STOP PRESS: Edinburgh CND will be leafleting on Saturday 19th November. 1230pm East end of Princes Street. Do join us if you can. ALSO SEE END for Sunday event
Monday 21st Edinburgh Stop the War meeting 7.30pm at the Quaker Meeting House

1. Some of us will gather at the East End of Princes Street at 5 pm on Friday for a quiet vigil of commemoration and hope for a peaceful world. Candles in jam jars would be good, as well as appropriate banners/placards.
Edinburgh CND invite all supporters.

2. The Scottish CND AGM takes place on Saturday, 12th November at Friends Meeting House, Elmbank Street, Charing Cross, Glasgow.
Registration is at 10 am and meeting starts at 10.30 am. Motions and amendments are available at banthebomb.org

3. We will not be holding our monthly leafletting on the 12th. However, Edinburgh Stop the War will be at the East End of Princes Street for a Syria vigil: Saturday 12th November – anti-war day of action, stop bombing Syria, stop the spread of war. Join us at 1pm at the east end of Princes Street. ++++There will also be an anti-trump demo starting 1pm at St Giles and marching to USA consulate.

4. November’s Scottish WILPF Meeting will be an open meeting on Monday 14th all welcome.
‘We can Ban Nuclear Weapons’ Quaker Meeting House, 7, Victoria Terrace Edinburgh
7 pm to 9 pm . See http://lasg.org/wordpress/ for good background and also:

5. November 2016 edition of CND’s Campaign magazine. Still delighted about the news on the upcoming UN conference to establish a treaty banning nuclear weapons, which will take place in New York in March. We’re less happy with the news that the government wants to go ahead with building a new power station at Hinkley however. Both of these issues are covered in this month’s magazine, with Parliamentary CND Chair Caroline Lucas MP writing about nuclear energy. See http://www.cnduk.org/

6. Early day motion 577 Nuclear convoys : please ask your MP to sign
To date only 3 English MPs have signed this important notion and that includes the primary sponsor Caroline Lucas. The other two their constituencies are on or very near convoy routes. (See previous post for more background)
The convoy routes are on Nukewatch website http://www.nukewatch.org.uk/?page_id=25
Please ask your MP to sign the motion and ask any friends in England to contact their MP.

7. The street fundraising event for Edinburgh CAAT with Protest in Harmony has been confirmed and will take place on 10th December at 2pm on Rose Street, next to Sainsbury’s.

8. The Hammer Blow: How ten women disarmed a warplane.
7:00 – 9:00pm. Wednesday 16 November Edinburgh Peace and Justice Centre
5 Upper Bow, Edinburgh EH1 2JN
Booktalk by Author and Disarmament Activist Andrea Needham.
Andrea Needham’s gripping inside account of how ten women disarmed a Hawk jet bound for genocide in East Timor – and were acquitted. Marking the 20th anniversary of the historic Seeds of Hope Ploughshares action.

9. And away from Edinburgh (thanks to the Scottish Peace Network):
A.There are 2 events in Glasgow on Friday. One at the same time as the Edinburgh one (see 1 above) and they will also meet at 10:45am on George Square to place a wreath of white poppies at the cenotaph at 11. This was the hour on November 11, 1918 that the war finally ended.
See also: http://www.redpepper.org.uk/the-arms-trade-must-be-kept-out-of-remembrance-day/
B.Bridge of Peace event on Saturday 19th Nov 2016 at Partick Burgh hall, C.Glasgow, Mull and Iona friends have been concerned about the plight of the children in the Calais jungle and now camps, and have asked Quaker Council for European Affairs for information and advice.
Mike Shilson wrote to Kate McNally of QCEA as follows:
I was distressed to read your account of the Children of Calais:
https://qceablog.wordpress.com/2016/10/29/the-children-of-calais/

A Light for Aleppo
5pm. Sunday 20 November
Brazier Lightings at:
Pittsville St Lane Beach, Portobello
Regent St & Portobello Promenade.
Cramond Beach
As the dark nights begin to draw in, communities will gather along the Firth of Forth in Scotland and in other sites around the world to light lights of hope for those besieged in Aleppo. Join in wherever you are, or light candles in your own homes.
For details of more Locations of A Light for Aleppo events or to create an event wherever you are see: http://www.alightforaleppo.org/

The next Meeting of Edinburgh CND will be on Monday 7th November. 6pm in the Peace and justice Centre. We will be discussing follow-up to our EWJF meeting and all the other things that have happened in October.

 
Fantastic news from the United Nations General Assembly, as the majority of states voted in favour of arranging a conference in March 2017 to agree on a nuclear ban treaty.
Just 38 countries voted against the resolution, including shamefully the UK. Thank you to the thousands of you who wrote to the Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson asking him to support the conference. This ensured that the issue is definitely on his agenda. And now we will campaign to make sure the UK is represented at the talks.
CND urges the British government to rethink its approach and to support and participate in the UN conference in 2017.
There will be a briefing session to report back on the progress on this journey towards a global ban on nuclear weapons. Edinburgh 7pm 14th November Quaker Meeting House, 7, Victoria Terrace

For a comprehensive history and analysis of the talks see http://lasg.org/wordpress/   LASG also tell us that despite arm-twisting by a number of nuclear-armed states, the resolution was adopted in a landslide. A total of 57 nations were co-sponsors, with Austria, Brazil, Ireland, Mexico, Nigeria and South Africa taking the lead in drafting the resolution.

The UN vote came just hours after the European Parliament adopted its own resolution on this subject – 415 in favour and 124 against, with 74 abstentions – inviting European Union member states to “participate constructively” in next year’s negotiations.

The UN resolution can be accessed here: http://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com16/resolutions/L41.pdf

Also see http://www.unfoldzero.org/un-agrees-to-nuclear-prohibition-negotiations/ for more explanation of this and other UN resolutions

Please take action and  (1)contact the BBC – lets flood them with demands that they cover this news. (2) Sign the open letter to Boris Johnson from MSPs and Peace organisations
(see it here http://www.banthebomb.org/ index.php/102-uncategorised/ 1892-open-letter-to-boris- johnson)

Extra note from Open Working Group: António Guterres, former head of the UN High Commission on Refugees (UNHCR) has been selected as the new Secretary-General of the United Nations (UNSG). He will take up this position in January 2017. Reducing the threat of nuclear weapons and facilitating nuclear disarmament are key objectives for the new UNSG.

