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THE MAGAZINE OF THE CAMPAIGN FOR NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT APRIL 2021
UK breaks law on nukes – again
CND General Secretary Kate Hudson writes about CND’s
opposition to the government’s disastrous announcement on
nuclear weapons.
L
Campaign for Nuclear AST MONTH, the government’s Britain ratified in 1970. The Treaty
Disarmament,
Integrated Review revealed plans for a requires countries that have nuclear
162 Holloway Rd,
London N7 8DQ
40% increase in Britain’s nuclear arsenal. weapons to disarm, and those that don’t
Today the arsenal stands at around 200 have them not to get them. There is no
020 7700 2393
nuclear warheads. Each is about eight times way in which increasing a nuclear arsenal
enquiries@cnduk.org the power of the Hiroshima bomb which is legitimate under the Treaty.
www.cnduk.org killed over 200,000 people. That’s a killing But it’s not just new warheads that are
capacity of hundreds of millions. How can illegal, it’s the whole Trident replacement
the government conceivably justify that project as well. When Blair’s government
arsenal, never mind increasing it? was first pursuing Trident replacement in
Increasing Britain’s nuclear arsenal 2005, Matrix Chambers gave a legal
contravenes our legal obligations under the opinion which found that the replacement
CND nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, which of Trident would be a material breach of
Campaign
Not only are additional warheads illegal, but
Trident replacement is illegal, and the failure Spo tlight
to disarm our existing nuclear weapons
contravenes the Treaty. This month
the Treaty because it requires ‘operational stockpile, deployed Scottish CND
‘each of the parties to the warhead or deployed missile
Treaty undertakes to pursue numbers.’
negotiations in good faith on Johnson’s changes in nuclear
effective measures relating to policy present serious problems.
cessation of the nuclear arms It’s not just that we would
race at an early date and to rather the money was spent on
nuclear disarmament.’ something more useful; or that
So not only are additional this flagrant breach of the NPT
warheads illegal, but Trident may encourage others to pursue
replacement is illegal, and the nuclear weapons; it’s a question
failure to disarm our existing of what kind of world we want
nuclear weapons contravenes to see, what role we want Elections are coming up
the Treaty. Britain to play and what it across the UK in May,
But a warhead increase isn’t actually stands for. Rearming including for the Scottish
the only nuclear problem with with weapons of mass Parliament. Scottish CND is in
this Review. It also includes a destruction is not something full campaigning mode,
change in nuclear use posture – that we can accept. making sure the issue of
now reserving the right to use We must find it in ourselves nuclear weapons is a crucial
one in the debate. Along with
nuclear weapons not only to reject the dangerous humbug
other Scottish partners, they
against nuclear threats but the government spouts about
are organising peace
against supposedly comparable nuclear weapons, their claim
hustings; providing resources;
threats, such as chemical and that ‘the UK will continue to and encouraging candidates
biological weapons or ‘emerging work internationally to reduce to pledge support for the
technologies’. And a further the risk of nuclear conflict and Treaty on the Prohibition of
change is an end to the UK’s enhance mutual trust and Nuclear Weapons. There’s
much-vaunted transparency on security’. This is just nonsense even a hashtag -
nuclear weapons – an extension and we know it. I urge everyone #nukesaremyredline.
of the policy of deliberate to lobby the Prime Minister n If you would like to get
ambiguity and an end to giving and get active: this is getting involved, contact 01413
public figures for the out of hand. 571529 or email
scnd@banthebomb.org.
n Contact the Prime Minister:
cnd.eaction.org.uk/timetoscraptridentnow
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April 2021
Defend the right to protest
Kevin Blowe, Campaigns Coordinator for the Network of Police Monitoring
(Netpol), writes about the new law the UK government wants to push
through that would have a severe impact on our right to protest.
C LEARLY the Johnson
government, in its initial
haste to push ahead with the
police have also indicated an
intention to ramp up surveillance
on protesters.
