cnd campaign review 2007

CampaignReview 2007CampaignReview 2007

50TH ANNIVERSARY 1958-2008

CND

Name(s) of Account Holder(s)

Bank/Building Society account number

Branch Sort code

Name and full postal address of your Bank orBuilding Society

I would like to support the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament with a regular gift of:

£3 £5 £10 Other amount: £__________Frequency (Please delete as appropriate): Monthly / Quarterly / AnnuallyPlease debit my account on the: 1st 15th day of the month

Originator’s Identification Number

Instruction to your Bank or BuildingSociety Please pay the Campaign for NuclearDisarmament Direct Debits from the accountdetailed in this Instruction subject to the safeguardsassured by the Direct Debit Guarantee. I understand that this Instruction may remain withthe Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament and, if so,details will be passed electronically to myBank/Building Society.

9 7 3 6 8 5

To the Manager Bank/Building Society

Address

Postcode

Banks and Building Societies may not accept Direct Debit Instructions for some types of account 08CR

Signature(s)

Date

Fron

t co

ver

phot

o: S

heila

Vel

ez

1

CAMPAIGN REVIEW 2007

THIS year we mark the 50th anniversary ofCND. We have achieved much as amovement, and we must recognise andcelebrate that. Above all, this year we

must build on our achievements and look to thefuture, for public opinion – nationally and globally –-is moving increasingly in our direction.

Our work over the decades has contributed tomany significant achievements. The public pressurethat we generate contributed to achieving the Partial

Test Ban Treaty and the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. It helped bring aboutthe INF Treaty in 1987, removing the missiles from Greenham and disarmingthousands of nuclear weapons. Our campaigning helped prevent theintroduction of the Neutron bomb, and US campaigners persuaded Nixon notto nuke Vietnam; time and again, it is our action that has prevented the worsthappening, and has shaped the increasing demands for peace and genuinehuman security.

This past year has been a very positive one – the majority of public opinionopposed the government’s plans to replace Trident, parliament saw a hugebackbench rebellion on the issue, and even Cold Warriors like Henry Kissingeradded their voices internationally to demands for fresh initiatives ondisarmament. CND itself has attracted thousands of new members, and thegenerosity of our supporters has enabled us to step up our campaigning activity.This is a strong endorsement of CND’s increasing effectiveness. Much of ourwork is covered in this Review, but there has been so much going on it has beenimpossible to include everything. Thank you to everyone who was made thisincreasing success possible.

The next steps in Britain this year are focused on Aldermaston. As we alsomark the 50th anniversary of the first Aldermaston march this Easter, we arebringing the spotlight onto – and vigorously opposing – Aldermaston’scontinued role as Britain’s nuclear bomb factory. We will be gathering atAldermaston at 12 noon on Easter Monday, 24th March, to surround the base,and tell the government, ‘The Bomb Stops Here’. This will be an event of greatsignificance – please join us there. We are planning to have a full page statementin the national press on Easter weekend, so please use the leaflet enclosed toadd your signature to the call for nuclear disarmament.

Let’s celebrate our history this year, let’s remember the commitment of thosewho have given so much and made our movement strong – and let’s make thata springboard to move forward towards a nuclear weapon-free Britain, and anuclear weapon-free world.

Kate Hudson, Chair CND

Campaign for NuclearDisarmament

CND campaigns non-violently toachieve British nucleardisarmament – for scrapping theTrident nuclear weapons systemand preventing its replacement.

CND works to secure a NuclearWeapons Convention which willban nuclear weapons globally, aschemical and biological weaponshave been banned. We also workto end Britain’s participation inthe US Missile Defence systemand – with other campaignsinternationally – against missiledefence and weapons in space.

Other current campaigns includethe prevention and cessation ofwars in which nuclear weaponsmay be used, opposition toNATO and its nuclear policies,and to nuclear power.

CND is funded entirely by itsmembers and supporters, andour policies are decided upon byour annual national delegates’conference, where our nationalleadership is also elected. Detailsof our national offices, and ournetwork of regions and localgroups can be found at the backof this Review.

CNDMordechai Vanunu House

162 Holloway Rd • London N7 8DQTel: 020 7700 2393 Fax: 020 7700 2357

[email protected]

2

CAMPAIGN FOR NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT

No Trident Replacement

THE key focus of CND’scampaigning continues to be UKnuclear disarmament and the

prevention of a replacement for theTrident nuclear weapons system. Thefirst part of 2007 saw a huge campaign,both in parliament and across thecountry, to oppose the government’sdetermination to force a pro-nucleardecision through parliament. In the runup to the parliamentary vote on 14thMarch, CND groups and othersupporters were holding public meetingsacross the country on an almost a dailybasis, as popular opposition mounted.The national ‘No Trident’ demonstrationon 24th February was a majorcampaigning focus, with up to 100,000people participating. Public opinionshifted substantially against replacement.A week before the vote, an opinion pollshowed that 72% did not think thegovernment should go ahead with thedecision. On the day of the vote we heldan emergency lobby of parliamentfollowed by a large rally in Parliament

Square. Whilst the government won thevote in Parliament, it suffered the largestbackbench rebellion on a defence issuesince 1924.

In the meantime, over the start of theyear, we gained nearly 1,500 newmembers. The fantastic response to ourNo Trident Replacement appeal,launched in late 2006, continued wellinto 2007. In total, members donatedover £75,000 to support the campaign.

No Trident Replacement

Phot

o: R

ick W

aym

anPh

oto:

She

ila V

elez

Vivienne Westwood, Annie Lennox, Bianca Jagger and MPs Katy Clark and JoanRuddock support CND on Trident replacement vote day

A week before the vote,an opinion poll showedthat 72% did not thinkthe government should

go ahead with thedecision.

Populus/More 4 Survey, February 2007


and will continue to do so in the yearahead. This year is the 50th anniversaryof the first Aldermaston march so wewill be bringing the spotlight ontoAWE Aldermaston on Easter Monday24th March, to surround AWE and sayNo to new nuclear warheads. We hopemany of you who gave such greatsupport to the Faslane 365 initiativeover the last year will help to mobiliseat Aldermaston. Please join us.

The alternative torearmamentWe have made it clear in our campaigning– ever since our Alternative White Paperin December 2006 – that the governmentmust pursue constructive alternatives, inline with its stated commitment to

3

The next stepsIn the course of the debate, thegovernment had to admit that thedecision was not irreversible, and -building on the breadth of the anti-Trident alliances that have been builtup during campaigning – we are wellplaced to achieve that. The ‘'concept’phase is currently underway. Once thishas been completed, the issue will comeback to parliament – in 2009, accordingto Des Browne. This is the firstsignificant opportunity to reverse thedecision. We are also pressing forinterim reports, as mentioned – but notguaranteed – by the Defence Secretary.Decisions are also expected in the nextparliament on missiles and warheads.

Aldermaston 2008Aldermaston continues to be animportant focus for our work.Government funding is pouring intothis nuclear bomb factory, and anyonewho has been there recently will haveseen the massive scale of the buildingwork taking place. We have beenworking with Block the Builders andthe Aldermaston Women’s Peace Campover the past year to oppose thedevelopment of new nuclear warheads,

multilateral disarmament. CND has beenpressing the government to support thedraft Nuclear Weapons Convention,which is lodged at the UN. The majorityof states voted last year in the UN tobegin immediate negotiations to achievethis Convention, banning nuclear weaponsas chemical and biological weapons arebanned. In spite of clearly stating thatdisarmament must be pursued, thegovernment has not yet agreed to supportthe Convention and does not appear to betaking any alternative steps. We will bepressing for this in the year ahead,particularly at the time of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Conference in Genevathis spring. Last year we had a strongdelegation in attendance, and we intend tomake a similar impact this year.

24 February 2007: No Trident, Troops out of Iraq demonstration Photo: Sue Longbottom

Lobby your MP to sign EDM 72 supporting a Nuclear Weapons Convention.

Sign the CND/Medact petition and get asmany people you know to do so too – youcan sign online and download copies fromour website or order hard copies from theCND office.

Action

4


ICANWe are very pleased to be working withother anti-nuclear groups in ICAN (theInternational Campaign for the Abolitionof Nuclear Weapons), initiated byphysicians worldwide. ICAN is raising theprofile of the Convention. In the UK, a keycampaigning tool is our petition, saying Noto Trident Replacement, Yes to a NuclearWeapons Convention.

