April Edinburgh CND meeting is on Monday 4th April 6pm in ACE 17 W Montgomery Pl, Edinburgh EH7 5HA

There is much to discuss (including the events below):

Click on events to see details of events including: Our benefit at The Stand,                         May Day celebration and                                                                                                                           Dates of hustings ( go and ask your potential MSPs about their views on Trident). Please go along to any you can: Trident questions on the waste of money are always relevant!

Please help us to keep the list up-to-date by e-mailing new information on Hustings to edinburghcnd@yahoo.com and we will add them to our list.

Here are a few suggestions for questions:
1. If elected will you join the Parliamentarian Network for Nuclear Disarmament (PNND: http://www.pnnd.org/) and sign ICAN’s Parliamentary Appeal? ( http://www.icanw.org/projects/appeal/) The idea here is to give a clear and concrete expression to the Scottish desire to stand aside from the nuclear weapon states (particularly the UK) and show solidarity with the majority world which favour a global ban. It ties in also with continuing hopes for independence and national status at the UN.
2. Will you commit to working in collaboration with other parties and individuals in other parties on the common platform of disarmament so that the Parliament’s rejection of nuclear weapons is not weakened by inter-party strife?
3. Will you push for the legality of Trident to be properly examined within Scots Law?
4. Will you do what you can to ensure that the Scottish Government takes action on emergency planning in relation to Trident weapon convoys through Scotland?                       5. Hustings Questions from Don’t Bank on the Bomb Q.1 SNP / Labour / Green Party is against Trident renewal but the Scottish Parliamentary Pension Scheme (administered by Fund Managers Baillie Gifford) have invested £244,517 in Rolls Royce which manufactures the propulsion system, (reactors) for Trident submarines. Would you support divestment of the SPPS from companies such as Rolls Royce that manufacture components for Trident and other nuclear weapons systems?
Q.2 With the global movement for a ban on nuclear weapons now supported by 123 countries production, possession and deployment of nuclear weapons is becoming increasingly stigmatized internationally & will sooner or later be illegal. This means investments in nuclear weapons is increasingly a financial risk. Would you agree that it would therefore be prudent for the Scottish Parliamentary Pension Scheme to divest from companies producing nuclear weapons.

Other News:

1. Global Day of Action Against Military Spending.
   The purpose is to raise awareness on military spending issues and to make the event more visible and more attractive to the public by having several groups working together, thus raising awareness more effectively, which would benefit all groups.
   All groups could have information stands and leaflets to give out, although it would be great to also have a common leaflet to give out on the day. We have asked Rhythms of Resistance and others if they could come and play some music on the day, and there may be some speakers too. If you have any other ideas for the programme, fire away! Nothing is set in stone yet, and collaboration is key to make it a nice event.
   When: Saturday 16th April, 11am – 3pm
   Where: On the Foot of the Mound (Or if the current construction work is still on on the day, the East End of Prince’s Street)
   Who: Groups working on military spending related agendas, hopefully you
2. Trident Ploughshares: SEE NUCLEAR WEAPONS . .
   they’re vile and stupid and costly. We want to do our bit for global disarmament. So we told them about it, again and again. We blockaded Faslane and took to the streets. We elected an anti-Trident Scottish Parliament. We elected anti-Trident MPs in May last year and shook a saltire at the big demo on 27th February this year . AND THEY STILL HAVEN’T PAID US ANY ATTENTION so now we are heading for Berkshire for 7th June for the Scottish Day in the Month of Peaceful Direct Action against the nuclear weapon assembly plant at Burghfield where people from all over the UK and beyond will be doing their best to put A GENTLE SPANNER IN THE WORKS. People will be doing different and imaginative things to disrupt the ongoing work of the plant. Some of these things could lead to arrest but there are also support tasks to be done and people doing these will not be risking confrontation with the law. JOIN US IF YOU CAN To give real support to peace folk down south (including our MPs) who have to face a much more apathetic and even hostile response compared to Scotland To show our commitment to ridding, not just Scotland, but the UK and the world of nukes, To signal to the UK government that resistance to Trident will continue, whatever Westminster decides. There will be shared transport to and from the area and accommodation when we get there. We are also holding a special prep meeting on 19th APRIL in Edinburgh from 1.30 to 3 pm in the Edinburgh Peace and Justice Centre, 5 Upper Bow, Edinburgh, EH1 2JN, close to the castle. FOR MORE INFO scotland@tridentploughshares.org                                                                                                    3. A Trident Warhead convoy that arrived in Scotland on 10th March was stopped briefly in Balloch. If you see this convoy on the road let Nukewatch know on 0345 4588 365. Videos and more information from Nukewatch or see the briefing from Scottish CND                                                                                                                                          And for anyone who couldn’t get to the big Stop Trident demo in London in February you can still catch a bit of the action on Live Stream (see earlier post).                            4.The President of the National Union of Teachers (NUT), Christine Blower, this week called for an end to Trident as she addressed her trade union’s annual conference. The NUT is just one of many organisations which has supported CND’s People not Trident campaign, agreeing with us that the government’s cuts aren’t based on the needs of the economy, but on politics. It is unacceptable that the government can spend well over £100 billion on a weapon of mass destruction, but it can’t find the money to pay teachers and nurses a decent wage, build enough homes or invest in safe and secure energy sources. Join CND as we march against Trident and in favour of health, homes, jobs and education in London on Saturday, April 16th. (N.B. See last news for job in London Office)                                                                                                     5. Link to the Drones campaign in Germany.  http://www.ramstein-kampagne.eu/appeal/  On the link it asks you to sign the petition and share on fb.          6. Scottish Parliament Elections  Women’s Voices The SWC is holding a women’s voices hustings event on Saturday 9th April. Women will be given the opportunity to discuss key issues, concerns and priorities not only with other women, but with representatives from Scotland’s main political parties. Those attending will participate in a Question and Answer session with those standing for election to the Scottish Parliament.  Date: Saturday 9th April Venue: Hilton Glasgow Grosvenor, 1-9 Grosvenor Terrace, Glasgow G12 0TA Timings: 10am – 1.30pm

Please click on events to see details of our benefit at The Stand, May Day celebration and dates of hustings ( go and ask your potential MSPs about their views on Trident): 

Note 29th May:  Please go along to any you can: Trident questions on the waste of money are always relevant! Please help us to keep the list up-to-date by e-mailing new information to edinburghcnd@yahoo.com.