300-page Police, Crime, But Netpol, and a coalition
Sentencing and Courts Bill, including CND and Scottish
hoped it could force through, CND, thinks it is time senior
with little opposition, new laws officers committed to respecting
that will profoundly affect our Britain’s existing international
ability as citizens to organise human rights commitments by
effective protests. on attempts to restrict protests adopting our new Charter for
Then came the arrest of a that are too ‘disruptive’, too noisy Freedom of Assembly Rights – or
Metropolitan Police Officer for or that challenge corporate or explain why they refuse to do so.
the murder of Sarah Everard, that government interests, based on The Charter calls for proper
officer’s own force threatening subjective grounds such as protections – not more
huge fines against the organisers ‘serious annoyance’ or ‘serious restrictions – for the right to
of a memorial vigil on Clapham unease’. Alarmingly, Home protest. This includes an end to
Common and the courage of Secretary Priti Patel will have treating civil disobedience as an
women from Sisters Uncut, who powers to define what these excuse to shut down protests
refused to back down to threats terms mean, without needing to completely. It also includes calls
of arrest and went ahead with a consult Parliament. for the police to justify
gathering in her memory. From challenging the arms unrestrained surveillance on
The appalling scenes from the trade to government inaction on campaigners.
subsequent police crackdown has climate change, protesting The government wants
forced a delay from the remains one of the few options protests that cause no disruption
government and Labour into available to campaigners without – but making sure our voices are
opposing the bill. It has also access to power. However, the heard will always inconvenience
galvanised a growing movement new bill will increase the risk of or annoy someone if it is making
that rejects new police powers further criminalising an impact. That’s why it is so
and is calling for a greater demonstrations that involve important that we resist the bill
protection for the right to protest. direct action and civil and demand a rethink on the
As its title indicates, the disobedience – something the way protests are policed.
Police, Crime, Sentencing and peace movement has a long and n Find out more about the
Courts Bill is wide-ranging. proud tradition of organising. Charter for Freedom of Assembly
Netpol has focused in particular In parallel to the bill, the Rights at netpol.org/charter
3
What’s on
Yorkshire CND regional
strategy meeting Nurses not Nukes
7 April 6pm; online.
Anti-nuclear bloc at People’s Assembly
n info@yorkshirecnd.org.uk or
05603 640753 national demonstration 26th June 2021
Join CND and others at the anti-nuclear bloc at this
Faringdon Peace Group national demonstration. We’ll be protesting against the
meeting with guest speaker government’s decision to increase its nuclear weapons
Fabian Hamilton MP while denying nurses – and other public sector workers –
7 April 7:30pm; online. adequate pay.
n Contact 01367 710308 or
steve.jenny@hotmail.com Assemble 12 noon at Portland Place, London,
before marching to Parliament Square.
The treaty to ban nuclear n Contact information@cnduk.org with any queries.
weapons - CND Cymru and
UNA Cardiff webinar
21 April 7pm; online.
n brian.jones@phonecoop.coop Meet the staff
This month: Michael Muir, Press and
Bradford candlelit vigil to
mark TPNW entry into force
Communications Officer
23 April 8:30pm “Having been a supporter of the
Join the walk at the Norman peace movement for a number of
Arch at the bottom of Emm years, I’m absolutely delighted to
Lane, Bradford. have started to work for CND as its
nContact bradford@cnd.rocks new Press and Communications
Officer. 2021 is already shaping up
International Day of Action to be an important year for CND
against Foreign Military and the wider anti-nuclear
Bases: protest at Menwith Hill movement, with both the terrifying
30 April, 2pm UK warhead increase and the
Assemble outside Menwith Hill, upcoming COP26 summit offering opportunities for CND to
Harrogate. speak to huge audiences.
n info@yorkshirecnd.org.uk Local CND groups and activists do incredible work, and it’s my
job to make sure that gets the press attention it deserves. If
Working for Peace in the you or your CND group are working on a campaign that
Middle East - CND conference requires dealing with the press or even if you just have an idea
22 May 1pm-4:10pm; online you’d like to flesh out, please do get in touch at any time via
n information@cnduk.org to PressOffice@cnduk.org or on 07968 420859.”
register.
Covid-19: office update
Please note that, following government guidelines, the CND national office in London remains temporarily
closed, but we are hoping to reopen soon. Staff are currently working remotely, and all should be able to
get back to you on email. To contact the office staff, please email enquiries@cnduk.org or phone 07891
870732 and you will be re-directed to the right person.
The office closure means that we are unable to guarantee that we can send materials or shop orders.
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