There are many events at the Justice Festival. We particularly recommend the following:

David Rovics in concert, also featuring Calum Baird

8 – 11 pm Monday 28 Sept

The Canon’s Gait, 232 Canongate, EH8 8DQ

EWJF Committee

Peace poet and troubadour all the way from Portland, Oregon Entry £10/£6

Changing our Unequal World

conference and book fair

11.00  – 17.00 Sat  3rd Oct

St. Thomas Aquin’s High School, Chalmers Street, Edinburgh EH3 9ES

EWJF Committee

Discussion and debate on a fairer future. Keynote speaker Walden Bello.

Austerity, Debt and Military Spending

19.30-21.30 Mon 5th Oct

Quaker Meeting House, 7 Victoria St, Edinburgh EH1 2JL

Edinburgh Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament and the Peace and Justice Centre

How can we stop governments prioritising military spending over people’s needs?

Women Surviving Violence in conflict zones

19.30 Mon 12th

Quaker Meeting House, 7 Victoria St, Edinburgh EH1 2JL

Scottish WILPF and Amnesty International

Learn about campaigns for sexual and reproductive rights in war zones

Resource Wars

7.30pm – 9.30pm Mon 19th

Quaker Meeting house, 7 Victoria St, Edinburgh EH1 2JL

Edinburgh Stop the War Coalition

Jonathan Neale looks at how competition for strategic control of resources fuels war

Egalitarian Frames

Oct 9 Opening Night, 5.30pm – 8.30pm.

October 10^th – 15th, 11am-5pm

Whitespace Gallery, 25 Howe Street, Edinburgh EH3 6TF

An exhibition which will bring to light issues which are in the spirit and theme of the festival.

 1. Edinburgh CND will be leafleting at the “Scotland against fracking” demonstration outside the Scottish Parliament from 1 pm on Saturday (26 September). We will also be at the Climate Change Rally at the Mound. We will have Bairns not Bombs, Don’t bomb Syria and EWJF leaflets.

2. There will be a vigil at the North Gate of Faslane this Saturday 26 September from 1pm – 2:30pm. This is a special ocassion as Arun Gandhi, the grandson of Gandhi, who is himself a deeply committed peace activist, will take part in the vigil between 1:30 & 2pm.Arun Gandhi is making this visit to Faslane as part of his time in Scotland in order to show solidarity with the nonviolent nuclear disarmament movement here in Scotland and with our aspirations for peace.

New EDM on TRIDENT RENEWAL – get your MPs to sign up. TRIDENT RENEWAL
http://www.parliament.uk/edm/2015-16/417

EVENTS
1. Austrian Ambassador in Scotland: Towards a Global Nuclear Weapons Ban The meeting will address humanitarian consequences of nuclear weapons (see previous News item) Please email Janet Fenton to book a place janetscotlands4peace@yahoo.co.uk

2. As one of the supporting organisations ECND are pleased to announce a great programme for Edinburgh World Justice Festival (EWJF) 2015. 19 informative, thought-provoking and inspiring events organised by 17 lively campaigning organisations in the city. The full list is copied below (end of this newsletter). Further details posted on the website http://www.ewjf.org.uk and on Facebook.
 3. Edinburgh Stop the War meets Monday 21 September 7.30pm at the Quaker Meeting House, 7 Victoria Terrace EH1 2JL. Agenda includes: report from Stop the War UK annual conference, Syria and refugees, Scrap Trident and Stop the War’s contribution to the Edinburgh World Justice Festival
4. The Scottish Peace Network will be meeting on 24th September. A leaflet is planned for remembrance day.

NEWS
1. CND congratulated Jeremy Corbyn on becoming the new Labour leader
Corbyn is vice-chair of CND and made scrapping Trident a central part of his leadership bid.
Kate Hudson, CND general secretary, said:
“This is an historic moment; a turning point for all those working towards a fairer and more peaceful world.”
“Jeremy’s flagship policies include scrapping Trident and opposing austerity. His success proves that these policies are popular, and have now entered mainstream politics.”
“Labour was obliterated in the General Election by an anti-Trident party in Scotland, and polls indicate a majority of the UK population firmly oppose Trident. We are delighted that a Labour leader will now stand up and represent that majority.”
CND is a democratic organisation and the annual conference and AGM is the opportunity for members to decide our overall direction for the coming year, elect our leadership, debate contemporary issues and draw strength and inspiration from participating in a collective national forum.
Venue: Arlington Conference Centre in Camden, London Time: 10am – 4.30pm Saturday 17th October
We invite all members to attend; you must register by 9th October. New members must also join by the 9th October to be eligable to attend.
Full details and to register online visit Conference 2015
Reminder: Tell the government Trident doesn’t keep us safe
The government is working on the 2015 National Security Strategy (NSS) and Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) and they want your input.
Further information can be found on the CND web site. Also fundraising request.                                                         2. The latest minutes of the SCND executive are available.
3. The Walkatjurra Walkabout, which started in 2011, finished its 5th walk in the North Eastern Goldfields town of Leonora on Tuesday. The walk, a collaboration of Aboriginal and non-indigenous people, is a moving community protest against the proposed uranium mines in the region. The month long walk, lead by local Traditional Owners, covered almost 450 km’s from Wiluna to Leonora, passing Toro Energy’s Wiluna uranium mine proposal at Lake Way and Cameco’s proposed uranium mine at Yeelirrie Station. We had regular updates of their progress.

