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.

Military R&D 85 times larger than renewable energy R&D

Stuart Parkinson and Chris Langley outline SGR’s latest research whose revelations include statistics from across the industrialised world showing the massive imbalance between government R&D spending for military purposes and that for social and environmental purposes.

Article for SGR Newsletter, No. 35, winter 2008
 

Could one Trident submarine cause 'nuclear winter'?

Philip Webber, SGR, analyses the latest research on the potential climatic impacts of nuclear war and demonstrates that the firepower of just one of the UK's Trident submarines could be devastating for the whole planet.

Article from SGR Newsletter, No. 35, winter 2008

 

The employment benefits of *not* replacing Trident

Steven Schofield argues that investing the billions earmarked for Trident replacement in alternative sectors would more than offset the job losses in the nuclear weapons sector.

Article from SGR Newsletter, No. 35, winter 2008
 

The grim reality of robots at war

Noel Sharkey, Sheffiled University, gives a stark warning about the potential for a robot arms race.

Article from SGR Newsletter, no. 35, winter 2008
 

Measures of success: two steps closer to ending the arms trade

Beccie D’Cunha describes two recent, important victories.

Article from SGR Newsletter no.35, winter 2008
 

US 'missile defence' in Europe: who needs it?

David Webb suggests current US plans for missile defence may cause more problems than they solve.

Article from SGR Newsletter, no. 35, winter 2008
 

Universities, the military and the means of destruction in the United Kingdom

Article by Chris Langley, SGR

The Economics of Peace and Security Journal, Vol. 3; No. 1, p.49-55, January 2008

Military involvement in science and technology - and some alternatives

Presentation by Dr Chris Langley, SGR, in the European Parliament under the auspices of the Quaker Intergroup for Peace Initiatives, Nov 2007
 

Nuclear power: the security dimension

Presentation given by Stuart Parkinson, SGR, at a public meeting in Kendal, Cumbria; October 2007
 

Iran’s nuclear strategy: civil or military?

Iran is under scrutiny: Western governments claim its nascent nuclear power programme masks plans for nuclear weapons development. Frank Barnaby, Oxford Research Group, assesses the validity of the West's claims and argues that use of military force against Iran's nuclear programme will only make matters worse.

Article from SGR Newletter, no. 34, summer 2007