A letter to my MP, delivered via https://www.writetothem.com/. Please feel free to use this as a template to your own MP. Just keep it polite and positive.
Dear ….
I am deeply concerned about developments in nuclear war strategy in the USA, Russia and the UK, all of whom appear to be moving towards allowing the battlefield use of tactical nuclear weapons.
In essence, the thinking is that there should be an intermediate step between a so-called normal or conventional conflict and a global, civilisation-ending exchange of strategic nuclear weapons. It is supposed that smaller, “tactical” nuclear weapons will fill this gap, and it is assumed that they could be used without leading to the catastrophic outcomes associated with the use of strategic weapons.
This assumption is highly problematical. If we use tactical weapons in a battle, they can affect our own forces in several ways. It is almost certain that if we use a tactical weapon, our opponent will use them in retaliation, and this could cause escalation to a global nuclear war. Even if there is no immediate retaliation, if we use a tactical weapon, we can be sure that our opponent would be that much more likely to use such a weapon in future.
A global nuclear war would certainly put an end to human civilisation. Nuclear deterrence is a fallible human system. Therefore it follows with logical certainty that humanity must eliminate nuclear weapons totally, globally, from all sides.
This total elimination can be achieved. The Start Treaty cut numbers of nuclear weapons by more than 50%. We can build upon this success by careful negotiation backed by verification. Progress can be achieved by trust-building, an exhaustive and careful process. Trust-building is not easy, in fact it is extremely difficult, but the alternative, global destruction, would be infinitely more difficult.
The journey of 1000 miles starts with a single step. The required step here is political will, real political determination to eliminate nuclear weapons globally. I am asking if you and your Party is ready to commit to a multilateral process that will lead to world free from the threat of total destruction, and if so, whether we can meet to discuss this incredibly important matter.
Thank you
Best wishes
….
Useful Links
Applying logic to nuclear deterrence
Comparing the costs of military escalation with de-escalation
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