2.There will be leafleting on Saturday 11th March 1230 at the East End of Princes street.Please join us. We will be leafleting for the Global Nuclear Ban (continued below). (For other updates see +++++ especially item 6)

1. Our next meeting: ‘Trident, Truth and Trump’
A free talk by Veronika Tudhope, Organiser with the Scottish Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (SCND), on her work to oppose the lunatic immoral waste of money that are Trident nuclear weapons, and build for the momentuous period till July when the UN will vote in New York on a global treaty to ban all nuclear weapons. Questions and discussion after.
Tuesday 7th March 7-8pm in the Peace & Justice Centre, 5 Upper Bow, Edinburgh, EH1 2JN, all welcome.
info: edinburghcnd.org contact: edinburghcnd@yahoo.com FB/twitter
There will be a short business meeting before hand at 6.15pm

2.continued
In one month negotiations will commence at the United Nations on a treaty to ban nuclear weapons. The initiative has the support of more than 120 countries and represents the chance to take a huge step towards a world without nuclear weapons. http://nuclearban.org.
Despite the international consensus, the UK government continues to oppose the process and is set to boycott the negotiations. This isn’t good enough and will leave the UK among the international pariahs on this important issue.

Scrap Trident http://scraptrident.org reported on the Week of Action for the UN Nuclear Ban Treaty: It was great that so many of us got out on the streets last week to back the global ban. We’ve heard about events in Biggar, Forres, Inverness, Irvine, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Kilmarnock, Helensburgh, Dunoon and Ullapool, which is pretty impressive! It isn’t very easy campaigning on an issue on which the public have (so far) mostly no background information at all. The conventional media have been fed that information by the big international agencies but they haven’t yet understood its importance and relevance. This week we were told by one senior journalist that there is not much interest in “do-goodey stuff at the UN”. Of course, we have been there before, put in the effort and eventually the thing has taken off, and the media have then played catch-up. One good recent indicator was the mention of the ban made by MSPs in the recent Trident debate.
The ban treaty work in Scotland is continuing and here are a few of the activities from different organisations:
A. A letter has gone to all MSPs to inform them about the negotiations, to point out Scotland’s unique position, and to suggest a number of things they can do. The letter is copied below and it would be good if you could jog the elbows of your own MSPs about it.
B. A number of Scots may travel to the June sessions of the negotiations (as accredited civil society representatives).
C. SCND set up a ban treaty working group , and it needs some extra input ­ (not exclusive to SCND). Next meeting 8th March in Glasgow: contact SCND
++++++Added: notes on 8th March now available. Next meeting 20th March 10am, also in SCND office
D. UK CND report that they held a lobby of MPs followed by 2 meetings.
There are more leaflets and postcards if you need them and people who are ready to travel to speak at public meetings about the ban.

N B Signatures are still needed for the e-petition:
http://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/175096

++++3. Added on 2nd March:
You are invited to the Scottish Parliament on the 14th March at 2.00 pm
for an unusual and special opportunity which the Scottish Parliament
nuclear disarmament cross party group is hosting with Bill Kidd MSP.
Marzhan Nurzhan of Kazakhstan who is the PNND Coordinator for the
Commonwealth of Independent States (former Soviet countries) will make a
presentation about the important events that began in Kazakhstan in
1991, when a huge civil society movement in Kazakhstan was successful,
firstly in moving the Soviet government to close down the nuclear tests
site. Then, upon the break-up of the Soviet Union, Kazakhstan sent the
nuclear weapons on their soil to Russia for demolition and negotiated a
Central Asian Nuclear Weapon Free Zone. This is an exciting and hopeful
story which I am sure you will want to hear. Please allow 20 minutes to
get through Parliamentary security.Please download the attached flier.
REGISTER if you intend to attend this event: To register contact Janet Fenton: janet@wordsandactions.scot or call 07795594573.
Spaces are limited and as such we ask that you RSVP by 9th March 2017 5pm.
+++++++ added on 10th NB still a few places left, but hurry.

4.The MOD is to shut bases to pay for Faslane taking the subs with upgraded Trident missiles (Fallon under fire over MOD upgrade plan, 25 February).
At least two of the eight Scottish bases that will shut are stopover points for the convoys taking the Nuclear warheads between Reading and Faslane. Will these convoys now stop off at Motorway services for comfort breaks, or will drivers spend longer at the wheel and increase the risks communities are already subject to? Will the convoys be rerouted to the more dangerous roads which link the few barracks which are to stay open?
As the UN starts to debate a global ban on nuclear weapons next month, let’s hope for a future free of the unacceptable risks to humanity these hellish weapons pose.

5. (a)Campaign Against Arms Trade and the Edinburgh Peace and Justice Centre have launched a petition to the City of Edinburgh Council to do everything within its power to require that Lothian Pensions Trust divest from all arms companies. The petition can only be signed by Edinburgh residents aged over 16 and you can sign the petition by clicking onto the link below.
Disarm the Scottish Pension Fund: Sign the Petition now!
If you’d like to add your support to the campaign and get involved with the Edinburgh CAAT group, please email outreach@caat.org.uk to find details of the next meeting.
(b) CAAT are also organising an event outside the Scottish Parliament to raise the profile of the arms made in Scotland currently being used against Yemen by Saudi Arabia If you would like to register your interest in attending part or all of this action, or if you would like more information, please email Mark at eventscaatedin@gmail.com. SAVE THE DATE: WEDNESDAY 19TH APRIL 2017 – FROM SCOTLAND WITH SHAME

++++++Added 6 on 10th. Six years ago, an earthquake and tsunami hit the Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan, releasing radioactive material into the atmosphere in what was the biggest nuclear disaster since the explosion at Chernobyl twenty five years earlier. Events in London:Friday, March 10th, 5:30pm-7:30pm
Outside Japanese Embassy, 101 Piccadilly, London Fukuishima March Saturday, March 11th, assemble 12 noon Outside Japanese Embassy, 101 Piccadilly, London Followed by a rally at Richmond Terrace (opposite Downing Street) with speakers including Kate Hudson and Bruce Kent Fukushima Parliamentary Public Meeting
Wednesday, March 15th, 7pm-9pm Committe Room 9, House of Commons, Westminster, London
EVENT IN GLASGOW Scottish CND will hold a short vigil between 3 pm – 3.30 pm at the Donald Dewar statue on Buchanan Street, Glasgow on Saturday March 11 .

AND THE REST OF THE NEWS:
0. Nuclear News No.93 March 2017 is now available to download here: http://www.no2nuclearpower.org.uk/nuclearnews/NuClearNewsNo93.pdf
1. MPs debated Donald Trump’s state visit to Britain in response to a petition signed by 1.85 million people calling on the government to cancel the invitation.
2.Early notice of the Trident Ploughshares disarmament camp in July (8th to 16th) at Peaton Wood near Coulport. http://tridentploughshares.org/coulport-disarmament-camp-july-2017/
3.Latest Bulletin from the Los Alamos Study Group:
http://www.lasg.org/ActionAlerts/2017/Bulletin229.html
4.Something on Democracy:
http://wingsoverscotland.com/the-tyranny-of-majorities/
5.In London at the Weekend? Join the CND banner to say NHS not Trident on the national demo to save the national health service. Gather at the Gandhi memorial in Tavistock Square, 12 noon on 4 March 2017.
6.The next meeting of the Scottish Peace network is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Tuesday 11th April in Glasgow at the Electron Club in the CCA, Sauchiehall St. BUT if this time and date is not convenient please suggest alternatives and they can consider changing
7.New update from Australia https://walkingforcountry.com/ ++++++The Bad news this week is that the Federal Environment Minister gave environmental approval for the Mulga Rock uranium mine. Check out CCWA’s media release here. The good news is we still have a chance to stop this mine – particularly at the State election this Saturday where we can get rid of a pro nuclear Liberal Government.
8.The Stand Comedy Club has helped us and now needs our help:http://www.thestand.co.uk/news/699/25-02-2017-1106/stand_up_for_the_stand_comedy_club_%E2%80%93_we_need_your_help
9.Welcome to Argyll & Bute – what an attraction to promote! http://www.thenational.scot/comment/15123918.Kevin_McKenna__Welcome_to_Argyll_and_Bute__Europe_s_capital_for_weapons_of_mass_destruction/?ref=rl&lp=2
10.(passed)After the Independence Convention- Organising IndyRef2 Meeting tonight at the Augustine Church. 7pm

The next meeting of Edinburgh CND will be on Tuesday 7th March in the Peace and Justice Centre. It will be a special meeting with Veronika Tudhope (one of the Scottish CND co-ordinators) and we are sure that what she has to say will be of interest to many of our supporters. Veronika will be speaking from 7pm and one of the topics will be the continuing work on the Global Ban Treaty http://nuclearban.org. Before that (6.15pm) we will be having a short business meeting to discuss our future activities (including our input into the meadows festival). All are invited to that too.
+++We are interested in hearing from you, if you find the 1st Tuesday of the month a difficult time to get to meetings. Please e-mail edinburghcnd@yahoo.com

Before our next meeting there are 3 other events that may be of interest:

1. Speaking up for Women Internationally. Event organised by the Scottish Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom as part of the Audacious Women festival. Wednesday 22nd Feb 7pm to 9pm Augustine United Church George IVth bridge EH1 1LB. Scottish wilpf also are also showing their ‘Dangerous Women’ Exhibition at ‘The Little Shop of Memories’ Ocean Terminal 1st February to 3rd March.

