International Day for the Elimination of Nuclear Weapons

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Published on Thursday, 26 September 2019 12:33

Thursday 26th September (today) is the United Nations International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons and additional nations use that occasion to sign or ratify the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), MSPs, councillors and ordinary people will gather outside the Scottish Parliament to express their solidarity with the Treaty and the worldwide movement behind it.

Today, 70 states have signed the TPNW and 26 have ratified it. It is expected that today will bring a significant increase in both signatures and ratification at a special high level ceremony. The Treaty will enter into force as international law when 50 states have ratified. Scottish CND is a partner organisations of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) who in 2017 won the Nobel Peace Prize for their work on the TPNW.

Karipbek Kuyukov and the Impact of Nuclear Weapons

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Published on Friday, 13 September 2019 10:36

Kazakhstan artist Karipbek Kuyukov spoke at the Scottish Parliament and unveiled three new art works that deal with the impact of nuclear weapons on the 12^th September 2019. Bill Kidd introduced him and reminded us that 456 nuclear tests were exploded by the Soviet Union in Kazakhstan. Karipbek was born with no arms as a consequence. He paints with his mouth and feet. His address follows.

Member Perspective: Iran

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Published on Monday, 09 September 2019 16:06

The following is an article that has been submitted by a member of Glasgow CND which gives a personal opinion on the situation in relation to Iran. 

No War With Iran - Eric Chester

There is a very real danger that the United States and Iran will stumble into a full-fledged war. If this occurs, the UK will come under pressure to enter the war as well, once again supporting the US in another military adventure

Arms Dealers Reception at Scottish Parliament Space Reception

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Published on Monday, 02 September 2019 10:19

Scottish CND chair Arthur West has written to Tory MSP John Scott about a reception he is organising in the Scottish Parliament on Space Technology. The letter expresses concern about the involvement of BAE Systems and Lockheed Martin representatives in the reception.

Both these companies have supplied weapons to the dreadful conflict in Yemen. They are also involved in the production and development of nuclear weapons. The next of the letter sent to John Scott MSP is below:

Scottish CND AGM - Save the date, 16 Nov

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Published on Tuesday, 27 August 2019 10:31

Our AGM takes place on Saturday, 16 Nov 2019 at Quaker Meeting House on 7 Victoria Street, Edinburgh, EH1 2 JL (10 am registration, 10:30 start). Guest speakers will soon be announced. 

All our members and supporters are welcome to attend.

• Resolutions for the AGM should be e-mailed to the Scottish CND Secretary at  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  or sent by post to Scottish CND by 19th of Oct, 5 pm;
• Individual members of Scottish CND with at least 3 months membership at the time of the Annual General Meeting are entitled to vote;
• Registered Scottish CND local groups are entitled to have 2 voting delegates at the AGM. These delegates must be individual members of Scottish CND with at least 3 months membership at the time of the AGM;
• Specialist sections of Scottish CND are entitled to have 2 voting delegates at the AGM. These delegates must be individual members of Scottish CND with at least 3 months membership at the time of the AGM;
•  Affiliated organisations such as trade union branches are entitled to 2 delegates to the AGM.
• Nominations to serve on the Scottish CND Executive should be e-mailed to the Scottish CND Secretary at  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  or posted to the Scottish CND by 19th of Oct, 5 pm. People can nominate themselves to stand on the executive and must be seconded by another Scottish CND member who has 3 months membership at the time of the AGM .
• Amendments for resolutions should be sent back to us by 9th of November

Member of far-right group with links to terrorist organisation due to start work on Trident submarine

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Published on Tuesday, 27 August 2019 08:51

A new analysis published by Hope not Hate revealed that two staff members of the Royal Navy, including one who is to start working on a Trident submarine are members of far-right group with links to banned terrorist organisation. Report overview and links to full publication can be found here.  Arthur West, chair of SCND has said:

"The news provides very disturbing information about a soldier with extremist and racists views being involved in the Trident nuclear weapons programme. Any modern day military personnel who hold these kind of views dishonour the memory of the soldiers and sailors who fought against the forces of fascism and racism during the Second World War."

Scottish CND condemn ONR decision to restart Huntertston

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Published on Wednesday, 21 August 2019 10:39

Scottish CND condemn Office of Nuclear Regulation's decision to restart Hunterston nuclear reactor 4. The meeting between ONR, Dr Ian Fairlie and NFLA (notes available) stated that while the cracking in Reactor 4 is not as extensive as Reactor 3 there is an issue of some cracks openings that are greater than 1.2cm wide (i.e. 1/2 inch). These cracks still exceed 200 and Scottish CND have been doing some work on this issue, hosting a series of discussions across the country with nuclear expert Dr Ian Fairlie. Most recently publishing a report on Radiation Risks and Nuclear Power in Scotland.

Scottish CND chair Arthur West:

"This news about the Hunterston reactor is very disappointing. It is very worrying that the Office of Nuclear Regulation seems to have increased the number of cracks permitted in the reactor.

This move seems to be a clear case of moving the goalposts to allow the closed reactor to reopen. It really is time to think about a future beyond nuclear energy. The best response to the current situation at Hunterston is to continue the development of safer and cleaner forms of renewable energy."

Scottish CND's nuclear risk special adviser Pete Roach:

"EDF Energy and ONR are gambling with public safety by allowing this reactor to re-open. Scotland doesn't need the electricity - it is a risk not worth taking. This decision seems to be more to do with EDF's financial problems than what is best for the Scottish public."

Scottish CND's working group Radiation Risks urge the public to take the following action:

1. Write (with copies to social media - addresses below) to the following people:

• the Chief Inspector of the Office of Nuclear Regulation
• the Chief Executive of the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA)
• your own MSP and the current Scottish Minister for Energy
• the Scottish Government's Director of Energy and Climate change

2. Consider planning, organising and participating in demonstrations outside Hunterston

Scottish CND believe that both the Hunterston B reactors should remain closed for good and that EDF and North Ayrshire Council should publish their plans for evacuation in the event of a nuclear accident. Free potassium iodate tablets should be pre-distributed to the population within 50km of Hunterston B.

Office of Nuclear Regulation Meeting re: Hunterston B

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Published on Monday, 19 August 2019 13:14

This is an update from Dr Ian Fairlie about the meeting that he and Sean Morris of Nuclear Free Local Authorities have had with the Office for Nuclear Regulation about Hunterston Nuclear Power Station in Ayrshire. Radiation Risks working group within Scottish CND have been doing some work around this topic and have recently released a short report which can be found on our website and printed copies available in the office.

The Doomsday Machine Review - David Peutherer

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Published on Friday, 16 August 2019 14:19

The Doomsday Machine: Confessions of a Nuclear War Planner by Daniel Ellsberg, Bloomsbury Publishing, 2017 [2018 in UK]

From Dresden to Doomsday

In the early 1960s Ellsberg worked for the RAND Corporation on how to avert a nuclear exchange between the Soviet Union and the United States, was a consultant to the United States Department of Defense and the White House, and drafted Secretary Robert McNamara's plans for nuclear war. He had access to top secret documents, senior military personnnel and other senior officials. He now writes and lectures about the dangers of the nuclear era.