Nuclear Archives - Page 4 of 9

Action Concerning Iraq/Syria Bombings – Sat 25.10.14

Oct 242014

By Jonathan Russell Chair of Aberdeen and District CND

The first of a series of Rallies aimed at raising awareness of the folly of the bombing campaign in Iraq and Syria will take place this Saturday 25th October at 11.30am outside Marks and Spencer hosted by Radical Independence Campaign, Aberdeen.

CND plans to hold a similar event in the near future.

My first reaction concerning ISIS was that something had to be done about this appalling organisation.

I still feel this but consider that the Wests bombing leading as it always does to the killing of civilians and the destruction of infrastructure was not a viable solution.

We have witnessed an ever increasing spiral of violence in the Middle East. Michael Portillo said last week on the Moral Maze on radio 4 that given this background it is not totally surprising that such a monster of an organisation has arisen. Violence I would assert leads to violence and division. Western policy in my eyes has been stark starring bonkers.

We arm Islamic tribal groups in Afghanistan and then we bomb them.
We arm Iraq to beat Iran and then we bomb them.
We bomb Libya to get rid of Qaddafi and leave behind a failed state where Al Qaida’s flag flies over many towns and cities.
We arm rebels mostly Sunni Islamists to beat Assad and now we bomb them.

Nobody gains from this but the arms companies who in a time of general economic meltdown see the value of their shares rise.

ISIS is barbaric but so are we in are use of drones and bombing often leaving behind not only death and appalling injuries but also un-depleted uranium. We also have brutal allies in the area such as Saudi Arabia who have beheaded over 79 people this year and the Egyptian Government who have hanged hundreds of Moslem Brotherhood supporters.

Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Oman the Wests allies have armed ISIS and helped in their training.

ISIS are not alone they have allies in trained Sunni Ba’ath party soldiers who have considerable military experience and Sunni tribal groups who hate both the West and the Iraq and Syrian Governments.

By bombing, we have acted as ISIS’s recruiting agency. Many people in the Middle East in particular the Sunni population from surrounding countries as well as Iraq and Syria hate the West and will fall in behind ISIS as the lesser of the two evils from their perspective. In my mind the West and Al Qaida and its affiliates feed off each other in this endless spiral of blood.

So here are some alternative solutions.

Stop selling and sending arms to the Middle East
Make sure arms are not still reaching ISIS
Stop buying oil from ISIS
Start negotiating seriously for a Middle East settlement which includes Iran, Syria, Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Palestinian reps, Kurdish reps, Sunnis and Shia, Russia and China as well as the West and Israel
Rather than spending money on bombing massively increase aid to support people who have led their countries due to the conflicts in Iraq, Syria and Libya.

If we do not do this we will be getting into an ever deeper mess with exculpating brutality on all sides.

I salute the those Labour MP’s including are very own Anne Begg MP who along with the SNP, Plaid Cymru and Caroline Lucas from the Greens for their opposition to the intervention to the UK getting involved. In particular I would commend John Barron, Conservative MP who has led the opposition to interventions in Iraq, Libya, Syria and now this latest calamity he has consistently got it right.

It is now up to us the citizens of Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire and across Scotland and the wider UK to start getting active and make our voices heard.

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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.]

One World Week – Peace And Justice Concert

Aberdeen City, Events No Responses »

Oct 102014

With thanks to Jonathan Russell.

Aberdeen and District CND will be hosting a Peace and Justice Concert at the Blue Lamp on Sunday afternoon 2-5.30pm on 19th October as part of a number of events for One World Week. There will be Music, Poetry and Dance performed by local artists from Scotland, India, Nepal, Vietnam, Germany, China, Japan, Spain and South America.

One World Week aims to bring people together across the world in the cause of Peace and Justice. The event is dedicated to all people suffering injustice worldwide.