2. Open day at Faslane Peacecamp 25th February: https://faslanepeacecamp.wordpress.com/
++++ We are also planning another another EdinburghCND trip to the camp in March

3. One day without us 20th February. EdinburghCND members will be at the Mound at 5.30pm

Other News:
1. Edinburgh CND has a new recruiting card and we hope to get it out to as many as possible over the next few months.

2. CND (UK) has published a new report which examines the security implications of Trident, Britain’s nuclear weapons system. The report was published in Parliament on 8th February at a meeting with Caroline Lucas MP (Green), Kelvin Hopkins MP (Labour), Margaret Ferrier MP (SNP), Paul Ingram (BASIC), and Richard Norton-Taylor (writer for the Guardian on defence and security).
Richard Norton-Taylor, Guardian journalist, said:
“Trident, of course, is supremely irrelevant to combating the main threat to Britain’s security, a threat which, according to Cameron, will last a generation. So violent jihadist groups, now manifest by Isis, will still be the main security threat when a new Trident fleet starts to sail in the 2030s. And such groups are not going to be deterred by any nuclear weapon, least of all such intercontinental ballistic missiles as Trident.”
This report looks into the many ways that Trident fails to protect us, with quotes from experts. The nuclear weapons system is vulnerable to emerging underwater drone technology; one of the unique selling points – that they are undetectable under water – soon won’t exist. Our report also shows why it is vulnerable to cyber attack and why it’s not an independent system.
Read the report today and share on social media, using the hashtag #StopTrident
http://cnduk.org/information/briefings/trident-briefings/item/2661-security-not-trident
+++++ On this website you will also find info on a Lobby of the UK parliament on 1st March and demo on 4th

3. Edinburgh CND has been active on the anti-Trump demos in Edinburgh. Here is a report of the one held on Saturday 11th February: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-38933037

4. Edinburgh CND has also been active in building the Global Ban campaign http://nuclearban.org.http://banthebomb.org/. Here is a reply from representatives of the UK government that was received by one of our members who wrote urging the government to participate in the talks:
‘ I am replying as the Desk Officer from the Counter Proliferation & Arms Control Centre responsible for international nuclear issues.
The UK is committed to a world without nuclear weapons in line with our obligations under Article VI of the Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT). We share the deep concern at the humanitarian consequences which could result from the use of nuclear weapons. We have a strong record on nuclear disarmament – we have steadily reduced the size of our own nuclear forces by well over half since our Cold War peak and the UK stockpile now represents around 1% of the total global stockpile.
However, we firmly believe that the best way to achieve a world without nuclear weapons is through gradual multilateral disarmament negotiated using a step-by-step approach and within the framework of the NPT. We do not believe that now is the right time to start negotiations on a treaty to prohibit nuclear weapons, as the right political and security conditions that would allow the nuclear weapon States to relinquish their nuclear weapons do not yet exist. For these reasons, we, along with the other NPT nuclear weapons States and NATO allies, did not support the resolution establishing negotiations on a nuclear weapons ban treaty at the UN General Assembly.
We remain determined to work with partners across the international community to prevent proliferation and to make progress on multilateral nuclear disarmament, to build trust and confidence between nuclear and non-nuclear weapon States, and to take tangible steps toward a safer and more stable world in which countries with nuclear weapons feel able to relinquish them.
Yours sincerely
Counter Proliferation & Arms Control Centre
++++Don’t forget the petition urging UK government participation in the talks: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/175096
+++++f you need more information, There is a working group, so
email janet@wordsandactions.scot or come to the next meeting which
will be at the SCND office at 4.30 27th Feb

5. Another petition worth signing: APPOINT MINISTERS FOR PEACE AND DISARMAMENT
There should be a mechanism that would make it easier to achieve peace than to achieve war, easier to facilitate peace in Northern Ireland than to start a war in Iraq. It is my proposal that all UK governments must include the senior cabinet positions of Ministers for Peace and Disarmament. https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/178703
Following the appointment of Fabian Hamilton to the position of Shadow Minister for Peace and Disarmament – a post created in 2016 by Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn – it is my proposal that from now on all UK governments must include the senior cabinet positions of Ministers for Peace and Disarmament.

6. The Campaign against the arms trade are also sponsoring an important petition:
A pension scheme managed by Edinburgh City Council for it’s staff is sitting on arms investments worth £128 million. The Lothian Pensions Trust invests in major arms companies including BAE Systems, whose weapons are currently playing a central role in Saudi Arabia’s devastating attacks on Yemen. BAE’s weapons have been used to commit human rights abuses across the globe, from suppressing pro-democracy protests in Bahrain to Israel’s deadly attacks in Gaza. So why is Edinburgh Council investing for the future with them?
Campaign Against Arms Trade and the Edinburgh Peace and Justice Centre have launched a petition to the City of Edinburgh Council to do everything within its power to require that Lothian Pensions Trust divest from all arms companies. We need 200 signatures to get our petition accepted and appear before the Lothian Pensions Trust to present the petition- and we’re already nearly halfway there! Please add your name today, and share with friends to help Edinburgh Campaign Against Arms Trade group reach their goal. The petition can only be signed by Edinburgh residents aged over 16 and you can sign the petition by clicking onto the link below. https://crm.caat.org.uk/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=2164&qid=1007694
Edinburgh CAAT are asking you to forward to friends and also asking us to ‘save a date’:Saturday, 15th April,when they will be holding a day training event (between 10:30pm and 3:30pm) with external facilitators to explore creative campaign approaches and develop a strategy for campaigning against the arms trade in Scotland.

7. The next meeting of the Scottish Peace Network will take place on Monday, February 20, in the Peace and Justice Centre just off of the Royal Mile in Edinburgh. Their monthly vigil will take place on Thursday, February 23, from 5-6pm at the Dewar´¨s statue on Buchanan Street in Glasgow city centre.

And yet more:
1. The following motion will be going to the SNP conference:
UN NUCLEAR WEAPON TREATY BAN: Conference welcomes the UN Treaty Ban Conference taking place this month (March 2017) to negotiate a legally binding instrument to prohibit nuclear weapons, leading towards their total elimination; understands that the UK Government voted to oppose this discussion happening as a Nuclear Weapon State without any consultation with Scotland or the Scottish Government.
Conference reaffirms its commitment to ridding Scotland and the world of nuclear weapons; welcomes any new instruments that will add urgency to the need for unilateral nuclear disarmament to create a safe and peaceful environment in Scotland that we all aspire to; and in the event of independence, calls on the Scottish Government to make international, unilateral disarmament of nuclear weapons a top priority of its international relations strategy.

2. Support for independence surges to 49% as the roof caves in on Theresa May’s “Scotland will have to lump it” doctrine
SCOT goes POP!: Support for independence surges to 49% as the roof caves in on Theresa May’s “Scotland will have to lump it” doctrine from James Kelly’s Tweet

3. For the latest news from Australia: https://walkingforcountry.com/

4. A campaign has been started to lift the sanctions against Zimbabwe. Contact
jeanpierrebarrois@gmail.com for more details

The International Campaign Against Nuclear Weapons (ICAN)has called for a “Week of Action’ from the 10th to 17th February (further details below). As part of this Edinburgh CND will be holding a stall on Saturday 11th at the anti-Trump event at the Meadows: meet 11.45 on Middle Meadow Walk outside Sainsburys (see below)
We will also be leafleting from 1230 at the East End of Princes Street before Women in Black
On Monday 13th there will also be leafleting at East End of Princes Street 5.30 to 6pm (prior to Scottish wilpf meeting) and on Friday 10th a stall from 5pm also at the East End of Princes Street.
More events on http://banthebomb.org and more information on http://nuclearban.org. and below:

The United Nations is starting to negotiate a nuclear weapons ban treaty at the end of March in New York. This presents an opportunity to end the threat of nuclear annihilation and for the nine countries that have nuclear weapons to join the international consensus in favour of scrapping them. The negotiations are supported by a huge majority of the world’s governments but the UK Government say they want multilateral disarmament and they won’t take part. The Scottish Parliament would support the treaty, but is misrepresented by the UK. The international campaign, ICAN, has supported ordinary people across the world as well as at the UN to get the ban treaty this far, and has called for the Week of Action. Everyone should know about the ban, but the UK media are not reporting it so far, so it is up to us. There is now a Scottish working group to support activity here, and provide information and resources. We hope you will join in. Add the Ban twibbon to your profile. http://banthebomb.org
The recent revelation that a Trident missile test had to be aborted after the missile veered off course towards Florida highlights the continuing danger nuclear weapons pose to the world. Coupled with the many erratic statements from President Donald Trump, the time has come for international action to eliminate nuclear weapons everywhere.Contact your MP to arrange a meeting and make sure the voice of those who support a ban on nuclear weapons is heard.
On March 25th – the eve of the conference CND will print an advert in a national newspaper, to raise awareness of this vital development. If you can help fund the advert with a donation, we’ll add your name to it. If 500 people donate £20 each, the ad will be fully funded, but any amount will help towards getting it published. http://www.cnduk.org

Reminder: If you haven’t signed the petition urging UK government participation in the talks: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/175096

+++CND has published a new report this week which examines the security implications of Trident, Britain’s nuclear weapons system. The Security not Trident report was published in Parliament yesterday at a meeting with Caroline Lucas MP (Green), Kelvin Hopkins MP (Labour), Margaret Ferrier MP (SNP), Paul Ingram (BASIC), and Richard Norton-Taylor (writer for the Guardian on defence and security).

