+++28th November: see 4 updates especially re INF see news item 1
EVENTS
Tuesday 4th December: Edinburgh CND AGM and Annual Festive meeting (donations of food and drink welcome but not compulsory) 6pm to 8pm, Peace and Justice Centre, 5 Upper Bow, Edinburgh. All Supporters Welcome.
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Other events: 1. Sunday 18th November, 6:30 to 9:30, Radical Voices at the Black Fox by the Shore Constitution Street, Leith. The theme is Peace is Possible. 2.
Monday 19th November monthly meeting of Edinburgh Stop the War at the Peace and Justice centre. 3.
Tuesday 20th November: Opposing War Memorial performance of This Evil Thing (see below)
https://this-evil-thing.eventbrite.com STOP PRESS Two Israeli conscientious objectors will be speaking Read the full article here.
4. Saturday 24th November STUC annual anti-racist demo in Glasgow
5. Saturday 8th December Yemen protest and CND leafletting East end of Princes Street 11am to 1pm
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NEWS
1. From CND UK
1.1 President Trump has announced plans to withdraw the US from the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF). We must protect the INF, an agreement CND fought for – and won – 30 years ago. As the world teetered on the brink of nuclear war, the INF treaty helped pull us back, eliminating over 2,500 nuclear missiles and de-escalating US-Soviet tension.
If we allow this agreement to be torn up, we could soon see the return of ground-launched nuclear missiles to the UK, a scenario which would make anuclear war fought on European soil far more likely.
CND condemns the Defence Secretary’s support for Trump’s action and calls on our government to express strong opposition to this dangerous move. This week an urgent question was asked in Parliament and EDM 1744 was tabled on this crucial issue. Now we’re following this up and mobilising MPs to press the government to respond. Can you help us?
+++++++++28th NOV UPDATE
CND: We are running out of time to save the crucial anti-nuclear treaty the INF. Showing blatant disregard for international cooperation on arms control, President Trump has announced he plans to withdraw from the treaty, risking a dangerous return to cold war-style nuclear escalation.
We still need your help. Trump is intent on trashing this vital treaty, and shockingly the UK government is doing nothing to stop him.
The British government needs to step up and defend the INF. If you haven’t already, please
use our lobby tool to write to the Foreign Secretary to demand that action is taken to save this crucial treaty.
On Wednesday, CND will visit the Foreign Office to deliver your letters. We are trying to collect as many letters as possible before our visit, so please encourage your contacts to sign.
Together we can make sure that our calls for a safer world are heard.
SUGGESTED URGENT ACTION: Save the INF nuclear treaty
Please contact your MP and the foreign secretary via the links below:
1.2 Anti-nuclear campaigners have responded to a letter from the defence ministerthat has revealed 505 safety incidents at the Faslane naval base in the last 12 years. Kate Hudson, CND general secretary, said: “When the MoD took the decision to censor annual nuclear safety reports which had previously been made public, we feared that safety at Faslane was worsening. “While we welcome a return to a degree of transparency, the figures in the defence minister’s letter confirms our fears, revealing a catalogue of accidents in the last three years. Many of these incidents involved the Trident submarines which carry Britain’s nuclear weapons.
1.3. One hundred years ago, in November 1918, the world’s first global, industrialised war was drawing to a close. It was described at the time, as ‘the war to end all wars’. But those lessons were not learnt, countless millions more have died in war since then, and our own world today – already suffering many ‘conventional’ wars and the crimes, brutality and displacement that they bring – faces the increasing danger of nuclear war. When leaders trash treaties that reduce the risk of obliteration, make plans for new generations of ‘usable’ nukes, or speak glibly of ‘pressing the nuclear button’, our role is to present an alternative to hatred, to war and destruction. On the centenary of the ending of the First World War, politicians should use the commemoration as an opportunity to reflect on the horrors of conflict and on the possibility that a future war could turn nuclear.