Global Summit for a NuclearWeapon Free WorldWorking internationally is vital, incampaigning for global abolition. CND isin regular communication with peacegroups in the US, Europe and all across theworld. There is much experience whichneeds to be shared. To contribute to this,CND is marking its 50th anniversary byhosting a Global Summit in London on16/17th February 2008. Experts andactivists from across the world aregathering to raise awareness of the NuclearWeapons Convention and to discuss thepractical steps needed to achieve it.

Regions

CND groups campaigned exceptionallyhard against Trident Replacement in early2007, organising public meetings anddebates with prestigious speakers; runningstreet stalls and lobbying their MPs. Overthe year, they also had a major presence atFaslane 365, and even managed to fit insome of the following work too:

In October, East Midlands CND,supported by South Cheshire andNorth Staffs CND campaigners,demonstrated with Trident Ploughsharesagainst the Rolls Royce Marine Reactor sitein Derby (where Trident's nuclear reactorsare made). This action was widely coveredin the local media.

In February, 100 people attended a dayof workshops on Trident replacementorganised by West Midlands CND

and Birmingham Stop the War Coalitionjointly. Speakers included Bruce Kent andClare Short MP.

Also in February, LancasterDistrict CND arranged for Bruce Kentto speak at a United Nations Associationevent in Kendal on: ‘Prepare for Peace –Redirect Trident Money’.

In September, GreaterManchester & District CNDorganised a one day Teach-In at theUniversity of Manchester with Rae Streetand Jeremy Corbyn speaking on Trident,and Jenny Clegg running a workshop onthe global context. 150-200 people (mainlystudents) attended. As a result of thisTeach-In, a new University of ManchesterCND group is forming.

Kent Area CND memberscontinued to support Aldermastonblockades and in November their

presence was featured in the local paper.They aim to form an affinity group, withsupport from Student CND, to plan forfurther actions.

In February Exeter CND arrangedboth for the No Trident Replacementleaflet to be distributed to 45,000 homes inExeter via the local free paper, and for ahalf-page advert to be printed in the localExpress & Echo.

In December they joined with theWoodcraft Folk to demonstrate in theHigh Street, to gather petition signaturesand encourage people to write theirChristmas wishes – what they would ratherthe government spent the money on ratherthan Trident replacement – on cards toattach to a big Christmas tree. All thesewish-cards collected are to be presented toExeter MP, Ben Bradshaw.

Plymouth CND continues to be a

AWPC activist, Juliet McBride tests the new SOCPA legislation outside the Orion lasersite at Aldermaston

5


Gtr Manchester & District CND’s blockade at Faslane

Christian CND’s major event in 2007was an inter-faith dialogue on the theme‘Trident Replacement – a Moral Question’.There were distinguished speakers frommany different faiths including the Rt. Rev.Tony Dumper, a retired Anglican Bishopand Dr Daud Abdullah, from the MuslimCouncil of Britain. Members also heldweekly vigils at Aldermaston throughout

Labour CND organised a LabourMovement Conference in February tooppose Trident replacement. It was heldat Trades Union Congress headquarterswith speakers from across the tradeunion and labour movement. ThisConference and the fringe meeting held atthe Labour Party conference inSeptember, with Katy Clark MP andFabian Hamilton MP speaking, were wellattended and aroused much interest.

Lent in 2007, with encouraging presscoverage.

Student CND designed modern newcampaigning materials bearing the slogan,‘Invest in Education – Not Trident’ andheld numerous meetings on campuses.To this end they secured the activesupport of the National Union ofStudents (NUS) for CND’s campaign,getting to help promote CND’s eventsand appear on platforms.

Specialist sections

Around 200 delegates at NUS annual conference took part in a No Trident Replacement photo stunt, sending a clear messagefrom the student movement to add their voice to calls against Trident. Photo: Ben Soffa

strong source of local opposition to therefitting of Trident submarines in theDevonport dockyard. For the third year,CND was deemed ‘too political’ to beallowed a float on the Lord Mayor’sProcession. But Plymouth CND activiststook part anyway, marching with abanner and a mock-up model of aTrident submarine. This ‘insurgence’gained excellent publicity with a quoteand a colour photo in the local EveningHerald.

The Nuclear Free Coalition wasreconstituted in October as a formalorganisation in order to ensureaffiliations and generate income foractivities against the Dockyard. It willbring together representatives from asmany regional and local peacecampaigns, environmental groups andtrade unions as possible.

Opposing US Missile Defenceand Weapons in Space

LAST year we had a big increase inour campaigning activity against USMissile Defence (MD). UK

government agreement – without anyparliamentary consultation – to hand overMenwith Hill spy base for the MD system,plus US determination to locate new sitesin central Europe, has increasedinternational concern and raised the profileof this issue. There has been talk of a newCold War, and a new nuclear arms racebeing triggered. In August, just after theMenwith Hill decision we organised awritten response in national newspapersfrom 27 MPs demanding that any decisionrelating to Britain’s role in the USprogramme be decided by ‘Parliamentrather than Ministerial announcement.’

We have been actively working withnew campaigns in Poland and the CzechRepublic and organised a highly successfulconference in London in September. Wewere privileged to welcome Jan Neoral,Mayor of Trokavec – the village where theUS plans to build a radar base for MD.This year we are building on those links inEurope and lobbying in the EuropeanParliament, to win broad opposition to thescheme. Here in the UK we will beworking to raise public awareness andfocus on campaigning at Fylingdales, a keybase for the US Missile Defenceprogramme, and Menwith Hill. Strongconcern from the parliamentary ForeignAffairs Committee, about thegovernment’s failure to consult on theMenwith Hill decision will be followed up.

6


Bruce Gagnon’s tour included a visit to Fylingdales with Dave Webb and JackieFearnley (Fylingdales Action Group) to meet the Base Commander

68% of the Britishpublic believe thatBritain’s role in US

Missile Defence shouldbe decided in

Parliament, and notbehind closed doors.

YouGov poll, August 2007

Lobby your MP to sign EarlyDay Motion 65 calling for ademocratic debate in the UKparliament on the issue of USMissile Defence.

Send one of our newpostcards to your MP –enclosed with your Review.

No US Missile Defence

Ivona Novomestska, co-ordinator of ‘No to Bases in the Czech Republic, and JanNeoral, Mayor of Trokavec at the conference organised by CND in September

Action


7

Yorkshire CND is responsible forconsiderable campaigning to opposeMissile Defence having both MenwithHill and Fylingdales bases within itsarea. In June, convenor Dave Webbgave expert evidence at a EuropeanParliament sub-committee on ‘DoesEurope need a Missile Defence Shield?’

During the international Keep Spacefor Peace week initiative in October thegroup organised both a protest outsideFylingdales, which gained good local andnational press coverage, and a nation-wide speaking tour for leadingcampaigner, Bruce Gagnon, the co-ordinator of the Global NetworkAgainst Weapons and Nuclear Power inSpace. Yorkshire CND’s newest localgroup, Calderdale CND, also hostedBruce at a very successful publicmeeting. Both the Menwith Hill andFylingdales bases will see a number ofplanned stunts in 2008.

Two Yorkshire CND activists, HelenJohn and Sylvia Boyes have beenchallenging the so-called anti-terrorismlegislation being used to suppresspeaceful protest. During 2007, the twoactivists were engaged in a lengthy trialprocess after they were found guilty ofcriminal trespass under this legislation atthe Menwith Hill spy base. Their courtcase has received lots of local pressattention.

The Croughton US communicationsbase in Northamptonshire supportsmany US military operations includingthe war in Iraq, and is believed to havelinks to the US Missile Defence system.The 2007 annual Croughton Picnic andRally, organised by the OxfordshirePeace Campaign as part of KeepSpace for Peace Week, was attended bymany more picnickers than usual wholistened to speakers, Lindis Percy, PeterTatchell and the Rev. David Platt.

Youth & Student CND greatlypublicised the Keep Space for Peaceweek actions in schools and universities,as well as organising a short speakingtour of a young member of the CzechPeace Movement.

Student CND saw the issue of USNational Missile Defence become animportant and growing focus for theiractivities in 2007. Members worked withthe NUS to organise a mailing to allstudent unions on the issue, andorganised meetings to raise awareness.