The campaign against Trident continues in Parliament, despite MPs voting in favour of replacement in July. MPs from across political parties have supported Early Day Motions calling for Trident replacement to be cancelled, an end to nuclear warhead convoys and for the government to support calls for a treaty to ban nuclear weapons to be negotiated. Please urge your MPs to support all of these important motions and ensure that nuclear weapons do not slip down the political agenda. It takes two minutes to send an email to your MP, but could make a difference to these campaigns.
http://cnduk.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=50a46ed98fb9032bd46d11880&id=fa74a83c14&e=96dcf14be7
Also see CND website for Liberal Democrat policy review and anniversary of the Lucas report.

NEW:Please can you ask your MP to sign early day motion 577 :That this House notes the publication of the Nukes of Hazard: nuclear bomb convoys on our road report, published on 21 September 2016, which documents the nuclear warhead convoys which are regularly driven across the UK; is deeply concerned that Freedom of Information requests have shown that these convoys have experienced more than 180 incidents, including breakdowns and collisions, in the last 16 years; is further concerned that an opinion poll showed low levels of awareness of the convoys among the public in the areas through which they routinely travel; believes that this report highlights the dangers inherent in transporting nuclear weapons around the UK; and calls on the Government to take immediate steps to cease this practice.

News from Scottish CND                                                                            1. SCND has been informed by John Ainslie’s family that a service of thanksgiving for John’s life has been organised on Friday November 4th at 2 pm at the Wellington Church 77 Southpark Avenue Glasgow G12 8 LE . The family have said anyone who wishes to attend will be welcome.   It is also likely that Scottish CND will organise an event to pay tribute to John’s contribution to our organisation and the wider peace movement. This event is likely to take place in a few weeks time and we will provide further details nearer the time.

2. Resolutions have been submitted for discussion at the Scottish CND AGM (Sat, 12 Nov, Friends Meeting House, Glasgow, 10 am).
Any amendments to these motions should be emailed to the Scottish CND office by Saturday Nov 5th at 12 noon.

Other News:

1. Next meeting of Don’t Bank on the Bomb is at 2pm on 8th November in the Edinburgh Peace and Justice (P and J) Centre

2.1 P&J Centre Sent a Message to UK & France: Protect Unaccompanied Children On Tuesday 18 October a vigil was held calling for the UK to fulfil its pledge to welcome thousands of unaccompanied refugee children to the UK, especially from Calais and for France to insure protection of the children in the Calais camp. We delivered letters to the Home Secretary Amber Rudd and to the French Minister of the Interior the following day. Please follow up with your own letters. The P and J is also collecting winter clothing for refugees.

2.2 The Peace and Justice Centre along with other Edinburgh Peace Groups is promoting the distribution of White Peace Poppies around Edinburgh and across Scotland more widely this year. The Origami Crane workshops continue on a Saturday afternoon.
Next Sunday night is Radical Voices at the Victoria Park Hotel, Ferry Road, Leith. Our theme this time is is Peace is Possible

3. Next meeting of Scottish Peace Network: Tuesday 10th January at 2 pm in the Electron Club, Centre for Contemporary Arts, 350 Sauchiehall St, Glasgow G2 3JD. Minutes of the October meeting are available

4. The Iona Community: Working for Peace and Justice in the Middle East With Hind Khoury, Kairos Palestine 5pm Tuesday 1 November 2016
Elisabeth Templeton Room, New College,
University of Edinburgh 7.30pm Tuesday 1 November 2016
Café Camino, St Mary’s RC Cathedral Little King Street, Edinburgh
Working for Peace and Justice in the Middle East
With Hind Khoury, Kairos Palestine
7.30pm Monday 31 st October 2016The Iona Community, 21 Carlton Court Glasgow

5.If you haven’t already, please consider buying a copy of Tin Cole’s book, Britain’s Secret Wars (http://clairviewbooks.com/pages/viewbook.php?isbn_in=9781905570782). The book has
endorsements from Noam Chomsky and John Pilger.

******Join Edinburgh Stop the War at their stall 1 – 3pm on Saturday 29th October at the east end of Princes street where we’ll be joining with friends from ECND, SWILPF and the always present Women in Black to sell White Poppies****

It is with great sadness that we report the news that John Ainslie, co-ordinator of Scottish CND for over 25 years, passed away, Friday 21st October.
John made a remarkable contribution to Scottish CND and the wider peace movement during his lifetime.
He produced outstanding reports which made the case against nuclear weapons in a way which carried authority and respect across the political spectrum.
John ran the Scottish CND office for many years and he was a tireless organiser of events and activities all aimed at making the case for a nuclear weapons free world.
Scottish CND and the wider peace movement have today lost a massively influential figure and friend who will be sadly missed. .
We are immensely grateful to John for his intellectual vigour, organisational and strategic skills, and sheer commitment he gave to our organisation over so many years.

Any condolences and messages of sympathy sent to the office will be collected and sent to John’s family.

1. The United Nations is currently considering a proposal to begin negotiations on a treaty to ban nuclear weapons. This important initiative comes from the UN’s Open-Ended Working Group on Nuclear Disarmament – supported by the majority of states across the world but boycotted by the UK.
ask your MSP to support Motion S5M-01986
Right now the United Nations First Committee is debating the setting up of a conference next year to negotiate a nuclear weapons ban treaty. In spite of the nuclear weapons states including the UK putting pressure on non nuclear states more and more are speaking up to co-sponsor the resolution. There will be a vote on it next month and campaigners who are present are hopeful of it passing.
Ask your MSP to support Motion on a Nuclear Weapons Ban Treaty.
In spite of the nuclear weapons states including the UK putting pressure on non nuclear states more and more are speaking up to co-sponsor the resolution. There will be a vote on it next month and campaigners who are present are hopeful of it passing.
Meanwhile Alison Johnson MSP has tabled a motion at the Scottish Parliament in support of this huge leap forward towards a nuclear free world. Pleasevcontact your MSPs and ask them to support motion S5M-01986.
More information on at http://scraptrident.org/ and on Scrap Trident Facebook page.
A huge number of CND supporters have written to Boris Johnson calling on the UK Government to back the initiative. In 2014 CND supporters forced the Government into a u-turn on attending an anti-nuclear conference in Vienna and with your help we can secure another victory.
There is still time to write to the Foreign Secretary and make your voice heard on this crucial issue. You can email Boris Johnson through the CND website.
(more information at the end of this posting)

++++++2.Job Opening with WEA Scotland
Education Coordinator – ‘Bringing to life the meaning of Conscientious Objection across Scotland’ Project
Funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, the WEA are seeking a dynamic Education Co-ordinator to develop and lead an exciting new educational project: ‘Bringing to life the meaning of Conscientious Objection across Scotland’. This national project will focus on the Scottish legacy of those who conscientiously objected to the first world war and will be centred on three specific geographical areas, Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow.

