Yorke, Franz, Cocker, Albarn, B&S Say "No" to Nukes
As do Bloc Party, Mogwai, Aphex Twin, Super Furry Animals, Massive Attack, many more

Here in the U.S., Trident just keeps your breath fresh. For our UK brothers and sisters, however, the only thing Trident keeps fresh is the bleedin' nuclear arms race. Instituted in 1994, the Trident in question today refers to Britain's submarine-housed nuclear weapons system, which the country's Parliament will vote to replace next month. Turns out the majority of the populace-- and a bunch of respected UK musicians-- are none too happy about it.

Thom Yorke, Franz Ferdinand, Jarvis Cocker, Belle & Sebastian, Bloc Party, Damon Albarn, Mogwai, Aphex Twin, Boards of Canada, Super Furry Animals, Massive Attack, Richard Hawley, Guillemots, and many, many others issued a statement on Monday via the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament asking Parliament not to replace Trident. "Almost 60% of the British public say they don't want Trident replaced," the statement reads. "A decision to replace it would make the world a more dangerous place and reinforce the hypocrisy of our government which invaded Iraq on the basis of lies about Weapons of Mass Destruction-- but now plans to build its own new nuclear weapons."

It continues, "To replace Trident, when we face no nuclear threat, could start a nuclear arms race.

"The £76 billion cost to replace and maintain Trident would be better spent on health care, education, alleviating global poverty or tackling the problems of climate change."

Other anti-Trident signatories include Scritti Politti, Ian Brown, Sway, Snow Patrol, Kaiser Chiefs, Razorlight, British Sea Power, Supergrass, Babyshambles, Dirty Pretty Things, Elbow, Archie Bronson Outfit, Chemical Brothers, Zero 7, the Magic Numbers, King Biscuit Time, Doves, and more. For the complete text of the statement and all who signed, check out the .pdf linked below. Not surprisingly, you won't find any Gallagher brothers on it.

In addition, CND, Stop the War Coalition, and the British Muslim Initiative are calling for a demonstration against Trident replacement this Saturday, February 24. Demonstrators will gather at noon at London's famed free-speech site Speakers' Corner, near Marble Arch in northeast Hyde Park. Please protest responsibly, people!

Finally, this is hardly the first bit of social/political activism from a member of Radiohead. The band has been quite vocal about their beliefs in the past, and frequent readers of their Dead Air Space blog know Yorke and his bandmates often post links to petitions and informative articles alongside the cryptic poetry. For some helpful literature on free trade, the environment, Noel Gallagher, and more, float on over to the hypertext masters' lovely blog.