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Global Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapons

Details: Published on Monday, 10 July 2017 09:51

Scottish CND is delighted that on Friday 7th July 2017 a global treaty banning nuclear weapons was passed at the United Nations in New York.
The treaty was supported by 122 countries at the United Nations Headquarters after months of talks in the face of opposition from nuclear armed states.Disgracefully the UK government did not take part in the talks.

The treaty is 10 pages long and will be open for nations to sign at the United Nations General Assembly in September.The treaty also puts nuclear weapons on the same footing as landmines, biological and chemical weapons which were banned a number of years ago.

It is really disappointing that the UK Government did not take part in these historic talks.However there is evidence to suggest that UN treaties can be effective even when some nations fail to sign up to them.The US did not sign up to the landmines treaty but has now changed its landmines policy to comply with the treaty.
Scottish CND believes that the treaty will have an impact on the behaviour of nuclear weapons states.

Scottish CND Dismayed and Disgusted as Trump Withdraws from Iran Nuclear Deal

Details: Published on Wednesday, 09 May 2018 11:21

Chair Arthur West has expressed Scottish CND's disgust at the recent announcement by US president Donald Trump that he intends to withdraw from the Iran Nuclear Deal.

"This deal has achieved its main aim which is stopping Iran from having nuclear weapons. It is very troubling that the US president has decided to move away from a deal which makes a positive contribution towards a more peaceful world."

Arthur concluded by noting that International Atomic Energy Agency which has inspection powers to keep a heck on how Iran is complying with the deal has expressed concern about the US president moving away from the deal.

"There is clearly substantial opposition to this latest ill advised and wrong headed move by the Trump administration. The International Atomic Energy Agency, Tom Tugendhat MP - the chair of all party foreign affairs committee at Westminster and Dr Patricia Lewis of the respected Chatham House research organisation has all indicated reservations about this move by the Trump administration.

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Government Ducking Questions On MPs\' Trident Vote

Details: Published on Tuesday, 27 June 2006 14:34

Pressed by the SNP MP Stewart Hosie on whether the Government would allow a vote in the House of Commons on the replacement of Trident the Defence Min

Nuclear Consultation "Misleading"

Details: Published on Tuesday, 28 October 2008 14:33

A public consultation on new nuclear power stations which was run by a company linked to the Prime Minister's personal pollster has been criticised for breaching industry guidelines. Environmentalists and opposition MPs denounced the exercise as "fixed" after the Market Research Standards Board said some material given to focus groups was "inaccurately or misleadingly presented".

Commission on US strategic posture

Details: Published on Tuesday, 16 December 2008 14:36

The interim report from a new commission into US nuclear weapons policy, chaired by former Defence Secretary William Perry, was published on 15 December

Overall the report is mixed and cautious. It reaffirms the importance of Russia in determining the size of US nuclear forces, although it states that there is no nuclear threat from Russia or China. It advocates bilateral negotiations with Russia. Ratification of the CTBT could be considered if there were assurances from the nuclear laboratories. Nuclear terrorism is seen as a growing threat, particularly if the dangers of proliferation are not tackled.

A paper was sent to the Commission on the relationship between US and British nuclear weapons programmes.

US Empire or Multi-Polar World

Details: Published on Monday, 02 February 2009 14:28

“We’re an empire now and
when we act, we create our own
reality and while you’re studying
that reality – judiciously, as
you will – we’ll act again, creating
other new realities, which
you will study too, and that’s
how things will sort out,” said a
cheer leader for the Project for
a New American Century.

Scottish CND Annual Conference 17 Nov

Details: Published on Tuesday, 30 October 2012 13:43

Dr Rebecca Johnson will speak on "New international Game-changers to Ban Nuclear Weapons: Scotland's Role and Responsibility" at Scottish CND's annual conference from 10 am on Saturday 17th November 2012 in the STUC, 333 Woodlands Road, Glasgow. There will also be a debate on the approach that Scottish CND should adopt during the independence referendum. Papers

MOD simulates Trident convoy crash at Raith Interchange

Details: Published on Wednesday, 12 June 2013 17:49

Declassified reports show that the Ministry of Defence and emergency services would have major problems responding to an accident involving the transport of nuclear weapons across Scotland. Exercise Senator took place in 2011. It was held in Prestwick, but simulated an accident at the Raith Interchange on the M74 in Lanarkshire.

John Ainslie, Coordinator Scottish CND said "This exercise highlighted the risks which we live with in Scotland, so long as nuclear weapons are based on the Clyde. The only way to remove this danger is to eject Trident from Faslane."

What about North Korea?

Details: Published on Friday, 07 July 2017 13:47

This is a frequent response to opening a discussion about global nuclear disarmament with people outside the peace movement. Especially in the light of recent events some people are subscribing to the idea that we ‘need’ nuclear weapons to keep us ‘safe’. A recent press release from Nuclear Free Local Authorities (NFLA) an organisation to which SCND is affiliated and which we strongly support, tackles this question head on. It explains why at a time like this a nuclear weapons ban treaty, even if everyone doesn’t immediately sign up to it, matters more than ever. The press release argues that the test firing of an ‘intercontinental ballistic missile’ by North Korea is proof positive of the need for a nuclear weapons ban treat. A summary of their viewpoint is presented below. The full press release , with contacts and references can be found here

Report from Members Debate in Holyrood – 2 May 2018, Civil Contingency in Nuclear Weapon Transport

Details: Published on Thursday, 03 May 2018 14:02

For over an hour the Scottish Parliament discussed nuclear weapons convoys in a debate raised by

Mark Ruskell MSP from the Scottish Greens. It was a members debate which comes after decision

time so most members leave then but 22 stayed to listen and contribute.

Mark Ruskell introduced the motion and thanked David Mackenzie and Jane Tallents for the Unready

Scotland report and paid tribute to the work of the Nukewatch network. He explained why the

hazards of nuclear weapons transport are so unique and the results of a survey of Scottish Local

Authorities by him which showed that none of them had conducted risk assessments or informed

the public. He said that the current devolution settlement laid responsibility for community safety

with the Scottish Government under the Civil Contingencies Act 2014 and called for them to hold a

review of civil authorities plans for a convoy accident.

Bill Kidd (SNP) said no one should be ignorant of what these convoys carry and called for the

minister to consider setting up a group to conduct a review.

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