More than 100 states gathered at the United Nations in New York last week to begin negotiations on a treaty to ban nuclear weapons. These historic talks represent a chance to make real progress towards a world without nuclear weapons. Sadly, before the talks had even started, the UK lined up behind Donald Trump’s representative to denounce the talks. While the international community discussed how to rid the world of nuclear weapons, the UK opted for platitudes over participation.
A range of issues were discussed during the week, ranging from what should be included in the treaty to how it would be enforced. You can read CND’s daily reports from the conference on our website.
CND hosted a side event which was addressed by Fabian Hamilton MP, Shadow Minister for Peace and Disarmament. Dave Webb, CND Chair, has posted a report of the event in New York.
There was broad consensus that a ban treaty is needed and that it must be comprehensive. It is likely that a draft treaty will be published ahead of the second round of talks, which are due to start in June.
CND is continuing to push for the UK government to attend the next round of talks. You can join the campaign today by writing to your MP. (Posters available for £1) http://www.cnduk.org/

‘Unfold Zero” pointed out that One of the issues discussed was the proposal by UNFOLD ZERO and Parliamentarians for Nuclear Nonproliferation and Disarmament (PNND) that the treaty prohibit any financing of nuclear weapons production.
It is said that ‘money makes the world go around’. With respect to nuclear weapons, the corporations manufacturing them are highly influential on nuclear weapons policy. Most of the global nuclear weapons budget of $100 billion goes to about a dozen powerful corporations who spend lavish amounts of money lobbying to keep the nuclear arms race going.
If the nuclear prohibition treaty includes a ban on investing in these corporations, it could put a big dent in their lobbying power, and give support to legislators and civil society in nuclear-armed States who are trying to cut nuclear weapons budgets.
Statements and working papers to the conference can be accessed on the UN conference website.

There is a Global Ban Working Group in Scotland, which welcome members. See Actions for meetings and end of this post for minutes

More info on the talks from:
https://reachingcriticalwill.org
http://thebulletin.org/blog
http://www.icanw.org/
janetsabeatnik@wordpress.com
The Nuclear Ban Isn’t the End, but It’s a Good Beginning http://www.alternet.org/environment/nuclear-ban-isnt-end-its-good-beginning

Actions:
1. Join Edinburgh CND to leaflet about the Global Ban. Saturday 8th April 1230 at the East End of Princes Street.
2. Join the Global Ban Working Group set up by SCND. Next meeting 10th April at the SCND offices in Glasgow. Minutes of meeting on 3rd April are available. http://banthebomb.org/
3. Scrap Trident Campaign meets 5th April 6pm in the Edinburgh Peace and Justice Centre
4. Scottish wilpf meets Monday 10th April 6.15pm at the Edinburgh Engender Offices
++++5. Edinburgh CAAT meeting on Wednesday 12th April 2017, 7-8.45pm, at Quakers Meeting House (7 Victoria Terrace, Edinburgh EH1 2JL)
6. Edinburgh Stop the War meets Monday 17th April 7.30pm in the Peace and justice Centre
7. The next meeting of the Peace Network will take place at 2pm on Tuesday, April 11, a the electron club which is on the first floor of the Centre Contemporary Arts on Sauchiehall Street in Glasgow City Centre,
++++++8. Nuke Banboree Fundraiser event for the whole family on Sat 29 April, 4 – 8 pm in St Peter’s Church Hall, 46 Hyndland Street, Glasgow, G11 5 PS (Chancellor St entrance)

++++++PLEASE HELP no2nuclear power by donating what you can. You can send cheques, made payable to “no2nuclearpower”, to Pete Roche c/o Friends of the Earth Scotland, Thorn House, 5 Rose Street, Edinburgh EH2 2PR. If you want to donate via internet banking send to No 2 Nuclear Power, Co-op Bank 08-92-99 a/c No. 65162637.
Or you can donate by PayPal. For details see here:
http://www.no2nuclearpower.org.uk/donations/
Latest News at: http://www.no2nuclearpower.org.uk/nuclearnews/NuClearNewsNo94.pdf

