Wishing all our supporters a peaceful New Year

The UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons comes in on 22nd January.

Scottish CND is planning a “week of action” leading up to Entry into Force, with a different call to action each day. They are  aiming to publicise this in newsletters and on the website(www.banthebomb.org). Edinburgh CND will be supporting Scottish CND actions.

Please follow us on social media (look for Edinburgh CND on FB and Twitter and Scottish CND on Instagram), if you don’t already, as we’ll be mostly doing this through social media. Please share our messages.

As part of the build up:Edinburgh CND will be holding a Zoom planning meeting on Tuesday 12th January at 6pm. Please see website or Face Book for details.

On Monday 18th January Medea Benjamin, of the US Peace Group ‘Code Pink’, will be speaking on ‘Prospects for War and Peace after the US elections’ https://www.facebook.com/events/185797639930823?

REPORT OF 12th JANUARY MEETING

1. We welcomed Lauren McSwiggen who will be our new admin assistant from 1st February.
2. .Members have been forwarded several emails with details of activities leading up to TPNW (Treaty on theProhibition of Nuclear Weapons) ratification on the 22nd January, eg bell ringing, writing to the press etc. from SCND and ICAN(international Campaign Against Nuclear Weapons). See above 3.
3. 18th January online talk by Medea Benjamin of Code Pink (see Facebook event above), Ken offered to send out a link to part of her evidence at a Congressional hearing.
4. ‘ Beyond Nuclear’ online day conference 11.00am-4.30pm Sunday 31st January (SCND)-sliding scale of ticket prices on Eventbrite,.
5. Scottish Parliamentary Elections Thursday 6th May-most campaigning will be online
6. £20 sent on our behalf for UK CND’s appeal for a newspaper ad. 
7. We have contacted AUOB (All Under One Banner) to try and alter AUOB’s chosen date for their Glasgow march of Saturday 1st May, which clashes with Edinburgh May Day. There was discussion around the difficulty of communicating with AUOB and the likelihood of whether and when large gatherings of people will restart.
8. Fundraiser’s Report. Malcolm still sorting and selling bikes etc to raise funds, can sell almost anything on Ebay or Gumtree, more donations always needed. ECND are still booked for a stall at the Corstorphine Fair on Saturday 5th June, and will attend the Meadows festival on Sunday 6th (and Leith Festival) if they run.
9. Covid Situation. Member Rab updated the meeting on his work with Educational Institute of Scotland on safety issues in schools in the current pandemic. Note also There is a Zero Covid conference on Saturday 16th recommended:
   6. Upcoming 10th Anniversary of Fukushima, Japan, Nuclear Crisis following the Tsunami (11/3/11). Rika agreed, if her work commitments permit, to give a brief presentation to members at our March meeting (Tuesday 2nd at 6pm, Zoom) on the situation today at Fukushima.
   7. Date of Next Meeting: Tuesday 2nd February at 6pm on Zoom

The 2020 Edinburgh CND AGM is scheduled for Tuesday 15th DECEMBER and will be held at 6pm by Zoom (joining instructions to follow)

There will be 2 main items for the Agenda:

1. Plans for next year (see below for a January activity). There will also me a meeting with Medea Benjamin (details to follow)

2. The election of new ‘officers’ for the group. We will need a new Treasurer and more Secretarial help (especially in the area of social media).

To aid the Secretarial work we are considering hiring a part-time Admin assistant  at a wage of £10/hr x up to 10 hours per month = 1,200 per annum (with consideration that National minimum wage is £8.72) so please pass this to anyone who maybe interested and ask them to contact us, at this address (edinburghcnd@yahoo.com), for more details.

Penny Stone is collating a video to celebrate the Treaty on Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons on 22nd Jan, and you’re all invited to contribute. This email has all the information you need. There are lots of possible instructions, but the simple information is just: Listen to the can-can track and video yourself dancing along for 30 seconds. Or there are two photo options for those of you who would find a video too much of a challenge. If you’re feeling fancy, you can record some audio, but it’s the dancing that is the thing we need most of!

All of the information is copied below and is also on my website here www.singlouderthanguns.com/campaigning-videos/

This months (virtual) meeting will be held on Tuesday 3rd November at 6pm. If you would like to attend please email edinburghcnd@yahoo.com for the link.

