CND Archives - Page 3 of 8

Stop the Bombing Rally: Ways Forward For Iraq and Syria

Nov 052014

On Saturday 8th November at 11.30am there will be a rally outside Marks and Spencer’s in Aberdeen to raise concerns about the bombing campaign taking place in Iraq/Syria. With thanks to Jonathan Russell.

All those speaking at and attending the rally from across the political divide are horrified by the rise of ISIS and do see the need for action to deal with the rise of ISIS.

We are united in that we consider that the bombing will, in the long term, make the situation worse as more people get killed and much needed infrastructure is destroyed.

There is one thing many people in the Middle East hate more than ISIS and that is Western Involvement.

Aberdeen and District Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament will be hosting the event.

The group’s chair, Jonathan Russell said:

“Interventions in Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya and Syria have all been disastrous leading to broken countries with hundreds of thousands dead and millions in refugee camps.

“Over the past three years there has been a massive increase in arms sales to the Middle East in particular Saudi Arabia but also Oman and Turkey it is these very countries allies of the West that have funded and armed ISIS and through whom oil has been sold. We need to be starving ISIS of resources, supporting the Iraqi government and Kurds, giving many more resources to refugees and toward rebuilding these failed countries.

“Bombing by West just feeds this wild frenzy of blood. We need a long term solution to the area this requires negotiation not more bloodshed”

Those speaking at the Rally will be Dame Anne Begg MP, Christian Allard MSP, Dr Jill Austin , Brian Carroll Aberdeen Trade Union Council and Sean McVeigh Radical Independence Campaign.

For further information contact Jonathan Russell
Tel 01224 586435
mobile 07582456233
or email jhamiltonrussell@hotmail.co.uk

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[Aberdeen Voice accepts and welcomes contributions from all sides/angles pertaining to any issue. Views and opinions expressed in any article are entirely those of the writer/contributor, and inclusion in our publication does not constitute support or endorsement of these by Aberdeen Voice as an organisation or any of its team members.]

Middle East – What A Bloody Mess

Articles, Featured, Opinion 3 Responses »

Oct 032014

With thanks to Jonathan Russell.

The Wests policy again and again in the Middle East has been to use military action. In the case of Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria firstly we arm groups to fight what we see as enemies.

Then when they go much further than we had planned we demonise them whether this is the Taliban, Sadam Hussein, Qaddafi, Assad or ISIS. We use this demonisation to get the public on our side and then we attack them.

We have seen the results of action by the West in Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya which include the killing of innocents, the destruction of infrastructure, fragmented broken societies and the creation of bitterness and violence.

We fail to learn from previous experience and keep doing the same again like a stuck record. We have failed to understand the Middle East and its religious and ethnic complexity and have turned different sections in societies against each other and made lots of money by arming all sides and in the taking of military action ourselves.

In the case of Syria, Western Governments were quite happy in letting Saudi Arabia, Quatar and Turkey give military and financial support to Islamic groups. The enemy was seen as Assad and his Iranian, Hezbollah and Russian backers. Assad was painted as black and his opposition were angels fighting the just cause. No wonder young impressionable muslims have gone to fight with this appalling ISIS.

The beheadings by ISIS were barbaric and made worse by the fact that those they beheaded were aid workers and in the case of James Folley a strong critique of NATO intervention. However the Israelis killed 2,100 people in Gaza including hitting schools with children in them so why have there been no airstrikes on Israel.

Saudi Arabia who have been the main funders and suppliers to ISIS have beheaded 59 people so far this year why not bomb them—oh no they are our allies and we make lots of money out of them by selling them arms. One Shia militia selected rounded up 40 Sunnis in Baghdad so why do we not bomb them?

Over 2,400 people have been killed by US drones with people having their heads blown off. why don’t we bomb the White House?

Hundreds of thousands of people have died in the conflicts in Iraq, Libya and Afghanistan and we have almost totally destroyed the infrastructure of these countries yet our leaders walk around with immunity. Since the bombing has begun ISIS has it says gained 6,000 recruits.

