CND Vice Chair and Labour leader contender Jeremy Corbyn will be in Edinburgh on Friday (14th). SCND are planning to leaflet, possibly with Big Sandy and CiNDy, before the start of the meeting in the EICC. The plan is to be there for around 12.45 pm. Please join us. The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament has welcomed Labour leadership front-runner Jeremy Corbyn’s plan for a Defence Diversification Agency to redeploy the high-skilled workforce in the nuclear weapons sector, following a decision not to replace Trident. Jeremy used a speech at the annual CND Hiroshima commemoration in London to launch the policy which sets out how transitioning jobs away from nuclear weapons into “more socially productive industries” would “protect jobs and skills” and “help grow the British economy”. Of the four candidates standing for the Labour leadership, Jeremy is the only one committed to voting against Trident replacement when the issue comes before Parliament, expected in 2016. In his policy document, published yesterday, Jeremy reaffirms the “moral duty, and strategic defence and international commitments” Britain has to make the world a safer place. Commenting on the policy document, Kate Hudson, CND General Secretary said: “As the only anti-Trident leadership contender, Jeremy Corbyn is not only giving a voice to the many Labour members who oppose nuclear weapons but is also setting out practical plans to transition the high-skilled workforce away from nuclear weapons production. A Britain without nuclear weapons will contribute to a more peaceful world – and one that can build a sustainable, high-skilled economy with secure, socially productive jobs.” Labour CND has repeated its call for a strong anti-Trident voice to be heard in the vote. Walter Wolfgang, Vice-Chair of Labour CND said: “The Jeremy Corbyn campaign has given a voice to the millions who oppose Trident. People are being inspired to engage with the debate and are backing Jeremy as the candidate vowing not to spend £100 billion on nuclear weapons. The campaign goes from strength to strength but Jeremy can’t win without your support.

Reminder: 2 Hiroshima Exhibitions still ongoing:

1. Humanity and the A-Bomb 6 – 20 August, daily Mondays 9:30 am – 9:30 pm Tuesdays 12:30 pm – 6 pm, 8 pm – 9:30 pm Wednesdays 9:30 am – 7:30 pm Thursdays 9:30 am – 1 pm Fridays 9:30 am – 9:30 pm Saturdays 9:30 am – 2 pm Sundays 4:30 pm – 9:30 pm Leith Community Education Centre 12A New Kirkgate, EdinburghAn ongoing exhibition featuring photography and art by survivors of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Free This exhibition contains several graphic images. Children under 12 should be accompanied by an adult.

2. WMD Awareness, an organisation focusing on getting young people involved in the debate about nuclear weapons in the UK, through building skills and creating exciting opportunities alongside the young people we work with.
This August (6th-20th) they are hosting a two-week long exhibition called ‘Stop Worrying and Start to Love the Bomb?’ which will look at the major incidents in the history of nuclear weapons and their impact on popular culture around the world. It will be hosted at the Gayfield Centre and of course will fall during the Edinburgh Festival (please note the ESTW meeting planned for this venue has had to be moved)

Addition on 14th: nuclear explosions on a world map http://www.theguardian.com/world/video/2015/aug/14/nuclear-weapon-detonation-hiroshima-nagasaki-trinity-1945-world-map-video?CMP=share_btn_tw

CND has reiterated its full support for the families of British soldiers killed in Iraq, as they today announce they are threatening to take legal action against Sir John Chilcot, who is leading the inquiry into the conflict. CND’s General Secretary Kate Hudson said: ‘It is no wonder that the families who made the ultimate sacrifice during the Iraq War are frustrated and angry by the delays to the inquiry. The Chilcot Inquiry has been years in the making and the foot-dragging must stop.

This months Peace and Justice Centre newsletter is available http://peaceandjustice.org.uk and so are this months SCND Exec minutes. Assistant Co-ordinator, Flavia Tudoreanu has put Bairns not Bombs into action and we are delighted to announce there is a new peace baby. Flavia’s daughter Sophie was born on the 27th July , weighing 7lb 10oz ( 3480g)

The Walkatjurra walkabout in Australia starts this week and John Pilger gave a talk in Edinburgh on Sunday 9th. Here is a shortened version of the talk which was used by the Australian Times:
http://www.australiantimes.co.uk/journalist-john-pilger-packs-a-full-house-at-edinburgh-festival-fringe/