4. EWJF 2015 PROGRAMME (see above)
This Changes Everything
13.00 – 15.00 Sunday 27 Sept
The Filmhouse, 88 Lothian Rd, Edinburgh EH3 9BZ
Take One Action and Friends of the Earth Scotland
Epic documentary film based on Naomi Klein’s book on climate change. Tickets from the Filmhouse
David Rovics in concert, also featuring Calum Baird
8 – 11 pm Monday 28 Sept
The Canon’s Gait, 232 Canongate, EH8 8DQ
EWJF Committee
Peace poet and troubadour all the way from Portland, Oregon Entry £10/£6
Changing our Unequal World
conference and book fair
11.00 – 17.00 Sat 3rd Oct
St. Thomas Aquin’s High School, Chalmers Street, Edinburgh EH3 9ES
EWJF Committee
Discussion and debate on a fairer future. Keynote speaker Walden Bello.
Austerity, Debt and Military Spending
19.30-21.30 Mon 5th Oct
Quaker Meeting House, 7 Victoria St, Edinburgh EH1 2JL
Edinburgh Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament and the Peace and Justice Centre
How can we stop governments prioritising military spending over people’s needs?
Imagine our world in 2040
17.30 – 19.30 Mon 5th Oct
Quaker Meeting House, 7 Victoria St, Edinburgh EH1 2JL
Quaker Social Responsibility Group
Share concerns for the next quarter century over an informal meal
Accompaniment in Palestine
19.30 – 21.00 Tues 6th Oct
Undercroft, St Andrew’s and St George’s West, George Street, Edinburgh EH2 2PA
Scottish Palestinian Forum
What is accompaniment and how do organisations working in Palestine provide it?
Human Rights and the Peace Process in Colombia
17.45-19.30 Wed 7th Oct
Fleming Room, Scottish Parliament, EH99 1SP
Justice for Colombia
Hear first-hand experience of the struggle to protect peasants and their rights.
Register on Eventbrite
Does the Pope speak for us all on ecology and justice?
18.00-19.30 Thurs 8th Oct
Faculty Room North, David Hume Tower, George Square, Edinburgh EH8 9JX
Ethics Forum of University of Edinburgh
In Laudato Si Pope Francis calls for ecology and social justice. Does he represent us all?
Sharing Skills and Making a Difference?
7.30 pm Thurs 8th Oct
Augustine Church, 41 George IV Bridge, Edinburgh, Midlothian EH1 1EL
Edinburgh VSO Supporters’ Group
What can volunteers contribute to fighting poverty in the global south?
The Yes Men Fix The World
7.00 pm Fri 9th Oct
Augustine Church, 41 George IV Bridge, Edinburgh, Midlothian EH1 1EL
Global Justice Now
Spectacular media hoaxes and thought-provoking pranks in the Yes Men’s hilarious film
Gaza Unsilenced Book Signing Event
14.00-15.30 Sun 11th Oct
Hadeel, 123 George St. EH2 4YN
Palcrafts and Hadeel
Laila El-Haddad, also co-author of “The Gaza Kitchen”,
tells stories of Gaza following last year’s Israeli assault’.
Women Surviving Violence in conflict zones
19.30 Mon 12th
Quaker Meeting House, 7 Victoria St, Edinburgh EH1 2JL
Scottish WILPF and Amnesty International
Learn about campaigns for sexual and reproductive rights in war zones
Change Everything? Or just our energy supply?
19.30 – 21.00 Wed 14th
Quaker Meeting House, 7 Victoria St, Edinburgh EH1 2JL
Friends of the Earth Scotland
The big issues in building a movement strong enough to stop climate change
Palestine: a struggle for equality, justice & freedom
7 – 9 PM Thurs 15th
Tollcross Community Centre, EH3 9QQ
Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign
Nakba exhibition, discussion, Q&A
Sounds of Solidarity
Fri 16th Oct Counting House, 38 West Nicolson Street, Edinburgh, EH8 9DD
An evening of music for justice with Voces del Sur, Samba Sene and more. Get tickets on Eventbrite £8/£5

War Against the People: Israel, the Palestinians and Global Pacification 2.00pm Sat 17th Oct Augustine Church Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign Jeff Halper on new ways world powers forge war, through military high technology tested on Palestinians

Label jars not people: Disability Justice 6.30 – 9.30 Sun 18th The Constitution Bar, Constitution Street, Leith EH6 6RS Radical Voices Inspiring radical songs from talented local singers

Resource Wars 7.30pm – 9.30pm Mon 19th Quaker Meeting house, 7 Victoria St, Edinburgh EH1 2JL Edinburgh Stop the War Coalition Jonathan Neale looks at how competition for strategic control of resources fuels war

Egalitarian Frames
Oct 9 Opening Night, 5.30pm – 8.30pm.
October 10th – 15th, 11am-5pm
Whitespace Gallery, 25 Howe Street, Edinburgh EH3 6TF
An exhibition which will bring to light issues which are in the spirit and theme of the festival.

Note arrangement for booking places at the ICAN/Swilpf meeting on the 23rd (see below)

NEW: Edinburgh Sees Syria Rally will be at the Scottish Parliament, 2.30pm Saturday 12th September. Edinburgh CND at the East end of Princes Street from 1230
The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament has condemned a new round of UK air strikes in Syria which have resulted in the deaths of British citizens.
David Cameron told the Commons today that RAF drones had undertaken strikes at the end of August, and had targeted and killed a British citizen, and that another British citizen, who was not targeted, was also killed.
CND General Secretary Kate Hudson said:
“That a British citizen was targeted and killed by these strikes – and another killed by mistake – is particularly alarming and sets a dangerous new precedent. This is extrajudicial killing: a British Prime Minister now claims the right to kill British citizens when they travel abroad.”
“We must also remember that Parliament voted against strikes in Syria in August 2013. This latest round of strikes is a further violation of the will of parliament.                                                                                                            ”Protest in Harmony singing session this saturday is a We Welcome Refugees Special. rehearsal is 10-1 at the Quaker Meeting House, 7 Vic­toria Ter­race, Edinburgh. There will be a break for people to have lunch then we will be busking the songs on the Royal Mile from 2-3pm to raise money for local Refugee support charities, and from 3-4pm we’ll be singing at the Edinburgh Sees Syria event outside Holyrood.