Here are a few suggestions for questions:
1. If elected will you join the Parliamentarian Network for Nuclear Disarmament (PNND: http://www.pnnd.org/) and sign ICAN’s Parliamentary Appeal? ( http://www.icanw.org/projects/appeal/) The idea here is to give a clear and concrete expression to the Scottish desire to stand aside from the nuclear weapon states (particularly the UK) and show solidarity with the majority world which favour a global ban. It ties in also with continuing hopes for independence and national status at the UN.
2. Will you commit to working in collaboration with other parties and individuals in other parties on the common platform of disarmament so that the Parliament’s rejection of nuclear weapons is not weakened by inter-party strife?
3. Will you push for the legality of Trident to be properly examined within Scots Law?
4. Will you do what you can to ensure that the Scottish Government takes action on emergency planning in relation to Trident weapon convoys through Scotland?                There are some more ideas from Don’t Bank on the Bomb in the previous Newsletter.

Please tell us of any other Hustings and we will add them to our list edinburghcnd@yahoo.com

Sunday 20 March. 1 – 4pm.  Fly Kites not Drones. On the Meadows.By the Pavilion Cafe. Supported by EdinburghCND

Afghan children traditionally fly kites on Now Ruz (New Year). But the blue skies of Afghanistan are now a fearful sight to the children who no longer want to fly kites, due to fear of a drone strike. Drones are now extensively used in Pakistan, Iraq, Syria, Gaza, Yeman, Mali and Somalia too, with untold civilian casualties. We will Fly Kties in solidarity with all who live under the threat of drones.Bring a kite or come along and make one.

Drone Campaign Network’s monthly email newsletter is available. Each month, they send an email containing the latest information, campaign updates and links to resources to help you campaign on the growing use of armed drones. To receive monthly email newsletter, sign up via website http://dronecampaignnetwork.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f4b7a7e4e1dc9a526bdcef140&id=96c08d27ce&e=a4fa904f48

Other Events this weekend                                                                                                             1. Saturday 19th Refugees Welcome are Welcome Here demonstration  assemble 11am for 11.30am start at George Square in Glasgow. 2.Later on some of us will join the solidarity with Syria demo and rally that leaves Parliament Square in Edinburgh at 1pm and then rallies at the Parliament until 4pm.
3.Sunday 20th The Scottish Defence League want to march in Edinburgh on a viciously anti-refugee, Islamophobic and racist platform.  Support the call from UAF to assemble at the Mound at 12.45 to say no to the SDL (and go to the Meadows after)

Ask Your MSPs to Sign Motion Calling on Scottish Government to Recognise International Conscientious Objectors Day.
A motion calling on Scottish Parliament to recognise International Conscientious Objectors’ Day 15 May has been lodged by Alison Johnstone MSP. Read the full text of the Motion S4M-15865 http://peaceandjustice.us7.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=6e39b7d66c916d69d27cb405f&id=fd64b5d495&e=c2ba2454a

Syria petition at https://www.scribd.com/doc/298238583/Syria-Petition
(The petition on Military visits to schools is still open: see previous news)

CND condemns cuts made to welfare as government ploughs ahead with £100+bn Trident replacement
In light of cuts to welfare in George Osborne’s 2016 budget, anti-nuclear campaigns have reissued their demand for the government to cancel plans to replace Trident, the UK’s nuclear weapons system. Kate Hudson, CND general secretary, said: “This budget is a total disaster for some of the most vulnerable people in the UK. The government has announced cuts to welfare for disabled people, cuts to pensions for nurses and teachers, and cuts to local government. Yet it remains committed to replacing Trident at a cost of over £100 billion.”
Don’t forget that People not Trident – which looks at what else Britain could spend £100billion on, other than Trident – is available for using at your local demonstrations and events. You can order it from the CND shop.
If you disagree with Osborne and the Tory government’s pursuit of nuclear weapons at the cost of support for the disabled, pensioners and Local Government make your feelings known: Write to your MP to tell them you want to stop Trident replacement. You can contact your MP using the CND website Tweet your support for the #StopTrident campaign, perhaps using some of the facts above Join our People not Trident bloc at the People’s Assembly demonstration on Saturday, April 16th

We are sad to announce the death of EdinburghCND supporter Sylvia Marshall. Sylvia’s funeral will be held at 1.30 on Friday 1 April at Morton Hall Crematorium followed by a memorial meeting at 3pm at the Edinburgh Quaker Meeting House where Sylvia was a member.

Meetings:

1. Monday 21st March Edinburgh Stop the War monthly meeting at the Quaker Meeting House. Report back from the Scottish Stop the War meeting, discussion and planning on antiwar campaigning andcompare notes and draw threads together with SACC on campaigning plans around Islamophobia and Prevent at the end of the evening.
2. Next meeting of the Don’t Bank on the Bomb network to 22 March 2pm at the Edinburgh Peace and Justice Centre.
3. Trident Ploughshares NVDA workshop Saturday March 26th 10am – 5pm
   Glasgow Quaker Meeting House 38 Elmbank Crescent, Glasgow G2 4PS Trident Ploughshares invites you to join a day long workshop to prepare for taking part in Nonviolent Direct Action against the Trident nuclear weapons system and considering joining TP. For more info and booking go to http://tridentploughshares.org/trident-ploughshares-members-training/ People who can’t risk arrest but would like to do practical hands on support are very welcome.
4. Nukewatch Edinburgh meeting will be a 7pm on Thurs 31 March in the Peace and Justice Centre.wwrk out some practicalities about watching the by pass and how to make the most of Tridents proximity in local campaigning.
5. New Item: Please see the following message on a peace forum in Nineveh this Thursday and Friday and kindly consider forwarding to contacts:
   https://kaibrandjacobsen.wordpress.com/2016/03/28/theres-also-nineveh-a-request-for-help-contacting-media-around-the-world/
6. Saturday (2 April): Edinburgh stop the war have a campaigning stall at the East End of Princes Street (by the Wellington Statue opposite the Balmoral), 1pm – 2.30pm  – if you can get a long to help, even for a short time that would be great. Hope to see
7. Next Meeting of Edinburgh CND 6pm on 4th April in ACE
8. Next Meeting of the Scottish Peace Network 6th April at 2 pm in Edinburgh Peace and Justice Centre 5 Upper Bow, Edinburgh EH1 2JN
9. The People’s Assembly National Demo: Join Our ‘People Not Trident’ Bloc
   Details Saturday 16 April 2016

