http://wp.me/a5VxwQ-av
Edinburgh RIC 7pm Thursday 26 May Public Meeting as part of a series of discussions on the EU referendum Organised in partnership with Edinburgh STW and Scottish WILPF
The meeting focuses on the EU, NATO, the Middle East and War
With Frances Guy (former ambassador to Yemen & Lebanon) Jonathon Shafi (RISE),
Lindsay German (Stop the War) Heidi Meinzolt, WILPF Germany, European WILPF Co-ordinator Augustine Church 41 George 4th Bridge Edinburgh EH1 1EL
https://www.facebook.com/events/229254204119952/

Edinburgh Meadows Festival, 4 – 5 June Leith Festival, 11 June: there will be stalls and we are looking for help. Scottish CND will also be at T in the Park.

Celebrate Midsummer and support our good cause by coming along to The Stand Comedy Club, Edinburgh, on Tuesday 21st June from 7.30pm. See top acts while helping the campaign to stop the Westminster government’s insane plan to spend over £200bn on renewing Trident.
Here’s the line up so far: http://www.thestand.co.uk/show/27151/benefit_in_aid_of_edinburgh_cnd Tickets are £7/£5, bookable by phone from The Stand on 0131-558 7272, by emailing edinburghcnd@yahoo.com or malcbruce@yahoo.co.uk, or at the door, or Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/comedy-benefit-night-for-edinburgh-cnd-tickets-24908790864 More details at: https://edinburghcnd.org/events/ Yes, there will be a raffle. Great prizes!

The new UN working group on nuclear disarmament, the Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG), completed its second and most substantive session in Geneva today. 100 governments participated over the course of two weeks at the United Nations and many more contributed their support through a joint working paper from the Humanitarian Pledge group (now numbering 127 States). You can read about it on the Reaching Critical Will website.                                                                                                                                                      Los Alamos Study Group Bulletin 218: UN Working Group builds momentum among large majority of world’s countries toward treaty prohibiting nuclear weapons
Trish and Greg are in the process of returning from Geneva after the very interesting eight-day May meeting of the 2016 “Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG) Taking Forward Multilateral Nuclear Disarmament Negotiations.” Before that they took part in a weekend campaign meeting of some 130 persons led by the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), in which the Study Group is an active partner organization — one of 440 partner organizations in 98 countries in all. For them, and for others with whom they spoke, this meeting was far and away the most powerful, interesting, and important multilateral meeting of states on nuclear disarmament ever attended. A process leading to negotiation of a new disarmament treaty is now underway and will continue in the fall at the UN in New York.There is general agreement among a large majority of the world’s countries that the essential common ground in any new treaty, and the first thing thing that needs to be done, is to prohibit the possession, development, transfer, and use of nuclear weapons — that is, to fill the legal and normative gap that has prevented, and unless fixed will continue to prevent, successful disarmament diplomacy. Excellent daily summaries from this meeting can be found in the OEWG newsletters of Reaching Critical Will (RCW), which were handed to disarmament delegates each morning. In addition to straight reporting, Ray Acheson’s editorials captured very well, in our view, the import of each day’s discussions. RCW also maintains an index of documents and working papers submitted.

Where to from here?
The OEWG will hold its final session on August 16, 17 and 19. It will then adopt a report to present to the United Nations General Assembly. There is no consensus yet on what the OEWG will report on or recommend.

Ban Ki-moon will end his 10-year term as UN Secretary-General in December 2016. The campaign for the next UN Secretary-General has begun. Nine candidates have already come forward. For the first time ever the selection process is transparent. You can read the positions of candidates online. And governments and civil society can ask questions of the candidates – through social media and ‘candidate dialogue sessions’ in the UN General Assembly.