1.4. Anti-nuclear campaigners have responded to the Chancellors of the Exchequer’s 2018 budget. Sara Medi Jones, Acting General Secretary of CND, said: “This is yet another budget that prioritises war and nuclear weapons over people and their needs. While millions use foodbanks, the government has announced an extra £1 billion for the Ministry of Defence. “The elephant in the room is Trident. The Chancellor should have announced today that he is scrapping Trident, but instead the government continues along a path that will see over £205 billion spent on replacing Britain’s nuclear weapon system. “Hammond began his speech saying the last eight years of cuts were not driven by ideology, so why is it that at every budget the only thing we can be sure of is more money for weapons of mass destruction? “If Trident is scrapped, the £205 billion saved could employ 150,000 new nurses and build 120 state of the art hospitals. The money could also be used to build 650,000 new homes.”
Here are just three alternative proposals the Chancellor could have announced today.
- Climate not Trident: 100,000 wind turbines could be built if just half of the money spent on replacing Trident was invested in renewable energy.
- Homes not Trident: The average cost of building a new house in Britain is £150,000. This means that the government in partnership with civil society could build over 650,000 houses with the money it is planning to spend on Trident.
- NHS not Trident: An extra £205 billion could employ 150,000 new nurses and build 120 state of the art hospitals. Or we could use the money to support our ageing population by providing occupational care at home allowing people to live independently for longer. As Kate Hudson says in her latest blog post “one thing is certain, whatever the Chancellor of the Exchequer says, the British economy is being deprived of the investment it needs to grow and flourish, and that our society is being denied the funding it needs to ensure the health, welfare and happiness of its citizens.”
1.5. This is a particularly busy time foranti-nuclear campaigning, but here at
CNDwe’ve also found time for a
fanstastic new collaboration with our friends at Teemill: two awesome new garment designs! Available as T-shirts, sweatshirts or hoodies, these will make the perfect Christmas gift. Also crushed
missile T-shirt is still available 1.6. Anti-nuclear campaigners have responded to Toshiba’s scrapping of plans to build a nuclear power station in Cumbria. Sara Medi Jones, Acting General Secretary of CND, said: “Nuclear energy isn’t just dirty and dangerous, this announcement shows once again it’s not economically viable.
1.7. Other News: Saturday, 17 November 2018 at 12 noon
Join the CND banner outside the BBC at All Saints Church, Langham Place
London W1A 1AA
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2.
Beyond Nuclear International: Artist Mary Lou Dauray found inspiration in the spectacular landscapes of her world travels. But climate change and Fukushima changed her vision. Her paintings now reflect the runaway destruction — as well as the abiding beauty — of our world. Through her art, she hopes to inspire change. In India, uranium mining takes a drastic toll on the poor and disenfranchised. Journalists Krishna Shree and Rajesh Serupally found anger and desperation among those affected, but denials from nuclear companies.
Last week was in the USA. The critical mid-term elections on November 6 — and their aftermath — will fill the airwaves. After much thought, we opted not to load new content to the Beyond Nuclear International site this week.
Nuclear power is demonstrably useless — and even a hindrance — in saving us from climate change. M.V. Ramana and Robert Jensen show us why. Consequently, we were deeply disappointed by the wrong turn taken last week by the respected Union of Concerned Scientists. Their new report supports subsidies for aging and even new nuclear power plants, arguing that if reactors close, carbon emissions will rise. The majority of major environmental groups strongly oppose this position, which is disproven by evidence where shuttered nuclear plants have been replaced by renewable energy. Our stories this week make the case against nuclear bailouts in the name of carbon reductions. STOP PRESS: American podcaster and activist, Libbe HaLevy, survived the 1979 Three Mile Island nuclear disaster. She was a mile away when it happened and it was “not the vacation I had intended,” as she writes in her new book, Yes, I Glow in the Dark!, an in-depth and personal look at the dangers of nuclear power. Peter Weish emerged from Austria’s nuclear sector to become a leader in the nuclear power opposition movement. He has strong views about the way forward to a peaceful world.
++++++28th NOV UPDATE
More than 15,000 people are now crowded onto tiny Ebeye in the Marshall Islands, forced into exile by the US government to make way for the Cold War atomic tests and the US missile “defense” system on Kwajalein. A powerful photo essay records their plight. Meanwhile, the US vets forced to witness those US tests, and “clean up” afterwards, have suffered numerous illnesses along with ignominy. Today is “#GivingTuesday,” and that apparently means that if all of us ask for money on the same day, we have more chance of raising funds.
On ‘Giving Tuesday’ Like Mother’s Day, we think that every day should be #GivingDay, if you believe in and care about a cause.