Other News:

1.CND is hiring! CND (London Office) is looking for a new Office & HR Manager to sustain a supportive and efficient working environment for everyone at CND. Please share the ad far and wide.

2.Petition: Make planting trees a priority to reduce flooding by improving soil and drainage
View on petition.parliament.uk

3. New Website: Scotland Stop the War has a new website at http://www.scotlandstopwar.org

4.Ban Ki-moon will end his 10-year term in December 2016. The campaign for the next UN Secretary-General has begun. Seven candidates have already come forward, and there are possibilities of additional nominations. You can question the candidates
​ There are three easy ways to submit your question.
Fill out an online form, Tweet using #UNSGcandidates , Email askSGcandidates@unngls.org, Perhaps your question will be about nuclear disarmament?

5. New Item: Date 23 March 2016 Local Authorities Investments in Arms (City of Edinburgh Council) In August 2015 Common Weal South Lanarkshire submitted a Freedom of Information request to all 32 local authorities in Scotland to establish which councils had investments in companies designing, manufacturing or selling arms in the UK and worldwide.

 

Please click on events to see dates of hustings: go and ask your potential MSPs about their views on Trident

1.A convoy transporting Trident nuclear weapons to Scotland was seen this morning (Thursday 10 March) at 0730 on the M6 near Preston. It is likely to travel through Scotland later today.                                                                                                                                   If you see it please contact Nukewatch on 0345 458 8365.
Tell your MP to stop the nuclear convoys Last Friday in Parliament the Government blocked a Bill which would have introduced regulations on the transportation of nuclear warheads around the country. The Bill was introduced following a number of incidents where warheads have been transported in residential areas and in poor weather conditions. CND is working with other groups to raise awareness of this issue and is supporting the Bill. Please contact your MP today and ask them to sign EDM 987 which supports the Bill and ask them to support the Bill when it returns to the House of Commons on Friday. You can contact your MP through the template form on the CND website.

2. Tomorrow (11th March) is the fifth anniversary of the Fukushima disaster.Around the country anti-nuclear campaigners and activists will commemorate the ongoing disastrous effects of the nuclear accident that took place in Japan five years ago.The Japanese government remains unable to contain the problem. Radioactive leaks at the site means that thousands of people continue to be displaced.

Gathering to remember Fukushima,
Donald Dewar Statue, Buchanan St, Glasgow, 10 – 11 am, Friday 11 March.
Five years ago, on 11th March 2011 there was a major nuclear accident at the Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan. There were explosions in 3 of the reactors. Radiation was scattered across a vast area. 160,000 people were told to leave their homes . The so called clean up is a whitewash.
Scotland has Trident nuclear-armed submarines in our seas, and convoys of nuclear weapons driving through Glasgow and Edinburgh. The links between the technology for the weapons and the development of nuclear power are undeniable and dangerous, so to complicate matters and make it even worse, instead of a safe country with renewable energy we also have to worry about trains criss-crossing the country with nuclear waste from Hunterston, Torness and Dounreay.
Come with placards and paper cranes at 10 am on Friday 11 March to the top of Buchanan St, Glasgow, to remember the Fukushima accident, let others know and share information about the event on Facebook and Twitter.

3. (a) EdinburghCND leafleting. 12.30 Sat 12th March East end of Princes Street (before Women in Black)                                                                                                                                           (b) There will be a meeting of the Stop the War Scotland steering group on Saturday March 12th, 3pm – 5pm in the Conference Room at the Augustine United Church on George 4th Bridge.  Agenda includes our campaigning work on Syria, Iraq and the Middle East, Prevent/Islamophobia, Trident/Nato. The meeting is an opportunity for local groups to share experiences and coordinate plans for the next few months. (c) Songs of the Unsung Heroes March 12th 2-4.30pm, Scottish Storytelling Centre
Jane Lewis and Penny Stone from Protest in Harmony lead a fun and inspirational afternoon of songs celebrating the movements and people who opposed the First World War.

4. Forceswatch Quaker Meeting House Victoria Terrace Edinburgh 14th March 2016 7 – 9 pm. Challenging Military Visits to Scottish Schools
Discussion of issues around armed Forces visits to schools in Scotland. In conjunction with the petition to Scottish Parliament for greater scrutiny.
Owen Everett, ForcesWatch. Annie McCrae, Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS)
Conor McAllister, Veterans for Peace UK.
Also: Tues 15 March STUC, 333 Woodlands Rd, Glasgow.
Owen Everett, ForcesWatch. Nicola Fisher, local primary teacher. Geoffrey Martin & Conor McAllister, Veterans for Peace will speak out about having been recruited at age 17.
Sign the petition for greater transparency, regulation and scrutiny of Armed Forces visits to schools: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/GettingInvolved/Petitions/armedforcesvisitstoschools
See also article in the National:
http://www.thenational.scot/comment/michael-gray-should-the-army-be-targeting-pupils-for-enlistment.14738
5. Stop Trident: next steps
Welcome to the March edition of CND’s new, monthly magazine. We’ll be keeping you updated about what we’ve been up to, what’s coming up and exploring a few issues in the Trident debate in more depth. Let me know if there’s anything in particular you would like us to cover in this magazine or if you have any other feedback at all.
The Stop Trident demonstration was rightly acclaimed by all as the biggest anti-nuclear demonstration in a generation. CND General Secretary Kate Hudson writes about its success and the next steps we all need to take.
All of us can influence the Labour Party’s position on Trident. Carol Turner, Vice-Chair of Labour CND, explains how.
Read the full magazine here

6. nuClear News No.83 March 2016 now available for downloading:
http://www.no2nuclearpower.org.uk/nuclearnews/NuClearNewsNo83.pdf

7. Fly Kites Not Drones. Sunday 20 March. 1 – 4pm.
On the Meadows. (By the Meadows Pavilion Café). Edinburgh
Kite making, Decorating, and Flying. In solidarity with Afghan Peace Volunteers and other people living under threat of Drones.