News from Trident Ploughshares: Please spread the word about the month of Action. Theres loads of information on the Trident Ploughshares website http://tridentploughshares.org/june-2016-a-month-of-daily-direct-action-against-trident-renewal-please-join-us/ Have a look at the groups who have their own day and think about who you know that might be interested in one of them and send the info. Even if you can’t come yourself you can help by encouraging others to join in. http://tridentploughshares.org/publicly-announced-actions-at-burghfield-during-june-2016/ For those of you who do Facebook we now have an event page. Please share it on your Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/events/1724532487784877/                          The UK section of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons has pledged its support to the planned month of nonviolent disruption of the British nuclear weapon assembly plant at Burghfield in Berkshire.
For more on all these ask to see the new TP newsletter

In Australia?  Walkatjurra Walkabout 2016
August 7th – September 7th 2016. more info at http://www.walkingforcountry.com

In Glasgow? The Scottish Peace Network monthly vigil will take place this Wednesday, May 25, from 5 to 6pm at Dewar’s statue on Buchanan Street.  On the streets protesting the bombing of Iraq and Syria and opposing militarism in all its forms.

Syria: The Cooperative Institute for Transnational Studies in collaboration with the University of Aegean (Laboratory EKNEXA-Department of Sociology) have announced a conference on the refugee crisis, ‘Crossing Borders,’ in Lesvos, Greece, on 7-10th July.
Syria Solidarity UK are very concerned to note that the list of speakers includes Tim Anderson, a supporter of the Assad regime

To the participants and organisers of the ‘Crossing Borders’ Conference
http://www.syriauk.org/2016/05/to-participants-and-organisers-of.html

We will be leafleting tomorrow (Saturday 14th) from 1230 to 1pm at the East End of Princes Street. We will be concentrating on Trident Replacement (see below for latest news) and our up-coming- benefit (click events on right of page). We have some great publicity cards for the Benefit. See further down for events on Sunday.

Trident replacement cost rises to ‘staggering’ £205 billion    Campaigners have revealed that the cost of replacing Trident, Britain’s nuclear weapons system, has risen to £205 billion. In a briefing published by the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, researchers have compiled a comprehensive account of government spending on Trident replacement using the latest publicly available data. Researchers were staggered to discover that the figure had more than doubled since the replacement cost was last calculated in 2014 for CND’s People Not Trident report. CND General Secretary Kate Hudson explains how we’ve calculated the rapidly increasing cost of Trident replacement.                                                       The latest issue on CNDs magazine has more on this and a look at what last week’s election results mean for the Stop Trident campaign, particularly in Scotland. http://cnduk.org
Can you spare a few minutes to talk to your MP about Trident?
Join the Stop Trident mass lobby: Book a 5-minute meeting with your MP

nuClear News No.85, May 2016 is now available for downloading here:
http://www.no2nuclearpower.org.uk/nuclearnews/NuClearNewsNo85.pdf

