Up and coming events:

1. Edinburgh CND monthly meeting Tuesday 2nd May 6pm in the Peace and Justice Centre
2. Saturday 6th May: Edinburgh CND will be at the annual May Day march and rally. Assemble 1130 for 12noon at Johnston Terrace and march behind our banner. Rally 1230 at Scottish Parliament with Edinburgh CNDs Penny Stone singing (and other speakers and singer). Peace stall. Followed by a social.
3. Thursday 11th May Edinburgh World Justice Festival ‘building’ meeting 7.30pm at Augustine Utd (see below)
3. Saturday 13th May: Leafleting 1230 East end of Princes Street
4. Wednesday 17th May: Special ECND meeting on the Global Ban talks (and the election!) 7.30pm at the Peace and Justice Centre.

NEWS:
++1. nuClear News No.95 May 2017 is now available for downloading here
http://www.no2nuclearpower.org.uk/nuclearnews/NuClearNewsNo95.pdf

2. UK CND says http://www.cnduk.org: The General Election, taking place on Thursday 8 June, comes less than a year after MPs voted to support government plans to spend £205 billion replacing Trident. The government also remains committed to building new nuclear power stations despite concerns about safety, feasibility and soaring costs. The United Nations is expected to finalise a nuclear weapons ban treaty in July, with the support of the overwhelming majority of the international community. Despite successive governments claiming to support multilateral disarmament, Boris Johnson boycotted the talks. The treaty comes as prospects of a nuclear confrontation between the US and North Korea are rapidly increasing. In this turbulent context, it’s vital that Britain leads on nuclear disarmament and the de-escalation of conflict. To support this effort, we can use the General Election to elect more anti-nuclear MPs.
CND will be contacting candidates to find out their positions on three issues ahead of the election.
The UK signing the UN nuclear ban treaty
The replacement of Trident
The construction of new nuclear power station
Kate Hudson added following news items about Jeremy Corbyn and Michael Fallon: “The goal of Britain’s foreign policy must be to build a secure and peaceful future for Britain and every new government reviews the best way of working towards that goal. Given the enormous costs and risks associated with Trident, Britain’s nuclear weapons system, it’s absolutely right that it would be part of that review.
“A commitment to review Trident was part of Labour’s policy at the 2015 general election and should be part of Labour’s 2017 manifesto too. Regular review is just common sense not controversial. What is controversial is the Defence Secretary’s comments today that he is prepared to start a nuclear war with a first strike.
“Britain’s first strike policy is actually determined by NATO. It’s outrageous that our nuclear policy is set by an external body. British sovereignty needs to be re-established in the sphere of defence policy as a matter of urgency so it can be brought back within the bounds of international law.”
Further info:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/theresa-may-nuclear-weapons-first-strike-michael-fallon-general-election-jeremy-corbyn-trident-a7698621.html
Labour repeats backing for Trident after Jeremy Corbyn casts doubt on it
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/apr/23/jeremy-corbyn-casts-doubt-labour-support-trident-nuclear-deterrent-manifesto
Also video of Jeremy Corbyn available
There is some discussion about all this: watch this space!

We hope to add the views of Scottish CND shortly: see http://www.banthebomb.org Minutes of the last executive are available.