EdinburghCND will be meeting on Monday 7th September at 6pm in ACE 17 W Montgomery Pl, Edinburgh, Midlothian EH7 5HA. Wee will be discussing our input into the Edinburgh World Justice Festival (ewjf).
We have 2 main inputs:
1. The main festival event on Saturday 3rd October
2. Our own meeting on Monday 5th October.
Austerity, Debt, and Military Spending Quaker Meeting House 5 October, 7.30 -9.30 pm.
In addition we have agreed to help at the schools event on Friday 2nd.
There are also meetings on Monday 12th (Scottish Wilpf) and Monday 19th (Edinburgh Stop the War) which we may wish to input into. http://www.ewjf.org.uk for more information

Edinburgh Stop the War will be leafleting at the East End of Princes Street from 1 – 2.30 on Saturday 5th – there is a new leaflet, a petition and they will be encouraging people to attend the Edinburgh sees Syria event on the following Saturday (12th). EdinburghCND will also be leafleting on the 12th from 1230 to 1pm at the East End of Princes Street NEW: Edinburgh Stop the War e-newsletter no.180
http://www.edinburghstw.tumblr.com – for up to the minute news and activity
event here https://www.facebook.com/events/685711964897261/

News from other organisations:
1. nuClear News No.77 September 2015 is now available for downloading here:
http://www.no2nuclearpower.org.uk/nuclearnews/NuClearNewsNo77.pdf                                                                            2. Peace and Justice Centre News http://peaceandjustice.org.uk                                                                                  3. WalkatJurra Walkabout updates available (see earlier posts)
4. Next meeting of the Scottish Peace Network is on Thursday 24th September at 7pm in the Edinburgh Peace and Justice Centre
5. The next CAAT Edinburgh meeting will also be on Monday, 7th September The main items will be and update on our take action conference on Saturday 31st October, 11:15 am to 3:30 pm in central Edinburgh which will focus on divestment campaigns, arms to renewables, and preventing debt from weapons sales, plus celebrating CAAT Edinburgh’s 20th anniversary. Please save the date. More information will be sent out soon.                                        6. Scottish Wilpf: 100 years of Women Campaigning for Peace: Out of the Blue Drill Hall 36 Dalmeny Street, Leith, Edinburgh EH6 8RG Exhibition – 4th – 23rd September Wool Against Weapons Scotland and Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom Radical Creatives’ Café Saturday 5th Sept 2-5pm     (see earlier post for more detail)                                                                                                                                                                                  7. Scottish Wilpf and ICAN meeting:
Bill Kidd MSP, as co chair of the nuclear disarmament cross party group will host guests on Wednesday 23rd September from 6.30 – 8.30pm at the Scottish Parliament, marking UN International Day of Peace and UN International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons. The early evening discussion will highlight and support the Humanitarian Pledge, initiated by the Austrian Government, which aims to fill the legal gap in the prohibition and elimination of nuclear weapons. The meeting is hosted by the Scottish section of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (S WILPF) with support from SCND and other members of the Scrap Trident Coalition. The meeting will address humanitarian consequences of nuclear weapons, including the particular relevance for women and girls, and examine the ways in which gender structures stand in the way of disarmament. Fiona Hyslop MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Europe and External Affairs has been invited to contribute some introductory remarks. A panel, including Dr Claire Duncanson Lecturer in International Relations University of Edinburgh, Mia Gandenberger WILPF project Programme Manager with Reaching Critical Will in Geneva, Rebecca Sharkey UK Coordinator International Campaign for Abolition of Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), along with European diplomats will offer academic, political and activist perspectives. Please email Janet Fenton to book a place janetscotlands4peace@yahoo.co.uk

Other News:                                                                                                                                                           Strategic Defence and Security Review
The UK government published its last Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) in 2010. Our main criticism at the time, was that Britain’s nuclear weapons were not included in the strategic review – there was just an assumption that Trident would be retained and replaced. This was in spite of the fact that the National Security Strategy published at the same time lowered state on state nuclear threats to a ‘tier 2’ threat level.
The government is now working on a new SDSR and it is repeating the same mistake: nuclear weapons possession will not be questioned. This time they have opened the process to include public submissions: so they want your input!
This is the opportunity to make our point loud and clear: nuclear weapons possession must be questioned – and we can explain the reasons why. Please submit your input. Feel free to draft your own response, or a template reply can be found at the CND website at http://www.cnduk.org/cnd-media/item/2233.
National Demonstration at Tory Party Conference in Manchester
4th October
Assemble 11:30am
The TUC is organising a national demonstration against austerity at the Tory party conference in Manchester, and CND will be bringing the Scrap Trident message to the demo. We hope you can make it! Please look at the CND website, or give us a call, for more information.
Programme for the day:
11:30am: Assemble at All Saints Park on Oxford Road
1:00pm: Opening rally
1:30pm: March through the city on a route that circles the Conference Centre, ending at Deansgate/Whitworth St for coach pick-ups
Whether you plan to attend or not, please click ‘going’ on the Facebook page to help spread the word about the demo! And please remember to invite all your friends!
CND Lobby of Parliament
Mark your calendars for CND’s lobby of Parliament on 4th November. As we will be close to a possible parliamentary decision on whether or not to replace Trident, the theme will be No Trident Replacement. So start preparing your arguments to bring to your MPs on what is going to be a brilliant day of people-powered political persuasion!

Edinburgh CND will be leafletting outside Edinburgh Mela (Leith Links) on Sunday 30th from 12 to 2pm. Big Sandy will be there: do come along to help.

