Letter: Open UK's nuclear test files
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.DAVID USBORNE'S shocking report ('US opens its ghoulish Cold War closet', 16 January) on United States radiation experiments underlines the continuing need for anti- nuclear vigilance.
Hazel O'Leary, the US Energy Secretary, is to be congratulated for opening her department's files, thus revealing some of the horrifying skeletons in her country's nuclear cupboard. The US is not alone in putting nuclear technology before human beings and the environment. Nuclear weapons tests conducted by the Soviet Union, China, France and the UK on the lands of indigenous peoples in the Pacific, Australia, Kazakhstan, Novaya Zemlya, eastern China, Algeria and Nevada have destroyed the health and lives of thousands.
Considering the long history of nuclear co-operation between the US and UK governments, our government should open its files on nuclear testing so that we can learn about Britain's role, if any, in experiments on human beings.
The US revelations are a direct challenge to John Major's commitment to open government. They emphasise how vital it is to achieve an early and successful conclusion to the negotiations in Geneva on a comprehensive test-ban treaty.
Janet Bloomfield
Chair CND
London N7
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments