used in meeting basic human needs and also solving some of the health problems that face
human beings e.g. cancer.
History of the Campaign and how it established Credibility
It is noted that by the end of 1950s, there were actually more than 300 nuclear tests; of which
most of them had been conducted in the atmosphere. This resulted into the birth of a mass
movement against the initial use of nuclear weapons. From its origin from the local anti testing
groups, largely composed and run by women who were significantly concerned about the
radioactive components in their children’s milk. The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND)
managed to burst into the political scene on February 17
th
1958. Putting in mind that attempts to
move labor to anti-nuclear position had actually not succeeded in 1957. The overall process
resulted into campaigners and intellectuals taking matters into their own hands, hence calling for
mass movement to defeat Britain’s bomb. With regards to this, thousands of people at that time
were able to meet at Central Hall in Westminster, London. In the early years, CND was
inextricably associated with what was considered to be that time, social radicalization. In a
nutshell, it is arguable to say that through early mobilizations of anti-nuclear movement, the
radical politics of what was to be a new social movement was initially expressed. It is quite
evident that CND’s work throughout has significantly been focused towards changing
government policy through the use of diverse but peaceful methods. This has been evident
through mass protests at Greenham Common and Aldermaston, to today’s overall struggle to
prevent the Trident replacement and overall winning support for the UN’s global nuclear weapon
ban treaty. Despite the fact that CND’s core objective in United Kingdom’s nuclear disarmament
still remains unfulfilled. From a broad perspective, it is quite unclear of how CND’s campaigns
and also those of its international partners have managed to affect government decision making