+++++++Latest Peace and Justice newsletter http://peaceandjustice.org.uk

In the longer term:
1. There is a Women’s March to Ban the Bomb in New York on June 17th (which is the same day as the Stirling Military Parade & show where Scottish Peace Network plans to protest). There will be solidarity activities happen in Scotland https://www.womenbanthebomb.org/
2. The Disarmament Camp at Coulport 8-16th July is being organised by Trident Ploughshares. More info here.
http://tridentploughshares.org/coulport-disarmament-camp-july-2017/
We will of course be hoping that Faslane Peace Campers can join us and be working together.
++++3.Conference: No need for nuclear: the renewables are here
Saturday, 17th June 2017. 10.15am to 5pm Conway Hall, 25 Red Lion Square, London WC1R 4RL The government is obsessed with backing nuclear. Experts say renewable energy is safer, healthier, more sustainable, quicker and cheaper.http://www.cnduk.org/

And a TV programme: http://www.channel4.com/programmes/dispatches/on-demand/66214-001 President Trump: How Scared Should We Be? plus
http://www.tandfonline.com/eprint/HnvvhGqGAEGmKMZTqy8W/full

And in Australia they continue:For the latest news: https://walkingforcountryet

STOP PRESS: Some reading: The secret of the Soviet hydrogen bomb http://physicstoday.scitation.org/doi/10.1063/PT.3.3524#.WOS2INIJ92w.
Terrorism & CounterterrorismWMD & Proliferation
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/2017-04-04/dirty-bomb-threat
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Minutes of Global Ban Working Group:
Feedback from the UN Janet gave a short account of the March session of the negotiations, recognising that a fuller briefing for campaigners will be necessary. These had been very successful both in content and process. There were three elements:  the goals, objectives, and preamble of the treaty;  the details of what actions will be included in a prohibition, such as the possession, development, testing, and use of nuclear weapons and assisting other countries with them,  what actions will be required of parties; and legalities for such things as accession to the treaty, regular review conferences, and questions about the accession of nuclear-armed states.The elements for a valid treaty had all been noted to be included in the draft. The President – Elayne Whyte Gómezfrom Costa Rica – led a very open ethos and a process that included an innovative and interactive panel session with civil society representatives. Janet had also been with a group that met with the disarmament officer of the UK permanent mission to the UN. WE can promote account of proceedingsthat is on Janets blog as a ‘Scottish’ perspective in addition to ican, rcw blogs.Planning for second sessionIn this context we will need a good team from Scotland for the summer session. We will seek SCND EXEC approval for aspecific SCND funding appeal for up to £5,000 for the venture and raise discussion about staff members’ participation and travel arrangements.Preparatory to inviting MSPs/MPs to travel to the summer sessions we will work on raising general awareness and engagement, and discuss with ICAN international timing of any Parliammentarians side event(s) The Holyrood Cross Party Group will be an important context, as will Greens and Yes groups. In terms of media we should try for articles in the National and perhaps a follow-up to the Herald Agenda piece. Above all it needs to be on the Scotref agenda, due to the fact that Scotland’s distinctive stance within the UK and the upcoming treaty will play helpfully together. We can perhaps access the Yes Registry and SIC.Resources and tasks Petition/Vision Statement. We will develop a very brief sign -up statement for stalls etc. David to draft. This will be time limited. We will plan a briefing event for campaigners – for a group of around 25. Ellen will write a short, factual briefing, adapted from Jane Tallents’ Edinburgh street briefing (as revised)  For further discussion: a more developed briefing for parliamentarians and media. Janet will update text for our general briefing leaflet, Flavia to liaise with John on layout New website .scot is under construction by Flavia with input from Janet, DavidEvent: Nuke Banboree – 29th April, 4.00pm – 8.00pmSt Peter’s in Partick