3. Nuclear warheads are frequently driven through the UK, passing towns and villages, travelling past schools and hospitals. A recent report by the Nukes of Hazard project found that there have been a large number of incidents involving these convoys.CND is part of the campaign to raise awareness of these convoys and calls on the government to take action to stop them. Working with others CND is organising a lobby of MPs in their constituencies on 25 and 26 November in order to highlight the issues and call for action to be taken.

4. Email Theresa May, Amber Rudd, MPs, MSPs for the Calais children.
Please take a few minutes to send emails to the Prime Minister and the Home Secretary urging them to take in all the unaccompanied children immediately. For model letters and links to their addresses to send emails go to http://peaceandjustice.org.uk/get-involved/take-action/
You can also find there a model email to send to your MSPs to ask them to support a resolution calling on the UK to admit the Calais children.
Stella Creasy MP today. Yesterday she told the Prime Minister that 18 of the 178 children in the Calais refugee camp who have the right to be in the UK with their family have gone missing. Her Government has known about these children since July 2016. Please ask her to track down these children and protect all those remaining in the refugee camp who have the right to be in Britain as the French begin demolishing the camp.

5. Anti-nuclear campaigners have condemned Shadow Defence Secretary Nia Griffith’s announcement that Labour will not review its Trident policy before the general election. Kate Hudson, CND general secretary, said: “This is a very poor and irresponsible decision for Britain’s future security. “In refusing to revisit its Trident policy, the Labour Party has missed a huge opportunity to set out a defence policy fit for the 21st century.

6. October Drones Campaign News: https://dronecampaignnetwork.wordpress.com/

7. Nonviolent Resistance to the Nazis.Book Talk with author Geroge Paxton
7 – 9pm. Tuesday 25 October. Edinburgh Peace and Justice Centre.
5 Upper Bow, Edinburgh EH1 2JN. George Paxton is a Trustee of The Gandhi Foundation whose aim is to spread knowledge of Gandhi and his ideas mainly in the UK. He edits their quarterly journal, The Gandhi Way, and is the author of ‘Sonja Schlesin: Gandhi’s South African Secretary’. End note: if you would like to use the desks or meeting space at the P and J contact them for details.

8. Politicians, activists, and members of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament will gather in Manchester this weekend for the campaign’s annual conference. Exploring how campaigners will work together to abolish nuclear weapons, CND Conference 2016 will hear from Rebecca Long-Bailey, who is shadow chief secretary to the treasury and MP for Salford and Eccles; Aaron Bastani, founder of Novara Media; as well as speakers from the Campaign Against Arms Trade, Nuclear Free Local Authorities, and others.
Conference: New political times, new campaigning methods?
Sun 23 October 2016 10:00 – 15:00 The Mechanics Centre, 103 Princess Street, Manchester M1 6DD Our open conference in Manchester this Sunday promises to be a very important event to reflect on these fast changing political times.

9. Film Screening & Discussion The Man who Saved the World, 17 Nov, 6:45 – 9:00 pm Grosvenor Cinema, Ashton Lane, Glasgow

10. Next Scottish peace network meeting was agreed for Tuesday Oct 25 at 2pm
White poppy stalls will take place on Friday Oct 28 (Glasgow) and Saturday Oct 29 starting at 12 noon (Edinburgh). Thursday, October 27, from 5 to 6 pm at Dewar’s statue on Buchanan Street in Glasgow centre there is a peace vigil.

+++++=11.Resolutions have been submitted for discussion at the Scottish CND AGM (Sat, 12 Nov, Friends Meeting House, Glasgow, 10 am). Including 2 from ECND.
Any amendments to these motions should be emailed to the Scottish CND office by Saturday Nov 5th at 12 noon. Contact Edinburgh CND for further details

++++++12. New CND Xmas card by artist Neil Burridge.
You can get a pack of six, with envelopes, for just £4.

MORE ON THE UN TALKS
The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) will brief the media on the likely adoption by the UN General Assembly of a resolution (draft available here) to begin negotiations in 2017 on a treaty prohibiting nuclear weapons.
On Thursday, 13 October, a cross-regional group of nations formally submitted a draft resolution to the First Committee of the UN General Assembly to establish a mandate for negotiations in 2017 on a “legally binding instrument to prohibit nuclear weapons, leading towards their total elimination”.
The resolution acts on a recommendation made in August by a UN open-ended working group on nuclear disarmament in Geneva. More than 100 nations participated in the working group, with an overwhelming majority expressing their support for the prohibition of nuclear weapons as a first step towards elimination.
Co-sponsors of the resolution include Austria, Brazil, Ireland, Mexico, Nigeria and South Africa. We expect that it will be adopted with strong support, on a date between 26 October and 2 November.
The resolution proposes two negotiating conferences to be held over 20 days in March, June and July 2017, at the UN Headquarters in New York. All UN member states, along with international organizations and members of civil society, will be invited to participate. The negotiations could continue into 2018.
A treaty prohibiting nuclear weapons would close the “legal gap” in the existing regime governing nuclear weapons. It is an anomaly that these are the only weapons of mass destruction not yet prohibited under international law in a comprehensive and universal manner.
Chemical weapons, biological weapons, anti-personnel landmines and cluster munitions are all expressly prohibited. Most nations agree the prohibition of nuclear weapons is the only appropriate course of action in light of the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of their use.
The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) is a global coalition of more than 400 non-governmental organizations in 100 nations, working to establish a treaty prohibiting nuclear weapons. It was launched in 2007 and has its headquarters in Geneva.
Friday’s briefing is an opportunity for media to learn more about the draft UN resolution, the likely effect of the proposed treaty, how the negotiations might play out in 2017, and who is in favour of and against a ban An historic UN Resolution on “Taking forward multilateral disarmament negotiations” that is being tabled at the United Nations General Assembly this month to mandate the start of negotiations in 2017 on a treaty to prohibit nuclear weapons. This resolution has been put forward by Austria, Mexico, South Africa, Ireland, Brazil and Nigeria following the recommendation of a UN Working Group, at which the overwhelming majority of states supported the call for ban treaty negotiations in 2017.
SCND Secretary, Janet Fenton, has been involved in discussions within United Nations structures which have taken place over the last years and she will be in New York in the next few days to take part in further UN related discussions.
For people based in Glasgow SCND will be holding a briefing session on Oct 25th to report back on the progress on the journey towards a global ban on nuclear weapons. ++++Edinburgh 14th November Quaker Meeting House, 7, Victoria Terrace
Edinburgh 7-9pm+++. For all the rest we will try to keep you up to date with articles on the website, emails and social media feeds. There is also article in Bella Caledonia

