BRITISH NUCLEAR COLONIALISM - WORK IN PROGRESS
How can photography be utilised “activistically or evidentially”, to challenge the power structures who exert control over public archives and their narrative to those who are seeking answers over a lack of openness?
A work in progress on a photographic investigation using archival materials and collaboration with the communities affected by the clandestine history of, and fallout from British Nuclear Weapons Testing. This is to explore an under reported and consequential history of British history that is to this day shrouded in ecological and social controversy along with political dismissal and secrecy.
The work which focuses on atmospheric British Nuclear Testing, explores the concept of Nuclear Colonialism, that transferred the risks to other countries and populations, lower down the pecking order, that was generally to colonies or former colonies or their indigenous population. It’s is defined by US anti Nuclear Weapons testing activist Jennifer Viereck as; “the taking of, or destruction, of other peoples natural resources, land or wellbeing for ones own, in the furthering of Nuclear development.” After these tests Britain walked away without a consideration about the aftermath until the Royal Commission in 1985, before there was any form of accountability or reparations. This is the same for their treatment of the archives today, of which many have been withdrawn from the public eye at the National Archives without explanation.
