A Coruña: unanimity against nuclear weapons

The municipal council of A Coruña approved a motion urging the government of Spain to sign and ratify the Treaty of Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons 300 school formed a human symbol of peace before the City Council

The motion was presented jointly by BNG and Marea Atlántica and backed by the votes of PP and PSOE.

Rocío Fraga, Councilor for Equality and Diversity read the motion request: “The City Council of A Coruña…

  • Expresses its solidarity with all the people and communities affected by the impact of atomic bombs and nuclear weapons tests.
  • It calls on the states of the world to commit themselves in a clear and precise manner to nuclear disarmament and to take concrete measures to achieve it.
  • It endorses the ICAN Citties Appeal (promoted by the ICAN Campaign, awarded with the Nobel Peace Prize 2017) that different cities of the world are signing: "Our city / town is deeply concerned about the serious threat posed by nuclear weapons for the communities around the world. We firmly believe that our residents have the right to live in a world free of this threat. Any use of nuclear weapons, whether deliberate or accidental, would have catastrophic, far-reaching and long-lasting consequences for people and the environment. Therefore, we welcome the adoption of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons by the United Nations in 2017, and we appeal to our national government to sign and ratify it as soon as possible. "
  • Urges the Government of the Spanish State to sign and ratify the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons approved by the United Nations.
  • Transfer of this declaration to the Government of the Spanish State, to the ICAN, to the secretariat of Mayors for Peace and to the Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces "

Arguments of the groups

Avia Veira, for the BNG highlighted that it was a common sense initiative in which there are not many nuances, a matter of vital security for world peace, given the historical moment of curious international alliances in which it is fundamental that the city councils and the States are positioned. He thanked the initiative to the association World Without Wars and Violence (MSGySV) · since it allows A Coruña to be placed on the side of reason and humanity ".

On the turn of the Atlantic Tide, Rocío Fraga began by thanking MSGySV for the motion, noting that this association has already promoted the first World March for Peace and Nonviolence and that it is currently preparing the second. He also thanked the work done by ICAN, Nobel Peace Prize. "What do nuclear weapons provide? What progress do they provide to achieve sustainable development goals when the real global challenges are the end of poverty, gender equality, climate change ...? "He pointed out that in this defense of human rights cities have a lot to say, integrating social policies such as this defense into the local sphere, being in the subject a reference as in the theme of refuge cities or in the cities against sexist violence. He stressed that the main purpose of the motion is to urge the Government to sign and ratify the Nuclear Weapons Prohibition Treaty (TPAN), approved by the United Nations in 2017 and that Spain has not yet ratified due to political pressure within NATO. Given that it is part of the agreement signed between PSOE and Podemos, it considered that this is an opportune moment for the Government to ratify the Treaty.

Fito Ferreiro, on behalf of the PSOE announced the favorable vote of his group, highlighting the date of the plenary session, 11 of March, anniversary of the Atocha massacre. He argued the new nuclear escalation between the United States, Russia and North Korea to point out that it is necessary that politicians adopt a responsible attitude that does not feed with their words the escalation of hatred.

Miguel Lorenzo, for the Popular Party, said that reason leads them to support this proposal regardless of whether the issue exceeds the municipal competences because, "as a city, we can also demonstrate against nuclear weapons and in support of this movement international that has received the Nobel Peace Prize. " Rescued that, despite being an advance in the sense of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, the TPAN does not contain punitive measures, but that it is a step in the advance towards a free society, a human rights society, which has to leave back nuclear weapons. He announced the vote in favor of the motion, encouraging "the people who have presented it in our city to continue working for peace" so that in the not too distant future we will all get together a world without nuclear weapons. "

The vote was taken and the motion was approved unanimously.

Unanimity that constitutes a positive response to the call made on the morning of the day of the plenary session, in the same square of the City Council, by 300 school children of the educational centers Grande Obra de Atocha, Cidade Vella and Zalaeta in which they declared their ethical commitment to end pain and suffering and expressed their need for a world in peace.

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