3. The Scottish Ban Treaty Working Group is working up to the June/July talks and the Scottish Ban Treaty website will be coming on line very soon.
3.1.ALL WELCOME TO:
Next Working Group meeting 27th April 10am in SCND offices
The Campaigners briefing on 18th May in Glasgow SCND office, 7pm
Ban Treaty at Edinburgh CND meeting on the 17th May P&J, 7.30pm
London meeting for all ICAN UK, including Scotland, 1.00pm at SOAS 22nd May (see below for more details of this: it is open to CND members.) Meetings of last meeting are available on request
3.2. Highlighting the work in Scotland. There are small cards for the pocket and new leaflets are in preparation. Good videos on Facebook.
The Scottish New York Team: SCND are directly funding staff member, Flavia, to attend. VC Janet is funded primarily through through NFPB although she will represent Scottish CND. and there may be reps from CAAT and MEDACT. and are happy to be part of the Scottish Team here or there. Janet and Gari (UN House) will select a young academic delegate (please e-mail for more details). Aberdeen CND will identify an experienced north-of-the-central belt grass-roots campaigner. If funding allows, another team member will be added and Scottish elected representatives from Holyrood and Westminster are encouraged to be there. The group is working closely with CND and others in ICANUK
A special Scottish Ban Treaty Support Fund (for materials and delegate costs) has been set up to which contributions can be made.
3.3. Renowned writer and artist Alasdair Gray has kindly donated one of his signed framed prints to help raise funds at the Nuke Banboree event organised in St Peters Church Hall, (Partick, Glasgow), on Sat 29 April, 4 – 8 pm.
Raffle tickets can be bought at the event or online. You can order or buy tickets to be added to the raffle even if you cannot make the event. We’re happy to post the prize.
3.4.All CND and other peace groups groups are urged to participate in a Global Day of Action in support of the Global Nuclear Ban. A rally and march has been arranged in New York on Saturday, June 17th and there will be one in Scotland the same day.
3.5. On 22 May there will be a planning meeting for ICAN UK partners and other organisations in the UK that support the nuclear weapons ban treaty, to:
– Discuss the international state of play with the ban treaty (the NPT Preparatory Committee meeting will be over, and the draft treaty text may or may not be out at this point)
– Discuss strategic issues in the UK in relation to the ban, and
– Work out a plan of outreach and activities in the UK up to the end of the next session of the negotiations (which run 15 June – 7 July) and immediately after the conference ends. The sudden election of course offers some complications but also opportunities for us!

PLEASE SEE END OF POST FOR MORE READING! NB Ireland have had a very instrumental role in building the talks.

4.Edinburgh World Justice Festival had a successful application to Awards for All this has enabled them to let a contract for the role of Festival Co-ordinator, on a freelance basis. (See previous news item) And please note
The dates of the festival are 30 September – 15 October.
A meeting to get more people involved on the Steering Group will be held on +++++Thursday 11 May at Augustine Church -Help plan the 2017 Edinburgh World Justice Festival, come to a meeting where you can contribute your ideas and get involved: Date: Thursday 11 May Time: 7.30pm-9pm
Place: Augustine United Church (Mull room), 41 George IV Bridge, Edinburgh EH1 1EL Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/ events/1484424191609452/

5. +++++ Abolition 2000 Annual Meeting 8:30am – 5pm. Monday May 1, 2017
Donau City Church, Vienna Join nuclear disarmament activists from around the world at the Abolition 2000 Annual Meeting to share campaign reports, discuss nuclear disarmament strategy, explore opportunities for action and plan further campaigns. Click here for the agenda. For other background documents, visit Abolition 2000 Annual Meeting. ALSO #3DnukeMissile & Rally: 2pm-4pm, Sunday April 30 Graben 21, Ecke Kohlmarkt followed by dinner. AND NPT Side Events: May 2-12 Vienna International Centre (UN)info@baselpeaceoffice.org

6. Chernobyl Anniversary:The 26th April marked the 31th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant disaster. The world’s most serious nuclear disaster led to thousands of deaths, destroyed communities, and caused far reaching environmental damage. An upcoming London conference http://www.cn duk.org will explore how to prevent another Chernobyl disaster. The conference will argue there is no need for nuclear power; the latest developments in renewable technology can now supply the energy we need in a safe, healthy and sustainable manner. ++++++++++No need for nuclear: the renewables are here Saturday 17 June 2017 10.15 to 5pm Conway Hall, 25 Red Lion Square, London WC1R 4RL Conference web site cnduk.org/NoNeedForNuclear

7. Because of the General Election, the closing date for petitions has changed. All petitions now have to close at 00:01am on 3 May. Petition will be available for people to read on the site even though it will be closed for signatures. Petitions can’t be reopened after the election. A new petition can be started signatures can’t be transferred. See earlier posts for petitions affected. Add your signature before the date!