Scotland Against Trump – National demo Saturday 11th, 12 noon at the Meadows, Edinburgh
With the exception of Iran, Trump’s ban targets countries that the US has bombed. He is continuing bombing campaigns across the Middle East. There have already been confirmed US attacks in Iraq, Syria and Yemen, where one US commando was killed and two were injured in a failed US raid. US policy towards Iran has returned to the hostile and aggressive posture that was the norm until recently. Furthermore, 350,000 children are trapped and at risk in the US-supported siege of Mosul.
Since Trump’s election, CND has stood in solidarity with the protests against racism, misogyny, and we now stand in solidarity with those protesting against Islamophobia. Our message of stopping Trump’s nuclear arms race and ending the special nuclear relationship between the US and Britain are a vital part of these new movements. There is a report and 20 photos from last Saturday’s Edinburgh march against Trump’s Muslim ban.Edinburgh March Against Trump’s Muslim Ban | Aotearoa Indymedia
Edinburgh CND has participated in the Edinburgh protests and will also be there on Sat 11th (see above)
Other Actions: Sign the letter from the world to Donald Trump https://secure.avaaz.org/campaign/en/president_trump_letter_phtesttr/
Petition: Prevent Donald Trump from making a State Visit to the United Kingdom.
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/171928

Other News:
1. Anti-nuclear campaigners have responded to news about further reliability issues with the Trident II D5 missiles.
Kate Hudson, CND general secretary, said:
“It’s time for the government to end its silence about the Trident missile crisis. It’s not enough for officials to send out press statements saying we ‘we have absolute confidence’ in Trident when there is now a catalogue of very serious failures that the government needs to address.
“We are calling for a Trident Inquiry. The public have a right to know the details of these cover-ups and failures.”
Ask your MP to sign EDM 877 calling for a Trident Inquiry
As news emerged over the weekend that Trident missiles have been experiencing issues with navigation for some time, the government remains silent on the failed test and the cover-up that followed.
The Sunday Times reported that a United States test of the Trident missile also failed and was covered up by the US administration.

2.nuClear News No. 92, February 2017 is now available for downloading here: http://www.no2nuclearpower.org.uk/nuclearnews/NuClearNewsNo92.pdf

3.Peace and Justice Centre February news with a Women’s Day theme http://peaceandjustice.org.uk/

4. Drones Campaign News Feb: dronecampaignnetwork@riseup. net

5.(a) Faslane peace camp is holding an open day you are all most wholeheartedly welcome to come along and please feel free to share this information with whomever you would like to.
– https://faslanepeacecamp.wordpress.com/2017/02/08/open-day-at-the-faslane-peace-camp-25th-of-february-community-is-unity/
– https://www.facebook.com/events/591324197732997/
We are visiting on the 12th also.
(b) Starting at 06.30 AM on 2 Feb 5 anti-nuclear activists blocked the morning traffic at the south gate of HMNB Clyde in Faslane. The activists locked-on to one another using arm tubes and formed a blockade on the road leading to the gates. The MoD police cutting team arrived at the scene at 07:00 AM, while MoD officers blocked legal observers’ access from the activists. The morning traffic was directed to the North Gate of the naval base. At 07.30 AM, at the time of the first arrest, the tailback of the traffic stretched from the North Gate beyond Shandon, a distance of over two miles.

6. Benchmark 6 is an old Ministry of Defence term for a worst case accident with a Trident submarine. A Scottish film-maker, David Newbigging, is planning to make a fictional documentary exploring just such a scary scenario, right here, on the Clyde. David approached the Executive of Scottish CND to explain his project and they have agreed to lend it their support. https://socialscreen.co.uk/films/benchmark-6/support

7.Campaign Against Arms Trade is challenging the UK government in a judicial review for supplying arms to Saudi Arabia for the production of a humanitarian disaster in Yemen. The hearings started yesterday, more to follow today and on Friday.
http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/uk-high-court-review-saudi-arms-sales-during-yemen-conflict-597910394
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0481zgm
Please write to your MP here, today:
https://www.caat.org.uk/get-involved/act-now/lobby/stop-arming-saudi-arabia
And please sign the petition, too: https://www.caat.org.uk/get-involved/act-now/petition/stop-arming-saudi !

8. We are saddened to announce that Atsuko Betchaku died suddenly last week.
Atsuko was a much loved and valued volunteeer at the Peace and Justice Centre. She organised and ran many peace cranes workshops around Edinburgh remembering Hiroshima and the wish of a little girl called Sadako for future peace and disarmament. The workshops were always a joy, with much laughter, happiness and beauty. The last post she created on her Cranes project website announced the hope that there will be an exhibition of the 140,000 Cranes in Scottish Parliament in 2018. Atsuko’s website is at:https://origamicraneproject.jimdo.com/
Her funeral will take place: Thursday 16 February 3:30pm at Warriston Crematorium

9. The next meeting of the Countering Recruitment of under-18s to the armed forces campaign will be on Tuesday 14th Feb

Following the huge anti-Trump demonstrations in Edinburgh and across the country last weekend, as well as a media frenzy following the news of the Trident missile crisis cover up (see 1 below), it is an extremely busy time for all CND groups. It’s also a huge opportunity to get our message out wider too.
+++++ See our Facebook page for more Trump activities:https://www.facebook.com/EdinburghCND/

The next Edinburgh CND meeting will be on Tuesday 7th Feb 6pm Edinburgh Peace and Justice Centre 5 Upper Bow EH1 2NJ. All invited. We will be discussing our future activities including our contribution to the worldwide Week of Action from 10th to 17th Feb (see 2 below).
STOP PRESS: also see 13 below for a Parliamentary debate on the 8th and 14 for a meeting in Inverness on the 3rd

1. Trident is a disaster waiting to happen:
The news that Theresa May covered up a failed Trident missile test in 2016 is a crisis for our democracy as well as a crisis for the security of Britain. Michael Fallon continued the denial.
As CND’s Kate Hudson said to the media: “this is a very serious failure of the Trident system and there’s absolutely no doubt this would have impacted on the debate in Parliament on Trident replacement. The government’s motivation for holding back this vital information is therefore clear.
“Instead of crucial information being given by the government at the appropriate time to inform the MP’s debate, it’s been revealed by a senior naval figure months after it took place.” Write to your MP to demand an inquiry into this crisis.
“Both Parliament and public have the right to the truth, which is why we’re calling for a Trident Inquiry. Thousands of letters have already been sent to MPs to demand that an inquiry is conducted. It’s time for the government act.”
Parliamentary CND Chair Caroline Lucas has tabled an Early Day Motion calling for an inquiry.

2. Last year Scotland held numerous demos to oppose the Trident vote. Now we found out that Theresa May covered up this failed Trident missile test right before the vote. We must challenge the UK’s bad decision. Negotiations for a Nuclear Weapons Ban Treaty start in March at The United Nations meeting in New York. The Ban is supported by most member states – but not the UK, and the UK media are not reporting it so far. It is up to us to tell the good news.

ICAN call for a worldwide Week of Action from 10th to 17th Feb.
SCND and others are working with the Scrap Trident Coalition to make a big impression!
Are you willing to organise a street stall or arrange a photograph opportunity in your local area after work one evening or during the weekend in the week of action?
We have postcards and leaflets to tell the Ban Treaty story (from the SCND and Edinburgh Peace & Justice offices). We need everyone in Scotland to see them. You can ask your local MSPs to get involved and get everyone to register on http://nuclearban.org.
SCND and the Scrap Trident Coalition will post about activities and the contact person in each area. Please let us know if you’d be interested in coordinating a stall. We will offer support.
We are asking everyone to make sure that we can get pictures of the whole week, make Facebook events and share these on Facebook, Twitter etc. If this is new for you we can help you get started. We will use social media to publicise all the activities, and it is really important that ICAN has our photographs with placards or statements supporting the Global Ban Treaty to share in New York!
Reminder: If you haven’t signed the petition urging UK government participation in the talks: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/175096
There is a lobby of MPs organised on Wednesday 1st March to call on the UK government to play a constructive role in the negotiations, and this is your chance to persuade your local MP.

