Scottish Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament

What about North Korea?

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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

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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.

US Czech Missile Deal

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Published on Tuesday, 08 July 2008 14:35

" MOSCOW, Russia (CNN) -- Russia's Foreign Ministry Tuesday threatened a "military-technological" response if the United States deploys a missile defense system in former Soviet-bloc nations near Russia's borders. "

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/07/08/missile.defense/

" The Czech Republic is withdrawing from U.S. missile defense plans out of frustration at its diminished role, the Czech defense minister told The Associated Press Wednesday. The Bush administration first proposed stationing 10 interceptor missiles in Poland and an advanced radar in the Czech Republic, saying the system was aimed at blunting future missile threats from Iran. But Russia angrily objected and warned that it would station its own missiles close to Poland if the plan went through. In September 2009, the Obama administration shelved that plan and offered a new, reconfigured phased program with an undefined role for the Czechs. In November 2009, the Czech Republic was offered the possibility of hosting a separate early warning system that would gather and analyze information from satellites to detect missiles aimed at NATO territory. "

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/15/czech-republic-us-missile-shield-plan-withdrawal-_n_877398.html