And lastly we have been asked to draw attention to ‘The Cultural Left’ a progressive cultural movement based in London. The Cultural Left movement has been formed as a respond to the everyday concerns and awareness of the vast majority of the people working in the Arts, Cultural and Creative Industries and sectors.
We also get frequent updates from Australia.

Edinburgh Stop the War Coalition at the Edinburgh World Justice Festival
War and Refugees 7.30pm – 9.30pm, Monday 17 October With Roza Salih

AND ON TUESDAY: Vigil for Calais Refugee Children Event Tuesday in Edinburgh ? & Come along! https://www.facebook.com/events/204306746646727/

STOP BOMBING ALEPPO – Russia/US hands off SyriaAs left activists call on Jeremy Corbyn to speak out on Syria, Edinburgh Stop the War called a picket of the Russian consulate for an hour on Tuesday 11 October from 5.30 to 6.30 pm, 58 Melville Street, EH3 7HF FB event at https://www.facebook.com/events/1670073029975771/
Join us in calling for an immediate halt to the bombing. Read the Scottish Stop the War Statement at https://scotlandstopwar.org/2016/09/29/statement-on-syria/

On Saturday 8th October Edinburgh CND will have a Stall at the East End of Princes Street (outside register house) from 12 to 1pm.
After that we will be moving to the Augustine United Church where we will have a joint stall at the following event:

Migration Gathering- Challenging Myths: Respond Positiviely
When:Saturday 8th October, 1:30-6:30pm
Where:Augustine United Church, EH1 1EL
Organised by Edinburgh World Justice Festival (EWJF). Workshop to learn more about the issues and chart ways forward. Join together with migrants, asylum seekers, settled refugees and those who advocate for them for an afternoon to explore what people in Edinburgh can do. For details, updates and full festival programme see http://www.ewjf.org.uk/ andhttps://www.facebook.com/ewjf1/ on Facebook

On Monday 3rd we held our own EWJF meeting on Jeju Island and the Chagos Islands. We will be continuing with developing actions around this theme at our next meeting on the 7th November.

There is still 12 days of the EWJF to go. Other events we will be present at include:

1. Scottish Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom
Migration: giving women a voice 7.30pm – 9.30pm, Monday 10 October
Laila Alodaat talking about WILPF’s international work

2. David Rovics gig Wednesday, October 12 at 8 PM – 11 PM
The Canons’ Gait, 232 Canongate, Edinburgh Tickets still available

3. Edinburgh Stop the War Coalition
War and Refugees 7.30pm – 9.30pm, Monday 17 October With Roza Salih

STOP PRESS: ICJ turns down Marshall Islands plea
CND regrets this morning’s judgement by the International Court of Justice on the United Kingdom’s nuclear disarmament obligations. Judges threw out a case brought by the Marshall Islands that said the UK, in failing to get rid of its nuclear weapons, was in breach of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
The ICJ agreed with the UK’s objection to the case, in which they claimed to be unaware of a dispute with the Marshall Islands on this issue, a legal requirement to proceed.
Kate Hudson, CND general secretary, said: “The Marshall Islands is one of the main victims of nuclear weapons and has suffered greatly from other states testing warheads over their country. From 1948 – 1956 the United States detonated 67 nuclear weapons test explosions over the Marshall Islands. Several islands were vaporized, others will remain uninhabitable for thousands of years. Many Marshallese died, babies were born with birth defects never seen before, and residents of the islands are still battling with cancers and other radiation-related diseases. It is no wonder that they want to see an end to nuclear weapons. “If the ICJ fails to properly consider their case, where do the Marshallese go to seek justice? The UK signed the NPT almost fifty years ago, committing to enter negotiations to get rid of its nuclear weapons. Instead, the government is in the process of spending at least £205 billion on new nuclear weapons – with the metal cutting tragically starting today. A mechanism is needed to ensure compliance with this international treaty, as currently the UK is dodging its obligations.”

OTHER NEWS:

1. Anti-nuclear campaigners have condemned Shadow Defence Secretary Clive Lewis’ comments on Trident in his speech at Labour Party conference 2016 . Kate Hudson, CND general secretary, said:
“Clive Lewis stated that Labour will now prioritise support for multilateral disarmament initiatives. All well and good but what use is that if Labour fails to oppose Trident replacement? How can Labour claim to work for multilateral disarmament if it supports the government building a new nuclear weapons system at a cost of £205 Billion? This means Labour is supporting nuclear rearmament. More news available here: https://gallery.mailchimp.com/50a46ed98fb9032bd46d11880/files/October_2016.pdf
+++++++reminder:. It’s that time of the year when CND reviews its work and sets the campaigning priorities for the year ahead. Conference 2016 will take place in Manchester on the 22nd and 23rd October and is hosted by Greater Manchester & District CND (if you’re a member of CND there’s still time to register for the AGM.)

2. The latest edition of Edinburgh Peace and Justice Centre News is available here: http://peaceandjustice.org.uk/

3. Shetland to Scilly – New Technologies for Peace Journey is now complete. See the full story here:
http://www.shetlandtoscillyforpeace.com

4. LOS ALAMOS STUDY GROUP This is the first Bulletin in a long time. It has been truly difficult to keep up this summer. Please visit http://www.lasg.org for recent talks and pertinent press “clippings” as well as the Study Group blog, Forget the Rest. An essay (“Sustainability Requires Resistance”), written for the forthcoming issue of Solar Times, was published there today. If you are interested in our local work you will see more of it in our local letters; by all means come to one or more of these events.
+++++++STOP PRESS Bulletin 222: UN debate on banning nuclear weapons begins; 127 or more countries in favor so far

5. UNFOLD ZERO, World Future Council and the International Peace Bureau invited parliamentarians, peace advocates, tourists and others in Berlin to ‘help prevent a nuclear missile from being launched’ in front of the German parliament Chain Reaction 2016 culminates on October 2, which is Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday and which has been affirmed by the United Nations as the International Day for Nonviolence.