STOP PRESS: The Sunday Herald is reporting that George Osborne is due to visit Faslane today (Monday). The visit is expected to be first thing in the morning, as he is due in Aberdeen later

Militarisation of Children and Young People 31 August, 2015 6 – 7:30pm St John’s Church Hall Tickets £5 here or from Just Festival Box Office at There has been growing discomfort around increasing levels of promotion of the military and ‘military ethos’ among children and young people. Does the military have a place in schools? What kind of character do we want our children and young people to build? Is there a justification for recruiting children to the armed services?
David Gee, author of Spectacle, Reality, Resistance: Confronting a Culture of Militarism and co-founder of Forces Watch talks and Mairi Campbell Jack, Quaker Parliamentary LIason talk with former Officer Cadet Second Leiutenant Ryan Mounsey.

100 years of Women Campaigning for Peace: Out of the Blue Drill Hall 36 Dalmeny Street, Leith, Edinburgh EH6 8RG Exhibition – 4th – 23rd September Wool Against Weapons Scotland and Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom
Radical Creatives’ Café Saturday 5th Sept 2-5pm Taking inspiration from the above exhibition • Crochet a white poppy • help re-purpose some of the wool against weapons pink scarves into blankets for refugees or others in need • knit some peace bunting for Faslane fence • hatch another radical knitting/crochet plan • sing whilst you craft • take part in a songwriting workshop with Penny Stone 2-3.30pm (£5 donation or what you can afford) Please bring wool, knitting needles and other crafting materials Film evening Monday 14th September 7-9pm Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom and Wool Against Weapons Scotland invite you to a Film evening showing • These Dangerous Women – an inspiring short documentary starring WILPF UK members, about the women who tried to stop World War 1. • Wool Against Weapons – short films and video clips of the 7 mile peace scarf created in 2014 Songs from Protest in Harmony and Wildfire

This months Drone’s Network News is now available: website here. ScottishCND also have an update http://www.banthebomb.org

Meetings: Scrap Trident Tuesday 18th Peace and Justice Centre 6.30pm, EdinburghCND Monday 7th September 6pm at ACE and Scottish Peace Network week beginning 21st September (also at P and J)

The Trade Union Congress has called for a large demonstration on Sunday 4th October to mark the start of the Conservative Party Conference.
Greater Manchester & District CND is coordinating a CND / Scrap Trident bloc during the demo. I will circulate more details in due course.

While Tony Blair was branded a warmonger by Avi Shlaim at the Edinburgh Book Festival
https://www.edbookfest.co.uk/news/tony-blair-branded-a-warmonger-by-avi-shlaim-at-the-book-festival
CND (UK) welcomed Corbyn Iraq apology
CND Chair Dave Webb said:

“As a coalition partner in the anti-war protests against the Iraq invasion in 2003, CND welcomes Jeremy Corbyn’s statement today.

“The Iraq war was immoral and illegal. As is now painfully clear, the humanitarian catastrophe the anti-war movement predicted became a reality, with hundreds of thousands dead and many more made victims of injury and poverty.

“An apology will signal an important break from the disastrous wars carried out under the banner of the War on Terror and help prevent future wars.
CND General Secretary Kate Hudson said:

“CND still believes that former Prime Minister Tony Blair should stand trial for his actions. The hundreds of thousands killed in an illegal invasion, and the continuing bloodshed, is what Blair will be remembered for. He must not be allowed to avoid responsibility for the sorrow and devastation caused by his war lies.”
p.s. CND is still asking for donations! (see their website)

CND Vice Chair and Labour leader contender Jeremy Corbyn will be in Edinburgh on Friday (14th). SCND are planning to leaflet, possibly with Big Sandy and CiNDy, before the start of the meeting in the EICC. The plan is to be there for around 12.45 pm. Please join us. The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament has welcomed Labour leadership front-runner Jeremy Corbyn’s plan for a Defence Diversification Agency to redeploy the high-skilled workforce in the nuclear weapons sector, following a decision not to replace Trident. Jeremy used a speech at the annual CND Hiroshima commemoration in London to launch the policy which sets out how transitioning jobs away from nuclear weapons into “more socially productive industries” would “protect jobs and skills” and “help grow the British economy”. Of the four candidates standing for the Labour leadership, Jeremy is the only one committed to voting against Trident replacement when the issue comes before Parliament, expected in 2016. In his policy document, published yesterday, Jeremy reaffirms the “moral duty, and strategic defence and international commitments” Britain has to make the world a safer place. Commenting on the policy document, Kate Hudson, CND General Secretary said: “As the only anti-Trident leadership contender, Jeremy Corbyn is not only giving a voice to the many Labour members who oppose nuclear weapons but is also setting out practical plans to transition the high-skilled workforce away from nuclear weapons production. A Britain without nuclear weapons will contribute to a more peaceful world – and one that can build a sustainable, high-skilled economy with secure, socially productive jobs.” Labour CND has repeated its call for a strong anti-Trident voice to be heard in the vote. Walter Wolfgang, Vice-Chair of Labour CND said: “The Jeremy Corbyn campaign has given a voice to the millions who oppose Trident. People are being inspired to engage with the debate and are backing Jeremy as the candidate vowing not to spend £100 billion on nuclear weapons. The campaign goes from strength to strength but Jeremy can’t win without your support.

Reminder: 2 Hiroshima Exhibitions still ongoing:

1. Humanity and the A-Bomb 6 – 20 August, daily Mondays 9:30 am – 9:30 pm Tuesdays 12:30 pm – 6 pm, 8 pm – 9:30 pm Wednesdays 9:30 am – 7:30 pm Thursdays 9:30 am – 1 pm Fridays 9:30 am – 9:30 pm Saturdays 9:30 am – 2 pm Sundays 4:30 pm – 9:30 pm Leith Community Education Centre 12A New Kirkgate, EdinburghAn ongoing exhibition featuring photography and art by survivors of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Free This exhibition contains several graphic images. Children under 12 should be accompanied by an adult.

