News
UK protest at the UN Ban Treaty discussions
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- Published on Tuesday, 28 March 2017 14:46
Over 120 UN states have started this week the negotiations to develop a legally binding instrument for the prohibition of nuclear weapons, along the lines of the bans on chemical weapons and landmines.
The UK Government decided to use its access to the United Nation, not to enter the discussion, but to join the US ambassador in a protest outside the room.
Despite the desperate efforts of nuclear countries to boycott this process it is clear that there is a worldwide support for the treaty. You can watch the discussions live here (keep in mind the time zone difference).
UK's statements had the following points:
UK set to Join US Protest Against Historic Nuke Ban Negotiations
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- Published on Monday, 27 March 2017 10:58
Concern over marginalisation of Scottish support for UN Treaty
As negotiations on a new international treaty to prohibit nuclear weapons start today at the UN in New York, supported by an overwhelming majority of member states, the UK is likely to join US ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, today a media briefing critical of the treaty plan.
Neither the US nor the UK will participate in the negotiations which are backed by over 120 UN states and which aim to develop a legally binding instrument for the prohibition of nuclear weapons, along the lines of the bans on chemical weapons and landmines. The reality of the horrific consequences of nuclear weapons has been fundamental to the worldwide civil society pressure which led 123 of the world's nations to vote last October for the negotiations to begin.
Hiroshima survivors to visit Scotland as UN nuke ban talks get underway
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- Published on Wednesday, 22 March 2017 11:24
Two survivors of the US atomic bomb attack on the Japanese city of Hiroshima will visit Scotland as the critical UN negotiations for a nuclear ban treaty enter their third day.
Reiko Yamada and Midori Yamada will visit Scotland next week as part of the Hibakusha 2017 tour. The tour is timed to coincide with the start of the United Nations negotiations on putting a Global Nuclear Weapons Ban Treaty in place. These important talks take place after a historic vote in favour of a treaty at the United Nations General Assembly by 123 countries at the end of last year.
These two women were direct witnesses to the horrific consequences of nuclear weapons and their visit to Scotland is very welcome.
Wed 29th of March
The survivors will meet Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and have a tour of the Scottish Parliament.
Thu 30th of March
They will travel to Faslane and Coulport to observe the nuclear bases and will visit Faslane Peace Camp. Members and supporters can join them at the Peace Camp at 3 pm for some tea at the cherry tree planted by a previous Hibakusha visitor thirty years ago.
A nuclear free independent Scotland
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- Published on Thursday, 16 March 2017 13:37
Statement on independence referendum
Scottish CND welcomes the First Minister's move to hold a second independence referendum. Brexit is a clear example of the Prime Minister's disregard for the democratically expressed opinions of the Scottish people, as is the UK Government's decision to boycott negotiations for the United Nations treaty to
ban nuclear weapons. The conference is starting in two weeks in New York , and instead of participating, the UK. Government chooses to go ahead with the modernisation of nuclear weapons which are all based in Scotland against the will of our democratically elected representatives at both Holyrood and Westminster. We look forward to working for a free and independent Scotland and the end of UK nuclear weapons based here - or anywhere.
Background note on statement
At its AGM in 2012 Scottish CND agreed to support Scottish independence and further confirmed this position at the 2016 AGM. Scottish CND see this is as our best opportunity for nuclear disarmament as we have shown in our two reports - Trident - nowhere to go and Disarming Trident. Removing nuclear weapons in Scotland would be a major contribution to ensuring nuclear disarmament in the UK. We will continue to work on a cross party and no party basis with all who are committed to nuclear disarmament. We will also continue to work with Civic Society organisations and the Trade Union movement in pursuing our goal of Scottish, UK and global nuclear disarmament.
Nato Summit, Brussels 24th-25th May 2017
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- Published on Wednesday, 01 March 2017 12:17
The next NATO summit takes place on May 24 and May 25 in Brussels.
Scottish CND intend to organise some activities in the run up to this summit which will highlight the role of NATO in our world today
Our former Scottish CND chair, Dr Alan MacKinnon, described NATO as the biggest threat to world peace.
In 2013 the SNP voted at its conference to support a position of an independent Scotland being part of NATO. However this was a very close vote and many SNP members and supporters remain opposed to NATO membership.
There is still work to be done in making quite clear just harmful NATO membership is to a country hoping to play a peaceful and constructive role in the global community. Activities and meetings in the run up to the NATO summit on May 24 and May 25 will be posted on this page.
Playing With Fire - review of the Report
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- Published on Wednesday, 01 March 2017 11:13
This is a new report by Peter Burt for the Nuclear Information Service ,published February 2017 , discussing the accident record of the UK's nuclear weapons programme over its 65 year history. It looks across the full scope of the programme, describing the most significant incidents in detail.
One thing quickly emerges from a reading of this long and detailed report: Not only are we paying for the Nuclear weapons which most of us do not want, risks are being taken in our name, with our money. As it states, ‘the intention of this report is to press the alarm button’, which it does. The report gives a ghastly list of accidents which makes you feel that the British Nuclear bomb has led a charmed life, and that if we have avoided Armageddon by the skin of our teeth it is only by pure luck, over and over again.
Operation Relentless, the programme for keeping a British nuclear submarine at sea at all times could well be called so because it imposes relentless pressures on managers, military commanders, and politicians to maintain operation at all costs as a national imperative. This leads to a disregard for safety which could have it renamed Operation Reckless.
Defense Diversification meeting and debate at Holyrood 8th February 2017
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- Published on Friday, 17 February 2017 13:46
On the 8th February a debate was held at Holyrood about report on Trident and Jobs recently published by the Jimmy Reid foundation
The debate was followed by a well attending meeting in the parliament, which was attended by Tom Simpson, GMB member, ex arms industry worker and CND supporter.
Tom writes:
Labour, Green and Scottish National MSPs joined together at the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday 8th February in support of the Jimmy Reid Foundation call for Trident non renewal and diversification. Many ordinary people were present in the Public gallery and discussed matters later in a committee room with elected representatives.