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Written by Dominic Linley
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Monday, 08 August 2011 11:03 |
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Hiroshima & Nagasaki Memorial Speech 2011
We stand united and remember the catastrophic effects of the nuclear attack on Japan by the United States 66 years ago in Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
We pause to reflect on those whose lives were annihilated in a heartbeat in both cities; those families - children, grandparents, mothers, sons, fathers and daughters and we also remember those whose lives have been and continue to be devastated by the long term consequences of these nuclear bombs.
At this, the 66th anniversary we come together in love and peace, and as always determination. But this year I feel we represent a growing sense of anger.
Anger that we live in a world where these weapons are produced, stockpiled and patrolled around the globe. Anger that while billions can be pumped into a nuclear weapons system , economies are falling apart, hundreds of thousands of people are starving and the impact of climate change are devastating entire regions of our planet.
Our Government plan to spend £100billion on replacing the trident nuclear weapons system. A nuclear weapons system that is unsafe, contravenes international treaties and can never be used. We must not forget the images of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and we must refuse to accept the language of nuclear 'deterrence'.
We are in a crucial position today. We are at a crossroads of opportunity on the issue of Trident replacement. The Government has pushed back the final decision to 2016 and despite the millions already spent on development behind closed doors we lead the majority of people who say NO to a new generation of nuclear weapons and say YES to investment in our children, education, health and care for older people.
We lead the majority and we must take action. Let us not stand here at the 70th, 80th, 100th anniversary of the nuclear bombings of Hiroshima & Nagasaki lamenting a missed opportunity. Let us stand together, uncompromising and join the millions of people from all sections of society from across the world and halt this nuclear madness. We cannot and must not allow a new weapons system to be developed- we must take this opportunity and make the Government back down.
Join CND, make a donation, visit a base, write to your MP, join a demo, make a peace crane, pass the message to a friend - whatever your capability there is an action you can take.
Yesterday I was given this poster from the Japanese Council against A&H bombs - The Gensuikio. The people of Japan are scared, tired and furious that this nuclear devastation has happened again in Fukishima.
It doesn't matter whether it is from bombs or energy - the consequences of the fallibility of nuclear are being lived everyday by the people of Japan. We must solve our global problems of economy, climate disaster, poverty and warfare with a new approach. Now is the time and scrapping Trident and any replacement can lead that change.
Speak out today for the people of Japan and people all over the world and say 'No Nuclear'.
Sarah Cartin
Vice-Chair CND
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Written by Dave Webb
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Sunday, 03 July 2011 08:12 |
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 It’s quite a time for remotely piloted aircraft or ‘drones’ at the moment. Their illegal use for targeted killings has been condemned by Amnesty and Human Rights Watch with former senior Law Lord Bingham calling them so ‘cruel as to be beyond the pale of human tolerance. Even the MoD acknowledges that there are serious legal and moral issues arising from the growing use of armed drones and a recent Joint Doctrine Note has recognised that the role of humans in deciding if and when missiles are launched is being eroded[1]. By lowering the threshold when attacks might be considered, drones make war more likely and we still don’t know how many civilians are being killed in this way. Questions to David Cameron on whether the 124 people killed by British drone attacks were all ‘insurgents’, as he boasted last December, remain unanswered. The authorities would have us believe that drones only kill combatants but the New America Foundation suggests that 1/3 of casualties in US drone attacks in Pakistan are civilians.[2] The Pakistan Body Count's assessment is even higher - 50 civilians for every combatant killed, with a total of 1245-2420 killed and 263-959 injured by drones since 2004.[3] The military either don’t know or don’t want to know, but a recent report from the Oxford Research Group[4] reminds them that under international law they are required to record and announce the civilian casualties in each attack. So, when will the MoD issue their figures?
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Written by Hannah
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Tuesday, 27 April 2010 18:04 |
Welcome to Yorkshire CND's new blog page. Here you will find blogs on all aspects of nuclear issues affecting the Yorkshire region ranging from Trident replacement, international abolition, US Missile Defence, nuclear power and NATO.
Dave Webb, Convenor of Yorkshire CND and Sarah Cartin, Vice Chair of CND will be blogging from the Non Proliferation Treaty Review Conference in the next few weeks so visit regularly. We encourage you to comment on the articles and join in with the debate.
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Written by Dave Webb
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Wednesday, 01 June 2011 14:18 |
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US missile defence (missile offence really) has been a cause for concern ever since the idea was put forward in Ronald Reagan’s famous “Star Wars speech” in 1983. Since then it has gone through various forms but always with the same idea of maintaining dominance for the US military on the Earth and in space. Successive presidents have continued with this American dream – turning it into a nightmare for the rest of the world. President Obama is no exception. Despite saying he would “cut investments in unproven missile defense systems” before being elected he has changed and extended the President Bush’s unworkable plans for European bases, got NATO on board and is now planning bases surrounding the Russian border in the Czech Republic, Poland, Romania and possible roles for Bulgaria, Ukraine, Turkey and Israel. Little wonder then that Russian President Medvedev has warned of a new arms race and threatened to quit START as a consequence.
And US missile defence is not only causing problems in Europe, the US is selling missile defence systems (Patriot systems) around the world – to Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, India, wherever they can get the customers - irrespective of the consequences it appears. One of those consequences has just become harsh reality to the people of Jeju Island in South Korea.
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Written by Sarah Cartin
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Monday, 10 May 2010 23:12 |
In the midst of my post-travel-jetlagged-volcanic-ash-chasing-Ronan-from-Boyzone-spotting-US-'terrorist'-alert-drama-lost-luggage-tracking-UK-election-chaos-and-back-to-work-flurry of activity, here is my speech to the Gensuikyo Meeting at the Riverside Church, NPT Review Conference on May 3rd, 2010.
Huge thanks to CND staff colleagues in London, from whose excellent briefing papers I borrowed heavily. Any mistakes are my own.
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