RAISING public awareness aboutthe continued location ofhundreds of US nuclear

weapons under the guise of NATO, atLakenheath air base in East Anglia,remains a priority. With the expansionof NATO into Eastern Europe, plans todevelop a NATO missile defencesystem, and increasing NATOinvolvement in Afghanistan, NATO ishaving a higher profile than it has hadfor many years.

In December 2007, we made asubmission to the Defence SelectCommittee Inquiry on NATO,emphasising opposition to NATOnuclear policy. Given NATO’s nuclearfirst strike policy this is a matter forgrave concern, and we are increasing ourlinks with other anti-nuclearcampaigning groups across Europe whowish to see an end to NATO nukes intheir own countries.

We will be working to supportprotest at Lakenheath, working withEastern Region CND, in the yearahead – this has been given particularsignificance because of reports in thepress that Lakenheath could be alocation for US interceptor missiles forthe US Missile Defence system.

Regions

Specialist sections

Lindis Percy speaking at the Croughtonpicnic and rally

The UK government has agreed – without any parliamentary consultation – to handover Menwith Hill for the US Missile Defence system

No to NATO

WE have continued to supportthe withdrawal of Britishtroops from Iraq, and

welcome progress towards this. But fullwithdrawal is necessary and we willcontinue to make that case until all thetroops are pulled out. We will beparticipating in a national demonstrationto that end in London on March 15th;this event is part of a global day of actionagainst the continuing occupation of Iraq.

We also work to oppose any attacks onIran, and welcome the recent intelligencereports from the US indicating that Irandoes not have a nuclear weaponsprogramme. In summer, Chair, KateHudson addressed a conference at theEuropean Parliament on Iran’s nuclearprogramme. We do not believe thatmilitary interventions, whichoverwhelmingly affect innocent civilians,are the right way to deal with complexregional problems, or with anxietiesabout potential nuclear proliferation. Wesupport UN resolutions – over manydecades – calling for a nuclear weaponsfree zone in the Middle East.

8


Not one more death

Regions

Sussex Peace Alliance membershave concentrated on opposing militaryaction against Iran with letter writing,vigils and meetings. One such candlelitvigil at a busy roundabout byEastbourne activists with an enormousbanner saying, ‘Don’t Attack Iran’attracted supportive hoots from passingtraffic.

In May the Hereford PeaceCouncil organised Voices Against theWar, an evening of poetry and music withpoet Adrian Mitchell. In November theyheld an Alternative Remembrance Daywith Martin Bell, former BBC warcorrespondent and Independent MP andReg Keys, founder member of MilitaryFamilies Against the War.

With lots of media attention, EasternRegion CND members marked the6th anniversary of the bombing ofAfghanistan in October by blockadingGate 1 at Lakenheath for 3½ hoursholding a banner saying ‘Stop the WarCrimes not the Protests’. The 48thfighter wing had just returned fromdropping thousands of bombs onAfghanistan. Lakenheath also hosts upto 110 US B61 nuclear bombs. Legalcharges have resulted and the trial (26,27and 28th March at Bury St Edmundscourt) will be alongside the Lakenheath8 who will be on trial for SOCPA andcriminal damages for the action in 2006to stop the loading of cluster bombs.(Court support for these dates would begreatly appreciated!)

South Somerset PeaceGroup held meetings throughout theyear on various peace issues withprominent speakers. They included DaniHamilton of Military Families againstthe War who moved the audiencegreatly with her account of how service

in Iraq had affected her son. He hadbeen ordered to fire on a crowd, killinga child whose corpse he had to handback to the father.

In order to reach out to a wideraudience, London Region CNDopened up the guest speaker slot of itscouncil meeting to the public. Thisproved to be extremely successful, witha well-attended public forum against thethreat of a military attack on Iran,addressed by Professor Abbas Edalat.The event attracted a number of new,younger activists and produced avibrant, extremely useful discussion, outof which came concrete steps forfurther activities, including the lobbyingof MPs.

Merseyside CND has shownanti-war artist Emily Johns’ exhibitionDrawing Paradise on the ‘Axis of Evil’inspired by her visit to Iran at two citycentre venues with two more bookedfor 2008. Members also worked withEmily Johns to hold a public meetingand slide show of her visit.

End the occupation of Iraq: Don’t attack Iran

Troops Home from Iraq demonstration, October 2007 Photo: Davinder Kaur

9


WE have continued to campaignagainst the building of newnuclear power stations, and

to raise awareness of the dangers ofnuclear waste, and the inability ofnuclear power to adequately address theproblems of climate change. Workingtogether with other NGOs, wesupported an initiative from Greenpeaceto withdraw, at a national level, from thegovernment's consultation on nuclearenergy, given the evidence producedthat it was not a genuine consultation.Members of local CND groups whoparticipated in some of the consultationsessions were concerned about the lackof opportunity to make the case againstnuclear power. We also work to makeclear the links between nuclear powerand nuclear weapons.

Eastern Midlands CND wasamong several CND groups whichchallenged the UK government'sconsultation process on the future ofnuclear power. East Midlands memberspresented arguments against nuclear powerto the biased presentations of the pro-nuclear lobby at both the consultationsheld in Nottingham, and in the PlazaHotel, London. There was also a protest atthe Nottingham consultation. Thegroup then submitted a criticalresponse in October.Further work included theproduction of a pamphletoutlining the linksbetween nuclear powerand weapons, which was

distributed to all delegates. Eastern Region CND joined

forces with The Climate Camp to stressthat nuclear power is not the answer toclimate chaos. Activists dressed in whitewith radioactive symbol masks blockadedSizewell, gaining vast local, and somenational media coverage. This action wenton getting reported in the media: the groupreturned for a further blockade, andrecently it challenged the Director ofSizewell nuclear power station to an opendebate on his recent claims about nuclear

power. Watch this space!

No nuclear power

Regions

Nuclear power– not worth the risk!

Eastern Region CND activists protest at Sizewell nuclear power station

– not worth the risk!

TO help get our message over aswidely as possible we haveparticipated at a number of

summer festivals this year, including atGlastonbury, where, amongst things, wegave out thousands of a special GlastoCampaign magazine. We have alsoparticipated at the Labour PartyConference, the Trades Union Congress,and a number of national trade unionconferences, having successful fringemeetings at many of these events. We aredelighted to report an increasing numberof trade union affiliations to CND, andhave seen increased trade unionparticipation in our events.

If you are able to help us out in avoluntary capacity at any of our events, wewould be very grateful. Please let us know ifyou can help – email [email protected] call 020 7700 2393

Eastern Region CND had stalls andworkshops on nuclear issues at manyfestivals, fairs and local events includingLatitude, Eastern Haze, Ipswich PeaceFestival and the Greenpeace Fair. Theywere a great success, with a continuousflow of interested people and livelydiscussion.

A stall run by Eastern Regionmembers at the University of EastAnglia's Freshers' Fair helped encourage anew CND society to form. So far theyhave held debates, film showings, stallsand a CND Week. The enthusiastic newgroup has many ideas for the comingyear.

Sussex Peace Alliance membersjoined with a wide spectrum of Sussexpeace and human rights groups to stage a'Freedom Days' meeting in October. JulietMcBride, a political and legal academicand dedicated Nukewatch and AWPCactivist, plus others spoke on: The Rightto Protest, a Right under Threat. Part ofthe problem is that no such formal right isenshrined in English law.

West Midlands CND took part in

a Borderlines Film Festival day inHereford to celebrate 25 years since thefirst Greenham march. Jenny Maxwell,Chair of the group, was also on theevening debate’s panel.

Kent Area CND has been givinglots of encouragement and practicalsupport to a new Student CND groupformed at the University of Kent. Thestudents are meeting regularly and theiractivities have included taking part inblockade at Aldermaston and attendingthe parliamentary rally and lobby inLondon. More recently, they held a stall atthe Freshers’ Fair, then in November apublic meeting addressed by CarolineLucas MEP.

Merseyside CND marked theInternational Day of Peace with a hugelysuccessful Peace and Ecology Festival in

the centre of Liverpool. Around 2,000people visited the festival and, with stallsfrom around 20 local campaigning groupsand lots of live music from folk and rockmusicians, feedback was very positive.

Oxford CND entertained peoplefrom all over the region with a battery ofsome of Britain's finest jazz musicians attheir Jazz Concert in February.