6. NEW POST: This month Lacuna magazine’s Editor in Chief A. T. Williams tells the story of widespread allegations of abuses by British soldiers in Iraq in Hear No Evil See No Evil: The UK and the Iraq Allegations. He has followed these events for a number of years in Lacuna, in other news outlets, and in his award winning book about the killing of one Iraqi detainee, Baha Mousa. In recent weeks and months the national newspapers have returned to these stories. But is the current furore just another stage in the failure of the UK government to find out the truth of what really happened in Iraq?

EDINBURGH WORLD JUSTICE FESTIVAL will start on Saturday 1 October, presenting 20 events and 2 exhibitions

Peace Events on Monday 3rd (edinburghCND), Monday 10th and Monday 17th

The programme can be downloaded from http://www.ewjf.org.uk.
Here is a summary list of the events, which are also on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/ ewjf1/events

The lie of the land in Latin America
Sat 1 Oct, 10.30am-12.30pm Quaker Meeting House, EH1 2JL

Cooperative games:foundations for conflict resolution and peace
Sat 1 Oct, 11am-1pm David Hume Tower Rm LG.09, EH8 9JX

Rockin’ for West Papua
Sat 1 Oct, 7pm til late Henry’s Cellar Bar, 16A Morrison Street, Edinburgh EH3 8BJ

When the military takes over your home
Monday 3 October, 7-9pm Quaker Meeting House, EH1 2JL

Welcoming refugees and children: Scotland and the EU
Tues 4 Oct, 7-9pm 50 George Square Rm G.06, EH8 9LH

Peace in Palestine: between the two state solution and local initiatives
Weds 5 Oct, 7.30-9.30pm Augustine United Church, EH1 1EL

Muslim women in Scotland: our stories
Thurs 6 Oct, 11am-3pm Greyfriars Charteris Centre, 138-140 Pleasance, EH8 9RR

Land/Terra: a labour of love
Thurs 6 Oct, 7-9pm Geography Building (Rm 201), Drummond St, EH8 9XP

Empowering women – progress globally?
Thurs 6 Oct, 7.30-9pm Augustine United Church, EH1 1EL

Session/clinics for migrants working in Scotland
Fri 7 Oct, 5-7pm Autonomous Centre of Edinburgh, 17 West Montgomery Place, EH7 5HA

Migration Gathering – Challenge myths:respond positively
Sat 8 Oct, 1.30-6.30pm
Augustine United Church, EH1 1EL

Monsanto on trial
Sun 9 Oct, 3-5pm Drill Hall, 36 Dalmeny Street, EH6 8RG

Migrants are not the enemy
Mon 10 Oct, 7.30-9.30pm Quaker Meeting House, EH1 2JL

From the environmental frontline
Tues 11 Oct, 7-9pm Augustine United Church, EH1 1EL

Faith groups’ response to migration crises
Wed 12 Oct, 6.30-9pm Quaker Meeting House, EH1 2JL

Films: Seeking refuge
Thurs 13 Oct, 6-8pm
50 George Square Rm G.04, EH8 9LH

Private finance, global aid, and collapsing schools
Fri 14 Oct, 6.30-8pm Augustine United Church, EH1 1EL

Eco Fair
Sat 15 Oct, 10am-4pm Drill Hall, 36 Dalmeny Street, EH6 8RG

War and refugees
Mon 17 Oct, 7.30-9.30pm Quaker Meeting House, EH1 2JL

New event:
DAVID ROVICS gig
Songs of solidarity and social significance. David will be singing with Lorna McKinnon Tickets £10/£5 on the door – see Facebook page for booking via Eventbrite
https://www.facebook.com/ events/1096129873836363/

Cancellation: Radical Voices on Sunday 9 October

STOP PRESS:
Five survivors of the nuclear bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945 will be in London and invite you to join them as they share their experience of the effect of a nuclear bomb.

Peace Boat Symposium
5pm-6:30pm, Tuesday, October 3rd
Friends House, 173-177 Euston Road, London
Click here for further information

The symposium will be followed by a reception (6:30pm-7:30pm) where light refreshments will be served.

REMINDER: Actions planned across the UK from October 1st-8th to protest against the role British military bases play in the US missile defence system kick off Saturday 1st October.

Keep Space for Peace week is an annual international week of action against the militarisation of space.

1. EDINBURGH WORLD JUSTICE FESTIVAL 2016
will run from 1 – 17 October. The programme is now available!
20 events and 2 exhibitions, mostly relating to this year’s theme:
MIGRATION: ROOTS AND RESPONSES
There’s no need to tell you how interesting, topical, lively and important they are, you can see that for yourself by browsing the programme, copied below. It can be downloaded from https://www.facebook.com/groups/6859916828/
Edinburgh CND event is on Monday 3rd October
EdinburghCND at the Edinburgh World Justice Festival : Losing your home to the military
Monday, October 3 at 7 PM – 9 PM Quaker Meeting House Victoria Terrace

50 years ago nearly 2,000 people fled their Chagos Island homes after P. M. Harold Wilson leased the islands to America for use as a military airbase during the 1960s cold war. In return, the UK received a cheaper deal on Polaris nuclear weapons. Today the village of Gangjeong on Jeju Island, South Korea has been chosen for a US naval base to be part of it’s missile defence plan.

Come and hear the stories of these and others who have had their lives destroyed. Dave Webb, chair of UK CND will lead the discussion. #ewjf2016
Dear LALIT,
Edinburgh CND Statement: We are inspired by the persistent struggle for freedom and justice by the Chagossian people and LALIT. We feel closely connected to your struggle. It is our government, the government of the United Kingdom, that is mainly responsible for the shameful mistreatment of the Chagossian people. Our government in its foreign policy is ruthless in pursuing its own interests and in showing contempt for the rule of international law. The UK is breaching the Non-Proliferation Treaty by deciding to renew and upgrade the Trident nuclear weapon system and it has also boycotted the recent meetings at the UN which are likely in due course to lead to a global ban on nuclear weapons. The UK is also completely disregarding the views of the people of Scotland on nuclear weapons.