We will be discussing the SCND AGM planned for 21st November and our own AGM scheduled for Tuesday 15th DECEMBER (i.e. 3rd Tuesday) Don’t forget to join SCND on Saturday 21 November for the Scottish CND AGM.

There will be 2 big issues for the ECND December meeting: 1. Plans for next year (there is going to be much to do) 2. The election of new ‘officers’ for the group. We will need a new Treasurer and more Secretarial help (especially in the area of social media)

Great news that from the 22 Jan 2021 the fifty UN member states who have ratified the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons will be fully legally bound and protested by its obligations.

Apart from have no nuclear weapons capability and not allowing any others on their territory to do so, they will be bound by a positive obligation to do whatever they can to get the other states to join.  On 11 November there will be two international zoom calls to allow campaigners around the world to join ICAN staff and make some plans! Here is the info from Beatrice FihnCall information:  We will be organising two calls to ensure that partner orgs in all time zones can join, you’ll find the times and links to the call here below.  Call 1: Wednesday 11 November, 09:00-10:00 am CET.https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86061740236?pwd=aHFpakg1T0VuQ0p5K0dSNUk5ZWdVdz09Call 2: Wednesday 11 November 21:00-22:00 CET.https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81986730841?pwd=bWRPREFlU0FmZCs4cXYzK3FIZmdJQT09 The two calls will include the same presentations, so please join the one that suits your timezone and schedule best. 

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This years Edinburgh World Justice Festival runs from 27th September to 18th October.

STOP PRESS: CLOSING EVENT ALL INVITED

Final Event – Taking on the corporations 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm 17th OCTOBER

A chance to pull threads together and think about future organising Informal, participative and open agenda.  Register at https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcvc-GtrzgsGN1gxqr25IMusM8a7hixnan  

See ewjf.org.uk for the full programme.

1. Edinburgh CND’s event was on Tuesday 6th October at 7pm and was on the latest Don’t Bank on the Bomb report and Hunterston. See also #ShutHunterstonDownNow

https://www.facebook.com/events/3283476918407304

Here are videos of the talks:

2. There are also related meetings on (2.1)Friday 2nd October (CAAT and STW): https://www.facebook.com/events/326607341907293

and (2.2) Wednesday 14th October (Scottish Wilpf) https://www.facebook.com/events/743768546182460

Other News

1. https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/oct/02/bottlenose-whales-shepherded-out-of-scottish-loch-ahead-of-nato-drills

2. Motion Number: S5M-22906 Lodged By: Bill Kidd
Date Lodged: 30/09/2020 Title: Only Four More to Go
Motion Text: That the Parliament recognises Malaysia as the 46th state to ratify the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons; notes that only four more ratifications from other states are now needed to trigger entry into force; understands that nuclear weapons will become completely illegal under international law when this Treaty comes into force, and congratulates the International Campaign Against Nuclear Weapons’ Malaysian campaigners and the delegation of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Kuala Lumpur on their efforts.

3. the SCND TPNW Working Group meeting Friday 2nd at 8.00pm will be open to any the other Scottish ICAN partners that would like to share in  strategising for the next stage of their work in Scotland.

4. A fundraiser in memory of an SCND/ECND supporter:

Instead of the normal SMAP fund raising event, we are remembering  some of our Runa’s great contributions to peace and Palestinians with an online fundraiser headed up by lovely picture of Runa and Rose at Wibe See: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Runa-Mackay

5. Fundraising for Edinburgh Peace and Justice Centre Peace Education: see https://peaceandjustice.org.uk

STOP PRESS: Fundraising and other issues (such as our up-and-coming meeting at the Edinburgh World Justice Festival) will be on the agenda of our next Zoom organising meeting. Tuesday 1st September at 18.15. All welcome. Email edinburghcnd@yahoo.com for the link. We will also be discussing the latest news from Hunterston:https://www.thenational.scot/news/18681174.hunterston-b-nuclear-power-station-start-decommissioning-within-18-months/

This summer it has not been possible for Edinburgh CND (and Edinburgh Stop the War Coalition) to run the usual Summer stalls at the Meadows, Leith and other festivals. These events are always a great way to meet new people and are also one of our main means of fundraising. Our ‘Plants for Peace’ have been a great fundraiser (thanks to Malcolm) and we have also done a good line in 2nd Hand Book sales with Edinburgh Stop the War coalition (ESTW).