By volunteering to serve drinks at festivalsall over the country through the WorkersBeer Company, many Youth &Student CND activists raised valuablecampaigning funds. When not working,they handed out leaflets and badges anddistributed a special festival edition ofDisarm, their activist magazine, which wasdistributed at Glastonbury, Leeds andReading festivals and which roused muchinterest.

Student CNDIn the autumn, Student CND heldFreshers’ Fair stalls all across thecountry, and produced a specialnewsletter and stickers for their groupsto distribute

10


Regions

Specialist sections

Festivals, fairs and conferences

Merseyside CND’s Gina Shaw enjoys the success of their Peace and Ecology festival

Phot

o: Je

an-P

ierre

Mag

loire

Global Summit for a NuclearWeapon-Free World Sat 16th & Sun 17th February,2008 – City Hall, LondonExperts and activists from a number ofdifferent arenas, nationally andinternationally, will discuss how nucleardisarmament can be achieved. Places arelimited. To ensure a place, CND groupdelegates should register now.

A reception at City Hall on the Saturdayevening after the conference will honourour early members.

Available for eventsHistory of CND exhibition The London School of Economics hasorganised a special CND anniversaryexhibition on the history of CND.Consisting of three portable banners(approx 1m x2m) using photos, leafletsand other images from the collections,two sets will be available for CNDgroups to display from Easter. Book by

contacting Rebecca: 020 7700 2393 or [email protected]

CND DocumentaryMADD (Make a Direct Difference)Movies are producing a documentary

about CND’s history and the anti-nuclear movement. It will coverdevelopments from Hiroshima to thepresent day and will be completed byJune 2008. Copies will be available for allCND groups.

11


Aldermaston 2008: The Bomb Stops Here, Surround the base Easter Monday 24th March, 2008 at 12 noon Get mobilising now for a day to remember on the 50th anniversary of thefirst Aldermaston peace march. Each of the gates of the site will be linkedto a different decade in this lively, colourful event – dress up according tothe decade or chose a theme to make your own unique demonstration!With speakers and entertainment, and designed to highlight the continuedrole of Aldermaston as a nuclear bomb factory, this is an event not to bemissed. A mobilising pack, flyers, background information, details of coaches andother resources are available from www.cnduk.org/aldermaston or e-mail:[email protected] or call 0845 3370282

051958–2008

CND Annual Conference &AGM 18/19 Oct 2008 atWestminster University,London Nominations 9 July(directly elected) Please supply email contact foryour nominee; your name willalso be publishedResolutions 14 JulyGroups will receive a mailing inearly April; all members willreceive full details in the summeredition of Campaign

All correspondence to:‘Conference’ at the CND office ore-mail [email protected]

12

CAMPAIGN FOR NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT 1958-2008

14


2007 was a significant year for thecampaign in Scotland. It saw not onlythe majority of Scottish MPs voting

against the plan to replace Trident, but alsothe Scottish Parliament taking a similarstance. Since May, Scottish CND has beenencouraging the new Scottish governmentto explore what effective action it can taketo help achieve disarmament.

We have deliberately worked with majorScottish institutions to build the campaign.The churches, other religious groups, tradeunions and peace organisations haveworked together in the Scotland’s for Peaceinitiative. Scotland’s for Peace organised aBin the Bomb roadshow in February,culminating in a march and rally attendedby around 3,000 people in Glasgow. Thespeakers included First Minister, AlexSalmond and Cardinal Keith O'Brien.During the year Scottish CND workedwith other organisations in the campaign,including Faslane 365 which sustainedeffective protests throughout the year, andGreenpeace, which organised a high profilecampaign in February.

More jobs without TridentOne of the main arguments used in favourof nuclear weapons in Scotland is that jobswould be at risk if Trident were cancelled.Early in 2007 Scottish CND and theScottish Trade Union Congress (STUC)gathered together a small group of expertswho drafted a detailed report on theeconomic implications of cancelling theTrident programme. This showed that thenumber of jobs at risk was far less thanoften claimed and that more jobs would becreated if the money was reallocated toother projects. The report proved to be aneffective and timely piece of research.

Strong political lobbyingScottish CND members wrote to theirMPs and MSPs, sent them emails andvisited them in their local surgeries. InMarch, 33 of the 59 Scottish MPs votedagainst the government. In June, a motioncalling on the UK government not to goahead with its proposals at this time was

overwhelmingly passed, with 71 voting for,16 against and 41 abstaining or not voting.

After the May election, Scottish CNDheld a conference to discuss with politiciansand representatives of civic Scotland howto move the campaign forward. A key taskhas been to identify what a Scottishgovernment can do within its devolvedpowers. The Scottish National Party (SNP)administration has taken this on board, and,in October, they organised a NationalConversation on Scotland's Future WithoutNuclear Weapons. Following this theScottish government is setting up aWorking Group to explore future options.

In November, 3,000 people marchedthrough the centre of Edinburgh in thePeople and Parliament against Tridentevent organised by Scotland's for Peace.

The event was effective in showing publicsupport for the stance taken by Holyrood.

Scotland’s for Peace launched theScottish Covenant for Peace which states:‘We desire that Scotland should be knownfor its contribution to peace and justicerather than for waging war’. This wassigned by Alex Salmond, religious leadersand MSPs on 1st November. Thirtyillustrated Covenant books have beenprinted.

During 2008 we will work to ensurethat there is a good turnout fromScotland at the Aldermastondemonstration on Easter Monday. Eventsin Glasgow and Edinburgh will markCND’s 50th anniversary. The year’s mainfocus will be encouraging grassrootsactivity with a series of meetings acrossScotland in March and later in the year.The major event will be a large protest atFaslane in June. We will also host aconference on Trident Replacement inthe Autumn, assist Nuclear Free LocalAuthorities with a seminar in April, takepart in the Scottish government’s workinggroup on nuclear weapons and promotethe Scottish Peace Covenant.

3000 people marched through Edinburgh in the People and Parliament againstTrident event

Scottish CND

‘We desire that Scotlandshould be known for its

contribution to peace andjustice rather than for

waging war’.From the Scottish Covenant for Peace

15


IT was that Strathclyde police stationphone call on January 8th 2007 fromCND Cymru Chair Jill Evans (and

Wales MEP), letting us know that she andLeanne Wood (Assembly Member) hadbeen arrested for blockading Faslane, thatlaunched another action-packed year forCND Cymru. On that day, electedrepresentatives showed how they too areexcluded from decisions made on ourbehalf about weapons of mass destructionand war.

If our elected representatives feelunable to directly influence such decisionsand war plans, then we in Wales mustcontinue to use our imagination, brains,and hearts to the best of our ability to getthe world and future we want.

David MorrisIn January too, following the death ofDavid Morris, a former CND CymruChair, we were reminded of his words,‘we in the peace movement are alwaysoptimistic; never despondent; nevercynical’. As an Aberystwyth student in1957, David had been involved in the firstanti-nuclear weapons demonstration inWales. Later, having served as a LabourMEP for 15 years, he was deselected, hefelt for ‘taking a stand and speaking outagainst Trident’. He was certainly notalone in his party and would have beenproud to know that our February anti-Trident demonstration in Cardiff was ledby Labour MP Julie Morgan, IndependentMP Dai Davies, Labour Councillor RayDavies and Plaid Cymru MEP Jill Evans.Nuclear disarmament will only be wonwith cross party support.

Red Dragon at FaslaneAt least 70 people from Wales werearrested over the Faslane 365 year; manymore taking part. Wales will be watchingclosely to see what happens next as theScottish Parliament rejects having Britishnuclear weapons in its country.

Y Ddraig Goch (the Welsh flag) isfrequently seen outside AWEAldermaston and Burghfield, and our

ElectionsFollowing the Assembly elections in May,Wales now has a coalition government(Labour and anti-nuclear Plaid Cymru);most, if not all, of whom have at sometime personally supported CND Cymru orits aspirations.

St Athan Military AcademyA British government decision to site aprivately funded military training‘academy’ (built and run by a consortiumled by arms manufacturer Raytheon) at StAthan, in South Wales, caused quite a stir.Many local politicians are keen to cash inon the professed number of well-subsidised jobs to be (or not to be)'created'. Others are deeply disturbed bythe further militarisation of Wales, and bythe principles behind an institution set upto train any ‘security’ force from Britain orelsewhere with the ready cash to pay.CND Cymru is playing a central part inthe campaign to stop the academy and topresent positive alternatives.

