“A ceasefire and negotiations are urgently needed. But when the shooting stops, lasting and mutually acceptable solutions will have to be found to the seemingly most intractable problems.”
Labour Outlook speaks to Kate Hudson, Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament.
Labour Outlook: The whole of the world’s eyes are on Ukraine. What are your thoughts on the current situation and the way forward for peace, justice and human rights?
Kate Hudson: We are seeing an ongoing disaster for the people of Ukraine. The death toll as a result of the Russian invasion is mounting and we mourn the loss of all those killed in this unnecessary and illegal war. More fighting and killing is not the way to end this war or to resolve the complex issues underpinning it. A ceasefire and negotiations are urgently needed. But when the shooting stops, lasting and mutually acceptable solutions will have to be found to the seemingly most intractable problems: ensuring the sovereign rights and security of all states; ending the increasing militarisation on all sides – including nuclear weapons; guaranteeing the rights of minorities in multinational states; and the need for a new security framework for Europe which is based on common security, not on ‘might makes right’.
LO: And the dangerous possibility of a nuclear war seems to be increasing?
KH: This is the closest we have ever come to nuclear use since 1945. Previous scenarios during the Cold war – like the Cuban missile crisis – were resolved through dialogue and negotiation, and a solution was found which addressed the security concerns of both sides. Now a hot war is raging and negotiation seems to be derided as a sign of weakness. Of course it is not the political leaders that are dying in Ukraine.
It is ordinary people – as has been widely said recently, the poor suffer most in war. The consequences of nuclear war would be a catastrophe, death for countless millions and a living death for any who survived. One nuke on London would kill millions – and we can be certain that London would be targeted. That’s the reality of having nuclear weapons. They make you a target.
LO: Some Tory backbench MPs are suggesting Britain becomes part of implementing a ‘no fly zone’ – what is your take on this and the dangers it would involve?
KH: A ‘no fly zone’ would lead to direct war between Russia and NATO, because if NATO enforced such a zone it would shoot down Russian planes. That would be war between two nuclear-armed powers and nuclear war would be ever closer as the conflict escalated.
LO: In this context – CND and others globally have called an international day of anti-war action on this Sunday 6 March. Can you tell people a bit more about how and why they can get involved?
KH: Protests are taking place across the world, following a call from peace movements internationally. Details can be found at peaceinukraine.org – please add your own events if they aren’t on there yet.
LO: And finally, why people should join CND at this vital time?
KH: Getting the most powerful possible voice against nuclear war is vital to save humanity. Please join CND – Protest and Survive!
- Kate Hudson is the General Secretary of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND). You can follow her on twitter here. You can also follow the CND on Facebook, Instagram and twitter.
- Join the CND in urging the Prime Minister to work towards ending the conflict in Ukraine.
- You can becoming a member of CND at https://cnduk.org/join/
- Join the global day of action called by the peace movement internationally on Sunday, March 6th.