Artists playing will be Dave Davies and friends, Colin Edwards, Nigel and Mark Lammas, Precious Few from Köln in Germany, Nabin Chhetri Nepalese poetry, Rev Dr Isaac Poobalan and Dr Amudha Poobalan Indian music,

Mukal Dahal Nepalese poetry, Fuji Toyonobu and friends Japanese music, Colin Edwards poetry, Minh Tri Tran Vietnamese guitar, Yoleah You Li Chinese violin, Imagine ensemble, Tommy Campbell reading Hilda Meer’s poetry / Simon Gall sings Hilda Meers followed by Simon Gall and Xavier Ortiz sing Latin- Columbian music, Nepalese Dance, Javier Dominguez and friends Flamenco and Dance.

There will be a finale of Bob Marley’s One Love and Stand up for your Rights with everyone either playing instruments dancing or singing

The event is free but donations will be welcome for the Local CND group and the World Development Movement

Please come along and join in the fun

For further information please contact Jonathan Russell

E-mail: jhamiltonrussell@hotmail.co.uk
Mobile: 0758-245-6233

MSP Seeks Devolved Power In Light Of Ship Blaze

Aberdeen City, Featured, News 1 Response »

Oct 102014

North East MSP Christian Allard is urging Westminster to devolve powers to enable the Scottish Government to regulate the transportation of nuclear waste on Scottish land and sea. The call comes following a blaze on a cargo ship carrying radioactive nuclear waste which resulted in the evacuation of a North Sea oil platform.

Danish ship MV Parida was carrying nuclear waste when it caught fire and began drifting in the Moray Firth this week (Tuesday 7 October).

The Danish registered ship was transporting six cemented drums of radioactive nuclear waste from Scrabster to Antwerp in Belgium when a fire broke out in one of her two funnels. The ship began drifting in the Moray
Firth.

As a precaution, 52 workers from the Beatrice oil platform in the North Sea were evacuated.

Radiation and containment monitoring has been carried out on the vessel and it has been confirmed there is no risk to the public or the environment

SNP MSP Christian Allard said:

“This incident is a sobering reminder that the Scottish Government does not have control over the transportation of radioactive waste or what happens with ships in incidents like this that occur in Scottish waters.

“Thankfully risk to the public and the environment has been avoided in this case but serious questions must be asked of how the incident occurred.

“In the week when Westminster has decided to build a new nuclear power station at the staggering cost of £24.5billion on top of its commitment to the irrational and costly renewal of Trident nuclear weapons system, it is quite clear that the priorities of the London parties are at odds with the priorities of the people of Scotland

“I urge Westminster to devolve powers that would give the Scottish Parliament control over these issues and I encourage anyone who feels the same to make their views known to the Smith Commission.”

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

“The incident with the Danish Ship MV Parida is of considerable concern and suggests that regulation needs to be tightened.

“The incident was of particular worry to the people living nearby and would suggest that the regulation of the transportation of nuclear waste would be much better dealt with at a Scottish level.”

The Smith Commission has been tasked with agreeing more powers for the Scottish Parliament, following the result of the referendum on Scottish Independence. To make sure the Scottish Parliament is granted control over these and other important matters you can send your comments direct to: haveyoursay@smith-commission.scot.

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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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Government Caps Welfare Budget But Won’t Curb Trident

News, Opinion 1 Response »

Apr 042014

Westminster to cap welfare.

With thanks to Stuart Donaldson, Constituency Officer to Christian Allard MSP.

In a recent debate on Child Poverty in Scottish Parliament, North East MSP Christian Allard slammed Labour, the Lib Dems and the Tories for voting at Westminster to cap welfare but refusing to put a cap on Trident.

Commenting the SNP MSP said:

“Save the Children has warned that the Westminster welfare cap will push 345,000 children into poverty in four years, yet Labour voted with the Tories.

“Labour, the Lib Dems and the Tories voted to put a cap on welfare but all are unwilling to cap spending on Trident.

“Only a vote for independence will ensure that we are no longer in the disgraceful situation where weapons of mass destruction are valued over the wellbeing of our children.”

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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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