STOP PRESS: (I)Anti-nuclear campaigners have responded to the announcement made by the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists that the Doomsday Clock has moved to 2 minutes 30 seconds.
Kate Hudson, CND general secretary, said: “The Doomsday Clock has moved closer to midnight. The twin threats of nuclear war and climate change pose a greater danger to the world in 2017 than in 2016. We agree that the provocative statements made by Donald Trump have broken international conventions and made a new arms race a real possibility.It’s now absolutely vital that Britain supports negotiations for a global nuclear ban taking place at the United Nations this year”. Meanwhile, a few blocks away in Washington DC on the same day as the Doomsday Clock announcement, UNFOLD ZERO and Parliamentarians for Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament (PNND) held a consultation with arms control experts and disarmament activists on how to reduce nuclear risks and advance nuclear disarmament. The meeting was part of a series of consultations in Geneva, Vienna, New York, Washington, London and other centres, focusing on upcoming multilateral processes, including United Nations negotiations on a treaty to ban nuclear weapons, the resumption of the Non-Proliferation Treaty review cycle and the 2018 UN High Level Conference on Nuclear Disarmament.

STOP PRESS: (II) Anti-nuclear campaigners called for an end to the Special Relationship – particularly its nuclear elements – ahead of Theresa May’s meeting with US President Donald Trump. Kate Hudson, CND general secretary, said: “There is widespread recognition that President Trump poses an increasing nuclear threat to the world. He has encouraged proliferation and a new nuclear arms race, and calls for a major increase in the US nuclear arsenal. This is a disastrous direction for US foreign and military policy – and for ours too, as we are tied to the US in the Mutual Defence Agreement. Signed in 1958 this is the most extensive nuclear sharing agreement in the world.

3. On Tuesday morning (24th) at 06.45 AM, four anti-nuclear activists blocked the ongoing morning traffic at the south gate of HMBB Clyde in Faslane. Action was recorded by activists from the nearby Faslane Peace Camp, a protest site dedicated to campaigning against nuclear weapons since 1982. The protesters interrupted the morning routines by walking into the line of traffic and pulling a banderol over the road. Edinburgh CND will be visiting the camp in February (watch this space)

4. Audacious Women festival : Scottish WILPF Exhibition at Ocean Terminal
If you haven’t seen the Dangerous Wome Exhibition yet it will be at ‘The Little Shop of Memories’ Ocean Terminal 1st February to 3rd March. If you are not in Edinburgh and would like the Exhibition for a local venue please contact Scottish WILPF.

5. Peace and Justice Centre News:
(a)Burns Supper and Ceilidh Sat 28 Jan 2017. 6pm. Burns Supper. 8 – 11pm Ceilidh.
(b) Alternatives to the local authority debt crisis Friday 27th January. 6 – 8:30pm. Augustine’s United Church on George IV Bridge.
(c) Another reminder: Ask your MP and MSP to sign these parliamentary motions on Military Recruitment of Under 18s (see earlier post on this site).
(d) Paper crane-making every Saturday afternoon from 2pm.

6.January’s Nuclear News at http://www.no2nuclearpower.org.uk/news/21-january-2017

7. Campaign Against the Arms Trade (CAAT) are taking the government to Court.
For nearly two years the government has refused to stop arms sales to Saudi Arabia, ignoring overwhelming evidence that UK weapons are being used in violations of international humanitarian law in Yemen.
Campaigners put the government under unprecedented pressure – but it has continued to do all it can to maintain its relationship with Saudi Arabia, the UK’s biggest arms customer. CAAT are asking people to write to their MPs.

8. Join Helesnburgh CND Life after Trident Conference on 11 Feb, 1 – 5 pm (Helensburgh Parish Church Halls, Colquhoun Square, G84 8UP).

9.The monthly vigil of the Scottish Peace Network will take place this Thursday, January 26, from 5 to 6pm at Dewar’s statue, Buchanan Street in Glasgow city centre. This year the official Armed Forces Day event will take place in Liverpool on June 24. Stirling is holding its usual military show on Saturday, June 17, this will be raised at their next meeting on February 20.

10. CND is organising an ‘NHS Not Trident’ block at the ‘Our NHS’ march to Parliament on Saturday 4th March. We are anticipating massive interest and a huge turnout, and we want all CND groups to be part of it too.

11.++++++News from Italy: Submarine Crashes Through Streets Of Milan In Creative Publicity Stunt: http://www.boredpanda.com/submarine-crash-milan-mc-saatchi-europ-assistance-italia/

12.More News from Australia:
Last week the Environment Minister approved the Yeelirrie uranium proposal – ignoring the EPA advice that the project doesn’t meet objective under the Environmental Protection Act – as the project could make 11 species extinct!!!!+

13. Trident and its Successor Programme – The Case for non-renewal, employment diversification and contributing to peace
The Jimmy Reid Foundation published the above Report on 24 November, read at http://reidfoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Trident-Report-24th-Nov-1.pdf .
Bill Kidd MSP with cross party support has tabled the motion below supporting the findings of the Report. Jackie Baillie MSP has tabled an amendment opposing the motion. The motion will be debated in the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday 8 February at 5.00pm. There will also be a public discussion afterwards in Committee Room 5 from 6.00pm to about 7.30pm. The lead author of the Report, Professor Mike Danson will be present to facilitate discussion. MSP’s will also be invited to attend. The Committee Room is booked in the name of Bill Kidd MSP.
My purpose in writing to you is to invite you to attend the debate in the Public Gallery and/or participate in the discussion afterwards. Also please forward/facebook/twitter any acquaintance you think may be interested in attending.
If attending the debate arrive no later than 4.30pm to allow time to go through security. If attending the discussion you require a visitors pass and need to email your name to JennyElisabeth.Holt@parliament.scot .

14.The HANT (Highlands Against Nuclear Transport) AGM
When: Friday 3rd February, 19:30 Where: Concourse Room Spectrum Centre
1 Margaret Street Inverness IV1 1LS (Ground floor with disabled access)
Refreshments: will be provided! Everyone welcome – come along to learn about our efforts in stopping the transport of nuclear waste by rail, sea and air!

Apologies: this one is rather long (but worth it)

1. Stop Trump’s Nuclear Arms Race protests: assemble 5.30 today (20th) at the East End of Princes Street and march to the US consulate Regent Terrace. There is also a demo at US Embassy London
CND is also taking part in the Women’s March in Edinburgh, London and other cities. Organisers have called the protest “to unite and stand together for the dignity and equality of all peoples, for the safety and health of our planet and for the strength of our vibrant and diverse communities.” Edinburgh assemble 11am outside the US consulate 3 Regent Terrace, Edinburgh EH7 5BW

Edinburgh CND will be at both events with our Arms are for Linking banner and some trump masks.
CNDs Kate Hudson said: “Donald Trump has sparked fear across the world with a series of provocative statements. He has called for the expansion of the US nuclear capability, the tearing up of the Iran nuclear deal, and he appeared to welcome a possible arms race in Asia.

2. 2017 is set to be an historic year as negotiations begin at the United Nations on an international treaty to ban nuclear weapons.
However, despite the treaty negotiations receiving the backing of 120 countries, the UK voted against and has not indicated whether it will attend the talks beginning in March in New York.
CND is calling on the UK government to play a constructive role in the negotiations and has called a lobby of MPs to give you the chance to persuade your member of Parliament.
Making progress on international disarmament is particularly urgent given the fast changing international situation, including the growing tensions between the US and China.
We urge as many of our supporters as possible to back this important lobby. The CND team will be in parliament on the day to give any information or support you may need. You can come along in your lunch break of after work if you are nearby. Otherwise why not get a group together and come to parliament?
http://cnduk.us12.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=50a46ed98fb9032bd46d11880&id=d02776de87&e=96dcf14be7

More on both the above campaigns in

Click to access January_2017.pdf

and for even more on the global ban:http://nuclearban.org/

If you haven’t signed the petition urging UK government participation: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/175096

3. Stop the War Meetings in Edinburgh and Kirkcaldy:
Edinburgh public meeting What the Trump presidency means for the anti-war movement Monday 23rd January 7.30pm At the Quaker Meeting House
7 Victoria Terrace EH1 2JL There will be plenty of time for an open discussion on the challenges we face in 2017 and what action we can take. Hope to see you there.

Kirkcaldy Public Meeting War and Refugees 26 January at 19:00
Old Kirk, Kirk Wynd, KY1 1EH Kirkcaldy

4. Peace and Justice Burns Supper and Ceilidh
Sat 28 Jan 2017. 6pm Burns Supper. 8 – 11pm Ceilidh.
Full three course Burns’ Supper, with speakers, peace activist and author Alastair McIntoshwith the Immortal Memory, musician and inspiring educator Stan Reeves giving the Address to the Haggis, and political activist, writer and dreamer Zara Kitson responding from the lassies. Dancing until midnight with Hud Yer Wheesht Edinburgh Ceilidh Band, and support acts Various Moons playing Norman MacCaig-inspired tunes, and Kenny Vass singing Burns.
Full licensed bar with organic and local delights and the raffle with Gandolf. Raising vital funds to keep the campaining going for Edinburgh Peace and Justice Centre.
Come to the full Burns Supper & Ceilidh or just the Ceilidh
Supper & Ceilidh (supporters) £25 / Standard £20 / Concession £15
Ceilidh Only: Supporters £15 / Standard £10 / Concession £6.50 / Advance concession £5 / under 12 £3.50
Book Tickets at: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2

5. CND general secretary Kate Hudson has responded to the announcement that Chelsea Manning will be freed in 2017.
“Chelsea Manning is a heroine and a truth teller of our times, and I’m absolutely thrilled to hear that she will be freed from prison.
“Because of her bravery we obtained yet more evidence of the horrors conducted in our name under the guise of the War on Terror. After her arrest a solidarity movement grew around the world to demand her release. I’m delighted that that day will soon be upon us.”