European Youth Event andPeace BoatPart funded by CND Cymru, Cynefin yWerin and British CND, BANg (Ban AllNukes generation) representatives,including Georgia Coles Riley and EmilyFreeman from Wales, organised a week-long youth event in Scotland. Someparticipants joined the New York bound‘Peace Boat’ – a ship from Japandedicated to the cause of disarmament,peace and international understanding. Ata Nagasaki Day commemoration held in aNew York street they read out a ‘YouthAppeal’ which was presented to the UNHead of the Office of DisarmamentAffairs.

CND Cymru would like to pay tributeto and express admiration for fellowworkers and activists in Wales, and toour comrades, brothers and sistersthroughout Britain and the rest of theworld.

Diolch yn fawr a chariad i ti gyd –Heddwch a Chyfiawnder!

CND Cymru

CND Cymru’s No Trident Replacementdemonstration in Cardiff with (top) JillGough and Ray Davies, CND Cymru andDai Davies MP and (middle) Jill EvansMEP

In the papers and on thetelevisionThe first three months of the year weredominated by the run-up to the Tridentreplacement decision, with bothbroadsheets and tabloids runningphotographs of the projection of our NoTrident Replacement logo on to theHouses of Parliament.

More4 News devoted a whole televisionprogramme to a debate between CNDChair Kate Hudson, Defence SecretaryDes Browne and others, with an audienceof young people voting againstreplacement after the opposing cases hadbeen presented. Later in the year, Katewas interviewed on Newsnight when it wasrevealed that Britain’s nuclear weaponsare not protected by electronic securitycodes from unauthorised use – as othernuclear weapon states do.

Big band and celebritysupport Our anti-Trident replacement statementwas signed by over 50 British big-namebands and musicians, such asBabyshambles, Thom Yorke, DamonAlbarn, Kaiser Chiefs, Massive Attack andthe Chemical Brothers. The statement wasprinted in the popular music press andreported in the London free newspapersand beyond.

Dozens of photographers mobbedour celebrity supporters – AnnieLennox, Bianca Jagger and VivienneWestwood – at a stunt organised outsideParliament on the day of the vote. Later,national television and radio reported onthe direct-action protests during the dayand transmitted live coverage of ourevening rally in Parliament Square.

Nuclear Power and US MissileDefenceDuring the second half of 2007, thepress heard our opposition to nuclearpower and UK involvement in USMissile Defence. We were quoted inrelation to parliamentary developmentson nuclear power and blockades at

Sizewell nuclear power station. In August, the press reported on our

opinion poll gauging opposition to USMissile Defence. A letter we organised,signed by several dozen MPs, was alsoprinted in both the Independent andGuardian. International press covered ourSeptember 1st conference. November sawus widely quoted on the Foreign AffairsCommittee report on Missile Defence.

Individual and local newsThroughout the year individual stories of

CND supporters have made the news,Eileen Daffern’s interview on Woman’sHour being typical of the many fascinatingtales from activists.

Getting stories in the regional media isvital in presenting the issues with a localcontext. Local CND groups do anexcellent job of generating coverage oftheir events and views. Regional groups’coverage has been particularly prolificduring the year with numerousappearances on regional television andradio.

16


CND in the media

o you have a story the media might be interested in?In this anniversary year we would particularly like to hear frommembers with a personal story to tell about their involvement withCND. Are you part of a multi-generational family of campaigners?Do your relatives hold greatly differing views to yours? Do youcome from a background generally seen as atypical for a CNDsupporter? If you have a story that you think might make aninteresting magazine feature or article, please get in touch with BenSoffa, CND's Press Officer on 0207 700 2350 or e-mail:[email protected]

D

17


2007 has been a truly amazing yearfor CND’s Peace EducationProgramme; it is continuing to

develop its network of speakers, schoolworkshops and resources. The programmewill continue to grow as more peoplebecome involved in 2008.

‘What was the Cold War?’ Teenagers in schools today were born inthe early to mid 1990s and many do notknow that Britain has nuclear weapons.Even more are unaware of theirdevastating effects. It is crucial that youngpeople are empowered with enoughknowledge to make informed decisionsand that they know, if they decide tooppose nuclear weapons, there issomething they can do to object. Most ofall, young people should be presented withaccessible, balanced and interestinginformation to engage and educate them.

Hundreds of packs distributedOur new Peace Education Pack is basedon co-operative learning methods and isdesigned to satisfy a range of differentlearning styles. It has five differentactivities appropriate for the classroom oryouth group and is suitable for teenagersaged 13 to 18. The effects of a nuclearexplosion are examined, as are the keyconcepts in the debate surrounding suchweapons. The history of the peace symbolis explored and students are encouraged tothink up their own designs. Other nuclear-related issues, such as the story ofMordechai Vanunu, and the Chernobyldisaster, are investigated.

Hundreds of copies of the pack havebeen distributed at teachers’ conferencesand meetings, and lots of good feedbackhas been received from teachers andstudents alike. One teacher commentedthat the students really enjoyed theactivities and were ‘engaged andinterested’. A 15-year-old student alsopraised the pack, saying, ‘students aren’ttold what to think and so they can maketheir own decisions and form their ownopinions.’

An updated edition will include a CDwith images to complement the lessons.

‘I’d never work in a nuclearbomb factory – it mightexplode whilst I ate my lunch!’Workshops in schools have also taken offsince the summer, with school visits all overthe country. As you can see from the abovequote – the young people involved werealways keen to add their opinions todiscussions about peace and nuclearweapons!

Requests for workshops are still comingin and hopefully more will be occurringthroughout the anniversary year.

Schools’ Peace Lectures: 800York students hear Bruce KentAnother successful initiative was theestablishment of the Schools’ PeaceLectures. Our first lecture, in York, hadalmost 800 students listening to Bruce Kentspeak on nuclear weapons, peace and

conflict. Many questions were asked, fromthe realities of disarmament – to Bruce’s age!

In another such lecture planned forMarch 2008, the Mayor of Cambridge,accompanied by Bruce Kent, will addressschool students and explain why she signedthe Mayors for Peace pledge. Hopefully inour 50th Anniversary year we will seeSchools’ Peace Lectures throughout thecountry.

Interested? Get involved! CND Peace Education is always lookingfor enthusiastic people to becomeinvolved. People in education, bothteachers and school students, are invited toget in touch. You can also join the panel ofpeople reviewing our materials. We canarrange workshops or speakers for yourschool and send you a copy of oureducation pack.

We are recruiting speakers to join ourSchool Speakers’ network. If you feel youhave the knowledge and confidence tospeak in schools, then please contact me.Prior experience is not essential as trainingwill be provided where necessary. Allenquires to Anna Liddle [email protected]

Let us spread the knowledge of nuclearweapons and disarmament further in ouranniversary year by educating the youngpeople who may carry on the campaign inthe future.

Peace Education

Bruce Kent talks to school students in Bootham

'I was really impressedwith the pack. It is very

teacher friendly andmakes a complicatedtopic engaging andthought provoking. Rowan Walker, a teacher in

Coalville, Leics

Campaign materialsA range of CND campaign materials,including leaflets, reports and postcardswill help ensure you have robustarguments when you lobby and informyour MP, write a letter to the local pressand build awareness within your localcommunity.

No Trident replacementOur new report, Trident and Employment:The UK’s industrial and technological networkfor nuclear weapons comprehensivelyargues for UKdefencediversification andexamines theeconomic benefitsof employingpeople outside ofthe nuclearweapons industry.It was written byDr Steven Schofield, an expert on thesubject, and was funded by UNISON.

A Q&A and updated No TridentReplacement briefing and leaflet are also

available. A new briefingwith the latestinformation onwarheads and missiledevelopments related toTrident replacementwill be available in early2008.

Our newinformation sheet,

No to Trident Replacement: Yes to a NuclearWeapons Convention compliments theCND/Medact petition which calls onthe UK governmentto support negotia-tions towards anuclear weaponsconvention andrecognise itscommitment tomultilateral disarm-ament by notreplacing Trident. Get everyone you know to sign the

petition on the CNDwebsite. Hard copiescan also bedownloaded orordered from theoffice.

No US MissileDefence

A range of new No US Missile Defencematerials has been produced, a leaflet,briefing, and Q&A will ensure informedopposition along with a special newlobby postcard to send to all MPs.

