Sarah was Yorkshire CND's Development Worker from 2005 - 2009 and is currently a Project Worker with a major national charity. She was Bradford Student Union Communications Officer from 2003-2005 and founding member of Bradford CND. Sarah is now Vice chair of CND.
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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 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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Written by Sarah Cartin
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Monday, 03 May 2010 12:08 |
It's a rainy New York Monday morning and we are just preparing to head over the the United Nations Plaza for the first day of the NPT Review Conference.
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Written by Sarah Cartin
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Sunday, 02 May 2010 06:35 |
Hello again,
We have been on the go non-stop at this end. The New York action has pushed our jetlag to the limit, plus trying to find wifi AND a free plug socket has been ever so slightly challenging!
On Friday evening we joined delegates from across the world at the International Peace Conference in the Riverside Church in Harlem. The church is the famous which hosted Dr Martin Luther King Jr when he spoke out against the Vietnam war, and his legacy was key in setting the tone of the event.
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Written by Sarah
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Friday, 30 April 2010 16:02 |
Good Morning!
Our arrival in New York via Manchester and Dublin yesterday was smoother than anticipated; my Visa form only raised a couple of questions- 'Where are you going?' and 'Is it your job to be a peace activist?' I decided to hold back on the 'Isn't it the job of us all to be a peace activist my friend?' reply. Just in case being a smart alec is against the rules at Border Control.
We are staying very close to the UN Plaza, and this morning saw out of our window what looked like a Ghostbusters convention. On closer inspection, all the people gathered were wearing really cool ican www.icanw.org rucksacks. I'm on the case to try and get one. It could be THE fashion item of the NPT 2010. I will keep you posted.
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