6. Faslane Peacecamp Wishlist:
Following Edinburgh CNDs visits we include something that we can all do to help the peace camp:
If anyone has anything just lying in the shed or is taking any of this to the dump then just drop it in to us and we can make use of it
WISHLIST:
ply and chip board, 4x4s 4x6s, Firewood Wood, Wooden Pallets for building, Chicken wire, Tarpaulins, Rope, Wood Nails & screws, Fencing, Binoculars/telescope, Wheelbarrow, Shovels, pick axes, Wood burners, Leisure batteries/car batteries, Still saw (petrol), axes, metal bins, Sledge hammer, Petrol chainsaw, Any tools at all!, Canoes/kayaks & paddle, A boat, Bicycles, Brushes/brooms, Climbing gear, Ladders (as high as a base fence), Paint (all colours, Paint brushes, Quilts/bedding/mattresses, Candles, Bicycle/car pump,LED battery lights, Sturdy pots and pans, a good sized Frying pan, Wooden spoons,Tin plates, bowls, cups, Tin box’s (bread box), woodcarving tools, Camo clothes, boots, thick socks, Night vision, Anvil,AA & AAA batteries
People to come for Direct Action
And Visitors!!!

7. Quakers in Scotland and other peace groups have been working on the progression of a joint petition through Scotland’s Public Petitions Committee. This petition calls for greater scrutiny, transparency and guidance around armed forces visits to schools.

8. Next CAAT Edinburgh meeting:
Wednesday 12th April 2017, 7-8.45pm, Quakers Meeting House
CAAT are urging contributions to the Edinburgh Labour Manifesto at http://www.edinburghlabour.com/edinburgh_labour_draft_manifesto_2017 by 28th January!
Minutes of Jan meeting now available.

9. Minutes of the recent Scottish Peace Network meeting are available. The monthly vigil of theScottish Peace Network will take place on Thursday, January 26, from 5-6pm at the Dewar’s statue on Buchanan Street in Glasgow city centre. We will bring a banner, placards and flyers.
May Day 2017: Planning already underway in both Edinburgh and Glasgow. Contact us for details.

10.News from Australia:
A bigger update soon and let you all know what is happening, but for now we just wanted to let you know that Yeelirrie just got Ministerial approval – that’s the one that the EPA rejected.
http://www.epa.wa.gov.au/proposals/yeelirrie-uranium-project

Wishing all our supporters a peaceful new year:

Edinburgh CND will be leafleting at the East End of Princes Street on Saturday 14th January at 1230.

A New Year Message from CND

Don’t forget that this is the year of the UN talks to initiate a treaty to prohibit all Nuclear Weapons. The following letter appeared in the National on 6th Jan:
‘I strongly agree with Joseph G Miller’s letter in Wednesday’s National (‘Shame on UK for voting against nuke treaty bid’). It’s a scandal that the BBC hasn’t covered recent developments at the UN where 123 countries voted in favour of a resolution to negotiate on a treaty to prohibit all nuclear weapons. The UK voted against this resolution, contradicting the noises the government make about being in favour of multilateral disarmament. Scotland had no vote despite having hosted these obscene weapons for decades with all the attendant risks.
Mr Miller finishes his letter hoping the Scottish electorate will wake up to the dangers of nuclear weapons. I can assure him many of us have. Some are Peace Campers at Faslane, some campaigners with Scottish CND and its local groups, some the activitists of Nukewatch monitoring the bomb convoys. Join us!
The next elections are for local councils in May, I urge voters to quiz your candidates about the risks of nuclear warheads being driven along our roads and what they plan to do about the danger we are all put in by this’.

Remember: You could help persuade the UK government to support this coming World Conference on Nuclear Weapons by signing our petition.
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/175096

+++++STOP PRESS: https://www.facebook.com/events/115723635598426/ for Women’s event on Sat 21st
Join us to say Stop Trump’s Nuclear Arms Race on the day of the US President-elect’s inauguration. We’ll be at the Wellington Statue East end of Princes street on 20 January from 5 30pm. There will be a London event at the same time.
The last few weeks have seen international tensions grow as US President-elect Donald Trump has made an alarming series of statements, the consequences of which could spell nuclear annihilation.
Breaking with decades of US presidential policy, Trump has spoken in favour of nuclear proliferation – suggesting that more countries should develop their own nuclear weapons. Referring to Japan and South Korea countering North Korea, he said he’s fine about a nuclear arms race in East Asia. There can be few more dangerous developments.
But dangerous statements and actions abound. Before Christmas he said “the United States must greatly strengthen and expand its nuclear capability”, and at the end of the year he was reported as saying “let it be an arms race” in a telephone call to the MSNBC presenter Mika Brzezinski.
He has already stated that he wishes to end the nuclear deal with Iran. His decision to end decades of agreement with China by phoning the Taiwanese president Tsai Ing-wen raises the spectre of a conflict too terrible to contemplate.
Our movement must confront this situation as a matter of urgency: the real world effects of this provocative approach to international relations by Britain’s main ally – the most powerful military force in the world – can already be felt.

OTHER EVENTS:

1. Visits to Faslane: Saturday 7th January and a Sunday in February. Contact edinburghcnd@yahoo.com for further details

2. A night of celebration for the life of John Ainslie – giant of Scottish CND and the peace movement in Scotland – will take place from 7.30 pm in St Peters Church Hall, Glasgow, G11 5PS (Chancellor St. entrance) on Friday January 13th.
The event is being organised by Scottish CND and is open to our members and supporters and people from the wider Peace Movement who wish to attend. Supporters from CND groups or networks across the UK are also very welcome to attend. There will be some light snacks available and refreshments, but people can bring their own bottle. Donations will be welcome to cover the food costs.
The programme for the night is as follows:
7.30 pm: Opening remarks and welcome – Arthur West – chair of Scottish CND
7.45 pm – 8.30 pm: Songs, music and contributions from various people on the life of John Ainslie
8.30 pm: Break and a chance for some food and drink
9 pm: Brief readings from John’s reports down the years
9.15 pm Celidh music and dancing
10.30 pm Closing remarks
John Ainslie’s nephew – Ross Ainslie will be playing a few songs. He is one of Scotland’s finest traditional musicians playing pipes, whistles and cittern.
Maeve MacKinnon, who is an outstanding Scottish singer, will also be performing at the event. Maeve is the daughter of former Scottish CND chair Alan MacKinnon

3. Peace and Justice Burns Supper and Ceilidh
Sat 28 Jan 2017. 6pm Burns Supper. 8 – 11pm Ceilidh.
Full three course Burns’ Supper, with speakers, peace activist and author Alastair McIntoshwith the Immortal Memory, musician and inspiring educator Stan Reeves giving the Address to the Haggis, and political activist, writer and dreamer Zara Kitson responding from the lassies. Dancing until midnight with Hud Yer Wheesht Edinburgh Ceilidh Band, and support acts Various Moons playing Norman MacCaig-inspired tunes, and Kenny Vass singing Burns.
Full licensed bar with organic and local delights and the raffle with Gandolf. Raising vital funds to keep the campaining going for Edinburgh Peace and Justice Centre.
Come to the full Burns Supper & Ceilidh or just the Ceilidh
Supper & Ceilidh (supporters) £25 / Standard £20 / Concession £15
Ceilidh Only: Supporters £15 / Standard £10 / Concession £6.50 / Advance concession £5 / under 12 £3.50
Book Tickets at: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2

4. The next meeting of the Scottish Peace Network will take place on Tuesday, January 10, at 2pm in the electron club which is on the first floor of the Centre for Contemporary Art on Sauchiehall Street in Glasgow city centre

STOP PRESS 5. CAAT Edinburgh quarterly meeting
17th January 2017, 7pm – 8.45pm
at Quakers’ Meeting House, 7 Victoria Terrace, Edinburgh EH1 2JL will discuss current campaigns, including the national and local campaigns on Yemen, action on arms companies’ presence in Scottish schools and other ideas for action from several sub-meetings that have taken place since the last quarterly meeting.4

STOP PRESS 6. More on CND wish to all CND groups and members (see first item) a happy and peaceful 2017. Despite the serious challenges we face, we are feeling very positive about the year ahead for our campaign. It will be exciting to follow developments at the UN with a global nuclear weapons ban being negotiated – starting in March. But no matter what this year brings, we will continue to work hard together to campaign against all things nuclear. They also suggested using their new materials http://www.cnduk.org/shop/index.php?cPath=3&osCsid=4t61eusiamka2kjlv1oss2seo4

+++Edinburgh CND will not be having a formal meeting in January. We will be visiting Faslane on the 7th and attending a memorial for John Ainslie on the 13th. Further details to follow.