At the same time we know that the power games of the big states and their allies will be challenged increasingly in the years to come as more and more of the disadvantaged and dispossessed people of the world find their voices on the international stage and are able to present common cause for justice as they learn from and are inspired by each other’s struggles. We will do our bit to share your story. We wish you every success at the important juncture.

2. CAAT Edinburgh: Tea, cake, War and Peace: Forest Cafe, 141 Lauriston Place, Edinburgh, EH3 9JN Thursday 29th September, 4pm – 6pm STOP PRESS: Next CAAT meeting Monday 26 September, at 7-8.45pm at Quakers’ Meeting House, 7 Victoria Terrace.

3. SWILPF and Wool against Weapons: Scottish Storytelling Centre
Saturday 24th September 2:00 – 4:00pm
Join members of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom and Wool Against Weapons Scotland for an afternoon of songs, stories, activism and knitting!

4. UNFOLD ZERO is organising a special event to commemorate the day at the Palais des Nations in Geneva and in New York on September 27. The event features:
Civil society representatives that are interested in attending or speaking at the event should register.

5. Keep Space for Peace week is an annual international week of action against the militarisation of space.
On the 1 October a co-ordinated demonstration will take place at RAF Fylingdales in North Yorkshire and RAF Croughton in Northamptonshire. The contribution to war made by these bases is still largely unknown to the general public, so please do support these crucial protests.
12 noon – 3pm, 1 October 2016 RAF Fylingdales
12 noon – 3pm, 1 October 2016 RAF Croughton
Menwith Hill
The role US operations at Menwith Hill, North Yorkshire play in targeted killings was highlighted in a shocking exposé by investigative journalist Ryan Gallagher earlier this month. A demontration will take place at the NSA controlled site on the 4 October at 6pm. Contact info@yorkshirecnd.org.uk for more info.

6.Come along to hear more about the risks of a nuclear weapon accident and radiation when Trident warheads are transported on public roads.
Tue, 27 Sept, 7 – 8.30 pm, Jurys Inn Glasgow (80 Jamaica Street, Glasgow)
Speakers:
This is event is free, but please register

7. The Scottish CND AGM takes place on Saturday, November 12th at Friends Meeting House, Elmbank Street, Charing Cross, Glasgow.
Registration is at 10 am and meeting starts at 10.30 am
The theme of AGM this year is Gie’s Us Peace and all Scottish CND members are welcome to attend.
Affiliated organisations and local groups who are up to date with their subscriptions are also entitled to send 2 delegates to the meeting.

8. While the country waits for the decision on Hinkley Point C nuclear power plant, nuclear campaigners say green light would be a diaster
Kate Hudson, CND general secretary, said: “We urge Theresa May to put the interests of the country first when she makes the Hinkley decision. “The basic facts have not changed: the nuclear power deal is hugely expensive – a £30 billion subsidy will be handed to the French state in addition to what consumers pay. It’s dangerous: cancer clusters, nuclear accidents and disasters like Fukushima, and there is still no safe way to store nuclear waste.

9.September Drone Campaign Newsletter is available http://www.dronecampaignnetwork.org.uk

10. The Walkajurra Walkabout is now over but The Walking for Country film is screening as part of the Environmental Film Festival Australia
http://www.effa.org.au/melbourne-program/2016/10/5/australian-shorts

EdinburghCND at the Edinburgh World Justice Festival : Losing your home to the military
Monday, October 3 at 7 PM – 9 PM Quaker Meeting House Victoria Terrace

50 years ago nearly 2,000 people fled their Chagos Island homes after P. M. Harold Wilson leased the islands to America for use as a military airbase during the 1960s cold war. In return, the UK received a cheaper deal on Polaris nuclear weapons. Today the village of Gangjeong on Jeju Island, South Korea has been chosen for a US naval base to be part of it’s missile defence plan.

Come and hear the stories of these and others who have had their lives destroyed. Dave Webb, chair of UK CND will lead the discussion. #ewjf2016

STILL ON: Scottish WILPF and Wool Against Weapons have their Exhibition at the Scottish Story Telling Centre 9th September to 1st October 2016. 43 – 45 High Street, EH1 15R. It has a lovely café. Direct Aid. Play ‘Chrystal and The General’ , 21st September Tickets available from the Scottish Story Telling Centre. All welcome. If you are able to distribute publicity postcards can you please contact Scottish WILPF at scottishwilpf@yahoo.co.uk and don’t forget Brexit and World Peace Plus Peace Beyond Borders Booktalk: Vijay Mehta, Author, Peace Beyond Borders Brian Cooper, Coordinator, Uniting for Peace
Brian Larkin, Coordinator, Edinburgh Peace and Justice CentreVenue: Quaker Meeting House, 7 Victoria Terrace, Edinburgh EH1 2JN : 20 September Time: 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm. More on this and other events in the latest Peace and Justice Centre news http://peaceandjustice.org.uk

Other News:
1. The latest edition of nuClear News, No.88 September 2016 is now available for downloading here: http://www.no2nuclearpower.org.uk/nuclearnews/NuClearNewsNo88.pdf

2 (a). The role of young people and women. Speaker: Gulalai Ismail, Founder, Aware Girls
Edinburgh Quaker Meeting House, 7 Victoria Terrace, EH1 2JL Tues 13th September 6pm (b) Christianity, Nonviolence & Reconciliation Speaker:  Pat Gaffney, Coordinator of Pax Christi UK The Jesuit Centre, 28, Lauriston Street, Edinburgh EH3 9DJ Wednesday 14th September 7:30pm

3.Thursday 15th September, the petition calling for increased transparency and scrutiny of armed forces visits to Scottish schools will be heard by the Scottish Parliament’s Petitions Committee. Representatives from Forces Watch and Quakers in Scotland will give evidence and answer questions from the five member committee at 10.15 am. The committee will then decide on next steps. Should you wish to witness the session, the address is as follows: The Public Petitions Committee The Scottish Parliament Edinburgh
EH99 1SP You will need to be there by 10am.

