When the masters of war seem to get their way at every turn, it’s easy to feel demoralised. But there is always action to be taken, however incremental, to build a resistance movement against them. Peace campaigners have issued calls to action this month to advance the cause for a safer Scotland, and a better world!
Firstly, Secure Scotland recently reported that Ian Murray MP, Secretary of State for Scotland, will urge the UK government to attend the third Meeting of State Parties (3MSP) to the UN nuclear ban in New York. This is a positive development in UK parliamentary attitude towards nuclear weapons.
A country does not need to sign the nuclear ban treaty in order to attend the UN proceedings as an observer. It would be hugely welcome and mutually beneficial if a nuclear state like the UK were represented at the proceedings. As such, Secure Scotland are calling for constituents to contact their MP’s to ask them to support the UK attending the 3MSP this coming March.
Are you able to write to your Westminster MP in the next week? You can use the website https://www.writetothem.com/ to make it easy. In your first sentence, please simply state your own support for the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. The rest of the letter could be something like:
“I am asking you to forward my urgent appeal to our Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, and our Foreign Secretary, David Lammy to consider or reconsider the UK’s attendance as an observer at the 3rd meeting of the State Parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons at the UN in New York 3-7th March”.
Attendance, even as an observer, would improve the UK’s global reputation and reflect the interconnectedness of our citizens with the broader international community. We would be grateful to be informed of any responses you receive!
Secondly, the Reclaim our Clyde (ROC) campaign will be running stalls through the spring, starting tomorrow, Saturday 15 February at the Clyde Shopping Centre, Clydebank, at 2pm. ROC are doing invaluable work informing Glasgow and broader Scotland about the security and environmental risks of having nuclear weapons in the Clyde estuary. They are calling on volunteers to support them in promoting this important issue:
“Attendance at our stalls by helpers from among SCND members and supporters has been limited to a very few people. We need more to help with setting up and taking down the stall, handing out leaflets and most importantly talking to people to tell them about the dangers of the nuclear weapons on the Clyde, why we must get rid of them and how we can do it.
We also need drivers who can take volunteers and sometimes our gazebo to and from venues. If you can do anything to help even if just at a few of our stalls or only ones near where you live please let me know. I will add you to our mailing list of volunteers to make sure you know where and when they are being held.
You don’t need to be a member of SCND. We want supporters and members of organisations which agree with the aims of SCND and our campaign to attend, and to bring your own banners or placards.”
If you would like to help, contact Glasgowcnd0@gmail.com for more information!
Finally, you can join Scottish WILPF, Secure Scotland, Peace and Justice, CAAT, TP, and others at 3pm on Sunday February 23, 2025 at Scotland’s most iconic military base – Edinburgh Castle! From the organisers:
“The thousands of military bases, both foreign and domestic, around the world are a critical piece of the war machine that must be dismantled. Closing bases is a necessary step to shift the global security paradigm towards a demilitarized approach that centres common security — no one is safe until all are safe.”
Words and Actions will be hosting a community lunch from 12pm – 2pm at Words & Actions, 58 Ratcliffe Terrace, to which all are welcome. Activists will then make their way to St Giles Cathedral on the Royal Mile for 3pm, and walk up to Edinburgh Castle together in solidarity against this oppressive military presence. Banners and placards welcome!
Spending an afternoon at just one of these events is the perfect tonic to disillusionment. We encourage all to take action, however small, whenever possible!