8. Hustings Questions from Don’t Bank on the Bomb Q.1 SNP / Labour / Green Party is against Trident renewal but the Scottish Parliamentary Pension Scheme (administered by Fund Managers Baillie Gifford) have invested £244,517 in Rolls Royce which manufactures the propulsion system, (reactors) for Trident submarines. Would you support divestment of the SPPS from companies such as Rolls Royce that manufacture components for Trident and other nuclear weapons systems?
Q.2 With the global movement for a ban on nuclear weapons now supported by 123 countries production, possession and deployment of nuclear weapons is becoming increasingly stigmatized internationally & will sooner or later be illegal. This means investments in nuclear weapons is increasingly a financial risk. Would you agree that it would therefore be prudent for the Scottish Parliamentary Pension Scheme to divest from companies producing nuclear weapons.

 

9. Ask your constituency and list MSPs add their name to Motion S4M – 15865 for the Scottish Government to recognise International Conscientious Objectors’ Day (15 May). The full text of the resolution, lodged by Alison Johnstone MSP can be found at http://www.peaceandjustice.org.uk and on the Scottish Parliament website.

10. Parliamentary CND took place on 8th March in Room W2 off Westminster Hall. parliamentary@cnduk.org

London 27th February: Led by CND, party leaders joined trade union and faith leaders, as well as activists and celebrities to show the breadth of public opposition to Trident. This demonstration clearly showed the huge surge across society against Trident replacement and we thank everyone who joined us there. You helped make this a truly momentous occasion which will have an enormous impact on the politics of Britain and the outcome of the Trident question.
Sharon Dolev the director of the Israeli Disarmament Movement spoke at the Rally and then came to Scotland to address a meeting at the Parliament. Take a look at the photos from the demonstration (and buy a commemorative t-shirt) on the CND website http://www.cnduk.org and on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/EdinburghCND/
‘Don’t you believe in democracy?’ CND asks Fallon, as further £642m Trident spend announced Campaigners have condemned defence secretary Michael Fallon’s announcement to spend a further £642 million (taking the amount already being spent on Trident’s successor to almost £4bn) ahead of a Parliamentary vote on whether to replace Trident, the UK’s nuclear weapons system. Kate Hudson, CND general secretary, said: “I ask Michael Fallon, what is the point of a parliamentary vote on Trident if the government’s going to spend millions on replacement anyway?” Michael Fallon will be at the Scottish Consrvatives Conference at Murrayfield today ( Friday). His plan is NOT TO listen to us lobby the Tories before a Trident vote. Meet around noon at the junction of Roseburn Street and Roseburn Terrace. Bring something to make a noise and some eyecatching props and banners and we will walk down to the entrance together.

MEETINGS!                                                                                                                                                   The next Edinburgh CND meeting will be on Monday 7th March 6pm at ACE 17 W Montgomery Pl, Edinburgh EH7 5HA. ALL WELCOME. The next CAAT Edinburgh meeting is also on Monday 7th March 7.30 to 8:45pm at the Quaker Meeting House at 7 Victoria Terrace, Edinburgh. We would love you to join us!

Saturday 12 March: 1230pm: Edinburgh CND will be leafletting at the East End of Princes Street and from 2 – 4:30pm. Songs of the Unsung Heroes.Scottish Storytelling Centre
43-45 High St, Edinburgh EH1 1SR Jane Lewis and Penny Stone from Protest in Harmony lead a fun and inspirational afternoon of songs celebrating the movements and people who opposed the First World War. Learn songs about the men and women who refused to fight and those involved in the movements for equality and social justice that move us closer to a world without war. Organised by Protest in Harmony, as part of the Middle Eastern Spirituality and Peace Festival,in conjunction with the Edinburgh Peace and Justice Centre’s The World Is My Country exhibition. All welcome, no previous experience necessary. Book Tickets here. £12 / Network Members £10. NB The exhibition is on now and runs to the 12th.

Forceswatch 14th March 2016 7 – 9 pm. Quaker Meeting House Victoria Terrace Edinburgh Please circulate the Eventbrite page widely https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/challenging-military-visits-to-scottish-schools-edinburgh-public-meeting-tickets-22276168620. Also, for those of you who use Facebook, please invite people to the ‘event’ on there, and spread the word that way: https://www.facebook.com/events/899411836844995/. EdinburghCND is supporting this meeting

Scrap Trident: meeting in Edinburgh Thursday March 17th at 6.30pm. Edinburgh Peace and Justice Centre, 5 Upper Bow, EH1 2JN

Fly Kites Not Drones Sunday 20 March. 1 – 4pm. On the Meadows. Fly Kites Not Drones was inspired by the Afghan Peace Volunteers who say the beautiful blue skies of Afghanistan are now a fearful sight to children who no longer want to fly kites, due to fear of a drone strike. The campaign is focused on the psychological impacts of weaponised drones which are now extensively used in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Syria, Gaza, Yeman, Mali and Somalia.