4. You can register for CND national conference in Manchester on Sat 22nd October, either as an individual or as a group. There are only a couple of weeks left to register if you want accommodation, and then a few weeks more to register without. All information can be found here. Registration includes entry to the CND Open Conference on Sun 23rd October. All http://cnduk.us12.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=50a46ed98fb9032bd46d11880&id=89f23c387d&e=96dcf14be7                                                       Other News from UKCND: (a) On Sunday 7th August, CND Member Brian Wells and his 18 year old grandson did a sponsored parachute jump from 15000ft in support of CND and Amnesty. We send a huge thank you to Brian for supporting us in this absolutely incredible way! (b) Available on BBC iPlayer for the next 2 weeks is the first of the BBC’s four original (1948) readings of John Hersey’s Hiroshima. This is an immensely powerful report of the aftermath of the bombing, following the lives of six survivors. Adjudged the finest piece of American journalism of the 20th century, Hersey’s report for the New Yorker won the Pulitzer Prize and set the gold standard for journalism. It’s never been out of print in the 71 years since.

5. On Saturday Walkatjurra Walkabout finished the walk in to Leonora. You can see all the updates here.
https://walkingforcountry.com/walkatjurra-walkabout/walkatjurra-walkabout-updates/

6. Civil society is acting in a Chain Reaction of events around the world for nuclear abolition. Are you part of the action? Please inform us of your action or event to include on the Chain Reaction 2016 map and list of events. Here are a few examples of influential actions and inspiring events.

STOP PRESS 1: There will be an EdinburghCND stall from 12noon until 1pm at the East end of Princes Street on Saturday 10th September.

There will be a meeting of EdinburghCND on Monday 5th September from 6-7pm at the Peace and Justice Centre 5 Upper Bow, Edinburgh EH1 2JN. After the meeting will be collecting copies of the EWJF 2016 programme from the White Horse Bar on Canongate.

Our October meeting will be on Monday 3rd and will be our contribution to the Edinburgh World Justice Festival (EWJF). It will be at 7.00pm at the Quaker Meeting House: 50 years ago nearly 2,000 people fled their Chagos Island homes after P. M. Harold Wilson leased the islands to America for use as a military airbase during the 1960s cold war. In return, the UK received a cheaper deal on Polaris nuclear weapons. Today the village of Gangjeong on Jeju Island, South Korea has been chosen for a US naval base to be part of it’s missile defence plan.                                  Come and hear the stories of these and others who have had their lives destroyed. Dave Webb, chair of UK CND will lead the discussion                                                                                  Also :Migration Gathering – Challenging Myths: Respond Positively
1.30-6.30, Saturday 8 October, Augustine United Ch, 41 Geo IV Bridge, Edinburgh EH1 1EL All welcome – Please share with your networks and register at https://ewjfgathering2016. eventbrite.co.uk

Edinburgh CAAT are having a planning meeting at 6pm on Thursday 8 September in Doctor’s Pub at 32 Forrest Rd (EH1 2QN) to organise an event on Thursday 29 or Friday 30 September.

Scottish WILPF and Wool Against Weapons have their Exhibition at the Scottish Story Telling Centre 9th September to 1st October 2016. 43 – 45 High Street, EH1 15R. It has a lovely café.   Launch 6.30 pm Friday September 9th 2016. The launch is a free event open to all. Please feel free to invite friends, family, work colleagues.                                                            If you have any unwanted wool orr knitting needles there will be a basket for collecting them to send to Edinburgh Direct Aid.                                                                                                       Play ‘Chrystal and The General’ , 21st September Tickets available from the Scottish Story Telling Centre. All welcome.                                                                                                                            If you are able to distribute publicity postcards can you please contact Scottish WILPF at scottishwilpf@yahoo.co.uk

Brexit and World Peace  Plus Peace Beyond Borders Booktalk
Speakers:  Vijay Mehta, Author, Peace Beyond Borders
Brian Cooper, Coordinator, Uniting for Peace
Brian Larkin, Coordinator, Edinburgh Peace and Justice CentreVenue: Quaker Meeting House, 7 Victoria Terrace, Edinburgh EH1 2JN
Date: 20 September Time: 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm. More on this and other events in the latest Peace and Justice Centre news http://peaceandjustice.org.uk

Stop Press 2: The ICAN Youth team is pleased to invite you to apply to be part of the ICAN Youth Academy that will take place from October 20-23 in Paris, France: youth.icanfrance.fr/academy/

This four-day event is an interactive educational seminar on nuclear weapons and humanitarian disarmament. Sixty participants aged 18 to 30 from all over Europe will come together to develop both knowledge and skills for successful campaigns through conferences and workshops facilitated by the best experts in this field. The ICAN Youth Academy will be held in English.

We are happy to receive applications from anyone between 18 and 30 years old, living in a European country, and willing to explain their motivation using the application form on the above-mentionned website. The 90€ registration fee will cover your travel, accommodation and meals. Applications are open until September 10.

Walkatjurra Walkabout: Week 3 on the road to a uranium free WA!!👣 Stop press 3: The walkers of walkatjurra walkabout are deeply saddened by the news of the young man that was murdered on the morning of the 29th August at Gribble Creek in Kalgoorlie. Since we heard the news we have shared messages and songs, offered support and walked in solidarity with the family and community of Kalgoorlie who are grieving the loss of Elijah Doughty.

After reports  that the United States has begun the transfer of nuclear weapons stationed in Turkey to the Deveselu air base in Romania, campaigners have condemned the decision and said such a move is illegal under international law. Kate Hudson, CND general secretary, said: “Let’s be clear, if reports are true, this move is both illegal and very dangerous. Article one of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) specifically prohibits the transfer of nuclear weapons to non-nuclear-weapon states. So what the United States government has sanctioned is illegal, and article two of the NPT makes clear that it would be illegal for Romania to accept these weapons….”

NB If you haven’t already, there’s still time to donate to help fund CND’s newspaper advert, and we’ll add your name to our statement against Trident replacement.
August Drone Campaign News: https://dronecampaignnetwork.wordpress.com

The Campaign Against the Arms Trade have postponed the activity planned for Saturday but remind us that this week, as peace talks over the Yemen conflict collapsed, Saudi forces unleashed a fresh wave of shocking and indefensible destruction on the people of Yemen. Ever since the conflict began, the Saudi bombing has been indiscriminate and illegal. UN experts have accused Saudi forces of “widespread and systematic” attacks on civilians. These attacks have driven the country further into crisis: over 21.2 million people require humanitarian assistance and one in three under-fives is suffering from acute malnutrition.

