News
Challenging NATO
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- Published on Sunday, 21 February 2021 11:34
Important reading. NATO WATCH has published Peace research perspectives on NATO 2030: A response to the official NATO Reflection Group – a collection of essays from a group of leading peace researchers, academics and civil society practitioners, among them Ray Acheson, Martin Butcher and Paul Ingram.
In his introductory essay Ian Davis says:
“This direction of travel is hardly surprising given that the ten experts that wrote the NATO report represent what might broadly be described as the so-called realist paradigm: a worldview that emphasises the role of the state, national interest and military power in world politics.”
and
“In contrast to the NATO report, the essays in this volume are written by a group of leading peace researchers, academics and civil society practitioners who broadly fall within a human security paradigm: a worldview in which the focus shifts from the state to a ‘human–centric’ vision.”
It is of course this human-centric vision that has led to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons which has subverted the convention security approach of the nuclear-armed states and put in place instead a focus on the humanitarian consequences of nuclear weapons in the past, present and future alongside a realistic response to the appalling and ever-present risks of so-called “deterrence”.
It should now be obvious to all that the selfish interests of a nation or a block of nations backed by military power has nothing to offer in response to the breath-taking challenges facing the whole planet. We have to wise up, and quickly.
What's happening in 2021
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- Published on Sunday, 07 February 2021 18:05
2021 is a pivotal year for the nuclear disarmament campaign, and we want to make it as easy as possible for our members and supporters to get involved. To find out more about what's happening, and how you can be part of it, listen back to our Year Ahead presentation here:
Download the slides and transcript here (or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you'd like a copy, or need a more accessible version than this). And please This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you have ideas or suggestions, or would like to get involved!
Dr Strangelove is Alive and Well
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- Published on Wednesday, 03 February 2021 13:37
The Washington Post reports that one Charles Richard, the commander of the U.S. Strategic Command (AKA Nuclear Strike Force) has just said:
“There is a real possibility that a regional crisis with Russia or China could escalate quickly to a conflict involving nuclear weapons, if they perceived a conventional loss would threaten the regime or state. . . The Pentagon must shift from a principal assumption that nuclear weapons’ use is nearly impossible to nuclear employment is a very real possibility”
It is fairly clear that the main target of this unhinged outburst is the new man in the White House. Biden will be considering what they call the “nuclear posture” and the Pentagon will want to apply as much direct and indirect pressure as possible to ensure that the US modernisation surge initiated by Obama continues unhindered. The positive moves on the START treaty will worry them. The generals will also be aware of the the new factor in the mix – the entry into force last month of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons – and the possibility that Biden may take into account that blow to the global reputational status of nuclear weapons. And the Washington Post offers nothing to counter the claim about Russian and China aggression.
There are of course other audiences for this irresponsible bluster in the rival nuclear-armed states, including parallel generals with similarly dangerous delusions. This is how wars begin. Like the infantile macho face-to-face of prizefighters it is all about escalation after escalation until no-one knows how to put the brakes on and we are all in the ditch.
This is the essence of so-called deterrence doctrine. It is a permanently unstable stance on a slippery slope to catastrophe. It is the readiness to commit the most appalling war crimes. And for us mere voters in the governmental game, if you back a party or a candidate who approves the foul doctrine, you are playing your own little part for inhumanity.
Beyond Nuclear Conference
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- Published on Monday, 11 January 2021 15:47
Beyond Nuclear was designed to answer the question: ‘Why would we in Scotland want or need to have nuclear power stations when we have almost unlimited potential for clean, renewable energy production?’ The conference will therefore be a day of two halves, starting off with an examination of the negatives involved in nuclear power production in the first session, contrasting with the positives of clean renewable energy in the second.
Planned for Mar 2020, then postponed till Oct 2020, we are pleased to announce that Beyond Nuclear will now be a Cameron Virtual Conference!