Still running: 140,000 Paper Cranes Workshops Edinburgh Peace & Justice Centre, 5 Upper Bow, EH1 2JN Saturdays: 2 – 4pm

Planning for the future: (1) Edinburgh CND is supporting the MayDay March and Rally: ‪#‎workersrights‬ ‪#‎humanrights‬ The 2016 Edinburgh and Lothians May Day March will assemble 11.30am, Saturday 7th May at the top of Johnston Terrace from where it will march to a rally at the Pleasance. Save the date, tell your friends and workmates.                (2) Benefit in Aid of Edinburgh CND at The Stand Edinburgh on Tuesday 21st June. This is a busy and crucial year for our campaign-all the more reason to lighten up with laughter while raising money and reaching out to a new audience. Can you help make this night a winner by selling tickets to friends and families, by helping run the event and donating raffle prizes? 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. As well as the money from ticket sales we hope to run a raffle to raise even more cash. This means top quality prizes donated by you! We’ve already been offered red wine by one generous supporter

STOP PRESS: Added on 27th A growing number of cultural figures have expressed support for Saturday’s major Stop Trident demonstration. Hip hop group Young Fathers and trip hop legends Massive Attack called on their followers to support the demo. Actress Vanessa Redgrave, Enter Shikari’s Rou Reynolds, and comedienne Francesca Martinez will address the Trafalgar Square rally. And political singer songwriter Robb Johnson is set to perform at the beginning of the march in Marble Arch.                  The NUS National Executive Council which gathered this week has passed a motion in support of Saturday’s major Stop Trident demo. Shakira Martin, NUS vice president (Further Education), who will speak at the Trafalgar Square rally, said: “today the National Union of Students, which represents 7 million students, voted to support this Saturday’s Stop Trident national demonstration. CND Stop Trident demonstration – 27th February 2016 Trafalgar Square rally, running approx. 2.15/30 to 4pm. See Website for running  order

A Message about the Demo from the Scrap Trident Coalition:
The bus from Glasgow and Edinburgh is full and there’s another bus from Stirling (seats still available )
If you are making your own way and want to stay at the Convergence space (sleeping on the floor) then theres still room. Contact enquiries@cnduk.org
If you are meeting us in London and want to join the Scottish block then we are going to be near the front of the march behind the main banner and speakers. The march assembles in Park Lane near Marble Arch and the road will be closed for forming up at noon. Walk on down Park Lane untill you find us. We will have big Sandy and Big CiNDy, the Scottish CND puppets and hopefully a piper so will be easy to spot! The march is to Trafalgar Square where the rally is happening. If you can’t make it then look out for us on social media and share, share, share!

International organisations backing the demo included Le Mouvement de la Paix (France), The International Peace Bureau (Switzerland), Rete italiana per il disarmo (Italian Disarmament Network), New Zealand Peace Council, American Friends Service Committee, amongst 30 other organisations.‘This is a moment of great opportunity for us. The moment we can make the difference – and change the course of history. Please make every effort to join me at the Stop Trident demo on Saturday. We need huge numbers of individuals and organisations from across society. This is our time – make it count!
With thanks, Bruce Kent’
Kate Hudson, CND general secretary, said:
“The scale of the international support we are receiving shows that Trident replacement is not just a British matter: our nuclear rearmament is of enormous concern globally. The leaders of the Labour Party, Scottish National Party, and Plaid Cymru will mount the same stage in Trafalgar Square to speak to tens of thousands of people gathered to say one thing: ‘stop Trident.’ Jeremy Corbyn’s office confirmed today that he would address the anti-nuclear weapons rally, joining Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and Plaid Cymru’s Leanne Wood. The Green MP Caroline Lucas will also join the mass rally alongside a star-studded line-up including actress Vanessa Redgrave.
Oxford CND have a song sheet for us

All the ads are now up on buses and reaching millions of people, just 4 days before the Stop Trident demo! This wouldn’t have been possible without the generosity of our members and supporters. A press conference on Monday was followed by a photo call with MPs Caroline Lucas, Ronnie Campbell, Stuart Donaldson, Ian Blackford, Alison Thewliss, and others. On Friday Artist Peter Kennard revealed #StopTrident art competition result at Central London rally 10 things you can do to Stop Trident see cnduk.org

Other Events:

1. The World Is My Country Exhibition Thurs 25 Feb – Sat 12 March
   Free Exhibition Launch 6pm Thursday 25 February With graphic artist Emily Johns, Gabriel Carlyle, and Protest in Harmony. Scottish Storytelling Centre 43-45 High St, Edinburgh EH1 1SR
   The Exhibition celebrates, in stories and pictures, the people and movements that opposed the First World War. Featuring disobedient soldiers, feminist peace initiatives, a Maori princess, a famous Cambridge philosopher, and the striking graphic art of Emily Johns.Join & Share Event on Facebook:
   https://www.facebook.com/events/1575076856117731/

2. Crane making workshops at the Peace and Justice Centre on Saturdays

3. Songs of the Unsung Heroes. Saturday 12 March. 2 – 4:30pm. Scottish Storytelling Centre 43-45 High St, Edinburgh EH1 1SR

4. Forces Watch meeting Monday 14th March: Quaker Meeting House in Edinburgh EdinburghCND and Scottish wilpf

5.Thursday 3 March, 5.30 pm Martin Hall New College Edin Uni Mound Place
Dr Eurig Scandrett, Queen Margaret University, and Elspeth Strachan, Edinburgh
‘Pollution in a Promised Land’: Justice and the Environment in Palestine and Israel.
Monday 14 March, 4.30 pm Martin Hall
Emma Ritch, Director of Engender – Scotland’s Feminist Organisation
Engendering rights? The challenges of using human rights approaches to realise gender justice

6. The next meeting of the Don’t Bank on the Bomb network to 22 March 2pm at the Edinburgh Peace and Justice Centre.

7. The OEWG is meeting at the present time it is mandated by the United Nations General Assembly to undertake substantive work on legal measures and norms to achieve a nuclear-weapon-free world, and to make recommendations on measures to reduce the risks of accidental, mistaken, unauthorized or intentional nuclear weapon detonations.
The OEWG is open to all member States of the United Nations and to representatives of civil society.

