Lib Dems re-open Trident debate

The future of Trident is back in the spotlight after former Lib Dem Defence Minister Nick Harvey said at a conference fringe meeting "all sorts of alternatives" to Trident looked credible. These are set to be revealed in the Trident Alternatives Review now being led by Danny Alexander. CND's Kate Hudson blogged for Lib Dem Voice ahead of the conference, while The Guardian says "hats off" for "taking Trident out of the political freezer".

Kate Hudson: An opportunity to direct the debate

Guardian Editorial: A well-made argument in a necessary debate

Labour set to discuss Trident

https://www.facebook.com/events/138846332925240/

CND is hosting a high-profile Cut Trident fringe meeting at Labour Party Conference on Monday 1st October where we will be joined by representatives
from Westminster, Holyrood and Cardiff and the party's executive committee.

An official report to the conference says the party will formally discuss Trident next year, when the Trident Alternatives Review reports, as Kate Hudson explains.

Kate Hudson: Labour's Trident Policy is a Cold War Relic

Disarming Trident report launched

CND has this week launched Disarming Trident, as reported in The Guardian, as a practical guide to de-activating and dismantling the Trident nuclear weapon system.
Coinciding with the party conference season, we hope it will be a useful tool for political activists explaining how Britain can step down the nuclear ladder to complete disarmament. You can read the full briefing yourself on the national CND website.

Disarming Trident report

A new war in the Middle East? Is a nuclear weapon-free zone possible?

CND International Conference
Building towards a nuclear weapons-free Middle East:
Civil society input for a new Helsinki process
10am–5pm
Saturday 13th October 2012
UCL, 30 Guildford Street, London WC1

With speakers including: Ambassador Pekka Huhtaniemi of Finland, Jeremy Corbyn MP, Caroline Lucas MP, Leanne Wood AM  and experts and activists from Turkey, Israel, Egypt, Syria and Bahrain

In December of this year, Finland will host a conference in Helsinki on behalf of the United Nations, with the goal of making progress towards a WMD-free zone in the Middle East.

The initiative is led by Finnish Minister Jaakko Laajava who has called for civil society input to the conference. To support this important development, CND is calling an international conference, drawing together anti-nuclear activists from Britain and the Middle East to discuss input and raise the profile of the crucial issue.
More info and advance registration go to CND website.

This event is part of CND's National Conference – 13th/14th October for which we have not yet got any delegates. If you are interested in going please contact me asap as we are already out of time but a phone call received from Nat office would suggest they would accept a late booking. Reasonable expenses would be paid.

Letter writing campaign

This month please write to your MP. asking her/him to support this initiative and to urge the Foreign Secretary to do so at the Helsinki conference.
A conference on a WMD-free zone in the Middle East was suggested at the 2010 NPT review conference. In December Finland will host the conference on
behalf of the United Nations in Helsinki. We should promote support for this under-reported project now, as an alternative to disastrous military
intervention.
Some points you could make:

• Such a zone would not only be a huge step towards nuclear disarmament. It would be a brilliant example of diplomatic, non-violent solutions in a
• tinderbox of international conflict.
• It would also be a powerful precedent for non-military foreign policy.
• Despite the highly dangerous risk of war in the region, with incalculable consequences, this alternative to military a_ction is little discussed,
• while the 'need' to attack Iran is often repeated.
• Tell her/him that expert international speakers will discuss this vital issue at CND's public International Conference Building towards a nuclear
• weapons-free Middle East: civil society input for a new Helsinki process in London on Saturday 13th October and suggest that they consider attending.

Waddington

Our visit to RAF Waddington on 23rd Sept went very well. We joined Helen John at her caravan on the A15 Sleaford Road opposite the base. We displayed our banners along the roadside and decorated the fence. There will be a Drones Week of action from 6th to 13th Oct. During this time a group of activists will walk from various drones sites finishing at RAF Waddington on the 13th.
Chris Cole from the Drones Network will be the speaker at our AGM on Nov 21st.

Next meeting: 17th October 7-30 QMH