We have 3 fund-raising activities planned or on the go:

1. A joint SCND/ECND fundraiser at The Stand Comedy Club. This was to be in November, but has been postponed, sadly.
2. Selling 2nd hand books on line: ESTW has a large number of second hand novels – in good condition – many of them hardbacks. They are selling them for £1 a copy. Delivery is free in Edinburgh – outside Edinburgh we will work out the cheapest form of carriage. You can browse the list of books in either Excel (searchable) or PDF formats. To order please email edinburghstopthewar@gmail.com and we’ll get back to you quickly to confirm whether the books are still available and with details of cost and delivery. Go to the website to access the booklists https://scotlandstopwar.org/2020/08/06/fundraising-booksale/ ESTW will give at least half the money to ECND if you mention us when you order.
3. We also still have some (new) copies of Alex Lockwood’s The Chernobyl Privileges. Highly recommended and you can receive yours for a donation to Edinburgh CND mail edinburghcnd@yahoo.com We also still have some copies of Allan Crosbie’s poetry book: Outswimming the Eruption
4. One of our members has been selling items, on line, profits to the campaign. So if your lockdown declutter has left you with items, especially bicycles (in any condition), but anything else sellable, contact us at edinburghcnd@yahoo.com

Commemorating the 75th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki

=====Link to video of 6th August meeting: https://youtu.be/GbtQA1uFJwA

There will be intensive social media activity from next week onwards from across the world. Edinburgh CND, Scottish CND, Scrap Trident and others will be adding a Scottish voice. Please share and repost if you can!

Here’s a nice way to spread awareness of the anniversary. Scottish artist Stewart Bremner has drawn a 75th Anniversary frame for use on Facebook. To get it on your Facebook profile, click on your profile, click on update, click on Add Frame, in search put in “SCND 75 Hiroshima Nagasaki”. Add it to your Twitter profile picture by visiting: https://twibbon.com/Support/remember-hiroshima-nagasaki

Edinburgh CND will be discussing our input into the commemoration at a Zoom meeting earlier in the week. All welcome: email edinburghcnd@yahoo.com for the link.

Our main event is a Zoom rally on the 6th August. 6 PM – 7 PM co-hosted by Edinburgh Stop the War and the Peace and Justice Centre. There will be music from Penny Stone and speakers including Tommy Shepherd MP, Maggie Chapman of the Greens and Edinburgh Stop the War Check the Edinburgh CND Facebook page for update. Register for the Zoom meeting at https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcrd-CtrzgqHNabRuFohLhjSSAUUzMBbCek

We will also be encouraging people to commemorate the events with widow posters. In particular Nagasaki will be the subject of our Windows for Peace event on Saturday 8th August.  

Edinburgh Women in Black will also be commemorating the events as part of their vigils. Saturday 1st August will focus on Hiroshima and Saturday 8th August on Nagasaki. https://www.facebook.com/womeninblackedinburgh/

We will also be supporting events organised by Edinburgh Peace and Justice Centre:
1. An Origami Peace Cranes workshop with Shoji Masuzawa from 10 to 11 a.m. On 6th August Via zoom – please book on eventbrite to receive the link.                                                        2. The Priest’s Tale featuring Michael Mears telling the story of Father Wilhelm, a German Jesuit priest living in Hiroshima at the time of the first atomic bombing. Streamed live from the theatre of London’s Sands Film Studio with violin accompaniment by Chihiro Ono. http://www.peaceandjustice.org

Another online event CND (UK) has arranged to mark Hiroshima and Nagasaki Days is a webinar discussing international perspectives on the bombing, 75 years on. We are joined by Japanese activist Yayoi Tsuchida from Gensuikyo and US campaigner Kevin Martin from Peace Action, together with CND Vice-President Bruce Kent. The meeting will take place on Saturday 8th August at 2pm. We hope you can join us for what is sure to be a fascinating discussion. Register for webinar

Scottish CND event on Sunday 9th: https://www.facebook.com/events/299255458179098/

Edinburgh Yes Hub 31 Lasswade Road, Edinburgh EH16 6TD will be hosting the ICAN 75th anniversary exhibition and will also be hosting a virtual meeting, check the Edinburgh Yes Hub facebook page for details or email theedinburghyeshub@gmail.com https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/737734253

Faslane Peace Camp will hold a special vigil at 4 pm on the 6th August at the North Gate of Faslane Naval Base which will not involve any activity liable to lead to arrest. All welcome. Contact edinburghcnd@yahoo.com for travel suggestions.