8. Drones Campaign: more events and Feb newsletter: https://dronecampaignnetwork.wordpress.com

 

And a few other things (views not necessarily those of EdinburghCND)

1.From Feb 22-26, governments and civil society met at the Palais des Nations (United Nations) in Geneva for the first sessions of the UN Open Ended Working Group on Multilateral Nuclear Disarmament Negotiations.                                                                                                                           2.Trident: How the banks have their fingers on the button https://www.commonspace.scot/articles/3468/trident-how-the-banks-have-their-fingers-on-the-button
3. Compass: sharing this video will help build momentum. Please help us do that and we hope to see you at the march on 27th February.                                                                              4.Boris Johnson Solitaire, Sturgeon Blackjack or Trident Poker
http://browngirloutsidethering.blogspot.co.uk/               5.http://votetoleaveeuropeanunion.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/we-call-on-everyone-to-vote-to-leave-eu.html

STOP PRESS: All bus tickets sold BUT please contact us if you want to go to London. We can help. edinburghcnd@yahoo.com

As we all know CND is calling a massive demonstration in London on 27th February to protest against Britain’s nuclear weapons system: Trident.
Join the Scottish bloc on the march to say Scrap Trident and say No to government plans to buy a new system at a cost of over £167 billion.
Get a bus ticket through Eventbrite. We leave Glasgow (George Square) at 21:00, Friday Feb 26th then onto Edinburgh (Waterloo Place) leaving at approx 22:15 then down to London. There is also a coach from Stirling. For more info and tickets from Stirling please contact Alasdair Ibbotson on 0785 674 9264 or click here.
If you require accommodation please fill in this form.
Check all the details about the demo and the programme here.
DO WE NEED A CONVERGENCE SPACE?DEADLINE THURSDAY 5.00PMCND UK want to make sure that not just Nicola, but all the campaigners from Scotland are looked after when they come down for the demo. They have arranged a convergence centre not too far away with parking space for buses and cars, breakfast, somewhere to sleep and wash your face either night and a safe place to leave stuff you don’t want to carry during the day. Because people have not booked in, they may need to cancel.They need to know exactly what we want. If you are going by public transport, or in a bus,and feel that any of the above would improve your trip, please register your interest BY THURSDAY 18TH AT 5.00PM.The best way is by completing the form https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/CR8N798which has space for any questions you need to ask before you decide.For those going down early there is a great rally on the Friday evening at Friends House (opposite Euston Staion) and for those staying on their will be a chance to meet with international campaigners on Sunday

The Public and Commercial Services Union has backed the demo.
In a statement the union said “PCS national policy opposes Trident renewal because it is a costly and unnecessary programme that does nothing to improve our national security.
“It should be scrapped, with the money saved to be reinvested in our public services and infrastructure, generating thousands of jobs in the process.Those people currently employed to work on Trident should be given re-training and re-employment as part of this process.” PCS is the latest to back the Stop Trident demo organised by the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, joining twenty five national organisations, including War on Want, Greenpeace, Pax Christi, Stop the War Coalition, Friends of the Earth, Quakers, Green Party, and the People’s Assembly Against Austerity.  A group of Labour MPs also say they will support the demo.

CND is funding bus ads. See http://cnduk.org if you wish to help. If you’re lucky enough to spot a #StopTrident bus, please tweet a photo – they are @CNDuk on Twitter.

On the news front: There are reports that the Trident vote will be delayed until June, July or October: http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/feb/11/trident-vote-delayed-by-david-cameron-until-after-eu-referendum     https://www.rt.com/uk/332283-trident-vote-eu-delay/   In addition to these political arguments it should be noted that those who advocate a quick decision were doing so on the basis that it was needed to meet the 2028 in-service date, but the SDSR put back the in-service date to “the early 2030s”, probably around 2032. It is also hard to see how major contracts could be signed before the new management structure for the defence nuclear programme is in place.

For a good long read on Trident try:
http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/feb/11/trident-the-british-question

Other News:                                                                                                                                         Recently a nuclear warhead convoy used parts of the Edinburgh bypass on its route from Coulport to, presumably, Burghfield or Aldermaston. These regular convoys look set to continue for decades if Trident is replaced. Please contact your MP and tell them this constituent objects to these cargoes moving around the country, putting us all at risk.
Where is the evidence that the UK is negotiating in good faith to ban or reduce the number of nuclear weapons, as is I believe, demanded by the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty that we signed years ago?
‘I strongly support any actions you may take, as my MP, to stop these potentially catastrophic loads for good.’

NuClear News No.82 February 2016 is now available for downloading here: http://www.no2nuclearpower.org.uk/nuclearnews/NuClearNewsNo82.pdf

Peace and Justice Centre news for February http://peaceandjustice.org.uk

Other Meetings: (1) Saturday 20 February – at the Assembly Rooms – we will be running a workshop that looks at Trident and war in the Middle East at the RIC Conference – for more details go to http://www.radical.scot

(2)[ScottishPeaceNetwork] Next Meeting: Tuesday 1st March at 2 p.m. in Edinburgh

(3) Forces Watch meeting Monday 14th March: Quaker Meeting House in Edinburgh

Don’t Bank on the Bomb:  Trident: How the banks have their fingers on the button https://www.commonspace.scot/articles/3468/trident-how-the-banks-have-their-fingers-on-the-button

News from Australia: The Walkatjurra Walkabout will be happening again in August this year (more info coming soon at http://www.walkingfrcountry.com) there is a strong possibility that we will be coordinating this with a gathering in Kalgoorlie at the end of the Walk. We are also in the process of discussing ways to Run / Convoy to the Pine Gap gathering at the end of September to bring attention to the 50th Anniversary.

14th Feb: 1.1. Scrap Trident Love the Planet day of action as build up to 27th. There is a stall from 12noon to 2pm at the East End of Princes Street. Edinburgh. Big hearts and these will be used for photos which can be used on social media. We will also have petitions, bus info, banners, crane-making, pavement chalking and music. More details at https://www.facebook.com/events/538898022948067/
1.2 13th Feb: this is our normal 2nd Sat event 1230 East End of Princes Street, so we will use it to advertise Scrap Trident Love the Planet.