Other leafletsand briefingsOther leaflets areavailable, to opposegovernment spin onnuclear power,inform aboutHiroshima andpresent the caseagainst nuclearweapons, help scrap our current Tridentsystem, and give general informationabout CND’s work.

In addition, we have a wide range ofdifferent briefings to give more detailed

18


Resources

Join the letter-writing team2007 saw CND’s letter-writing teamconcentrate on UK nuclear disarmament,writing about Trident replacement to TonyBlair, the Defence Secretary, Des Browne, andthe Defence Select Committee. We also wroterelated letters about the 2007 nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Preparatory Committeemeeting to Margaret Beckett, (when she wasForeign Secretary), and Gordon Brown (onbecoming Prime Minister). In autumn, welobbied the UK Ambassador to the UN to votefor a resolution about the alert status of nuclear weapons.Later in the year, we objected to the planning application for newbuildings at Burghfield.

In May, we wrote to the peace movement in the Czech Republicsupporting its opposition to a planned radar base as part of the US missiledefence system.

As usual, we ended the year by sending Christmas cards to MordechaiVanunu

Although the replies we get are usually unsatisfactory, and we oftenwonder whether the authors believe what they are writing, it is crucialthat we make our voices heard and our letters inform, encourage andpresent our point of view. Many of our letter-writers send copies of theletters to their MPs – a good way of passing on useful information.

We provide background information and a list of points to make eight ornine times a year. Not everyone can write every letter but even one a yearhelps. To join our team, please contact Katy, [email protected],or call the national office, indicating whether you want to receiveinformation by e-mail or post.

information on topics including USnuclear weapons in Europe, NuclearPower and Iran’s nuclear programme.

CND briefings, Q&As and reportsare available to download from theBriefings and Information pages of ourwebsite. Leaflets and postcards can beordered from our online webshop.Alternatively call the CND office on 0207700 2393

Keep up to date!•CND’s E-Campaign bulletinsSign up to CND’s regular e-mailbulletins for the most up-to date detailson our events and activities by signingup with your e-mail address on ourwebsite home page www.cnduk.org

•Campaign magazineWith opinion pieces, news articles andinformation on the latest CND events,keep informedby subscribingfree of chargeto CND’sCampaignmagazine. Allmembersreceive theMembershipedition insummer, but you can alsosubscribe to the spring and autumnissues by [email protected]

•Get politicalStrategic political lobbying is essential toCND’s campaigning. For keen and

budding lobbyists, CND’squarterly Lobby newsletterprovides importantinformation to help youlobby your MPeffectively. To subscribeplease [email protected] or callthe CND office on 0207700 2393

19


Officers Chair: Kate HudsonVice-Chairs: Jeremy Corbyn MP, Sophie Bolt, Dave WebbTreasurer: Linda Hugl

CND National Council Directly electedPat Arrowsmith, Jenny Clegg, TomCuthbert, Sue Davis, Joan Horrocks, PeterLeary, Gawain Little, Caroline Lucas MEP,Alice Mahon, Pat Sanchez, Tom Shelton,Tony Staunton, Rae Street, Carol Turner,Hannah Tweddell

Nations, Regions and AreasCND Cymru: John Cox, David Bradley, Jill GoughScottish CND: Adam Beese, Eileen Cook,Jim TaggartCumbria & N. Lancs: Chris PrettymanEast Midlands: Ian Cohen, Richard Johnson, Geoff LawrenceGtr Manchester: Joan AbramsKent Area: Pam BrivioLondon Region: Pat Allen, Jim Brann,Nicholas RussellMerseyside: Gina ShawSouthern Region: Graham Allen, Anna ChaplinSouth Cheshire & N. Staffs: Jason HillSouth West Region: Peter Le Mare, Tom MilburnSussex Peace Alliance: Anna RehinWest Midlands CND: Sandra Gardner, Joe SturgeYorkshire CND: Helen John, Miriam Moss

Specialist sectionsChristian CND: Bob RussellLabour CND: Daniel BlaneyStudent CND: George WoodsYouth and Student CND: Catherine Crick,Brendan Lee, Joanne Stevenson

Vice-PresidentsTony Benn, John Cox, Joan Horrocks,Bruce Kent, Alistair Mackie, Paul Oestreicher, Walter Wolfgang

Staff and volunteersStaff at Holloway RoadSam Akaki: Parliamentary OfficerJoy Annegarn: Membership, FinanceEve Cuthbert: Finance and NetworkManager

Ben Folley: Campaigns OfficerSue Longbottom: Print & Website DesignerMell Harrison: Regional Campaigns WorkerMichael Hindley: MembershipDevelopment Worker (until June 07)Davinder Kaur: Campaigns OfficerAnna Liddle: Peace Education OfficerJon Nott: FundraiserDawn Rothwell: Campaigns Research andInformation OfficerRebecca Sage: Office ManagerTom Shelton: Campaigns and OfficeAdmin (until June 07)Ben Soffa: Press OfficerRick Wayman: Press Officer (until April 07)Katy West: Membership and DatabaseSystems OfficerMany thanks and good luck to Michael Hindley,Tom Shelton, and Rick Wayman

National and Regional staffCND Cymru: Jill Gough (volunteer)Scottish CND: John AinslieGtr Manchester CND: Jacqui Burke, Doug WeirLondon Region CND: David PoldenYorkshire CND: Sarah Cartin, Denise CraghillOther regional offices are run by volunteers

Specialist sectionsChristian CND: Claire Poyner (part-time).Other specialist sections are run byvolunteers from home.

Volunteers at Holloway RoadPat Allen, Pat Arrowsmith, DorotheaBaker, Jim Brann, Kitty Cooper, MarcoCosimiro, Pam Cowan, Sue Davis, DaveEsbester, Jen Jousiffe, Gina Mackenzie,Eileen Maclean, Stuart Minto, LubaMumford, Mary Ogbogoh, Jill Poller,Becky Ridgewell, Rosemary Rogers,Annette Russell, Ellen Sheffield, AbySimons, Stuart Stephenson, Jean Taylor,Jim Thomas, Marjorie Trevor, Ian Triggs,Tony Watkins, Matt West, Muriel Wood,Killian Zumpe

InternsAmanda Cassiday, Roderick CobleyThank you to all those who volunteer their valuabletime and energy

GoodbyesMany thanks and good luck to all

CND Personnel

ecampaignCampaign for Nuclear Disarmament

20


CND launches Direct DebitNow you can give regularly to CNDusing Direct Debit. This flexible andsecure payment method allows you tochoose the amount you give and thefrequency, while providing protection viathe Direct Debit guarantee. You can setup a Direct Debit on our website or usethe form on the inside front cover.

Payment via Direct Debit cuts CND’sadministrative costs and allows us toinvest more in the future of theCampaign.

Please note that a Direct Debit willnot cancel any standing orders you mayhave with CND and you will need tocancel these with your bank.

CND Membership Rates£24 Waged Individual£8 Concessionary

MerchandiseOur range of No Trident Replacement

campaigning materials, including a t-shirtdesigned by Peter Kennard, sell extremelywell. Many members help raise awarenessby wearing our t-shirts and badges. Acatalogue of our new materials, includingseveral reproductions to mark CND'sanniversary, is included with this mailing.

LegaciesOur ability to respond to government'splans for a new generation of nuclearweapons was greatly enhanced bygenerous legacies left to the campaign bylife-long supporters.

Money pledged to CND by membersin their wills enabled us to employ extrastaff and run national newspaperadvertising campaigns at this crucial time.

During 2007, over 60 membersinformed us that they had added CND totheir wills – many in response to our newinformation pack A Legacy for Peace. Ifyou would like a copy please [email protected] or call 020 77002393 and ask for Jon.

Legacies have generally increased invalue since 2003 (see Chart 1). In 2007,

Support us

Total income Other income Legacies

caption

35

30

25

20

15

10

5

02003 2004 2005 2006 2007

CND legacy income as a percentage of total income

90000

80000

70000

60000

50000

40000

30000

20000

10000

02003 2004 2005 2006 2007

CND legacy income

21


legacies contributed to approximately30% of our income (see Chart 2),(although 2007 figures are verypreliminary).

If inheritance tax is payable on anylegacy that CND receives, CND is able torevert part of the legacy in favour of theNuclear Education Trust. Although thismeans that this part of the legacy can onlybe used for CND's educational work, theremainder can be used for CND's vitalcampaigning work.

