Campaign groups have voiced their concerns about the University of Sheffield AMRC’s partnership with the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) in a peaceful protest at the site.
AWE confirmed last month that it had been a tier-1 member of the AMRC since June 2015, following an investigation by The Sheffield Tribune.
It is owned by the Ministry of Defence and develops, manufactures, and maintains UK nuclear weapons. As with other AMRC defence partnerships, the work revolves around research and development and not manufacturing.
At midday on Wednesday (26th August), around two dozen protestors from Sheffield Action Group and the Yorkshire branch of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament gathered at the AMRC entrance.
The aim of the demonstration was to “make it clear that we don’t want Sheffield University involved in designing the next generation of weapons of mass destruction”. AWE is currently working on Astraea, a new nuclear warhead designed to replace the UK’s current Holbrook fleet.
One of those in attendance was Sheffield councillor for Crookes and Crosspool, Minesh Parekh.
He told The Sheffield Tab: “Sheffield’s history is one of supporting peace and justice. The council declared the city a ‘nuclear free zone’ in the 1980s to oppose nuclear weapons, which was re-committed by then Lord Mayor Anne Murphy in 2018.
“It was important for elected representatives to attend and reflect our city’s values when they are being so flagrantly undermined.”
Sheffield City Council declared itself as one of a growing number of ‘nuclear free’ local authorities in 1980, before withdrawing in 2001.
Councillor Parekh also reflected on how the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki “should be a continued source of shame for the world”, and said the university partnering in the development of more powerful weapons “should be a deep source of shame for us all”.
He added: “It clearly is for the university on some level, considering the lengths they went to hide the fact.”
Signs and banners on show at the demonstration beared writing such as “no nukes NATO” and “didn’t you watch Threads?’ – the latter a reference to the 1984 film about a fictional nuclear was and its effects on Sheffield.
Another sign had the caption “make something useful instead”. This was sentiment echoed by Parekh, who continued: “There are so many ways to build a productive economy without increasing our destructive capacity. There are so many areas that need cutting-edge research that could drive forwards our health and wellbeing, our net-zero transition, that are needed far more than nuclear weapons.
“It is deeply concerning to see how easily a university – which was first established through the penny-donations of working-class people – will turn to arms companies for funding, and will put nuclear warfare ahead of social need. What we need from the University of Sheffield is a refusal to harm and a commitment to nurture, its complete reorientation to serve people and planet, not devastation.”
A spokesperson for the University of Sheffield said: “The University’s Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) collaborates extensively with industry and R&D experts, focusing on turning world-leading research into practical improvements for industry and government bodies.
“Our work at the AMRC involves developing and testing new technologies and processes for manufacturing companies and does not involve production of components for deployment. Our collaboration with partners in the defence sector helps them to overcome sustainability and productivity challenges, and support UK security and sovereign capabilities. All research projects undergo rigorous oversight, including comprehensive due diligence, adherence to national legislation and health and safety regulations. We have published information about our approach on our website.”
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