2. WMD Awareness, an organisation focusing on getting young people involved in the debate about nuclear weapons in the UK, through building skills and creating exciting opportunities alongside the young people we work with.
This August (6th-20th) they are hosting a two-week long exhibition called ‘Stop Worrying and Start to Love the Bomb?’ which will look at the major incidents in the history of nuclear weapons and their impact on popular culture around the world. It will be hosted at the Gayfield Centre and of course will fall during the Edinburgh Festival (please note the ESTW meeting planned for this venue has had to be moved)

Addition on 14th: nuclear explosions on a world map http://www.theguardian.com/world/video/2015/aug/14/nuclear-weapon-detonation-hiroshima-nagasaki-trinity-1945-world-map-video?CMP=share_btn_tw

CND has reiterated its full support for the families of British soldiers killed in Iraq, as they today announce they are threatening to take legal action against Sir John Chilcot, who is leading the inquiry into the conflict. CND’s General Secretary Kate Hudson said: ‘It is no wonder that the families who made the ultimate sacrifice during the Iraq War are frustrated and angry by the delays to the inquiry. The Chilcot Inquiry has been years in the making and the foot-dragging must stop.

This months Peace and Justice Centre newsletter is available http://peaceandjustice.org.uk and so are this months SCND Exec minutes. Assistant Co-ordinator, Flavia Tudoreanu has put Bairns not Bombs into action and we are delighted to announce there is a new peace baby. Flavia’s daughter Sophie was born on the 27th July , weighing 7lb 10oz ( 3480g)

The Walkatjurra walkabout in Australia starts this week and John Pilger gave a talk in Edinburgh on Sunday 9th. Here is a shortened version of the talk which was used by the Australian Times:
http://www.australiantimes.co.uk/journalist-john-pilger-packs-a-full-house-at-edinburgh-festival-fringe/

Events to mark the 70th Anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki with atomic and hydrogen bombs and call for UK and world nuclear disarmament took place across Edinburgh and Scotland today. Further events are taking place in coming days and weeks. CNDs Kate Hudson urged that we keep up the pressure into the future.

EdinburghCND supporters were outside theScottish Parliament at 12 noon and there were petals and  paper lanterns floating  on the pond
The annual vigil took place from 6-7 pm on the Mound/Princes Street. We had songs from Protest and Harmony and Callum Baird and words from a number of members. See our Facebook page for more https://www.facebook.com/EdinburghCND

On Saturday EdinburghCND will be at the East End of Princes Street at 1230 and Trident Ploughshares have a vigil on the High Street from1-5pm.

Starting at 8:15am today Ellen Moxley, 80, of Trident Ploughshares began a four day fast outside the Scottish Parliament which will finish at 12 noon on 9th August outside the Scottish Parliament. Ellen was one of the Trident Three who dumped £80,000 worth of computer equipment as part of the Trident nuclear weapons system into Loch Long in 1999 and was
awarded the Right Livelihood Award in 2001 and the Gandhi Foundation Peace Award in 2004. She will be outside the Scottish Parliament for some of the time in between. This is part of an international fast taking place in France, the US and other countries as well as London, Glasgow and elsewhere in the UK.

Two exhibitions opened today. The Launch of the “Stop Worrying and Learn to Love the Bomb? Exhibition is at 6:30pm at 11 Gayfield Square Venue 116 with music and spoken word, featuring Bill Kidd MSP and the comedian
Mark Thomas. The exhibition runs from 6-19 August 10am- 5:30pm.

The “Humanity and the A Bomb” exhibition, organised by Edinburgh Peace and Justice Centre and Trident Ploughshsares, opens today at Leith Community Education Centre, 12A Newkirkgate and runs until the 20th of August. The exhibition comprises photographs of the aftermath of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and artwork by survivors with explanatory text. Daily  The exhibition is free and open to the public. [6]

On 8 August there is a screening of the film “X Years Later” a documentary on the exposure of Japanese fishermen to radiation from nuclear testing on the Bikini Atoll, Marshall Islands, and the ensuing coverup of the effects. Japanese with English Subtitles. Directed by Hideaki Ito. The film will be followed by discussion led by Edinburgh
Peace and Justice Centre Coordinator Brian Larkin. 5:30 for 6:00 -8:30pm, 11 Gayfield Square, Venue 116. Free Donation requested.

On 9 August there will be a screening of the HBO film “White Light/Black Rain” followed by discussion led by Edinburgh Peace and Justice Centre Coordinator Brian Larkin. 5:30-8:30pm, 11 Gayfield Square, Venue 116. Free. Donation requested.

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the nuclear attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. On 6th August 1945, an atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima by US air forces. This was the first time a nuclear weapon had ever been used; it killed up to 180,000 people and destroyed 13 square kilometres of the city. Three days later, a second atomic bomb was dropped on the city of Nagasaki, killing between 50,000 and 100,000 people. Members of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament will mark this 70th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima on Thursday 6th August.