OTHER EVENTS:
ADDED:
++++0.1 Palestinian Activist Iyad Burnat: Practising Non-Violence Thursday 4 May 7:45pm Quaker Meeting House, 7 Victoria Terrace Edinburgh
++++0.2 Migrant Crisis conversations &Through Refugee Eyes photos
Thursday 4 May 7 – 8:15pm. Top floor, Beehive Pub, Grassmarket, Edinburgh
++++0.3 Frances Mildmay from the United Nations Association had passed away . Frances will be known in a number of networks.Funeral is on Friday May 5 at 230pm in Glasgow Crematorium at 19 Chester Road Maryhill Glasgow G2
++++0.4 This a link to a free showing off free showing of a film – We are the many on Wed May 3 at 7pm in CCA Glasgow.Please feel free to pass round
http://www.cca-glasgow.com/ programme/stop-the-war- coalition-glasgow-we-are-many
ORIGINAL:
1. 140,000 Origami Cranes Workshop: Remembering Hiroshima 2 – 4pm. Saturdays at Edinburgh Peace and Justice Centre 5 Upper Bow, Edinburgh EH1 2JN NB Origami Cranes Project Volunteer & Saturday Volunteer needed.
2. Faith, Politics and Peace in the Age of President Trump Thursday 27th April, 7-9.15pm Annandale Street Mosque
3. Legacies of Resistance to the First World War Workers Education Association Adult Education Classes Starting Edinburgh: South Bridge Resource Centre, Infirmary Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1LT. Starting Wednesday 10th May for eight weeks. 12.30pm – 2.30pm.
4. Conscientious Objectors Day Vigil 5 – 6pm. Monday 15 May The Mound, by the National Gallery of Scotland

Some more reading (thanks to Rebecca Johnson and Trident Ploughshares)
The David Lowry (ICAN) list started last time is suspended, but updates on request.

As the US and North Korea rattle sabres and the UK reels from the sudden decision to have a snap General Election, I wanted to draw your attention to these two recent articles on the Nuclear Ban Treaty negotiations published by openDemocracy, with links:
on 10 April: https://www.opendemocracy. net/rebecca-johnson/uk-trump- un-nuclear-disarmament-talks
and on 19 April:
https://www.opendemocracy.net/ 5050/rebecca-johnson/un-talks- nuclear-weapons-what-can-they- achieve
See also this link to the Emergency Resolution on the Nuclear Ban Treaty which was passed unanimously by the Global Greens Congress on 2 April, after being proposed by Austrian MEP Ulrike Lunacek, Vice President of the European Parliament: https://www.globalgreens.org/ congress-documents/emergency- resolution-1-un-legally- binding-international-nuclear- weapons-ban
You might also be interested in this short 3 minute video on FB with different UK voices at the recent Nuclear Ban Treaty negotiations, produced by Clare Conboy:
https://www.facebook.com/ 443437662404428/videos/vb. 443437662404428/ 1333172916764227/?type=2& theater&notif_t=like&notif_id= 1492604678135161
Lots more materials available from ICAN http://www.icanw.org/
and considerable background documentation and analysis from relevant disarmament and security fora, as well as available statements and documents from the first week of NBT negotiations (March 27-31, 2017) from Reaching Critical Will http://www. reachingcriticalwill.org/ disarmament-fora/nuclear- weapon-ban
For anyone wanting to read contemporaneous articles on how the nuclear ban treaty process developed in parallel with NPT and UN meetings, these are listed on openDemocracy from the present going back as far as April 2010: https://www. opendemocracy.net/author/ rebecca-johnson