Canada National Newspaper 'online' edition, on April 27, 2007, raised fundamental issues with regards to the desirability of further 'nuclearisation' of our planet. It also casts doubt over the ability of Britain to push the much-heralded Blair initiative on poverty alleviation in Africa, if the proposed nuclear weapons development programme becomes a priority.

Since Mr. Gordon Brown, who is expected to take over from Mr. Blair is in agreement with the proposal, both the New Partnership for African Development programme, NEPAD and the Millennium Development Goal, which aims at halving poverty by 2015, would remain broken dreams.

Countries that would be hit hard by a divestment of financial resources into additional nuclear militarization include those that have no natural resources, and those that suffer from drought, floods and poor geographical terrains. These ravaged countries had been penciled down for assistance under the Blair's former African Initiative of 2005.

Tony Blair started off very well as a leader with fervent concern for social justice and a spokesman for the poor. He doggedly championed the cause for debt relief and obtained good results. He canvassed for the setting up of sound macro-economic framework to propel private sector-led growth in Africa.

Suddenly and curiously, Tony Blair got caught up in the anti-Saddam crusade. He became a major plank that assisted the Bush-Cheney-Rumsfield "coalition of the Willing", to create a NEW CARTHAGE in Iraq under unconscionable pretences, falsehood, and fabrications, now exploded.

The new arms race was stoked by the "axis of evil" speech, which alarmed Iran and North Korea to seek for nuclear energy and technology ownership, arguing, that it is in self-defence. The preponderance and proliferation of nuclear weapons is a cause for global concern.

For Britain to contemplate its own nuclear proposals of such devastating capacity is a cauldron wrapped in an enigma.

On April 27, 2007, the Russian President, Vladimir Putin announced that Russia would consider to pull out of the 1990 European Arms Convention. This Convention had given Europe some measure of security since the collapse of the Soviet Union.

The rather provocative U.S. proposal to build a nuclear shield in Eastern Europe, probably in Poland, which is near to the Russian Federation, is worrisome.

The recent visit to Moscow by the US Defence Secretary, Mr. Gates failed to persuade the Russian authorities about the U.S. Bush administration position.

The testing of nuclear weapons adds negatively to environmental degradation and the spread of toxic waste. Nuclear weapons are expensive, and ensuing military budgets tend to adversely impact on the ability of government to provide social and economic opportunities for their citizens. These lead to the violations of social and other human rights and fundamental freedoms.

The World needs a new Renaissance and Reformation in order to develop the necessary thinking that would kindle a new awareness that would lead to a promotion of the elegance and idealism of the past. Humanism must re-assert itself.

Perhaps, the re-emergence of a bi-polar world, if the Communists win the Russian elections in 2008, could check the excesses of the dominant players in a unipolar world system. Disarmament protesters everywhere should gird their loins for another "conscientization" exercise on a worldwide basis.

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About the author:

Professor Dr. Emmanuel Omoh Esiemokhai, Executive President, OEP Press Agency, Qingdao, China.