The monthly vigil sponsored by the Scottish Peace Network will take place at Dewar’s statue in Glasgow city centre on Thursday, August 25, from 5 to 6pm. We have shifted from the fourth Wednesday of the month to the fourth Thursday to avoid conflicting with a weekly vigil at Faslane every Wednesday. The Network will also be sponsoring a white poppy day on 28th October in both Edinburgh and Glasgow.

SNP CND are organising a conference which is open to all SNP members. This will take place on: Saturday, 3 September 2016 from 10:00 to 17:00
The STUC Conference Centre 333 Woodlands Road G3 6NG Glasgow

Scottish WILPF and Wool Against Weapons  have their Exhibition at the Scottish Story Telling Centre 9th September to 1st October 2016. 43 – 45 High Street, EH1 15R. It has a lovely café. Launch 6.30 pm Friday September 9th 2016. All welcome, please bring friends further details to follow. Play ‘Chrystal and The General’ , 21st September Tickets available from the Scottish Story Telling Centre. All welcome.If you are able to distribute publicity postcards can you please contact Scottish WILPF at scottishwilpf@yahoo.co.uk

THE CND AGM & POLICY CONFERENCE is ON SATURDAY 22ND OCTOBER
AND THE CND OPEN CONFERENCE ON SUNDAY 23RD OCTOBER. Amendments to motions are to be submitted by 9th September. http://www.cnduk.org/about/cnd-conference/item/1647-conference-registration-page

The UN Open Ended Working group on nuclear disarmament (OEWG) adopted a recommendation to the United Nations General Assembly in October to initiate negotiations on a legal instrument to prohibit nuclear weapons, leading to their elimination. In a recorded vote on the proposal, 62 countries supported (all non-nuclear states), 27 countries opposed (mostly NATO countries plus South Korea), and 8 countries abstained (among them were Sweden, Switzerland and Japan).
Albuquerque –  the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a scathing 65-page critique of plans prepared over the past four years by the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), its contractor Los Alamos National Security (LANS), and the Department of Energy (DOE), for what DOE currently estimates will be $6 billion (B) in plutonium-related construction at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). See http://www.lasg.org/MPF2/first_page.html. The Group also applauded the OEWG talks (see above)

Australia: The Walkatjurra Walkabout started last week: This year the group consists of about 50 walkers who have travelled from all over the country and world to ‘walk away from uranium’. Updates are available on the first 2 weeks activity/progress

13th August is the day for a STALL and  city centre leafleting: 12.00 to 1pm at the East end of Princes Street.  If you can help, please contact us edinburghcnd@yahoo.com

Some magazines:
1. The latest edition of the Scottish CND magazine, Nuclear Free Scotland, is now available http://www.banthebomb.org/index.php/publications/magazine

2. The August 2016 edition of CND’s Campaign magazine is also available. Since the last edition, Parliament has voted on Trident. In this issue, we look at what that result means, as well as reporting back from the recent NATO summit. The NATO summit report is by Dave Webb who will be speaking at our EWJF meeting on 3rd October. http://www.cnduk.org/cnd-media/campaign-magazine

3. nuClear News No.87 August 2016 is now available to download at:
http://www.no2nuclearpower.org.uk/nuclearnews/NuClearNewsNo87.pdf

Some News:

1. Edinburgh CND, in common with other local groups, commemorated the 71st anniversary of the bombings of Hiroshima. One member of the group is fasting from the 6th to the 9th (Nagasaki day)
   On August 6 1945 the US dropped an atomic bomb (“Little Boy”) on Hiroshima in Japan. Three days later a second atomic bomb (“Fat Man”) was dropped on the city of Nagasaki. These were the only times nuclear weapons have been used in war. The first bomb killed up to 180,000 people and the second killed up to 100,000 people.
   Pictures of the event (and other news) available on our Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/EdinburghCND/                                                                                          2.The final session of the UN nuclear disarmament working group (OEWG) opened in Geneva on Friday August 5, as nuclear abolition campaigners around the world were gearing up for Hiroshima and Nagasaki Day actions.                                                                  3. CND have now created a new petition titled ‘Stop Trident’. They have updated the website as well as ordered new paper copies. If you need new paper copies, please send your orders to officemanager@cnduk.org and I will get those posted out to you ASAP.                                               4. On the  11th the Australian Walkabout starts walking from the gates of Toro Energy just south of Wiluna and will be at Yeelirrie in 4 days.                                                                                                   5. Congressional auditors flay Los Alamos plutonium plans: http://www.lasg.org/MPF2/first_page.html

Some Festival Activities:

1. “This Evil Thing” is a one man show about COs in WW1. It is very well researched and performed by Michael Mears and follows characters through the progression of the war. Makes very real the terrible way that COs were treated but is an impressively clever and dymamic performance.
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/this-evil-thing New Town Theatre – noon

2. One woman show “Faslane” at Summerhall (7.15pm) is worth considering.
Jenna Watt who wrote it and performs it gives a very honest run through of her journey to find out what Trident is all about and whether to support it or not. It includes some interesting audio clips and has a bit of audience participation.

3. There are a number of activities organised by the Edinburgh Peace and Justice Centre. See our previous post or their website: http://peaceandjustice.org.uk including Hiroshima Art Exhibition: Colinton Parish Church.
Introduces the artwork of Atsuko Betchaku to 31 August. Colinton Parish Church, Dell Road, EH13 0JR
Also Hiroshima exhibition at P and J until 9th online at: http://peaceandjustice.org.uk/news-and-events/speaker-series/hiroshima-art-exhibition/  Humanity & the A Bomb Exhibition Photos, text and artwork in memory of Hiroshima. Saturday 6th & Tuesday 9th August. 11am – 4pm. Edinburgh Peace and Justice Centre

4. Scottish CND has permission to hold a street collection on Saturday 20 August in Princes Street, Edinburgh. They  plan to have the giant puppets, Big Sandy and CiNDy, plus music and a stall. e-mail them at banthebomb.org.uk if you can help.

5. CAAT Edinburgh are considering organising another collaborative event with peace groups in Edinburgh during the Festival: putting up stalls and speakers again, on 27 August on the Middle Meadow Walk, hopefully with peace-themed live music to catch the festival public’s attention. The time of day is yet to be decided, but I suppose there are people walking around at all times and the earlier we go the more likely we are to get a spot before others, so perhaps 10.30/11am – 3pm again.