Nuclear Education TrustThe Nuclear Education Trust (NET)received charitable status in March 2007after a long period of discussion with theCharity Commission. CND hasunsuccessfully tried to form a charitablearm on several occasions in the past, sothis was great news.

At present NET is mainly funded by agenerous legacy to CND which wassigned over to NET (120K), enablinginheritance tax to be reclaimed (£77K). In2007, NET contributed over £27,000 toCND. This was mainly used for CND'speace education work and preparing theNo Trident Replacement briefing. NETalso funded the London School ofEconomics' CND's archives work -enough to prepare for the 50thanniversary exhibition; this is thebeginning of a much larger projectbetween LSE and CND to make CNDs

archives much more accessible to ageneral and academic audience.

NET will contribute over £50,000 toCND's peace education work in 2008 andover £30,000 to CNDs Global

Disarmament Summit. Other grants havebeen made to Scottish CND, theMovement for the Abolition of War andChristian CND for planned conferencesdiscussing the role of nuclear weapons.

22


Aldermaston Women’s PeaceCamp(aign)'Concrete in a wheelie bin'blockadesDuring the lead up to the Trident votewe lobbied and protested by all meanspossible, including giving evidence to theDefence Select Committee and an 'ontop of the fence protest' which led to anarrest under the new Serious OrganisedCrime and Police Act 2005 (SOCPA).On vote day March 14th, we organisedwith Block the Builders and broughtLondon's Parliament Square to a grindinghalt with a successful and visuallyarresting blockade in which nine peoplewere arrested. Risking back injury andhypothermia, blockades involvingincreasingly impressive concreteconstructions have continued atAldermaston, attracting widespreadpublicity on the disgusting new bomb-making facilities that are being built infront of our eyes.

The Women's Cocktail Partyof the Century Maintaining our monthly camp in theface of evictions and arrests relating tothe new military by-laws is, in itself, anachievement, and we celebrated women'sstrength and sense of fun in June whenabout 50 women gathered for a fabulouscocktail party on a grass verge nearBurghfield. Undeterred by spending theprevious night in Reading police station,having been arrested under the new

bylaws introduced in June, we all enjoyedour celebration of being there and notgiving up.

Taking our 'Knickers to theBylaws' challenge to the HighCourt Our application for a Judicial Review ofthe bylaws will now be heard in the HighCourt on February 1st, and, if agreed, willbe heard immediately. Please come andsupport the court challenge - relevant toeveryone who is committed to the right topeaceful protest. Come and join us at thePeace Camp – second weekend of everymonth at the Tadley roundabout. Wecamp there to give a loud, protracted anddetermined NO to Trident, its replacement,all nuclear weapons and all war.

www.aldermaston.net

Campaign Against DepletedUranium (CADU)CADU’s 2007 activities revolved around itsrole as the international office for theInternational Coalition to Ban UraniumWeapons (ICBUW). With more than 90members worldwide, CADU believesICBUW is the best initiative yet to achievea ban on all conventional weaponscontaining uranium.

In February, CADU organised a well-attended UK parliamentary lobby andpublic meeting. Soon after, we went toGeneva for a UN seminar, followed bysome intense diplomatic lobbying. In May,we helped organise a DU photo exhibitionin the European Parliament, sponsored bythe Europe-wide Green political group. Wethen returned to Geneva for morelobbying.

The summer was spent out on the road,fundraising at the Glastonbury, Big Chill

and Green Man music festivals. From September we were back in the

office helping organise the annual ICBUWconference. Held at the UN ChurchCentre in New York, it welcomed activistsand scientists from across the US andbeyond.

During the now obligatory post-eventlobbying, it emerged that our draftresolution was to be submitted to the UNFirst Committee, and if passed, to the UNGeneral Assembly in December. Althoughthe final wording was somewhat weakerthan we would have liked, the resolutionpassed both by a landslide, with 122 and136 votes respectively. The five states thatvoted against it were the US, UK, Israel,Czech Republic and the Netherlands.

Meanwhile, CADU launched the UKpart of a divestment campaign againstBarclays and RBS after it emerged thatthey help finance three uranium weapons’manufacturers.

The next year will be of greatimportance to the international campaign.In particular CADU is very aware of thechallenge we face from the UKgovernment. We welcome the support ofCND members and groups!

www.cadu.org.uk

Faslane 365A year of mobilising againstTridentFrom 1st October 2006, thousands ofpeople from all over the world took partin a year of almost-continuousnonviolent actionsat the Faslane base.Some 1,150 peoplewere arrested,including survivors ofthe atomic bombing ofNagasaki and Hiroshima, elected membersof the European and Scottish parliaments,hospital workers, trade unionists, teachers,students – a wide cross-section of civil

Autonomous sectionsCND supports and gives grants to the work of the following autonomous campaigns.

society from Scotland, England, Wales andbeyond. Most blockaders were chargedwith ‘breach of the peace’ and heldovernight in police cells. However, only 55– usually repeat ‘offenders’ – were actuallyprosecuted. Some trials are still pending, soplease give support, especially to activistsfrom your area.

Faslane 365 was conceived as a yearlongblockade rather than an open-endedcampaign. The aim was to intensify politicalpressure and provide impetus for Scotlandto reject the illegal imposition of nuclearweapons. By bringing autonomous groupsto Faslane to challenge Trident directlywe've helped to build a broader, strongercommunity of activists to share ideas andstrengthen nonviolent activism on peace,justice and environmental issues. Duringthis intense year of blockading, Faslane 365achieved its main objectives, including theelection of an anti-Trident majority in theScottish Parliament committed to makingScotland nuclear free. Though we chose todisband Faslane 365 after 1st October2007, when hundreds of protesters closedthe Faslane and Coulport gates for hours ina celebration of people power, thecampaign against Trident renewal is farfrom over.

In 2008 it will be important for themovement to grow and carry oncampaigning in different ways – againstthe nuclear convoys; to strengthen theScottish government’s nuclear freepolicies; highlight the illegality andimmorality of nuclear weapons; and alsoto oppose the upgrading of warheadfacilities at Aldermaston and Burghfield.Make the government see sense, cancelTrident and pursue disarmament.

www.faslane365.org

NukewatchMilitary convoys carrying Trident nuclearwarheads regularly travel by road betweenthe south of England and Scotland,tracked by citizen ‘weapons inspectors’from Nukewatch. The convoys transporttheir deadly cargo for regular maintenanceand inspections to and from AtomicWeapons Establishment (AWE) atBurghfield in Berkshire and the Coulportweapons store at the Clyde Submarine Basein Scotland.

Overnight nuclear convoys getlost In 2007 Nukewatchers drew attention totwo occasions when convoys got lost. An

overnight convoymonitored out ofAWE Burghfieldin May wastracked to the M1.From there it leftthe motorway at ajunction signed as‘closed’- onto the

A52 Derby/Nottingham road. At road-works, the support convoy separated fromthe load carriers and drove up and downthe dual carriageway several times, endingup in a residential area at 5am. After severalnoisy turns in side streets the vehiclesregrouped at a local barracks before headingoff to Scotland. In November, asouthbound convoy got lost around Stirling.In both cases the convoy was separatedfrom its support units for half an hour.

The MoD admits there is a risk of anuclear explosion in a serious crash or asthe result of a terrorist attack, yet can'teven ensure that drivers take the correctroute and that the safety equipment iskept with the convoy. Perhaps the crewshould be issued with a simple maprather than relying on technology that isnot up to the job! Nukewatch believesthat no further warheads should betaken into service and those in Scotlandshould be returned to AWE fordecommissioning in as safe a way aspossible: in daylight, at reduced speedand with the road ahead cleared.

Thank you to the valiantNukewatchers who track these convoysday and night – without them, suchincidents would go unreported and theMoD policy to sacrifice safety forsecrecy would continue unchallenged.

www.nukewatch.org.uk

Trident Ploughshares (TP)In the worksThis year we have again been active atvarious places where the workings ofTrident are tangible: at Aldermastonwith the Block the Builders blockades; atFaslane and Coulport mainly withFaslane 365 (five days of blockading by

TP and members heavily involved in thesupport structure); at the HQs ofTrident manufacturers and suppliers inLondon (Serco; Lockheed Martin;Raytheon; BAE; Rio Tinto); joining theLord Mayor's parade in Plymouth, andat Rolls Royce Derby.

