AN independent Scotland would remove nuclear weapons and should immediately sign and ratify the global treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), say the Scottish Greens.
Saturday August 6 marks 77 years since US forces dropped an atomic bomb on the city of Hiroshima. It was the most destructive bomb ever dropped, killing over 100,000 people.
Three days later a second bomb dropped by US forces devastated Nagasaki, and killed a further 50,000 people.
The TPNW or "nuclear weapons ban treaty" has been signed by 66 nations, including Ireland, since it was passed by the United Nations in 2017.
Scottish Greens external affairs spokesperson, Ross Greer MSP, said: "The horrors inflicted on the people of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were utterly unnecessary to winning the war and must never be repeated.
“It should have been the moment when political leaders said never again to the use of such evil weapons. But there are far more nuclear warheads in the world today than there were in 1945, and they are far, far more devastating in their destructive power.
"For as long as nuclear weapons exist, we are only one error of judgement or irrational act away from a potentially world-ending disaster.
"With both the Tories and Labour committed to spending hundreds of billions of pounds on even more nuclear weapons for the UK, it is clear that the only way we can remove these deadly weapons from our shores is with independence.
"Next year’s referendum will give us the chance to rid ourselves of Britain's arsenal of mass slaughter. I'm proud that the agreement between the Scottish Government and Scottish Greens confirmed our support for the Nuclear Weapons Ban Treaty, which would bring us in line with our nearest neighbours in Ireland.
"Rather than stockpiling evermore deadly weapons of mass obliteration, the best thing that this generation of political leaders can do for peace is to ensure that we finally eliminate nuclear weapons for good."
Memorials are being held across Scotland this weekend in Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow and East Kilbride to commemorate those killed in the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
They are also part of an ongoing protest by CND Scotland in the country which plays host to UK’s nuclear arsenal.
Other events include the premiere of a new film A Guided Tour of the Unacceptable, which is being shown in the Pianodrome at the Old Royal High in Edinburgh on Tueaday at 7.30pm.
Memorial events will be held at: CND Tree, Churchill Avenue, East Kilbride (August 6, 2pm) Marischal College, Aberdeen (August 6, 2pm) Princes Street, Edinburgh (August 6, 5pm) Kelvingrove Park Peace Tree, Glasgow (August 7, 12pm)