Phylis Bennis in The Progressive gives four reasons why ISIS has grown and goes onto suggest six alternative steps to deal with ISIS.

A demonstration against the bombing of Iraq and Syria is to take place on Saturday 4th October in Glasgow. A demonstration is also planned for London on Saturday where protesters will march to Downing Street.

Stop Bombing Iraq! Stop Bombing Syria! Don’t Fuel the Growth of ISIS! Scottish National Stop the War Demonstration
Saturday at 13:00, Buchanan Street at the steps of Royal Concert Hall (Donald Dewar statue), Glasgow.

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Big Sandy Urges You To Vote Yes And Get Rid Of Trident

Aberdeen City, Opinion No Responses »

Sep 052014

With thanks to Jonathan Russell, Aberdeen CND.

Scottish Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament’s giant, Big Sandy, will be visiting Aberdeen to encourage people to vote Yes between 2-4pm this Saturday 6th September in the square outside Marks and Spencer’s.
Big Sandy is a ten feet tall puppet. He first appeared at the West End Festival in Glasgow in June.

Since then he has helped the Yes campaign on the streets and at major public events all across Scotland.

Jonathan Russell Chair of Aberdeen and District Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament stated:

“Central to the Independence debate is the getting rid of Nuclear Weapons from Scottish Soil. A non-nuclear Scotland will also be enshrined in a Scottish Constitution Getting rid of Nuclear weapons from Scotland will make it exceedingly difficult for the remaining UK to place the existing or new era missiles anywhere in the remaining UK “

Also attending on Saturday, North East MSP Christian Allard said:

“Weapons of mass destruction have no place in a modern Scotland. Labour and the coalition parties at Westminster are committed to the irrational and costly renewal of the UK’s nuclear weapons system – only a Yes vote in September will guarantee Scottish waters are Trident free. I urge any undecided voters to come along to the St Nicholas Centre on Saturday and learn about the opportunities for an independent Scotland.”

For more information contact:

John Ainslie, Coordinator, Scottish CND,
john.ainslie@banthebomb.org
0141 357 1529 07442 500476

or Jonathan Russell, Aberdeen CND
jhamiltonrussell@hotmail.co.uk
tel 01224 586435
Mobile 07582456233

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MSP To Speak At Hiroshima Memorial Event

Aberdeen City, Environment 2 Responses »

Jul 312014

With thanks to Gavin Mowat, Constituency Assistant to Christian Allard MSP.

North East MSP Christian Allard will be speaking at a Hiroshima Memorial Event in Aberdeen on Wednesday 6 August to mark the moment an American bomber dropped the world’s first atomic bomb over Hiroshima City, Japan in 1945.

Mr Allard will be joining speakers from a variety of political, community and faith groups to commemorate the catastrophic event and to warn against the renewal of the UK’s own weapons of mass destruction.

200 peace lanterns will be released on the River Dee to commemorate the 200,000 men, women and children who died.

SNP MSP Christian Allard is a member of the international group Parliamentarians for Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament (PNND) and a member of Aberdeen and District Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND).

The Hiroshima Memorial Event is on Wednesday 6th August starts at 8.30pm and takes place at the Fisherman’s hut down by the River Dee in Aberdeen – all are welcome to attend.

Mr Allard commented:

“As ever the Hiroshima Memorial held in Aberdeen will be a timely reminder of the senseless devastation that is caused by weapons of mass distraction.

“With this memorial ceremony we will remember the 200,000 who died when bombs were dropped first on Hiroshima and then on Nagasaki . It is also an opportunity to remind people that weapons such as those used in Japan have no place in here modern Scotland.

“With a Yes vote in September we can be sure that Scotland gets rid of these obscene weapons and our country can set an example to others around the world.”

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North East MSP Christian Allard with the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament’s sign that outlines the two futures for Scotland.

Hiroshima/Nagasaki Memorial Day – Wed 6th August 2014

Aberdeen City, Environment, Featured 2 Responses »

Jul 312014

With Thanks to Jonathan Russell and Aberdeen CND.