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3.PEACE AND JUSTICE CENTRE:
Have raised over £8,000 for
the Opposing War Memorial in just two weeks bringing our
total fundraising so far to
over £25,000!
They have still to raise £33,000 in 26 days to meet our target. People from many countries have donated. We have received about 90 donations ranging from £5 to £5,000. Many thanks to those of you who have donated already.
If you haven’t yet contributed, can you make a donation to help create this lasting tribute to those who have refused to take part in war and/or attend the fundraiser on 20/11?
Other News: Conscience: Taxes for Peace Not War. Inaugural meeting of Edinburgh Chapter was held on 31st October
Chrys Salt – Home Front/Front Line Sunday, 18 November 2018 – 1:00pm to 2:00pm
Edinburgh Quaker Meeting House
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5. October edition of the NFLA newsletter. It can also be found at the NFLA website –
+++++28th NOV UPDATE: Manchester City Council passed a great resolution today to support the nuclear ban treaty and call on the UK govt to take clear steps on nukes.
This makes it the first European city to formally endorse the TPNW and endorse ICAN’s cities appeal.
ICAN Cities Appeal, November 2018
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6. UNFOLD Zero and Basle Peace Office: 6.1 24th to 30th October was
UN Disarmament Week, when member states vote on a range of disarmament decisions and resolutions.
Decisions are binding on the United Nations.
Resolutions are indications of governments’ positions and intent – they are not binding but can be very authoritative and influential if supported by key countries. The deliberations and votes took place in an environment of increasing tensions between nuclear armed States, and also an increasing divide between non-nuclear countries and those countries which rely on nuclear weapons for their security.
Here is a short summary:
- Reducing nuclear danger submitted by India received 127 votes in favour (mostly non-aligned countries). It failed to get support of nuclear-armed or European countries, primarily because it only calls for nuclear risk reduction measures by China, France, Russia, UK and USA – leaving out the other nuclear armed States – India, Pakistan, DPRK and Israel.
- Decreasing the operational readiness of nuclear weapons systemssubmitted by a group of non-nuclear countries, was much more successful receiving 173 votes in favour, including from most of the NATO countries and from four nuclear armed States (China, DPRK, India, Pakistan).
- on the Treaty on the Prohibition Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) was supported by 122 countries. This is more than the number who have signed the Treaty (which is 50).
- Humanitarian consequences of Nuclear War and the Law
- Un High-level conference For more information see
6.2 STOP PRESS: In their historical meeting in June 2018, USA President Trump and North Korea Leader Kim Jong-un announced an agreement under which each country commits to:
- ‘…establish new US-DPRK relations in accordance with the desire of the peoples of the two countries for peace and prosperity’;
- ‘…join their efforts to build a lasting and stable peace regime on the Korean Peninsula’; and
- ‘…recovering POW/MIA remains including the immediate repatriation of those already identified.’
In addition, Kim Jong-un committed to ‘work towards complete de-nuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula.’ Following the signing of the joint agreement, President Trump announced that a first step by the USA in implementing the agreement would be to cease the US-led war games exercises off the coast of the DPRK. The US/DPRK agreement came on the back of a peace process between North and South Korea initiated by South Korean President Moon Jae-in. Members of Abolition 2000, the global network to eliminate nuclear weapons, had been pushing for such a diplomatic process, especially in 2017 when tensions between USA and DPRK were at their highest for decades. See Abolition 2000 actions and responses on USA/Korea peace agreement. ++++++28th NOV UPDATE: UNFOLD ZERO :On October 30, 2018, the UN Human Rights Committee adopted a new General comment No. 36 (2018) on article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), on the right to life, which concludes that the threat or use of nuclear weapons is ‘incompatible with respect for the right to life’ and ‘may amount to a crime under international law.’ The General Comment replaces earlier Comments on the Right to Life adopted by the Committee in 1982 and 1984.
7. Next meeting for the SCND exhibition group is on 22nd November at 6.30pm in the SCND Office Glasgow
8. Edinburgh CAAT: contact edinburghcnd@yahoo.com for news. Next meeting Monday 19th November 7pm in the Quaker Meeting House Edinburgh
9. In Australia? Hope to see a lot of you out on the Walk this year and if you cant make it but would like to support the
Walkatjurra Walkabout then click here
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