Don’t forget to sign the e-petition to urge the UK government to take part in the UN talks. See update below:
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/175096

In Historic Vote, UN General Assembly Mandates
2017 Negotiations to Ban Research, Development, Testing, Stockpiling, Use of Nuclear Weapons
“Most significant nuclear disarmament development since Cold War”
Contact: Greg Mello, 505-265-1200 (office), 505-577-8563 (cell)
Trish Williams-Mello, 505-265-1200 (office), 505-577-3366 (cell)
The resolution was carried by a large majority despite the late hour on a Friday evening two days before Christmas, with 113 member states voting in favour, 35 against, and 13 abstaining.
According to a press release this evening from the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), which has been coordinating NGO support for a nuclear ban treaty, the US attempted to block funding for negotiations last week:
At a UN budget committee meeting earlier this week, the United States attracted the ire of other nations when it objected to a funding request for the planned four weeks of negotiations on the treaty, to be held at UN headquarters in New York. But under intense pressure from supporters of nuclear disarmament, it eventually withdrew its objection, and the committee authorized the request.
For background on the vote see: “UN votes to outlaw nuclear weapons in 2017” (International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, Oct 27, 2016) and “Historic UN vote to mandate negotiation of treaty banning nuclear weapons” (Los Alamos Study Group, Oct 24, 2016). A concise explanation and FAQs about the upcoming negotiations can be found in a December summary by ICAN. Selected further background is here and at ICAN.
The resolution’s operative paragraphs mandate “a United Nations conference to negotiate a legally binding instrument to prohibit nuclear weapons, leading towards their total elimination,” to occur “from 27 to 31 March and from 15 June to 7 July 2017, with the participation and contribution of international organizations and civil society representatives.”
Crucially, treaty negotiations would occur under General Assembly rules – that is, without a consensus requirement or veto option, “unless otherwise agreed by the conference.” Creating a negotiating forum without a de facto veto rule has been a major goal of the resolution’s sponsors.
L.41 requires the spring 2017 negotiating conference to “submit a report on its progress to the General Assembly at its seventy-second session [autumn, 2017], which will assess the progress made in the negotiations and decide the way forward” – by majority rule, again.
The ban treaty envisioned by the resolution would stigmatize and prohibit nuclear weapons, closing the “legal gap” stemming from nuclear weapon state practice and their associated assertion in diplomatic and legal fora that nuclear weapons are completely legitimate weapons – for these states only.[1]
Please see our ban treaty web page http://www.lasg.org/BAN/BAN_open.html for in-depth background. The International Campaign for the Abolition of Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), in which the Study Group is a US partner organization, has provided an excellent, concise overview of the negotiations to come as well as highlights of this year’s campaign action

Ask your MP to sign the EDM 578 text below.
That this House notes that the UN Open-ended working group on Nuclear Disarmament concluded with the submission of a draft resolution to the UN General Assembly which calls for a conference to be convened in 2017 with a view to negotiating a legally binding instrument to prohibit nuclear weapons, leading towards their total elimination; welcomes this proposal as a positive steps towards achieving the aim of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and of successive UK Governments of a world without nuclear weapons; and calls on the Government to participate fully in these discussions at the UN and encourage all other nations to do the same

STOP PRESS 1. LASQ also urges caution rather than panic over the Trump Nuclear tweet: Bulletin 228: Trump Tweet Hysteria
2. UNFOLD ZERO is organising a number of private meetings on the UN High Level Conference with governments, as well as open consultation meetings with non-governmental organisations in Geneva, London, New York, Vienna, Washington and other locations in early 2017.At these meetings they will discuss strategy and campaign activities to build success for the UN High Level Conference. For more information see UN to hold High Level Conference on nuclear disarmament.

Other News:
News from Australia: It’s been another big year with Walks happening through Karlamilyi in the Pilbara along with the annual Walkatjurra Walkabout through the Goldfields. This was followed by the annual ANFA meeting in Kalgoorlie. We have had lots of public meetings in Fremantle and Perth with Traditional Owners coming from all over W.A to voice their concerns and to also meet with many Politicians.
Thank you to all the people who have supported this through out the year. It would never happen without the ongoing generosity and support from you all.

Marshall Islands: The Arms Control Association, a prominent Washington, DC-based group promoting arms control policies, has announced the finalists for its annual Arms Control Person of the Year award.
One of the finalists is the government of the Marshall Islands and its former Foreign Minister Tony de Brum, “for pursuing a formal legal case in the International Court of Justice in The Hague against the world’s nuclear-armed states for their failure to initiate nuclear disarmament negotiations in violation of Article VI of the 1968 nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) and customary international law.”
Voting is open now through January 5, 2017, at this link: https://www.armscontrol.org/acpoy.

1. Faslane Peacecamp are having a declutter and EdinburghCND have offered to help.
We are making 2 trips: one this Saturday (17th) and one in the new year.
If you are willing and can help with either please email edinburghcnd@yahoo.com

2. The situation in Yemen is terrible and getting worse. Edinburgh CND is supporting the protest on Saturday 24th December from 1pm – 2.30pm at the Wellington Statue East end of Princes Street: Stand up for Yemen: stop the UK arms sales to Saudi Arabia https://www.facebook.com/

3. The United Nations will start negotiating a global nuclear ban treaty in March. A world without nuclear weapons is within our reach. But the UK voted against these negotiations, and will try to obstruct progress, if we don’t act now. Your help is vital in getting the UK to support a global nuclear ban. We need to raise enough funds to continue lobbying the government, print thousands of global ban briefings, and send CND delegates to the UN conference in March.

One of our members has started an e-petition asking the Government to participate in this coming UN conference and it has now been published and is available to all UK citizens and residents to sign. Here is the link: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/175096
After signing please tell your relatives, friends and colleagues, put it on Facebook, Twitter etc – whatever you can do to publicise it as widely as possible. We only have a couple of months to get things moving before the conference.
For more on the UN conference and other related issues see:
http://cnduk.org/cnd-media/campaign-magazine

4.SCNDs December mag is also available http://www.banthebomb.org/index.php/publications/magazine/1897-nuclear-free-magazine-december-2016

5. Another important petition “Presiding Officer of Scottish Parliament: Ban arms traders/dealers from the Scottish Parliament.” and wanted to see if you could help by adding your name.
Our goal is to reach 200 signatures and we need more support. You can read more and sign the petition here:
https://www.change.org/p/presiding-officer-of-scottish-parliament-ban-arms-traders-dealers-from-the-scottish-parliament?recruiter=3359575&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=share_email_responsive

6. To help build Youth CND see: http://www.yscnd.org/

7. Opinion has changed. Nuclear disarmament is mainstream. The problem is one of ‘operationalising’ those sentiments, putting pressure on politicians to understand and honour them.” So says Carol Turner, longstanding Labour party member and CND activist, author of Corbyn and Trident: Labour’s continuing controversy. Buy the book: http://www.cnd.org

8. Peace & Justice Bring & Share Festive Lunch. 20 December. 12noon – 2pm.
At the Peace and Justice Centre.5 Upper Bow, Edinburgh. EH1 2JN.
Come along and meet the P&J staff, volunteers and Management Committee. There will be Mulled Wine!
Don’t forget the Cranes Workshops on Saturdays and Burns Supper in January (see earlier posts)

9. Latest NuClear News: http://www.no2nuclearpower.org.uk/nuclearnews/NuClearNewsNo91.pdf

10. Don’t Bank on the Bomb meeting latest minutes are available: email edinburghcnd@yahoo.com for a copy

11. UNFOLD ZERO encourages you to vote for the 2016 Arms Control Person(s) of the Year, organised by the Arms Control Association. Among the nominations are a number of people that have made a considerable impact on nuclear disarmament through the United Nations. They include: The government of the Marshall Islands and former foreign minister Tony de Brum. Mr de Brum is also a Council Member of Parliamentarians for Nuclear non-proliferation and Disarmament, one of the UNFOLD ZERO co-founding organisations. The Marshall Islands played a lead role in the historic 1996 International Court of Justice (ICJ) case on the illegality of the threat or use of nuclear weapons. Then, in 2014, Mr de Brum initiated lawsuits in a U.S. Federal Court against the United States, and in the ICJ against the nine nuclear armed States in an attempt to compel them to implement their obligation to achieve complete nuclear disarmament. Over 5 million people signed a petition endorsing these cases.

12.The monthly vigil of the Scottish Peace Network will be held on Thursday, December 22, from 5-6pm at the Dewar’s statue on Buchanan Street in Glasgow city centre,

13. Trump Selects Former Texas Governor Rick Perry for Secretary of Energy
Albuquerque – The Trump transition team has selected former Texas governor Rick Perry as his administration’s nominee for Secretary of Energy.
+++++++++Trump demo in Edinburgh Friday 20th January 5.30pm Wellington Statue East end of Princes St

EVENTS IN DECEMBER:

NEW EVENT! We will be having a STALL on Saturday 10th at the East End of Princes Street (in front of Register House). This will start at 12 noon (i.e. earlier than the leafleting event mentioned below). All welcome.