Other Events:                                                                                                                                             1. Poppies For Peace Films For Freedom
Sunday 15 May. 2 – 3.30pm. A tribute to Harry Patch the last surviving ww1 soldier asks: “Has their sacrifice been betrayed by our failure to end war?” Grassmarket Community Project. 86 Candlemaker Row. LIKE & Share the Event on Facebook.                                            2. Conscientious Objectors Day Vigil The Mound. Saturday 15 May. 4 – 5pm.
We will read the names and hear stories of First World War COs from Edinburgh and Scotland and stand in solidarity with all those who continue to refuse to take part in wars today. This is an annual event, but has special significance this year as we mark the centenary of conscription in the First World War. With Protest in Harmony. Like & Share the Facebook Event .                                                                                                                                           3. 7.30pm Monday 16 May Edinburgh Stop the War has its May meeting at the Quaker Meeting House, 7 Victoria Terrace, EH1 2JL. Do come along and join in the discussion
and planning for future events.                                                                                                                            4. HELP MAKE EWJF 2016 HAPPEN -INVITATION TO GET INVOLVED
7.30 – 9.00 pm Wednesday 18 May Golf Tavern (upstairs), Bruntsfield Links, 30 Wright’s Houses, EH10 4HR Open Meeting with introduction on
What We in Scotland Can Do About Global Injustice? We’re planning for EWJF2016 to run from 1 – 16 October 2015.                                                                                                                                  5. Edinburgh RIC 7pm Thursday 26 May Public Meeting as part of a series of discussions on the EU referendum Organised in partnership with Edinburgh STW and Scottish WILPF
The meeting focuses on the EU, NATO, the Middle East and War
With Frances Guy (former ambassador to Yemen & Lebanon) Jonathon Shafi (RISE),
Lindsay German (Stop the War) Heidi Meinzolt, WILPF Germany, European WILPF Co-ordinator Augustine Church 41 George 4th Bridge Edinburgh EH1 1EL
https://www.facebook.com/events/229254204119952/                                                                                                                       6.140,000 Paper Cranes Workshops at P&J. Saturdays 2 – 4pm.
Project to make 140,000 origami cranes in memory of those killed by the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombs.                                                                                                                                            7.Bread not Bombs: Today’s #BrimstoneBlockers protest
http://www.syriauk.org/2016/05/bread-not-bombs-todays.html
Sisters Against The Arms Trade protested at the MBDA missile factory in Bedford, closing its operations. MBDA are manufacturers of the Brimstone missile, a weapon which played a key role in David Cameron’s arguments in favour of precision British airstrikes.
https://diary.thesyriacampaign.org
#Women4Syria statement in solidarity with the women of Daraya:
http://www.syriauk.org/2016/04/solidarity-with-women-of-daraya-drop.html
March With Medics Under Fire Saturday 14th 2pm Trafalgar Square London                     8.Also on Saturday: Come and hear about the current situation in Poland and how the KOD is fighting in defence of democracy, for the separation of powers and for media freedom in Poland. Three members ofKOD are visiting Edinburgh as part of a tour of Europe, to raise awareness of the issues. If you have any queries or would like to know more about this event please contact the International Committee at intl@scottishgreens.org.uk
9. The next meeting of the Scottish Peace Network will be held on Tuesday, May 17, at 2pm at the electron club in Glasgow city centre. The electron club is on the first floor of the Centre for Contemporary Art on Sauchiehall Street.                                                                           10 .Nuclear Free Local Authorities Scotland are meeting in Dunfermline on 3rd June.
11. Edinburgh Meadows Festival, 4 – 5 June Leith Festival, 11 June: there will be stalls and we are looking for help.

Other News:                                                                                                                                                          1. Janet Fenton made an eloquent intervention at the UN nuclear disarmament talks last week on behalf of UK WILPF, which also included good mentions of John Ainslie’s work with Scottish CND, and the dangerous nuclear weapon convoys. The text of Janet’s statement http://uk.icanw.org/action/7438/
The key topics for the first week (May 2-4) were on nuclear risk reduction, transparency and building awareness of the humanitarian impact of nuclear weapons. (See OEWG program and schedule).#LetsTalkNukes is an online platform to inform you of the deliberations and to help you talk to your government about what they should do at the OEWG. Use the hashtag #LetsTalkNukes to challenge the policies of your country, ask diplomats what they’re going to say on your behalf at the UN, or just express your opinion about nuclear weapons.

2. Shetland to Scilly – New Technologies for Peace Journey The new website has now been launched. It includes a blog which is being updated every day with news about the Journey. Most of the news will be on the website and so future updates – if any – will be brief. Suggestions for the website are welcome. You can also send in comments for publication on the blog. The Shetland to Scilly – New Technologies for Peace Journey website is at http://www.shetlandtoscillyforpeace.com .

3. Join the Facebook Page to keep up to date on the Australian events (see earlier newsletters)

STOP PRESS 9th MAY: note meetings on 9th May (Hiroshima Survivor), 10th May (change of time for Don’t Bank on Bomb meeting), Coming Together to Work for Peace in the Middle East (see 3 below) Wednesday 11 May. 7 – 9pm and meeting on 12th May Challenging Militarism Working Group (see 4b below)

1. Today is 1st May (May Day). Edinburgh CND supports the local May Day celebrations which start today with an event at 2pm in the Storey Telling centre: http://www.tracscotland.org/…/5172/james-connolly-from-edinburgh’s-cowgate-to-the-dublin-gpo

2. The annual May Day march assembles 11.30am at Johnston Terrace on Saturday 7th May and sets off at midday marching (join us behind our banner) to a rally at the Pleasance (with Penny Stone and stalls) https://www.facebook.com/events/1717615495148829/ and events here. Please Join us behind our banner on the march and on the peace table at the rally.