2. 27th Feb Scrap Trident Demo in London : 2.1.Bus leaves Edinburgh 26th Feb 10.15pm Waterloo place: http://scraptrident.org  for information on how to book tickets. Even if you cannot come with us come and give a good send off could be used to get media attention.                                                                                                                                     2.2 There is a crash space in London for those who wish to stay longer (and meeting on Sunday) It is at Turnpike lane and buses will go there after dropping off in centre of London. See CND website for further details: http://cnduk.org                                                 2.3 MPs should join march. Contact yours and ask them to stay in London

3. Trident continues to dominate the political agenda at Westminster in the run up to the Demonstration on Saturday 27 February. The Government recently announced that the cost of replacing the four submarines has increased by £16 billion. The same document stated that the real security threats facing the UK are climate change, cyber attacks and terrorism – which nuclear weapons do nothing to address. Caroline Lucas, Chair of Parliamentary CND, has tabled an Early Day Motion in the House of Commons urging the Government to cancel Trident replacement in light of these announcements.

4. Peace and Justice Centre February newsletter http://peaceandjustice.org.uk                 Events include:
4.1. 140,000 Paper Cranes Workshops Edinburgh Peace & Justice Centre, 5 Upper Bow, EH1 2JN Saturdays: 30 January, 6 & 20 February. 2 – 4pm
4.2. Conflict Resolution Skills Training Workshop: for working with groups of young people, 5 – 12 years old. Saturday 13 February, 10am – 5pm.
4.3. The World Is My Country Exhibition Thurs 25 Feb – Sat 12 March Free Exhibition Launch 6pm Thursday 25 February
4.4. Songs of the Unsung Heroes. Saturday 12 March. 2 – 4:30pm. Scottish Storytelling Centre 43-45 High St, Edinburgh EH1 1SR

5. 5.1 Are you involved with a political party, community group, trades union or student union? Edinburgh Stop the War would be really pleased to do a short presentation on the issues around Britain’s engagement in bombing campaigns in Syria and Iraq and the implications this has for the Middle East and on civil liberties and the economy here. Contact edinburghstw@tiscali.co.uk for a speaker.
5.2 Edinburgh Meeting The next Edinburgh Stop the War Meeting is 7.30pm Monday 15 February at the Quaker Meeting House, 7 Victoria Terrace – more details will be published on the Facebook Page and the website.
5.3 Syria You can download a copy of their petition at https://www.scribd.com/doc/298238583/Syria-Petition

5.4 Saturday 20 February – at the Assembly Rooms – we will be running a workshop that looks at Trident and war in the Middle East at the RIC Conference – for more details go to http://www.radical.sco

6. Drones Campaign monthly news sign up via website here.

7. On January 28, the UN Open Ended Working Group on nuclear disarmament (OEWG) held its first session in Geneva. The success of the OEWG will require greater public promotion and campaigning around the world – especially in capitals. UNFOLD ZERO has therefore launched a contest to find an inspiring global action to promote the OEWG. Please encourage your mayor, parliamentarian or local religious leader/s to endorse the joint statement A Nuclear-Weapon-Free World Our Common Good.

8. WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE PART OF THE BIG DEBATE WITH GORDON BREWER IN EDINBURGH? St Kentigern’s Church Hall, 26-28 Parkgrove Avenue, Edinburgh, EH4 7QR, Friday 19th February, 2016, Doors open at the venue at 11:15am, show is on air from 12pm – 1pm – webpage link to booking form:http://bbc.in/1Al9Rpx , phone 0141 422 7773

9.Benefit in Aid of Edinburgh CND After a successful ‘Plants for Peace’ stall two years running at the Meadows Festival we decided to try a new way of raising funds and have been lucky enough to be offered a comedy benefit night at The Stand Edinburgh on Tuesday 21st June. This is a busy and crucial year for our campaign-all the more reason to lighten up with laughter while raising money and reaching out to a new audience. Can you help make this night a winner by selling tickets to friends and families, by helping run the event and donating raffle prizes? 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. As well as the money from ticket sales we hope to run a raffle to raise even more cash. This means top quality prizes donated by you! We’ve already been offered red wine by one generous supporter
10. Scottish CND executive minutes for February are available

There will be a meeting of Edinburgh CND on Monday 1st February. We will be discussing the build up to the 27th Feb demo and the transport arrangements to it:

Stop Trident demonstration – the final countdown is on.
The Stop Trident demonstration is 27th February – just five weeks away. How is mobilising going? Don’t forget these upcoming events to get ready:
Constituency Lobby This Weekend
1. If you are available this weekend you can use the CND website to contact your MP and ask for a meeting. If you have any questions or want further information please email parliamentary@cnduk.org
2. Day of Action: Saturday, 6th February
3. Scotland: 14th February Love the Planet Scrap Trident. Watch this space for Edinburgh events. #Lovetheplanet#scraptrident
4. Stop Trident Bus and Tube Adverts: If you’re in Bristol, Leeds or Manchester between 8th February and 3rd March, or in London between 15th and 28th February, watch out for buses promoting the Stop Trident demonstration! If you spot one of the ads on buses or the Tube in London, try to get a photo and tweet it at us using the #StopTrident hashtag!
5. Placard Making Competition: Full competition details can be found on the CND web site

First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon will address a major anti-nuclear weapons demo in central London next month alongside trades union and party leaders. The Labour Party has recently launched a formal review of defence policy including Trident and MPs are expected to vote on Trident replacement in the coming months. The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, which is organizing the Stop Trident demonstration, says the event could be the largest mobilisation against nuclear weapons in a generation. It has attracted the support of over twenty organisations, including War on Want, Greenpeace, Pax Christi, Stop the War Coalition, Friends of the Earth, Quakers and the People’s Assembly Against Austerity.