Wednesday 6th August sees the 69th anniversary of the first ever explosion of a nuclear weapon when the United States dropped a nuclear bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima. This was followed on the 9th August by the detonation of a further nuclear bomb on the Japanese city of Nagasaki

Aberdeen and District Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) have organised an event to mark the occasion and remind people of the potential horror of the use of nuclear weapons.

200 peace lanterns will be released onto the river Dee to commemorate the 200,000 men, women and children who died following the nuclear explosions at Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Many more died later from injuries or prematurely from the horrendous health effects that followed.

We are delighted to have Yu Aoki who lives and works in Aberdeen but who was born in Hiroshima as one of our speakers. Yu Aoki has said:

“I grew up listening to the stories of my grandparents and other atomic bomb survivors about their experiences of the 6th August 1945. Most survivors have passed away by now and I feel that people from the younger generation like myself have to pass on the stories to the next generation so that we learn from the history and never repeat it again.”

We will have songs from local singers Dave Davies and Simon Gall as well as poems by the local poet and peace activist, Hilda Meers, which will be read by Tommy Campbell from Unite the Union.

We also have a wide variety of Speakers from Civic, Faith and Community Action Groups. These include Christian Allard MSP, local Councillor Barney Crockett, Iman Ibrahim from the Aberdeen Mosque and Islamic Centre, Clive Potter from the Quakers, Doug Haywood from the Radical Independence Campaign, Brian Carrol a representative from Aberdeen trade union Council and Jill Austin from Aberdeen Against Austerity

The memorial event which is open to all the public to attend will take place on Wednesday 6th August at 8.30pm by the side of the River Dee at the Fisherman’s hut off Riverside Drive (between the Bridge of Dee and Duthie Park – see map below)

Jonathan Russell, Chair of Aberdeen and District CND, stated “For most of us nuclear weapons have been a part of the world we live in for all of our lives.

“We can as such often put into the back of our minds just how horrific these weapons would be if used. The Independence Referendum has highlighted the fact that the UK’s nuclear weapons are based in Scotland and the United Kingdom Government are intent on building a new generation of Atomic weapons at a cost of £20 billion.

“As a result of the Nuclear Non- Proliferation Treaty and the New START treaty of December 2010 nearly 50% of these monstrous weapons have been destroyed. There are still however 19,500 Nuclear Weapons in the world – enough to destroy our world several times over. Building new atomic weapons makes the likelihood of getting rid of the remaining weapons less likely.”

For further information please contact Jonathan Russell, Chair of Aberdeen and District CND,
Tel 01224- 586435,
Mob 0758-245-6233
E-mail jhamiltonrussell@hotmail.co.uk

Date: Wednesday 6th August 2014, at 8.30pm
Venue: the Fisherman’s Hut on the River Dee
(by Riverside drive )

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A Question Of Trust On Nuclear Disarmament

Information, Opinion 1 Response »

Jul 042014

With thanks to Gavin Mowat, Constituency Assistant to Christian Allard MSP.

Following Tuesday’s release of the Trident Commission’s report, North East MSP Christian Allard has asked whether the three Westminster parties can be trusted to push for global nuclear disarmament when they all remain committed to the costly renewal of Trident.

The report supports the UK government’s commitment to renew the Trident nuclear weapons system while at the same time promoting nuclear disarmament across the world.

Mr Allard said the report failed to acknowledge that the world has moved on from the days of the Cold War.

He said that supporting the renewal of the outdated Trident weapons system was irresponsible and counterproductive in the campaign against nuclear weapons.

The French-born MSP pointed out that while the Scottish Government is committed to getting rid of Trident nuclear weapons, the Westminster parties remain devoted to renewing the weapons system, a position at odds with a commitment to nuclear disarmament.

Commenting, Mr Allard said:

“It is disappointing the Trident Commission has concluded that renewal of Trident is compatible with a position of pursuing global nuclear disarmament.

“Trident was a Cold War era deterrent that is no longer practical or effective in this day and age. Its renewal will also come at enormous cost to the people of Scotland.

“I would ask: can you trust the three Westminster parties to work for a nuclear-free world if they are so determined to renew their current stock of nuclear weapons?