3. Tomorrow (2nd May) will be our monthly meeting 6pm in ACE 17 W Montgomery Pl, Edinburgh EH7 5HA. We will be discussing May Day, the Election, Nuclear Convoys and Our Benefit

4. THERE ARE STILL HUSTINGS TO ATTEND before the Election on 5th May. A list of Hustings can be found by clicking on events on the right of this page. Suggested Questions in previous posts.

5. And in June: Our benefit at The Stand: Benefit in Aid of Edinburgh CND at The Stand Edinburgh on Tuesday 21st June. Tickets cost £7 (£5 concs) and can be reserved through the Stand website, their box office on 0131-558 7272 or bought direct from Edinburgh CND on 0131-538 7298 or edinburghcnd.org or on the door. https://www.facebook.com/events/256460924690733/ and events here. Note there is now also possible to book through Eventbrite: http://www.eventbrite.com/e/comedy-benefit-night-for-edinburgh-cnd-tickets-24908790864

Other News:                                                                                                                                                     1. You can find more information about CNDs submission to the Labour Party Defence Review on their website: cnduk.org
The Liberal Democrats are opposed to like-for-like Trident replacement, but a policy commission is considering the party’s long-term approach to the issue. The review is currently taking evidence from invited groups, and CND will be giving evidence in the summer. It is expected that a final report will be made in Spring 2017
Also see website for t-shirts (especially health one)                                                                               2. Latest Trident Ploughshares newsletter is available

And events: 
1. Hiroshima Survivor in Edinburgh 4.30 pm Monday May 9th Quaker Meeting House 7 Victoria Terrace Edinburgh EH1 2JL (see previous news on this site for more information)

2. Don’t Bank on the Bomb meeting. Tuesday 10th 11am in the Peace and Justice Centre. Note change of time!

3. Coming Together to Work for Peace in the Middle East.
Wednesday 11 May. 7 – 9pm. Frank Romano, prof of law at Uni of Paris Ouest. Hosted by Dr Sara Trevelyan, with support from EIFA, Edinburgh International Centre for Spirituality & Peace & Edinburgh Peace & Justice Centre. Augustine United Church, George IV Bridge. LIKE & Share the Facebook Event Here

4. (a)In the last few months Janet Fenton the current secretary of Scottish CND has visited Ireland and Japan . During those visits Janet spoke at a number of meetings and events. She also met peace activists and a range of people from civic society in those countries.
Janet has agreed to do a report back meeting on her visits and this will take place in the Scottish CND office in the Wellington Church 77 Southpark Avenue Glasgow G12 8 LE on Thursday May 12th at 7pm. This is an informal gathering for Janet to give her reflections and thoughts on these 2 visits. Anyone who is interested is very welcome to come along     4 (b) Edinburgh Challenging Militarism Working Group meeting is Thursday 12 May from 7 – 9pm. This will take place at the Peace and Justice Centre. 5 Upper Bow. EH1 2JN.Please invite others you think may be interested and bring ideas. This will follow the What Can Quakers do about Militarism? Workshop to explore issues around increasing militarisation. Facilitated by Sam Walton, Peace & Disarmament Programme Manager at Quaker Meeting House, Victoria Terrace. 10am -12noon. All are welcome to attend that meeting regardless of whether you are a Quaker.

5. Conscientious Objectors Day Sunday 15 May. 4 – 5pm. Foot of the Mound, Edinburgh.

6. Peace and Justice Centre meeting: a taster session hosted by Journey to Justice and RSA Scotland On: Monday May 16th, 2016, 9.30 am – 1pm, followed by a communal lunch – please bring your own At: Edinburgh Quaker Meeting House, 7 Victoria Terrace, EH1 2JL (From 9.30 am – 1pm ) Please register via this Eventbrite link: http://bit.ly/1RTLEJf

7. Are you interested in what governments are talking about in preparation for the upcoming UN Open Ended Working Group on nuclear disarmament (May 2-13) and the Conference on Disarmament (May 16-July 1)?                                                                                           8. In Australia: 👣 Karlamalyi Walk 4thWalkatjurra Walkabout 2016 August 7th – September 7th 2016