EdinburghCND will be holding 2 events in Edinburgh on Thursday 6th August to mark this anniversary. At 12 noon paper lanterns will be floated in the pond outside the Scottish Parliament. From 6 pm to 7 pm there will be a vigil at the Mound / Princes Street. This is our main event and we invite all our supporters to bring candles, posters, words, songs………. (or just themselves) https://www.facebook.com/events/405131616358532/

A member of Trident Ploughshares will be fasting outside the Scottish Parliament from (early on) 6th to 9th August. Please join her, even if only for a short time.                                                                                                                                         On SATURDAY 8th AUGUST there will be CND leafletting at the East End of Princes Street from 1230 to 1pm and from 1-5pm Trident Ploughshares holding a vigil near the top of the Royal Mile on  from 1-5pm.  There will be SINGING from 1-2pm

Other events (for more details see also earlier newsletter or come along to our meeting on the 3rd at ACE):                           6 – 19 August. 10am – 5:30pm. Stop Worrying and Learn to Love the Bomb Exhibition.11 Gayfield Sq. (Venue 116). EH1 3NT. Saturday 8 August.6 – 8:30pm.  X Years Later. Film & Discussion. Free Event. Retiring Donation.                                         Sunday 9 August. 6 – 8:30pm. White Light / Black Rain. Film & Discussion. Japanese with English subtitles. Free Event. Retiring Donation. Both films at   11 Gayfield Sq (with exhibition) and there is an exhibition of photographs and artwork by survivors of the atomic & Hydrogen bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki: Leith Community Education Centre
12A Newkirkgate, EH6 6AD Edinburgh (6th-20th)

This major anniversary is likely to be the final one before a renewed debate in the UK on the possession of nuclear weapons as the government approaches a decision point on the replacement of the Trident system – expected in early 2016. In London, a special film screening of the classic anti-nuclear film, The War Game, including a discussion with the film’s original editor Michael Bradsell, on Thursday 6th August. Across the UK events will be organised by local CND groups, See above for Edinburgh events. CND spokespersons are available for interview and the media are invited to contact CND to discuss covering this important anniversary in light of the major decision on Trident replacement.    See http://www.cnduk.org for more details of these events                                   MPs remember Hiroshima – will you join in? Members of Parliament took time before the recess to take part in a CND Hiroshima commemoration. You can see the photos on our facebook page. Will you take part? Take a photo of yourself with a No More Hiroshimas poster and upload it onto facebook or twitter, using the hashtag #nomorehiroshimas.

15 minute Radio 4 broadcast on the Hiroshima bomb  Under the Mushroom Cloud http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b063zt9r  and The ‘sanitised narrative’ of Hiroshima’s atomic bombingb By Rupert Wingfield-Hayes BBC News http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-33754931

Labour leadership election Momentum is building behind CND Vice-Chair Jeremy Corbyn’s campaign to become leader of the Labour party, with Unison becoming the latest trade union to endorse his candidacy. As Jeremy is the only candidate opposed to Trident replacement, Labour CND is asking you to consider becoming a Registered Supporter of the Labour Party so that you can vote for him. If you are a member of an affiliated trade union this is free, otherwise it will cost £3. The closing date for registering is August 12 and full details are available on the Labour CND website. See also http://jeremycorbyn.org.uk/

Philosophy Football Tshirt for CND To mark the 70th anniversary of the Hiroshima bombings, Philosophy Football have teamed up with CND to launch an exclusive T-shirt. All profits come to CND, so buy yours today and help us raise £1,000 for the campaign against Trident replacement! Just £19.99, but you can help us raise more by buying yours at the solidarity price of £24.99. Order your T-shirt online or call 01273 472 721

UK Nuclear News No.76 August 2015 is now available for downloading here: http://www.no2nuclearpower.org.uk/nuclearnews/NuClearNewsNo76.pdf

The next meeting of the Scottish Peace Network will take place on Tuesday, August 4 at 7pm in Glasgow at the Friends Meeting House. This is located at 38 Elmbank Crescent, opposite the Charing Cross train station. They will be discussing and planning for events in the coming months.

John Pilger will be appearing at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe on Sunday August 9th at the Assembly Rooms. Journalist, film-maker and author, John Pilger is one of only two to win British journalism’s highest award twice. For his documentary films, he has won an Emmy and a BAFTA. His epic Cambodia Year Zero is ranked by the BFI as one of the ten most important documentaries of the 20th century. http://arfringe.com/show/2095/john_pilger_power_And_propaganda_%28q_and_a%29

Documentary about Dr Kissinger It’s narrated by Scottish actor Brian Cox:
The Trials Of Henry Kissinger: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwGtctUYhRI

In Australia: With less than a month to go now, its time to start getting ready for the Walkatjurra Walkabout:

We will be holding 2 events in Edinburgh on Thursday 6th August to mark the 70th anniversary of the destruction of Hiroshima by an atomic bomb. At 12 noon paper lanterns will be floated in the pond outside the Scottish Parliament. From 6 pm to 7 pm there will be a vigil at the Mound / Princes Street. This is our main event and we invite all our supporters to bring candles, posters, words, songs………. (or just themselves)

In addition (1) a new exhibition by the WMD Awareness programme will be launched at 6 pm on 6th August in the Gayfield Venue,http://www.gayfield.co.uk/venues/ and

(2) Some people in Edinburgh(and other parts of Scotland) are interested in participating in a worldwide fast on 6th to 9th Aug. Contact us at edinburghCND@yahoo.com for more information on any of these events (see news section for more events)

(3) X Years Later Japanese with English Subtitles Directed by Hideaki Ito Award winning Film screening and discussion. Free Event. Donation requested on door. 8th August 6 – 8:30pm. Gayfield Venues (Venue 116) 11 Gayfield SquareEdinburgh EH1 3NT https://www.facebook.com/events/1455290394773637/

(4)White Light / Black Rain 9th August 6 – 8:30pm. also at Venue 116 Free Event. Donation requested on door. To mark the 70th Anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki we are showing this HBO documentary film, directed by Steven Okazaki. Features interviews with fourteen Japanese survivors and four Americans involved in the 1945 atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.  Free. Donation requested on door. Book tickets at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2024571Jointly organised by Edinburgh Peace and Justice Centre and Edinburgh CND with WMD Awareness. Guests arriving early can view the interactive Stop Worrying and Learn to Love the Bomb exhibition organised by WMD Awareness. https://www.facebook.com/events/428452880688475/

(5) Join the rally for The Big Ride send off in Edinburgh! Speakers: Dr Mona El Farra (from Gaza); Claudia Beamish (MSP and Chair of the Palestine CPG) plus others. Come and welcome the riders as they start their epic 435 mile capital-to-capital ride that aims to raise essential funds for Gaza’s children, as well as creating awareness across the UK of the Palestinian struggle.