“It is an untenable position that does not make any sense. Only by voting Yes in September can the people of Scotland make sure that Trident is removed. We can set a positive example of nuclear disarmament for the rest of the world and inspire other nations to follow suit.”

Jonathan Russell Chair of Aberdeen and District CND commented:

“The Trident Commission report has failed to see the logic that if your potential opponents see you are building a new era of Nuclear Weapons, so will they.

“You cannot say that you are against nuclear weapons while at the same time building new ones, this is totally hypocritical.

“If the same energy was put into getting rid of Nuclear Weapons rather than building and maintaining them, we could get rid of these ghastly weapons which threaten mankind.

“For those of you who want to get rid of nuclear weapons but are undecided about how to vote at the Independence Referendum, having read this report I would say that the only way is to vote Yes. It is not going to happen otherwise.”

More info/links:

Trident Commission report
CND reaction to the report

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Asia-Pacific Arms Race Danger: CND Public Meeting

Aberdeen City, Information No Responses »

Jun 062014

With thanks to Mike Martin.

Aberdeen & District CND are delighted to be hosting Alan Mackinnon, SCND executive member, who will be speaking on his new pamphlet: “Falling Eagle, Rising Dragon – The dangers of a new arms race in the Asia-Pacific region” at a public meeting on Monday 9th June.

The dangers of a new arms race in the Asia-Pacific region Obama’s ‘pivot’ to Asia has shifted America’s geo-strategic focus to the new realities of power across the world. Our guest speaker, Alan Mackinnon, will examine how this pivot is raising tensions in the region and could trigger a new Cold War with huge regional and global implications.

After the presentation there will be an opportunity for questions and contributions.

CND believes that to prevent any future mass destruction of human population the UK Government should:

Scrap the Trident nuclear missile system.
Cancel plans for the next generation nuclear weapons
Work for international nuclear disarmament

Time and Date: 6:15pm, Monday, 9th June
Venue: Unite the Union, 42-44 King Street, AB24 2TJ
Website: http://www.banthebomb.org/
Contact: Mike on 0797-476-3082

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Local MSP Highlights Choice Between Two Futures

Featured, Information, Opinion 13 Responses »

Apr 252014

With thanks to Gavin Mowat, Constituency Assistant to Christian Allard MSP.

North East MSP Christian Allard has taken the opportunity to highlight the choice between two futures that the people of Scotland will be presented with on the 18th of September.

Mr Allard said that the obscene Trident nuclear weapons would be removed from Scottish waters following a Yes vote in the independence referendum. The SNP MSP added that voting Yes in September will send the signal to the world that Scotland would rather develop its healthcare and education than spend £100 billion on renewing weapons of mass destruction.

The North East MSP said that a No vote in the referendum would send the wrong signal to the world and waste £1.5 billion per year on weapons that will never be used.

Mr Allard’s comments follow the recent SNP conference in Aberdeen where the party renewed its commitment to getting rid of Trident following a Yes vote in September.

Commenting, Christian Allard MSP said:

“The referendum is a choice between two futures.

“A Yes vote on September the 18th is a vote to remove nuclear weapons from Scotland once and for all.

“Westminster politicians want to renew a weapons system that can destroy the world. The Scottish Government would rather build a system of childcare that will be the envy of the world.

“Voters can guarantee their taxes will be spent on building a better society instead of building obscene weapons by voting Yes in September.”

Chair of Aberdeen and District Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament Jonathan Russell added:

“Scotland could set an example to the world by diversifying its skilled workforce away from Trident and other aggressive technology towards developing our own alternative energy industry. This in turn would build an economy which would bring in finance to allow our health service, child care and other welfare spending to flourish.

“We need to be getting away from the UK model of disastrous foreign interventions, cutting welfare to the bone, developing nuclear power and fracking and holding onto our imperial power by threatening others through keeping Trident.”

