Scottish Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament

An open letter to John Swinney - nuclear convoys

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Published on Wednesday, 04 April 2018 14:05

Wednesday, April 4, 2018

An open letter to John Swinney, Deputy First Minister with responsibility for Resilience Dear Mr Swinney

I am writing on behalf of Scottish CND to share our concern about the continuing and regular transport of the UK's nuclear weapons on Scottish roads. Our objection to this traffic is twofold. The movement by road of nuclear warheads is a key part of the UK's horrifying and illegal Trident nuclear weapon system. The transport also presents immediate and unacceptable risks to the communities through which the nuclear weapon convoys pass, risks which the UK Ministry of Defence itself acknowledges and attempts to justify as acceptable in order to maintain the Trident system. Our concern has been heightened by the publication of the Nukewatch report “Unready Scotland” and the disappointing response of the Scottish government to its findings (REPORT link). The report has highlighted a general unreadiness on the part of Scottish local authorities on convoy routes to respond effectively to a serious incident, in terms of their duties under the Civil Contingencies Act (2004). The report noted in particular a general failure to conduct appropriate risk assessments of the threat posed by the traffic and a complete failure to make and keep their public informed, both of which are statutory duties under the Act. While accepting that defence is reserved to Westminster and that the conduct of the convoys is a UK government responsibility, the report has recommended that the Scottish government conducts a review into the readiness of the relevant civil authorities in Scotland to effectively fulfil their statutory part following any serious incident. To date the Scottish government has not acceded to this request. Scottish CND supports the Nukewatch request for a review as a sensible and appropriate step forward. Meanwhile there are strong indications that the new UN Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) is already having a significant impact in advance of its entry into force. Since the adoption of the Treaty, 30 financial institutions have ceased investing in nuclear weapon producers. At UN level ICAN is reliably advised that the nuclear-armed states, including the United Kingdom, are feeling the challenge that the Treaty poses to their nuclear weapon status. The treaties banning chemical weapons, cluster munitions and landmines have led the way in changing the norm around these inhumane weapons, and there are signs that the nuclear ban treaty is beginning to have the same effect.

We are delighted that a majority of Scottish parliamentarians, including the entire Scottish government, have signed the ICAN Parliamentary Pledge to work for the advancement of the TPNW. Scotland has a unique position as a significant section of a nuclear-armed state which at both popular and parliamentary level rejects that state's possession of these WMD. This is recognised worldwide. In that context it is vital that all reasonable and constitutionally viable steps be taken to align with the Treaty.

One such step is the modest one recommended by Nukewatch. Scottish CND commends it to you.

Yours sincerely,

Jean Anderson

Scottish CND Secretary

On behalf of the Executive Committee 

Scottish CND Chair Disgusted at Government Announcement of Extra Spending on Trident Replacement

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Published on Wednesday, 04 April 2018 13:19

Arthur West, chair of Scottish Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, expressed his disgust about the recent Government announcement that they are set to spend an extra £600 million on the Dreadnought submarine programme which is part of Westminster's plan to replace the Trident nuclear weapons system.

Arthur West:

"It is absolutely disgusting the Government plan to spend millions of pounds in this way, instead of spending it on decent things like schools, hospitals and building new homes. 

According to public sources of information, it now looks as though the replacement of Trident could cost well over £200 billion in its lifetime. This is completely unacceptable and represents a massive drain on public service budgets."

Dreadnought is the British programme to replace the 4 Vanguard class submarines which provide continuous at sea deterrence since 1992, with Dreadnought submarines to be introduced from 2030's onward with a lifespan of just 30 years. 

Dreadnought will be based at Faslane, just 30 miles away from Glasgow and will cost over £41 billion, one of the most expensive Government projects going forward. The annual cost of the Trident system is at least £2.2 billion per year which is the equivalent to what is spent on Income Support, Statutory Maternity Pay or Carer's Allowance.

To support the fight for nuclear disarmament, consider becoming a member of Scottish CND.

Don’t Bank on the Bomb UK information

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Published on Thursday, 08 March 2018 10:42

This updated report, produced by PAX a member of the Nobel Peace Prize winning International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear weapons (ICAN) is the only report detailing the global investments by financial institutions in companies producing nuclear weapons.

This document extraction provides information on UK's banks. Check out the hall of fame and hall of shame lists as well as the nuclear weapons producing companies. If you want to hear more about this campaign please send us an email. If you have an account with RBS please contact them on this issue (details here).

Did you know?

26 Financial Institutions made an estimated USD$ 33,928 million available to nuclear weapon producing companies since January 2014.  But, since the adoption of the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, 30 financial institutions have ceased investing in nuclear weapon producers.

Full report here.

Below is the Press Release put by Don't bank on the Bomb Scotland

Campaign assistant position

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Published on Monday, 05 March 2018 09:48

Scottish CND apologise that we will have to put the interview date for our Campaign Assistant post back to a later date. This is due to the fact that adverse weather conditions have caused difficulties in getting the shortleeting group together.
We hope that the process will not be delayed unduly and we expect to be able to contact candidates who are shortlisted for interview by the beginning of next week.

Scotland Endangered: The Hazards Of Nuclear - Helensburgh CND Conference, 17 March

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Published on Monday, 05 March 2018 09:26

Scotland Endangered, 17 March

Join Helensburgh CND and their conference to hear about the hazards associated with nuclear weapons regardless of whether or not anyone ever actually pushes the button.

Radioactive materials are transported on our roads, from our airports and on our railways, and our air and water are contaminated by radioactive elements and processes.

The transportation, use and storage of nuclear weapons and materials have involved numerous incidents and mishaps, nearly all of which are in the public domain, and when taken together paint a hugely frightening picture of the Trident Nuclear Weapons System in Scotland - a major accident waiting to happen, and for which there has been little or no preparation. The likelihood of such an event has only been increased due to the aging of the current Trident system, and also because of the financial constraints owing to the eye-watering cost of Trident both present an future.

For those unable to make it, the event will be live-streamed here.

Programme
10.30 Registration, 11.00 Start
Opening (Arthur West, Chair of Scottish CND)
Short Film: Benchmark 6 (David Newbigging Filmmaker & Artist)
11.20 Unit 1 Transportation (Chair Ruth Wishart, Columnist & Broadcaster)
 Nukes of Hazard (Rob Edwards, Investigative Journalist)
 Unready Scotland (Jane Tallents/David McKenzie, Nukewatch)
 Activist (Brian Quail, Scottish CND)
 Highlands Against Nuclear Transport (Tor Justad)

1.00 - 1.45 Lunch Break (soup & sandwich lunch provided)

1.45 Unit 2 - Contamination (Chair Alannah Maurer, Navy Not Nuclear)
 Dumped at sea (Alonso Latrina film about nuclear waste disposal)
 Tritium (Dr Ian Fairlie, Respected Independent Consultant on
Radioactivity in the Environment)
 Epidemiology (Dr Ian Fairlie, as above)

3.15 - 3.45 Refreshment break (tea/coffee/biscuits provided)

3.45 Unit 3 - Degradation (Chair Isobel Lindsay, Vice Chair of Scottish CND)
 Playing with Fire (David Cullen, Nuclear Information Service)
 Trident Nukes Present and Future (Martin Docherty-Hughes, MP for
West Dumbartonshire)

5.55 Closing
6.00 Finish
Floor Manager: David Newbigging (As above)
Livestream: Kevin Gibney (Independence Live)