New START Treaty extension
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- Published on Saturday, 30 January 2021 11:29
On 26 January, the United States and Russia agreed to extend, the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) for five additional years.
This bilateral treaty was signed in 2010 to limit the nuclear arsenals of these two countries. Under Trump’s administration, there was little progress to extend it.
Scottish CND welcomes this start of the new US administration, but additional steps will be needed to make progress on disarmament. Throughout the time of the New START agreement Russia and the United States have spent billions each year to build new nuclear weapons systems, but since the international community has negotiated, adopted and brought into force a treaty (the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons - TPNW) banning nuclear weapons.
Staying at the current nuclear weapons levels is not enough to protect the world from their catastrophic threats. With the New START quickly extended and the TPNW in force, the groundwork has been paved for significant disarmament advances in the coming four years. The nine nuclear-armed states have no excuses not to walk that path. Russia, the United States and all nuclear-armed nations must take active steps to move towards compliance with this international treaty and join it.
The Ban is Here!
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- Published on Friday, 22 January 2021 09:29
It's here! At long last, the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons enters into force today. The bomb is banned.
Join us throughout the day to celebrate!
From 11am to 1.30pm - peace and disarmament campaigners across Scotland and the UK will be taking part in a Twitter storm to raise awareness of the Treaty. Find out more and join in here.
At 12 noon - bells will be ringing out across the nation to celebrate Entry into Force. Join in by clapping, cheering or singing from your own doorstep! Find out more and get involved.
Throughout the day - there will be (mostly online) events in celebration from around the world. Find out more on our Events page, on NuclearBan.Scot and on the ICAN international events calendar.
From your own home - even though we can't be together, there are so many things you can do to mark the Treaty's arrival! Put up a poster, make a banner, or check our #TPNWChallenge posts for more inspiration.
Please send us photos and videos of your celebrations! This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
Welcoming in the Nuclear Ban Treaty
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- Published on Wednesday, 13 January 2021 09:00
Day 6 #TPNWChallenge: Write to your Representative
The Nuclear Ban Treaty (TPNW) becomes international law tomorrow!
Right now, Scotland is an unwilling host for the UK’s nuclear weapons. If we are able to reject them, it could lead to the unravelling of the UK’s entire nuclear programme – it’s certain that the government would struggle to find anywhere else in the UK that would be prepared to take the risks of hosting them.
The Treaty adds strength to Scotland’s fight to become a nuclear-free country. It sets a clear international standard that nuclear weapons are illegal, inhuman, and must be completely eliminated.
ICAN has a Parliamentarians’ Pledge for politicians who promise to support the aims of the Treaty and work to see it realised.
Most MSPs and Scottish MPs have already signed the Pledge. You can check if your representative has done so here. (To check who your MSP or MP is, look them up easily on a site like WriteToThem or TheyWorkForYou.)
If your representative has signed the Pledge, please take a minute to send them a short letter of thanks and support. Remember, as they work to push for a nuclear-free Scotland, they will face a lot of resistance from the UK and its nuclear-armed allies, so it’s really important to remind them that they have the strong support of the people they represent.
Our template letter to the media might provide some helpful inspiration, if you’re not sure what to write, but it’s really important to try and put your message in your own words, if you want your MSP or MP to take notice – have a quick read of MySociety’s guidance on writing a letter that politicians will actually read.
If your MP or MSP is one of the few Scottish politicians who hasn’t signed the ICAN Pledge yet, please write to them now and urge them to do so!
If you have a bit of extra time today, we would also encourage you to write to your local councillors (check out who your local representatives are on WriteToThem) and ask your Council to endorse the ICAN Cities Pledge and become a member of the UK & Ireland Nuclear-Free Local Authorities. Only four Scottish Local Authorities have done this so far (Edinburgh, East Ayrshire, Fife & Renfrewshire – with Stirling on the way!) and this is definitely not representative of most Scottish people’s views!
More information about our #TPNWChallenge...