STOP PRESS: CND have teamed up with designer Katharine Hamnett and ethical clothing company Rapanui to bring you a range of T-shirts, sweatshirts and tote bags to help get you kitted out for the colossal demo to Stop Trident. They’re made in an ethically accredited, wind-powered factory and printed on 100% organic cotton. So buy your Stop Trident T-shirt today to support green and sustainable manufacturing, as well as our planet-saving campaign to get rid of nuclear weapons! https://cnduk.teemill.co.uk

Other News:

1.The ‘Great War’ exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery in Queen St on Sunday, very good, informative and some gender balance. Recommended and topical.

https://www.nationalgalleries.org/whatson/exhibitions/remembering-the-great-war

2. Ask your MP to support: Early day motion 987 on Nuclear Convoys:
http://www.parliament.uk/edm/2015-16/987

3.Edinburgh University International Development Society have some interesting events next week : https://www.facebook.com/euidsoc/events/

4.Two events in Manchester: A full pdf programme is also attached, with a Word registration form.
These are being placed on the following websites:
http://www.nuclearpolicy.info, http://www.gmdcnd.gn.apc.org,
http://www.chernobylchildren.org.uk

5. The United Nations has decided to re-establish an Open Ended Working Group (OEWG) to take forward multilateral nuclear disarmament negotiations. It will hold its substantive sessions in Geneva in February, May and August 2016 (with an organisational meeting on January 28). The sessions will be open to all governments as well as representatives of civil society.

1. David Cameron has promised a parliamentary vote on Trident renewal sometime this year although as the Trident spending was in the budget a vote is not strictly necessary. Trident subBut whether there is a parliamentary vote or not the Trident Renewal programme will be rolling along – and of course a Vanguard class submarine is still currently out at sea 24/7 armed with enough warheads to kill and maim millions and millions of people and cause devastation for years to come. The Scrap Trident Coalition is kicking off campaigning in Scotland this year with a Day of Action across the country called Love the Planet – Scrap Trident on 14th February (of course!). Then we will send a big contingent down to London for the CND march and rally on February 27th to make Scotland’s opposition to Trident very clear down where such decisions are made, book tickets here:                                                         Artist Peter Kennard launches Stop Trident placard design competition ahead of the demonstration in London next month, a leading political artist he has launched the Stop Trident placard design competition in association with CND, which he hopes will inspire a new generation of activist artists: http://cnduk.org/component/k2/item/2330-stop-trident-placard-competition         The next meeting of the Scottish Scrap Trident Group will be on Thursday 21st Jan (after the Don’t Bank on the Bomb meeting.

2. The latest issue of nuClear News No.81 January 2016 is now available for downloading here:
http://www.no2nuclearpower.org.uk/nuclearnews/NuClearNewsNo81.pdf
AND Edinburgh Peace and Justice Centre has now moved: Edinburgh Peace and Justice Centre. 5, Upper Bow. Edinburgh. EH1 2JN.
3. Edinburgh Stop the War thanks everyone who supported activities and events in 2015. They will be holding out regular organizing meeting on Monday 18th January, 7.30pm at the Quaker Meeting House, 7 Victoria Terrace.
They will also have a campaigning stall at the east end of Princes Street from midday to 1.30pm on Saturday 16th January.

4. An SNP MSP will write to the Chief Constable after concern was expressed about police harassment of peace campaigners who were watching the movement of Trident nuclear weapons across Scotland. Bill Kidd said: “It seems to be a waste of police time to be stopping and questioning law-abiding peace campaigners who are simply performing a legitimate public service by keeping a watchful eye on the transport of nuclear weapons along our roads. It appears that the MOD has, without good reason, requested that police officers detain peaceful nuclear disarmers by means of carrying out spurious car searches. I will be writing to the chief constable asking that this unwarranted practise should stop henceforth”. Neil Findlay MSP (Labour) also commented, “I fully support the police in their work but they have to be absolutely clear that will not prevent peaceful, law-abiding campaigners from going about their business”. Bruce Crawford MSP has put down a motion in the Scottish Parliament which condemns the convoy as “an unacceptable risk to public safety”. The convoy was reported in the National and several local newspapers.
Officers from Police Scotland harassed two groups of peace campaigners in Stirling.
Alisdair Ibbotson of Stirling University CND was standing with a colleague at a roundabout nearby. They were approached by a police officer. He said “Right, your name and address, date of birth, place of birth and nationality. Failure to do so constitutes an offence and you may be arrested. You are formally required to provide your details.” (video)
John Ainslie, Coordinator of Scottish CND, said: “Police Scotland harassed several peace campaigners who were trying to draw attention to the fact that nuclear weapons are transported across the country. The police should support the Scottish Parliament and Government in their categorical rejection of Trident. We should not allow our police to be complicit in a conspiracy of silence or to reinforce the view that driving weapons of mass destruction through our towns and cities is normal and not worthy of note.”

N.B Minutes of the latest SCND Executive are available.

5. On January 11, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) held a special meeting in New York to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the very first UNGA meeting in London. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon will end his 10-year term in December 2016. The campaign for the next UN Secretary-General has begun and the peace person of 2015 chosen

6. Finally: Talks, Conferences etc – SRF and http://tridentploughshares.org/january-2016-awe-burghfield-briefing/

Bus to the 27th Feb Stop Trident Demo:link to book bus tickets for the Glasgow and Edinburgh buses to your website please
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/bus-from-scotland-to-cnd-stop-trident-demo-in-london-27-feb-tickets-20498872680

Please note Edinburgh CND will not be meeting on 4th Jan. Instead we will be supporting the following meeting on the 8th: 

Sister Megan Rice: TRANSFORM NOW PLOUGHSHARES
Edinburgh Peace & Justice Centre  5 Upper Bow
Friday 8 January 5:30 – 7:30pm.

At the age of 82 Sister Megan Rice, a Catholic nun, along with two other Christian peace activists, caused “The biggest security breach in the history of the [USA’s] atomic complex” and shut down a nuclear weapons plant for two weeks. She was found guilty of sabotage but the verdict was later overturned on appeal and she was dramatically released from prison after more than two years. Come hear her tell her remarkable story.
“The Holy Spirit guided us” – Sister Megan Rice

Event Organised by:
Edinburgh Peace and Justice Centre
Trident Ploughshares

Supported by Edinburgh CND

Saturday 9th Jan 1230, leafleting at the East End of Princes Street

Who would you choose to be the 2015 Arms Control Person(s) of the Year?