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A Nuclear Free Scotland Is Possible: CND Spring Walk

Community, Information No Responses »

Mar 282014

Scottish CND will be organising a walk from Scottish Parliament to Faslane and a demonstration and rally on Saturday 5th April in Glasgow. With thanks to Jonathan Russell, Chair Aberdeen and District CND

At present all of the UK ‘s Nuclear weapons are based in Scotland at the Faslane Nuclear base on the West coast of Scotland near to Glasgow and surrounding areas with Scotland’s highest density of population.

The Scottish Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament will be organising two major related events which the general public can get involved with to raise awareness of the horrific nature of Nuclear Weapons.

The first is a Spring Walk which will start on Tuesday April 1st at 12.15 pm outside the Scottish Parliament and takes in on its way Currie, Bathgate, Coatbridge, Glasgow, Dumbarton and eventually arriving at the Faslane Nuclear base on Monday 7th April.

One of our local members Alister Coutts ( pictured ) who is going on the walk gave the following reasons for doing so.

“Even though I’ve been involved in environmental activism for around 10 years, I’ve not been a member of Scottish CND for all that long and only went to Faslane for the first time in April 2013, but I’ve been opposed to nuclear weapons, and indeed nuclear power, for as long as I can remember. My first reason for joining the peace walk is therefore to do as much as I can to remind the public that the stunning countryside surrounding Gare Loch has been completely and utterly destroyed by the abhorrent presence of the Trident Nuclear Missile base for 50 years too long.

“The peace walk will also be a great opportunity to highlight the fact that the upcoming Independence Referendum presents the people of Scotland with the chance to start the process of ridding not only Scotland, but the UK as a whole, of these weapons of mass destruction forever. My hope is that this could also have a positive knock on effect and result in other countries around the world being pressurised into destroying the nuclear arsenals as well.

“From a more personal viewpoint, having a daughter: Kate, a son: Robbie and three beautiful grandchildren: Alfie, Molly and Kenzie, my second reason for taking part in the march is to do as much as I can to ensure that their future is bright in a nuclear weapon free, and I would like to hope, an eventually neutral, Scotland.”

Included in the events of the walk but for all the public to get involved in will be a March and Rally on Saturday April 5th starting at 11.30am and ending at 12.30pm with a Rally. Speakers at the rally will include Nicola Sturgeon MSP Deputy First Minister, Patrick Harvey MSP. Lord Provost Sadie Docherty, Lesley Riddoch, Dave Moxham (STUC) and Rev Sally Foster-Fulton. Music will be provided by the Gleeboom drummers.

Local MSP Christian Allard has put out the following statement:

“There is clear opposition to nuclear weapons being based in Scotland. Yet the Westminster Government, in this latest budget, have missed their last chance to commit to getting rid weapons of mass destruction before the referendum. An SNP Government in an independent Scotland would be committed to removing Trident from Scottish waters for good.’’

“In the meantime I would urge anyone who is concerned about the presence of nuclear weapons in Scotland to make sure their voice is heard at this series of events in April.”

Jonathan Russell Chair of Aberdeen and District Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament added:

“the Independence referendum gives the opportunity for Scotland to get rid of its Nuclear Weapons. He also challenged the Labour Party to end its present stance on replacing Trident.’ Nuclear weapons have the potential to kill us all and are a scourge on humanity. We need to see concerted efforts internationally to get rid of these weapons and here in Scotland we should be setting an example.”

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Festival Of Politics – The Future Of Trident and NATO

Aberdeen City, Information No Responses »

Mar 202014

With thanks to Jonathan Russell.

As part of Aberdeen Festival of Politics, Aberdeen and District CND will host a public meeting to discuss the future of Trident and Nato.
Speaker, John Finnie MSP (Independent, Highlands and Islands region), who is well known for his opposition to both Trident and NATO, will be helping us navigate the multiple security questions confronting humanity in the 21st Century.

With escalating tension between Russia and the US over developments in Ukraine, anxiety about nuclear war inevitably begins to loom.

These two superpowers still retain vast arsenals of these weapons of mass destruction.

Time & Date: 7pm, Friday, 28th March
Venue: the Seminar room, Belmont Cinema, AB10 1JS

For more info, contact: Jonathan Russell, on 0758-245-6233 or email Aberdeen and District CND.

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