In courtVarious alleged misdemeanours meantappearances in many courts across theland, including Ayr, Stratford in London,and Helensburgh, for trying to collectevidence of illegal transfer of weaponsthrough Prestwick Airport, going intoAWE Aldermaston, blockading Faslane,and imaginately re-decorating theentrance to RNAD Coulport. All theseappearances were marked by a failure onthe part of the accused to hold theirheads down or show any contrition, anda parallel failure on the part of thecourts to show a scintilla ofunderstanding about international law.

In jailPhill Jones did time in Barlinnie inGlasgow when an unpaid fine datingfrom a blockade of Rolls Royce in 2005eventually caught up with him. MarcusArmstrong spent 14 days in Kilmarnockjail after refusing to pay a fine related tothe citizens’ inspections of PrestwickAirport in August 2006, when it wasbeing used to transfer bombs from theUS to Israel. Marcus said: ‘I acted toprotect my brothers and sisters in theLebanon. It is the only way I know howto live.’

In reflectionAnd the future? The public and politicalclimate in Scotland at present is uniquelyfavourable for getting rid of Trident - anopportunity that may be temporary andcannot be missed. At the same timethere is Aldermaston, the heart ofproliferation, as well as Derby,Devonport, the WMD industrial nexus,and Whitehall itself.

www.tridentploughshares.org

23


CAMPAIGN FOR NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT 1958-2008

24

Regions and areasCumbria & N Lancs CND34 Trafalgar Street, Denton, Carlisle CA2 5XYtel: 01539 723020

East Midlands CND 43 Cobden RoadChesterfield S40 4TDtel: 01707 [email protected]

Eastern RegionThe Anchorage, Low RoadBungay NR35 ITT0845 337 [email protected]

Kent Area CND78 Priory Hill, Dover CT17 0AD; tel: 01304 [email protected]

London Region CNDMordechai Vanunu House162 Holloway RoadLondon N7 8DQtel: 020 7607 [email protected]

Gtr Manchester & District CNDBridge 5 Mill, 22a Beswick St, AncoatsManchester M4 7HRtel: 0161 273 8283fax: 0161 273 [email protected]

Merseyside CND50-54 Mount PleasantLiverpool L3 5SDtel: 0151 702 [email protected]

ContactsMid Somerset CND12 Neales WayEvercreech, Shepton MalletSomerset BA4 6LAtel/fax: 01749 830 [email protected]

Norwich CNDForge Bungalow The Street, StoteshamNorwich NR15 1YL tel: 01508 [email protected]

Southern Region CNDFlat 12, Eliot House 483 Portsmouth RoadSouthampton SO17 2TH tel: 023 8032 8335

South Cheshire & NorthStaffs CNDPO Box 2127Stoke on Trent ST1 1LYtel: 01782 280 998www.scanscnd.org.uk

South West Region CNDThe Peace Shop31 New Bridge StreetExeter EX4 3AHtel: 01392 431447

Surrey Peace ActionNetwork27 St Mary’s RoadReigate RH2 7JHtel: 01737 223003

Sussex Peace Alliance 67 Summerheath RdHailsham BN27 3DRtel: 01323 844 [email protected]

Tyne & Wear CND1 Rectory Avenue, GosforthNewcastle upon Tyne, NE3 1XStel: 0191 285 [email protected]

West Midlands CND54 Allison StreetBirmingham B5 5THtel: 0121 643 [email protected]

Yorkshire CND2 AshgroveBradford BD7 1BNtel: 01274 730 [email protected]

National officesCND CymruY Drain Gwynion, Heol yrEglwys, TalywaunPontypool NP4 7EFtel: 01495 773180 [email protected]

Scottish CND15 Barrland StreetGlasgow G41 1QHtel: 0141 423 1222fax: 0141 423 [email protected]

Irish CNDP.O. Box 6327, Dublin 6, Eiretel/fax: 00 353 1 [email protected]://indigo.ie/~goodwill/icnd.html

Specialist sectionsChristian CND Mordechai Vanunu House162 Holloway Road London N7 8DQ tel: 020 7700 4200 fax: 020 7700 [email protected]

Parliamentary CND Mordechai Vanunu House162 Holloway Road London N7 8DQ tel: 020 7700 2393

fax: 020 7700 [email protected]

Labour CND11 Pembury RoadWorthing BN14 [email protected]

Student CND28 Grove RoadLondon E17 9BNtel: 07814 [email protected]@cnduk.org

Youth & Student CNDMordechai Vanunu House162 Holloway RoadLondon N7 8DQtel: 0207 607 [email protected]

Peace CampsAldermaston Women’sPeace CampSecond weekend of every month. tel: 07969 739 [email protected]

Faslane Peace CampPermanent. A814, Shandon, HelensburghDumbartonshire G84 8NT tel: 01436 820901 [email protected]

Menwith Hill Women’sPeace Camp3rd weekend of every month PO Box 105 Harrogate HG3 2FEtel: 01535 603 240www.cndyorks.gn.apc.org/mhs/wpcmhs.htm

CND groups are essential in getting our message heard across the country. Contact your local orregional group to find out how you can get involved.


Local Groups

Abingdon Peace Group

01235 [email protected]

Bath CND 01225 312574;[email protected] Bedford CND

[email protected] CND

0151 677 6896 Blackpool & Fylde CND

01253 899742;[email protected] CND

[email protected] Bristol & West Region CND

0117 9714112;[email protected] & Beckenham CND

0208 4601295

Central Manchester CND

0161 6961724Cheltenham CND

01242 582985 Chesterfield CND

01246 455178 Chippenham CND

01249 651565 Coventry Peace House

01203 663031

Durham Peace Campaign

[email protected];www.peaceactiondurham.org.uk

East Lancashire CND

01254 [email protected] Enfield Peace Campaign

0208 364 2606 Exeter CND

01392 431447;[email protected] Peace Group

01367 710308

Hackney & Islington CND

020 8533 5838;[email protected] Green CND

0121 778 2672Haringey CND

0207 607 2302;[email protected] & Kirkstall CND

0113 2741011; [email protected] Hemel Hempstead CND

01442 230285 Hereford Peace Council

01432 [email protected] Peace Alliance

01403 251276;[email protected] Huyton CND

0151 4894242;[email protected]

Isle of Wight CND


Kettering CND

01536 [email protected] Kingston Peace Council/CND

020 8399 [email protected]

Lancaster District CND

01524 [email protected] CND 01162 705 604;[email protected] Lewes & District CND

01273 473912;[email protected] Lewisham & Greenwich CND

020 8857 1095 [email protected] CND

01455 552949

Maghull and Lydiate CND

0151 526 7293 Maidenhead & Cookham CND

01628 522 331 Marple and District CND

0161 427 1191

Medway CND

[email protected] Peace Group

01707 331643; [email protected] CND

0208 648 9037 Musicians Against Nuclear

Arms (MANA)

0208 455 1030 [email protected]

North Cumbria CND

01228 524351 Northumbrians for Peace

01434 [email protected] CND

[email protected]

Orpington CND


01865 242919;

Penzance CND


01733 233047Plymouth CND

01752 [email protected] & Whitefield CND

0161 733 0868

Quaker Peace and Social

Witness 020 7663 [email protected]

Reigate & Redhill CND

01737 248487 [email protected] &

Chorleywood CND

01923 777754Rochdale & Littleborough

Peace Group


Saddleworth Peace Movement

01457 876013; [email protected] Saffron Walden Peace Group

01799 527449 Salisbury CND

01722 321865 Sheffield CND

0114 296 7596;[email protected] CND

02380 229363 Southend and District CND

01266 [email protected] Albans CND

01727 863 911; [email protected] Sydenham & Forest Hill CND

0208 699 8597

Tavistock Peace Action Group

01822 [email protected] Hamlets CND

0208 981 6871; [email protected]

Wallasey CND

0151 6383967Waveney CND

01986 896189West London CND

0208 743 4189; [email protected] Norwood CND

0208 670 0622 Wimbledon Disarmament

Coalition 020 9543 [email protected] Action for Peace


Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament • Mordechai Vanunu House • 162 Holloway Rd • London N7 8DQ

Tel: 020 7700 2393 • Fax: 020 7700 2357 • [email protected]

www.cnduk.orgCompany Registration 3533653

CND

cnd campaign review 2007

Documents