Fasting  A number of people will be sharing in the international fast, mostly at a personal and private level and some will be signing up to the international fast statement that has been a tradition for several years.The UK contact for Scots wanting to join this is marcwmorgan@btinternet.comor phone 07563 725829

Our Windows for Peace Campaign continues this month with an emphasis on the 72nd anniversery of the NHS. Fund the NHS, Stop Funding Trident.

Edinburgh CND held a zoom meeting at 6pm on Tuesday 7th July. We discussed events around the 75th Anniversary of the Hiroshima bombing and we will be holding a virtual commemoration on 6th August at 6pm. (on the same pattern as our usual outside rally) Further details to follow.            https://www.facebook.com/events/2598595340393384/

We are still campaigning in the virtual world.

1. Tuesday 2nd June: we had our usual monthly organising meeting starting at 5.30pm. We met by Zoom.
2. REPORT OF MEETING HELD ON 2nd JUNE:
   1. Matters Arising from brief meeting held on 6th May. 
   ‘Prevent’ and Peaceful protest. This will be discussed at the UK Parliament in August. In the meantime see:a
   https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jun/17/domestic-extremism-is-no-way-to-describe-peaceful-protest and  https://www.facebook.com/saccRights/posts/1624212511078438
   2. (75th Anniversary) Hiroshima Day 6th August 2020.  Edinburgh CND  plans to have a socially-distanced street event, e.g. at Mound (if possible) and an on-line event. SCND are keen to have a cross-Scotland online event and we will be part of this. Our event will include film on the Marshall Islands and a childrens event on the theme of paper cranes.

   We will be discussing this at our next meeting (Tuesday 7th July) which is also the anniversary of the signing of UN Treaty

   3. Nuclear Power: Expensive and Dangerous. We discussed issues surrounding the possible re-re-opening of Hunterston B: why? when? what would we do?.

   For the time being we will give publicity to:

   A. The work of Ian Fairlie: https://www.ianfairlie.org

   B. Nuclear Free Local Authorities (NFLA) Briefings: https://www.nuclearpolicy.info

   C. Pete Roche: No2NuclearPower: http://www.no2nuclearpower.org.uk

   D. Beyond Nuclear International: http://www.beyondnuclear.org

   All Recommended.

   4. We agreed to stick with Windows for Peace (rather than physical leafleting) at least for  Saturday 13th June.

   We agreed to advertise the Black Lives Matter events in Edinburgh this week. See previous post

   5. Lucas Plan

   At some future date we will arrange (with one of local indie cinemas) for a showing of the long version of the film.

   In the meantime here is a reminder of the short one: https://vimeo.com/305253552

   Paul Shaw’s info is on the Facebook page too.

   It was noted how important this issue is in the context of a Just Transition.

   6. Finance

   A. Support for Faslane Peace Camp

   B. Support for the Yes Hub Raffle: Raffle to top up funds to keep going during C-19 draw 10th June;                                                                                                                                            Bottle of signed Nicola independence whisky,                                                                                   A tassimo expresso coffee machine,   A food hamper,                                                                     A bottle of aged Highland Park

   £1 per ticket order by return email yescafe.edinsouth@gmail.com and paid for 80 22 60  13339761

   web: https://www.edinburghyeshub.info/

   twitter: https://twitter.com/YescafeEdSouth

   facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yescafeedinburghsouth

   C. SCND/ECND Comedy Night fundraiser on 10th November is still on (so far)

   D. All the June Festivals are off, but Corstophine and Leith will run next year.

    

3. Saturday  13th June: we will be joining in Windows for Peace. Make a Peace poster and show it in your window. http://www.banthebomb.org/index.php/news/2076-windows-for-peace-placard-making-challenge.  Here is a reminder from SCND Windows for Peace
   We are still receiving submissions for the #windowsforpeace challenge where we’ve asked all our members and supporters to create a message of peace for their local community to place in their windows and they’ve all been so creative. These two have recently come in and serves as great inspiration for your windows!If you don’t have access to art materials feel free to print off either of the templates below and place them in your window and please remember to send them to us via email or use the hashtag #windowsforpeace.
   Template 1                        Template 2
4. 4.1 Monday 1st June 12 noon to 7th June 1pm: Hang your posters and signs outside the US Consulate (Regent Terrace) to show solidarity with the protesters over the killing of George Floyd and the continuing legacy of racist police brutality in the United States. Tape, chalk, and NON-PERMANENT MATERIALS ONLY!! This is NOT a public gathering, but a call for socially distanced solidarity.