1. Tuesday 6th of December is Edinburgh CNDs (informal) AGM and winter social. 6pm at the Peace and Justice Centre 5 Upper Bow Edinburgh EH1 5JN (all welcome)

2. Conference on Humanitarian and Environmental Impacts & Responsibilities of Hosting Nuclear Weapons Friday 9 December. 9.30am – 5.30pm. Scottish Parliament
Hosted by the United Nations Association, the Cross Party Group on Nuclear Disarmament, and the Acronym Institute for Disarmament Diplomacy.
In order to attend, you must register through the following link before 5 December. For full details and to register go to: http://peaceandjustice.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6e39b7d66c916d69d27cb405f&id=93231ffd9c&e=c2ba2454a5

3. Saturday 10th December: 1. 1230 leafleting with Edinburgh CND at the East End of Princes Street (in front of Register House)
2. CAAT Street Fundraiser with Protest in Harmony 10th December 2016, 2.20pm – 3.00pm
In front of Sainsbury’s on Rose Street Come have a chat with us and listen to Protest in Harmony’s harmonius yet radical singing. (http://www.protestinharmony.org.uk/wp/)
3. Paper Crane making at the Peace and Justice Centre from 2pm

4.Countering Military Recruitment of Under 18’s Working Group
Monday 12 December. 6 – 8pm.
The Peace and & Justice Centre is inviting anyone interested in getting involved in countering military visits to schools and recruitment of under 18s to come along to an initial meeting of a new working group. The group will meet at the Peace and Justice Centre.

OTHER NEWS:

1. The Jimmy Reid Foundation has produced a new report pulling together all the existing arguments against Trident renewal on moral, economic and military grounds. This report draws heavily on the work of Scottish CND, and particularly the writings of John Ainslie and Alan Mackinnon, and is dedicated to them.
There was a public launch of ‘ Trident and its Successor Programme’, authored by Professor Mike Danson, Karen Gilmore and Dr Geoff Whittam, at the STUC Building, 333 Woodlands Road, Glasgow G3 6NG on Thursday 1 December at 5.30 for 6.00pm, finishing about 7.30pm. The meeting will be chaired by Dave Moxham, Deputy General Secretary, STUC, speakers Mike Danson, Geoff Whittam and Janet Fenton, Vice Chair, SCND. The report covers the moral and philosophical case against renewal, the case for diversification and examines the impact of non-renewal in economic, social and military terms.
An electronic version of the report will soon be available at http://www.reidfoundation.org. Printed copies will also be available from the SCND office at £1.50 minimum donation, or by post for £2.50 including post and package.

2. The clock is ticking ahead of a United Nations conference to negotiate a treaty to ban nuclear weapons. More than 120 countries supported the move in a recent vote, but the UK stubbornly refuses to engage in the process. This stance will leave the UK an international pariah as the vast majority of countries work to outlaw these weapons of mass destruction.Despite paying lip service to the goal of a world without nuclear weapons the UK government has failed to match the words with actions. CND members helped bring the UK to a key conference to discuss the humanitarian consequences of nuclear weapons in Austria in December 2014 and thousands have already written to Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson in the past weeks to support the global ban negotiations. With your help we can keep the pressure on the UK government to take part in this vital conference.
Help ban nuclear weapons by writing to Boris Johnson
Please add your name to those who have contacted the Foreign Secretary and called on the UK to take part in the conference, which begins in March 2017 in New York. You can send an email http://cnduk.us12.list-manage2.com/track/click?u=50a46ed98fb9032bd46d11880&id=ee45bbfc67&e=96dcf14be7

3. nuClear News No.90 December 2016 is now available for downloading here:
http://www.no2nuclearpower.org.uk/nuclearnews/NuClearNewsNo90.pdf

4. Regular convoys still carry nuclear warheads along many roads such as the Edinburgh Bypass.ECND objects to the UK’s possession of nuclear weapons and our government not carrying out its obligations under the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty in that it is going ahead with building new nuclear weapons and is not negotiating nuclear disarmament in good faith as required by the treaty.
Inter alia, we are investigating possible legal remedies to this.

5. Edinburgh Peace and Justice Centre Dec/Jan newsletter now available http://peaceandjustice.org.uk

6. Drones Campaign: New T-shirts available: https://dronecampaignnetwork.wordpress.com

MEETINGS IN JANUARY

1. Edinburgh CND is experimenting with holding monthly meetings on the first Tuesday of the month rather than the first Monday. There is unlikely to be a January meeting: but watch this space. We will be leafleting on the 2nd Saturday.

2. CAAT Edinburgh quarterly meeting 17th January 2017, 7pm – 8.45pm at Quakers’ Meeting House, 7 Victoria Terrace, Edinburgh EH1 2JL
They will discuss current campaigns, including the national and local campaigns on Yemen, action on arms companies’ presence in Scottish schools and other ideas for action from several sub-meetings that have taken place since the last quarterly meeting.

3. Peace and Justice Burns Supper and Ceilidh Saturday 28 Jan 2017. 6pm Burns Supper. 8 – 11pm Ceilidh King’s Hall. 41A South Clerk Street, EH8 9NZ
Speakers: Alastair Macintosh, others tbc Supper & Ceilidh (supporters) £25 / Standard £20 / Concession £15 Ceilidh Only: Supporters £15 / Standard £10 / Concession £6.50 / Advance concession £5 / under 12 £3.50
Book Tickets at: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2716816
or at the Peace and Justice Centre.
A fundraiser for the Edinurgh Peace and Justice Centre organised by Ceilidh Collective

NEWS FROM OTHER COUNTRIES:
1. Prefer Books to Bombs? Austerity is making life hard for young people and students while the government is prioritising nuclear weapons over building a future for young people. Not happy about that? Well get involved with Youth and Student CND now. London YSCND will be officially launching on Thursday 15th December from 8pm at The Hive, Dalston. Expect a fun evening of amazing music to keep you dancing all night, and if that wasn’t enough, we are providing free drinks AND free pizza! Who said saving the world wasn’t fun?!
In part because it has been an election year, with an increasingly lame-duck attitude in the administration, blind momentum has dominated the nuclear weapons business, sort of like a spaceship drifting silently through space — or a warhead. I can therefore suggest that if you want an overview of our work on the issues, you can consult our 2015 fundraising letter, and for that matter the one before that, from late 2014. Neither is obsolete in any important way, except in this: 2016 has been a banner year for progress toward a treaty banning nuclear weapons (see “Historic UN vote to mandate negotiation of treaty banning nuclear weapons” or for more, this page). WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO TRY SOMETHING LIKE THIS IN EDINBURGH?

2. Los Alamos Study Group: What they learned in Washington last month, or what they expect to be key issues in 2017. Of course there will be a fiscal train wreck deluxe — and it will only get worse from here on out. Next year we will hear about some flagrant managerial problems in the nuclear enterprise. We will see increasing detail and commitment to plutonium warhead core (“pit”) production (again). We may hear about the big problems in National Nuclear Security Administration’s (NNSA’s) plans and in DoD nuclear procurements; what forms those revelations will take remain to be seen. When will the momentum break? Or will our society — suddenly, it will seem — become a lotmore militaristic? (For a very cursory preview of a few of these issues see Bulletin 224: New directions in nuclear disarmament).

3. UNFOLD ZERO (Basle) thanks us for our interest and participation during 2016.
Over the year they have organised or promoted a number of nuclear disarmament actions, events and initiatives along with Parliamentarians for Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament (PNND), Basel Peace Office and our many other partners.

Tuesday 6th of December with our AGM and winter social. 6pm at the Peace and Justice Centre (all welcome).

+++++++++RIC meeting: Campaigning Against the Arms Trade
Wednesday 30 November 2016 7.00pm Augustine United Church, George 1V Bridge, Edinburgh EH1 1EL
+++++++++SACC anti-islamaphobia conference: Saturday 3rd 11 AM – 5pm
Augustine United Church 41-43 George IV Bridge, EH1 1EL Edinburgh, United Kingdom (also Cranes Workshop 2pm at the Peace and Justice centre)

1. As the Chancellor Philip Hammond set out continuing cuts to public spending and increased debt, CND has released a new report making the economic case against Trident replacement. The People/Jobs not Trident report sets out what the £205 billion the Government plans to spend on a new generation of nuclear weapons could fund instead.
Employ 150,000 new nurses and build 120 state of the art hospitals
Build three million affordable homes
Provide short-term shelter for all in need
Reinstate Education Maintenance Allowance
Provide tuition free education for 7.5 million undergraduates
Build thousands of new primary schools
Install solar panels in every home
Build enough wind turbines to power every home in the UK
Increased funding for overseas development
You can use the CND website to send a copy of the report to your
Kate Hudson, CND general secretary, said:
“Our report sets out how the new Chancellor can right the wrong that is being done. It contains an alternative set of spending proposals that can address the real problems our society now faces. Whether that’s creating new jobs, investment in the NHS, building homes or the creation of education opportunities that young people deserve.”
The report was launched in Parliament by a cross-party group of MPs including Caroline Lucas, Kelvin Hopkins and Margaret Ferrier.

