News
Motion in the Scottish Parliament - Signing of the UN Nuclear Weapons Prohibition Treaty
- Details
- Published on Thursday, 21 September 2017 07:58
Motion Number: S5M-07762
Lodged By: Bill Kidd
Date Lodged: 19/09/2017
Title: Signing of the UN Nuclear Weapons Prohibition Treaty
Motion Text:
That the Parliament welcomes the adoption of the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons; highlights that this treaty was acceded by 122 state parties on 7 July 2017, with a notable absence from the UK and other nuclear weapon states; notes the timely date of initial signing, which falls on the eve of International Peace Day on 20 September 2017; further notes that all countries that ratify this treaty will be legally bound to not hold, develop or test nuclear weapons; affirms the significant step towards normative change in international relations and state security regarding the role and place of nuclear weapons in this world, and commends the courageous efforts of all 122 countries that have led the way in this crucial shift.
Motion supporting Defence Diversification passed at the TUC conference
- Details
- Published on Friday, 15 September 2017 12:40
Scottish CND have given a warm welcome to a motion passed at the TUC conference at Brighton this week.
The text of the motion is set out below .
Defence, jobs and diversification
Congress welcomes the ‘Lucas Plan’ 40th Anniversary Conference held in Birmingham in November 2016 and agrees that the Plan was an idea from which we can learn much today.
The Plan was a pioneering effort by workers at arms company Lucas Aerospace to retain jobs by proposing alternative, socially useful applications of the company’s technology and their own skills. Forty years afterwards, we are facing a convergence of crises – militarism and nuclear weapons, climate chaos, and the destruction of jobs by automation – which mean that we have to start thinking about technology as political, as the Lucas Aerospace workers did.
However, in the four decades since the Plan was drawn up Britain’s manufacturing industry has shrunk from 25 per cent to 14 per cent of GDP, with the ‘defence’ industry now representing 10 per cent of all manufacturing. Britain cannot afford to lose any more manufacturing skills and capacity, and ‘defence’ workers are rightly concerned about the potential loss of jobs, for example if Trident replacement is cancelled.
Please join our Annual General Meeting 2017
- Details
- Published on Tuesday, 12 September 2017 12:22
The AGM of Scottish CND takes place on Saturday November 11 in the 14 Johnston Terrace, Edinburgh, EH1 2PW
Registration is from 10 am and the meeting starts at 10 30 am.
The meeting should last until about 3 pm and a lunch will be provided.
Please also note the following points :
1.The AGM should be interesting and informative and as well as the business part of the meeting we hope to have some special speakers and a number of information stalls at the event
2.Nominations for office bearers positions- chair , 2 vice chairs , secretary , treasurer, assistant secretary should be e-mailed to the Scottish CND office at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or posted to the Scottish CND office at 77 Southpark Avenue Glasgow G12 8LE by 5pm on Saturday October 14.
3.Nominations for 6 executive positions should be e-mailed to the Scottish CND office at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or posted to the Scottish CND office at 77 Southpark Avenue Glasgow G12 8 LE.
4.People can nominate themselves for office bearer or executive positions or can be nominated by a fellow Scottish CND member.
5.Any resolutions for discussion at the AGM must be e- mailed to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or posted to the Scottish CND office at 77 Southpark Avenue Glasgow G12 8 LE by Saturday October 14 at 5 pm
6.Any amendments to resolutions must be e-mailed to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or sent to the Scottish CND office at 77 Southpark Avenue Glasgow G12 8 LE by 5 pm on Saturday November 4 .
7.It would help with the planning of the event if people who are coming could either phone the Scottish CND office on 0141 357 1529 or e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
8.The AGM is open to all Scottish CND individual members who have 3 months membership at the time of the AGM
9.Local branches and affiliated organisations are able to send 2 delegates to the AGM
Bulletin on North Korea crisis
- Details
- Published on Tuesday, 12 September 2017 08:10
Scottish CND and organisations across the wider peace movement continue to urge the United States and North Korea to step back from war, and instead adopt a diplomatic approach to resolve current difficulties.
We call for the immediate commencement of discussions to prevent the outbreak of a military conflict.
We are also calling on our members and supporters to ask their MP's to sign Early Day Motion 243 on the conflict.
So please get in touch with your MP and ask them sign this important motion.
Letter in the Guardian from Medact
- Details
- Published on Monday, 04 September 2017 08:20
The below letter was published in the Guardian on 31st of Aug. See the article here.
Fourteen medical doctors and scientists call on the British government to join the international treaty demanding the ban of nuclear weapons
As medical doctors and scientists, we write concerning the escalating crisis between North Korea and the US (World running out of diplomatic levers, 30 August). The power to kill millions is in the hands of unstable countries and unpredictable people. Tensions between these two nuclear powers clearly illustrate the dangers of nuclear weapons, which make the world less stable.
Evidence is indisputable that any use of such weapons would have a devastating health impact on populations. Robust scientific studies show that even a limited exchange of nuclear weapons would lead to major crop failures around the world. Such a “nuclear famine” scenario would result in mass starvation, potentially affecting as many as 2 billion people.
Scottish CND call for a diplomatic response in relation to North Korea situation
- Details
- Published on Wednesday, 30 August 2017 11:14
Arthur West, chair of Scottish CND has said that the increasing tensions over North Korea's nuclear and missile capabilities require an urgent diplomatic solution.
"People across the world are finding the current situation absolutely frightening.
During the Korean War in the early 1950's more than three million people lost their lives . Should war erupt again there could be an even bigger loss of life particularly if nuclear weapons are used."
"Scottish CND is strongly supporting a diplomatic solution to the current situation.
We are therefore happy to endorse the call by the United Nations General Secretary for talks involving China ,Japan, North Korea, Russia, South Korea and the US. We would also suggest that these talks give priority to establishing a North-East Asian Nuclear Weapons Free Zone."
Arthur West concluded by saying that it is also vitally important that all parties to the current dispute refrain from proactive military exercises and inflammatory and aggressive public statements.
Tribute for Marshallese “climate hero” Tony de Brum
- Details
- Published on Wednesday, 23 August 2017 13:28
Motion Number: S5M-07225
Lodged By: Bill Kidd
Date Lodged: 22/08/2017
Title: Tony de Brum, Climate and Anti-nuclear Crusader
Motion Text:
That the Parliament notes the passing of Tony de Brum, the former Foreign Minister of the Republic of the Marshall Islands in the Pacific Ocean; understands that he who was one of the first Marshall islanders to graduate from university, becoming his country's chief negotiator in achieving reparations for the nuclear test annihilation and poisoning of Bikini Atoll; acknowledges that he was noted internationally as a high-profile climate change campaigner due to the threats to his low-lying island nation; understands that he witnessed 67 nuclear tests as a child, which devastated his homeland, and that, having become his country's Foreign Minister, he spoke on the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty at both the UN and at the International Court of Justice, becoming recognised as a voice of knowledge, passion and reason on this issue, and sends its sincere condolences to the Marshall Islands, and, in particular, to Tony's wife, three children,10 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren
More Articles...
- Scottish CND statement on North Korea Crisis
- Donald Trump 's recent comments on North Korea risk heightening tension
- Ask your MPs & MSPs to sign this Pledge in support of the UN Ban Treaty
- Hiroshima Events 2017
- Arrests at Coupolt, Brian Quail imprisoned until 3rd August
- Global Treaty Banning Nuclear Weapons