Other News

1. There is a petition to ask Ian Murray Edinburgh MP (and Scotland’s remaining Labour MP) to stick with his anti trident committment. https://www.change.org/p/ian-murray-mp-stand-up-against-trident?just_created=true

2.The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament has condemned UK air strikes in Syria. These strikes have been carried out despite the House of Commons vote in August 2013 against extending air strikes to Syria by a majority of 13. While David Cameron and Michael Fallon have both expressed support for extending the scope of the current mission, no parliamentary mandate has been sought. Fallon recently confirmed that the Government “will need to return to Parliament for approval if we propose to undertake air strikes against ISIL in Syria”.

3. The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament has also welcomed a final deal on Iran’s nuclear programme. Long in the making, the agreement comes after 17 days of intensive negotiation between Iran and the P5 states plus Germany. The deal follows more than a decade of tensions over claims by a number of countries that Iran’s nuclear programme has been a cover for the development of nuclear weapons. Iran has always insisted that this claim is false. Under the details of the agreement, which runs to over 150 pages of text, Iran will accept restrictions on its nuclear programme but in return harsh economic sanctions will be eased.

4. Edinburgh Stop the War Monthly Meeting 7.30pm Monday 20 JulyQuaker Meeting House, 7 Victoria Terrace, EH1 2JL Richard Haley from Scotland Against Criminalising Communities will speak on the new Prevent legislation and we will be also discussing campaigning against the governments move back into direct military intervention in Iraq and Syria

5. Forgiveness Workshops Monday–Friday, 27–31 July from 10am–12noon. Salisbury Centre, EH16 5AB All welcome regardless of ability to pay. Suggested Donation for 5 mornings: £20 waged/ £10 unwaged. An opportunity for community members to share our stories with each other. Emily Berry, Director of B3W Performance Group (New York) will also present forgiveness practices for our daily lives. Emily is collecting stories from diverse communities globally & will draw on these in creating a performance piece that will premiere in New York in 2016. Participants can choose to participate in the workshops without having their stories referenced in the performance piece. How B3W use stories can be seen in Confined, their previous evening length at: https://vimeo.com/127090551 password: Forgiveness Workshops. For more info or to book a place contact EP&JC on 0131 229 0993 or email contact@peaceandjustice.org.uk or book at http://forgivenessworkshops.bpt.me/ .

6.On the 6th August anniversary of the Hiroshima bombing, CND has organised a free screening of the 1965 BBC film, The War Game, in central London. Before MPs return to their constituencies CND will be hosting a photo call in Parliament to give them the chance to join us in marking Hiroshima Day. The photos will then be released in August. Please help us ensure that as many MPs as possible attend this event by asking your MP to come along this Wednesday for a photograph. You can email your MP by clicking here http://act.cnduk.org/lobby/hiroshima

7. The Australian Walkatjurra Walkabout continues: More info at http://www.walkingforcountry.com

8. Drone Campaign News for July is available: see DCN website https://dronecampaignnetwork.wordpress.com

9. Anand Patwardhan’s multi-award-winning documentary feature WAR AND PEACE (Jang aur Aman, 2002) will premier on July 27th 2015. We hope it might be shown in Edinburgh’s Take One Action film festival in Autumn

10. The documentary ‘X-years later’ is available on DVD at the peace and Justice Centre from its distribution company called Ukky production in Tokyo. The film itself was made by Director Hideaki Ito and its team in Nankai Broadcasting.

11. ACTINIC Exhibition open daily from Monday 29 June – 09 August 2015, 11am – 6pm Stills is delighted to be participating in the first ACTINIC festival and to be showcasing the work of Takashi Arai in an intimate exhibition of images from his acclaimed Daily D-Type series. This exhibition represents the first time that Arai’s work has been shown in Scotland and his first solo exhibition in the UK. Beginning in 2010, when he first became interested in nuclear issues, Arai has used the daguerreotype technique to create individual records-micro-monuments of his encounters with surviving crew members, and the salvaged hull, of the fallout-contaminated Daigo Fukuryumaru fishing boat, records that touch upon the fragmented reality of events in the past. This project led him to photograph the deeply interconnected subjects of Fukushima, Hiroshima, and Nagasaki.

12. Vanunu Campaign Update:  Mordechai has now been able to pay the legal costs awarded against him after losing his libel action, some years ago, against Yediot Aharonot. Thanks to a good response to appeals sent out by us and Mordechai the £6,750 was raised and paid without too much delay. It is also the most excellent news that Mordechai has just got married to his Norwegian girlfriend, Kristin Joachimsen, a professor at the school of Theology in Oslo. The ceremony took place in a Jerusalem church before a small group of some of his brothers and friends. We sent our congratulations and very best wishes to Mordechai and Kristin. However, if you wish to send a message to Mordechai his email is: vanunuvmjc@gmail.com We are now proposing to hold a vigil outside the Israeli Embassy on October 10th, the Saturday closest to Mordechai’s birthday on Oct. 13th (to celebrate his release from Jail). It would most likely be for two hours, 12 noon to 2pm, as we did last year. The Norwegian parliament had discussed his case on June 3rd. It was made clear, at that debate, by the minister Vidar Helgesen, that if Mordechai or his wife made an application for an emergency passport or asylum the application would be seriously considered.

Edinburgh CND will be leafletting on Saturday 11th July 1230 at the East End of Princes Street.