2. Despite the British government’s best attempts, the United Nations has adopted a resolution agreeing to convene a conference in March 2017 to negotiate a global nuclear ban treaty. 123 countries voted in favour, with only 38 voting against. Those opposed included the UK, the USA, France, Israel and Russia. North Korea voted in favour of the ban conference. The other nuclear states (India, Pakistan and China) abstained. The UK government has repeatedly said that it shares CND’s goal of a nuclear weapons free world, but insists this can only be achieved through a multilateral process. This process is now beginning and the government needs to be a constructive part of it – not trying to derail it. It is vital that Britain is at the table. The international community has united before to ban biological and chemical weapons, land mines and cluster bombs. As the majority of the world is covered by nuclear weapons free zones anyway, a global ban treaty seems like the next logical step. Over 2000 CND supporters have already written to the Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson. Thank you to everyone who got involved – this ensured that the issue is definitely on his agenda. And now we’ll be building on this campaign to make sure the UK is represented at the talks. Parliamentary CND will be writing to political parties encouraging them to send representatives to the negotiations and to the Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee asking for evidence sessions on the issue. We cannot let the UK refuse to participate in this crucial conference – we need to get them round the negotiating table. The British government should rethink its approach and support and participate in the UN global ban conference in 2017.
Conference on Humanitarian and Environmental Impact Responsibilities of Hosting Nuclear Weapons
Friday 9 December 9.30am – 5.30pm. Scottish Parliament
The event is being hosted by the United Nations Association Scotland, UNA Edinburgh, UN House, the Cross Party Group on Nuclear Disarmament, and the Acronym Institute for Disarmament Diplomacy. Please see the programme attached to this email.
In order to attend, you must register through the following link before December 5th: http://peaceandjustice.us7.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=6e39b7d66c916d69d27cb405f&id=7304d22fd2&e=c2ba2454a5
CND have loads of new and updated materials including leaflets and booklets on Trident, the global ban, NATO, drones etc. For more information or to place an order, please see conduce website.

3. Did you know that trucks carrying nuclear warheads frequently travel across the country? They pass close to towns, villages, schools, hospitals and they may even be passing through your area without you ever knowing it. A recent opinion poll showed that 80% of the population are unaware of the convoys. That’s why CND is calling on our supporters to take part in the nuclear convoys constituency lobby by talking to their MP about this important subject. We need to raise awareness and continue the campaign to make sure these dangerous convoys are taken off the road as quickly as possible. Friday 25 – Saturday 26 November
Read report: Nukes of Hazard – the nuclear bomb convoys on our roads
Book a meeting: use our lobby tool to meet your MP
Let us know about your meeting or get advice by emailing parliamentary@cnduk.org

Edinburgh CND expressed it’s concern over the lack of Labour MPs signing EDM 577 Nuclear Convoys. As of 9.11.2016 3 Labour MPs had signed, 2 SDLP. One Mark Durkan being a sponsor of the motion, 1 Green, Sponsor of the motion, 3 Plaid Cymru, 2 Scottish Independent and 29 SNP MPs. Note two of the Labour MPs constituencies are on or close to convoy routes. We are currently urging our members to Lobby their MPs to sign this motion.

4. This Thursday, the Scotland Parliament’s Public Petitions Committee may make a decision on whether or not to take forward the proposals made by ForcesWatch and Quakers in Scotland.Our proposals call for greater scrutiny and transparency around these visits, guidance being provided to schools to ensure balance and accuracy in the information and views provided.
Numerous organisations and Local Authorities have submitted responses to the Committee, including Scotland’s Children Commissioner, Tam Baillie, who said: ‘There should be clear national guidance about the content of such visits and when and where they are to be conducted…. I am particularly keen, for example, to ensure that young people living in more deprived areas are not disproportionately targeted by such visits.’ You can read the responses here. (See Petitioner Letter of 11 November for the final response from Quakers in Scotland and ForcesWatch).
Forces Watch will be present in the Parliament from 10am
Concurrently with the Petitions Committee inquiry, a motion has been tabled in Holyrood by Christina McKelvie, about the recruitment agenda behind armed forces visits to schools, and about a public health report on the UK armed forces’ recruitment of minors. This report, by global public health charity Medact, looks at the psychological and psychosocial vulnerabilities of adolescents in the context of military recruitment marketing strategies and making long-term risky decisions; and examines the evidence that under 18 recruits face greater risks to health than adult recruits, across the course of an armed forces career. In summary, the report calls for the recruitment age to be raised to 18.
Please do ask your local MSP to sign this motion! You can find the contact information on this page, and see below for some information you might wish to send to them in your personalised message asking them to sign.
If you are interested in getting involved in local advocacy work in Scotland about armed forces recruitment, please do get in touch, so we can link you to others and see how we can support this work. A new working group is starting up in Edinburgh to campaign around military visits to schools and the recruitment of young people into the armed forces, and they will be holding a meeting on 12 December at the Edinburgh Peace and Justice Centre from 6-8pm.
There is also an Early Day Motion (694) before the UK Parliament. Please ask your MP to sign:
That this House notes the contents of the Medact Report into the effects of the recruitment of minors by the UK armed forces, published in October 2016; further notes the report’s findings that child recruits are more vulnerable to post-traumatic stress disorder, alcohol abuse, self-harm, suicide, death and injury during an armed forces career when compared to either their demographically-matched civilian peers or adult recruits; notes that the report concludes that the current practices for recruiting minors into the UK armed forces do not meet the criteria for full and informed consent, in part due to the fact that adolescents’ cognitive and psychosocial development make them unfairly susceptible to military recruitment marketing; notes that the report’s conclusion states that those recruited as children, on turning 18, are more likely than adult recruits to end up in frontline combat roles which carry greater risks than other roles; recalls the repeated condemnation of UK armed forces’ recruitment of minors by national child rights experts and the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child and the Deepcut Review’s recommendation that the minimum enlistment age should be reviewed; notes the growing body of independent research evidencing significant detrimental outcomes for the youngest recruits; and calls on the Government to launch a review of the minimum armed forces enlistment age.

5. The British Government unilateral decided to deny the Chagossians the right to return to live in the Chagos. https://www.theguardian.com/…/chagos-islanders-cannot-retur…
See our Facebook page for copy of the official communique of the mauritian Government and a letter to contact the African Commission on Nuclear Energy which is an outcome of LALIT’s Second Conference on Diego garcia

Other events:
1. Prisoners for Peace: Letter Writing Thursday 1 December. 11am – 1pm.
Edinburgh Peace and Justice Centre 5 Upper Bow, Edinburgh EH1 2JN
Each year on 1st December the Peace and Justice Centre joins with War Resisters’ International to mark Prisoners for Peace Day, All invited to join us at the Edinburgh Peace and Justice Centre on 1 December from 11am – 1pm to write a letter or card to a peace prisoner. We will provide details of prisoners, paper and cards and suggested guidelines for what to write and what not to write.

2. Youth and Student CND rally Thursday 24th November 6.30pm
The Venue, Student Central, Malet Street, London

News from other organisations:

1. Drone Campaign November Newsletter: https://dronecampaignnetwork.wordpress.com

2. Los Alamos Study Special Post-Election Bulletin 225: President-Elect Trump; letter to colleagues in government http://lasg.org/wordpress/

3. The Nonlethal Security for Peace Campaign Newsletter – November 2016
website: http://www.nonlethalsecurityforpeace.com

4. We also have an update from our friends in Australia https://walkingforcountry.com/walkatjurra-walkabout/walkatjurra-walkabout-updates/

5. The monthly Glasgow vigil held by the Scottish Peace Network will take place on Thursday, November 24 from 5 to 6 pm at the Dewar’s statue on Buchanan Street in Glasgow city centre. We will bring a banner, placards and flyers. ALSO: Spirit of Revolt – Archives of Dissent Raffle prizes request plus letter to Jeremy Corbyn re white poppies

6. Lacuna Magazine – http://www.lacuna.org.uk/
A Very British Scandal:
A 7-part special series investigating the realities behind the Iraq allegations.
Government and media have denied, dismissed and derided allegations of abuse by British soldiers in Iraq. And yet despite all the political and media pressure the Iraq allegations haven’t gone away. Lacuna tells the story as you haven’t heard it before.

7. Café Palestine
Sunday 27 November. 4pm. Edinburgh Peace and Justice Centre
Speaker: Nick Evans who visited the West bank for the first time earlier this year. His talk will be based on his first impressions as a professional town planner.

8. Edinburgh STW supports SACC conference “Islamophobia Conference 2016: The Environment of Hate and the Police State” at the Augustine Church, Saturday 3 Dec, organised jointly by SACC and IHRC (Islamic Human Rights Commission).

++++9.Uniting for Peace Interfaith Event Globalisation – Faith and Peace
Saturday 26 Nov. 7:15 – 9:15pm Exploring Implications of a Globalised World for Faith and Peace Speakers: Imam Hassan Rabbani (Annandale St Mosque)
Prof Paul Weller (Oxford & Coventry Universities)