   4. 2. Sunday 7th June 1pm: As America mourns the loss of George Floyd, killed by a police officer, London have announced their protest on the 7th, Scotland need to join everyone and show our support against racism and discrimination as this is very much alive in the UK/Scotland

   Please meet IN HOLYROOD PARK (note change) where there will be social distancing circles for you to stand in.
   Please also WEAR A MASK and bring water/food
   THIS IS A PEACEFUL PROTEST NOT A RIOT! PLEASE KEEP 2M DISTANCE AT ALL TIMES

   Comment from Benitha Marie-Claire Iradukunda (student at Queen Margaret):
   BLACK PEOPLE ARE PRESENT IN SCOTLAND AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE. JUST BECAUSE WE’RE NOT IN THE MASSES DOESN’T MEAN WE DON’T EXIST
   ADDITION: 4.3 Sunday 7th June 6pm Virtual Vigil: https://www.facebook.com/events/731620407586790/

   

5. Wednesday 7th June: 1pm to 2pm

   5.1 Join XR Peace founder, Angie Zelter in conversation with marine turned war-abolitionist David Collins, anti-nuclear and environmental activist Brian Jones, Quaker, feminist and peace activist Janet Fenton and Green Party Spokesperson on Security Issues and first President of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) Rebecca Johnson. Co-hosted by XR PEACE:
   https://www.facebook.com/xrpeace/                                                                                       5.2 Conference call from 5.30 pm  The conference call is not only for press members but also for the general public who would like to know more about Bradwell B. Speakers:·       Mr Peter Banks (West Mersea Town Councillor, member of local NGO campaign group, BANNG)·       Dr Sanae Fujita (Fellow of the Human Rights Centre and School of Law at the University of Essex) To attend the conference, please register here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfD7hIBlWmtSP5r32ZHZcIdgMEUyviqrCNeoONppNJIfvvBxA/viewform?usp=sf_link

    

    

APOLOGY POSTED 7th MAY:
At last night’s meeting held jointly with ScotE3 we showed the 30 minute version of Steve Sprung’s film about the Lucas Plan. We strongly recommend watching the full version and you can find out more about the film at the dedicated website. You can also follow up on current developments via the new Lucas Plan website. If you weren’t able to make the meeting you can watch the 30 minute version here https://vimeo.com/305253552.
We apologise to those who may have tried to join the meeting after it started. We had a problem with Zoom-bombing and that is why access was denied for a bit. We think we know how to avoid it in future. It is a learning experience. Do watch the short film on line and we may ask the speakers back for another meeting.

In the meantime, please join in Windows for Peace on Saturday 9th (see below) and Conscientious Objectors Day Online Scotland Vigil. Livestream on Facebook. 
5:30 – 6:30pm. 15 May. To watch go to: https://www.facebook.com/edinpeaceandjusticecentre/

Wednesday 6th May 2020:

We are joining with Scot.E3 for  a showing of the short version of the new Lucas Plan film followed by discussion. This meeting will be online:  https://zoom.us/j/760890355

https://www.facebook.com/events/557237764890099

Friday 1st May 2020: We are planning for the May Day rally. Unfortunately, it cannot be outside this year so we have organised an online event which will be co-hosted by our own Penny Stone.

Join the Edinburgh and Lothians May Day Rally – 1pm Friday 1st May. You can join the livestream on the facebook page facebook.com/EdinburghMayDay or join via Zoom – all the details of how to do this at https://tinyurl.com/rarb8vc

Wednesday 6th May 2020:

We are joining with Scot.E3 for  a showing of the short version of the new Lucas Plan film followed by discussion. This meeting will also be online:

https://www.facebook.com/events/557237764890099/

Saturday 9th May 2020:

We will be encouraging our supporters to put a poster in their window :

http://www.banthebomb.org/index.php/news/2076-windows-for-peace-placard-making-challenge