We have a number of events planned on and around 6th August (Hiroshima day). Watch this space.

Other News:

Ask your MP to join those backing CNDs EDM The Government is currently undertaking a Strategic Defence and Security Review to set priorities for defence spending. Trident replacement is not being included, but more than 70 MPs have signed EDM 73 urging the Government to ensure that Trident is considered at this stage. We expect MPs to vote on Trident replacement in 2016. It is vital that as many MPs as possible join our call for the SDSR to include a review of Trident so that the changing international security situation and ongoing cuts across government departments can be considered. Please join the hundreds of people who have already contacted their MP and ask yours to sign EDM 73 by clicking http://act.cnduk.org/lobby/edm73

CND has also urged MPs to learn the lessons from recent military actions following Defence Secretary Michael Fallon’s support for extending military action against ISIL to Syria. CND has warned that military action would be opposed by the public and that MPs should be afforded a full opportunity to debate and vote on any proposal. CND spokesperson Kate Hudson warned, ‘Recent history shows that US and UK military action in the Middle East and North Africa has been ill-conceived, leading to death and destruction for innocent civilians, and shattered states – both of which were abandoned by their attackers – where terrorists including ISIL have since been able to organise’. ‘It is welcome that the new Conservative chairs of both the Defence and Foreign Affairs Committees, Julian Lewis and Crispin Blunt – who both voted against military action in Syria in 2013 – have warned against such action today, and identified the need for a regional solution. Their approach recognises the problems created by UK military action and chimes with public opinion which opposes further military action. ‘

‘MPs clearly voted against military action in Syria in 2013 and the Prime Minister accepted that decision at the time. He must afford MPs the same rights to scrutinise and vote on authorisation of such action in this Parliament.’ ‘We bombed ISIL into existence. We can’t bomb them out of existence.’

Labour Leadership election
After securing 35 nominations and a place on the Labour leadership ballot paper, CND Vice-Chair Jeremy Corbyn MP has been taking his anti-Trident stance to hustings events around the country. The BBC report of the first event in Stevenage reported that Jeremy “received some of the warmest responses from the audience as he spelled out his “moral” opposition to renewing Trident”.

NuClear News No.75 July 2015 is now available for downloading here: http://www.no2nuclearpower.org.uk/nuclearnews/NuClearNewsNo75.pdf

July edition of the Peace and Justice Newsletter is now available: http://peaceandjustice.org.uk

Next meeting of Scrap Trident is Friday 10th July in Glasgow. Next meeting of Don’t Bank on the Bomb group is Tuesday 11 August 3:30pm at the Peace and Justice Centre and a Scottish PeaceNetwork meeting is being planned.

EdinburghCND meeting Monday 6th July 6pm at ACE 17 W Montgomery Pl, Edinburgh, Midlothian EH7 5HAWe have quite a bit of forward planning to undertake:

other news:

1.There will be a meeting of the Don’t Bank on the Bomb Working Group Tuesday 30th June 4:30pmat the Edinburgh Peace & Justice Centre . They need a few more people.

2. TEN YEARS ON FROM MAKE POVERTY HISTORY with Professor DAVID MILLER GILLIAN WILSON 7 pm, Thursday 2 July, Augustine Church, George 4th Bridge, Edinburgh chaired by Sarah Boyack MSP for Lothians . On 2 July 2005 over 200,000 people marched in Edinburgh under the banner of Make Poverty History in response to the presence of the G8 summit in Gleneagles, Ten years on we’ve certainly not made poverty history! What can we take from 2005 and the decade of organisation and struggle that has followed? What are the priorities for organising for social justice in 2015? Come, learn, contribute your thoughts and experiences      If you have photos, banners or anything else from the events 10 years ago: please bring them along. CND were there. Professor David Miller, who was involved in the G8 Alternatives conference; and Gillian Wilson of NIDOS (Network of International Organisations in Scotland will introduce the discussion FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/events/1434632266846217/ ADVANCE NOTICE: EDINBURGH WORLD JUSTICE FESTIVAL 2015 will run from 2 – 11 October

3. Former Navy Commander backs Trident Whistleblower un 28, 2015 — Rob Green, a former Commander in the Royal Navy, has praised the Trident Whistleblower, William McNeilly, for his “courageous action”. He said “the RN is out of its depth operating… Read more

4. Opposition to spending £100 billion on Trident replacement in the context of cuts elsewhere was heard loud and clear in demonstrations across the country on Saturday. Now we have to follow up this expression of people power with real pressure on our elected members. MPs have tabled EDM 73 calling for Trident to be included in the current Strategic Defence and Security Review. With MPs due to vote on Trident replacement next year it is vital that the changing international security situation and cost implications are considered in detail, especially at a time of continuing cuts in other government departments. Ask your MP to sign the EDM by clicking http://act.cnduk.org/lobby/edm73 Protesters gathered in Liverpool, Glasgow and London on Saturday to demonstrate against the government’s spending cuts. At these protests, CND highlighted the obscenity of spending £100 billion on new weapons of mass destruction when essential services face deep cuts. Have a look at the great photos from Scotland and London on facebook. Thanks to everyone who came along, donated money (to the fundraiser) and made sure the Scrap Trident message was heard loud and clear!

5 Scottish CND is developing a list of SNP CND members. SNP CND is a specialist section of Scottish CND and works within the SNP to promote nuclear disarmament. If you are a member of the SNP and would like to be added to the SNP CND list, please contact SCND

6.The Drone Campaign Network’s monthly email newsletter is available for June. 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 the monthly email newsletter, sign up via website here.

7. The Walkatjurra Walkabout is starting August 16th and this year it’s our 5th Anniversary! We have achieved so much since this chapter in the struggle for a nuclear free future started in 2011 at North Pool outside of Wiluna.