Issues: Security and disarmament

Security and disarmament

SGR produces a range of resources on the issue of 'security and disarmament'. This covers military technologies, arms control and disarmament (esp. nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction, ‘Missile Defense’, conventional weapons) - as well as alternative concepts of security, peace building and conflict prevention.

Scientists and engineers have a central role in the development of weapons and therefore share a special responsibilty to society. SGR's project work has investigated the extensive influence that the military has over science and technology.

Walking in minefields

The SGR report ‘Soldiers in the Laboratory’ prompted Steve Wright, Leeds Metropolitan University, to consider the real-life legacy of military involvement in science and engineering. Here he describes an eye-opening trip that showed him just what that means.

Article in SGR Newsletter no. 34, summer 2007
 

Expanding military influence over science and technology is marginalising social and environmental programmes, says science group

Press release, 21 August 2007
 

More Soldiers in the laboratory

The militarisation of science and technology - an update

SGR briefing by Chris Langley, Stuart and Philip Webber; August 2007

This briefing provides an update to Soldiers In The Laboratory. In addition to SGR's latest findings about the power and influence of the military in science, engineering and technology (SET) in the UK and elsewhere since the previous report was written, this briefing also highlights some of the problems encountered in obtaining detailed information on military involvement in R&D despite the entry into force of the Freedom of Information Act. The report also documents the huge imbalance between government R&D funding of the military and funding to tackle ill-health, environmental degradation and poverty, and argues that a major shift in resources towards supporting social justice and environmental protection and away from the military is needed.
 

Scientists urge MPs not to vote for Trident replacement

Press release, 13 March 2007
 

Delay the decision on Trident replacement

Letter to the Guardian, co-signed by Stuart Parkinson, SGR, 2 March 2007
 

The costs of replacing Trident

Article by Stuart Parkinson, SGR, in the Institue of Physics magazine, Physics World, 1 March 2007
 

Predators, Drones and Robofly: Robotics and the military

Chris Langley describes how military interests have become pervasive in robotic science and engineering and outlines the ethical problems this causes.

Article from SGR Newsletter no. 33, winter 2007
 

 

Moving beyond terrorism in the security debate

John Sloboda, Oxford Research Group, argues that our governments’ obsession with terrorism is stopping us from tackling the underlying causes of global insecurity.

Article from SGR Newsletter no. 33, winter 2007
 

Guns and Global Warming: War, Peace and the Environment

Notes of a presentation given by Dr Stuart Parkinson, SGR, at the Network for Peace AGM, London.

10 February 2007
 

 

The Future of the United Kingdom's Nuclear Deterrent: SGR Response

Submission to the Defence Committee Inquiry, January 2007