Peace & Disarmament

A film made by Pax Christi that suggests how we could invest in people and their needs rather than in war and conflict

Give Peace a Budget : Seven ways to spend $1.7 trillion dollars was launched on Monday (15 April)at a meeting at the House of Commons.  You can see the video on You Tube here.  It is also available in DVD format with a simple discussion guide for use with groups, parishes or schools for £5.00 plus postage. The film has both an education and a campaignng function.  Read a report of the House of Commons meeting and the key points made by speakers: Kate Hudson, CND, John Hilary, War on Want, Anne Marie iielly, CAAT and Bruce Kent here

    

7 actual or potential conflict situations around the world deteriorated and two improved in April 2013, according to CrisisWatch.  Deteriorated Situations: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Central African Republic, Iraq, Lebanon, Pakistan, Venezuela   Read More...

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has warned that the security situation remains volatile in the so-called "Triangle of Death" - the area between the towns of Pweto, Mitwaba and Manono, in the Katanga province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). According to WFP Spokesperson Elisabeth Byrs, deteriorating humanitarian conditions and ongoing attacks from Mai Mai fighters have forced more than 200,000 people to flee their homes since April. "Inside this triangle, because of attacks of armed groups, the population have left and they have taken refuge in the three cities," she said, adding that the constant attacks, lootings, rapes had first sent the population fleeing into the bush. They then took refuge in the cities, where the World Food Programme is assisting them with food rations and humanitarian assistance. Reliefweb, 03/05/13
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The number of people internally displaced by armed conflict, violence and human rights violations at the end of 2012 was 28.8 million, an increase of 2.4 million people on the previous year and the highest global figure ever reported by the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC). Over 6.5 million people were newly displaced inside their home countries in 2012, almost twice as many as the year before. Because these people have not crossed a border, they are not refugees and do not benefit from international protection. ''Much of the spike in the number of internally displaced people worldwide was due to the 2.4 million people displaced by the crisis within Syria by the end of 2012,'' said Kate Halff, Director of IDMC.   Read More...

Hundreds of people from across the UK, France and as far away as New Zealand converged on Faslane Naval Base, homeport to Trident, at 7 a.m. on Monday 15 April, blocking all three of its gates and shutting down access, bringing traffic on all roads into the nuclear weapons base to a halt for 3 hours.

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In 2011, global military spending surged to US $1.74 trillion. Given the numerous crises facing the planet — economic, environmental, health, diplomatic — it is imperative that we create a global movement to shift this money to human needs. We know that there are thousands of organizations and millions of individuals who support this point of view – what is needed is to begin a serious mobilizing effort to make it visible. A Global Day of Action on Military Spending is being organised each year in April to coincide with the release of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute’s (SIPRI) annual figures on world military expenditures.
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The vote for the first ever global treaty to regulate the international arms trade marks ‘an incredible moment’ signalling the dawn of a new era. The Control Arms coalition says the landmark vote sends a clear signal to gunrunners and human rights abusers that their time is up. After six years of diplomatic negotiations, and more than 10 years of campaigning from civil society, governments at the United Nations voted for the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) by a resounding majority (154 votes YES – 3 votes NO, 23 Abstentions). The treaty enshrines in new international law a set of clear rules for all global transfers of weapons and ammunitions. The vote at the UN General Assembly was held just five days after Iran, North Korea and Syria blocked the Treaty’s adoption by consensus in a nail-biting session on the last day of the Final Conference on the ATT.

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There are three main arguments against Trident. One is the growing acceptance among senior ex-military types that it has no strategic relevance to Britain’s war machine and that its retention and likely renewal is more about having some spectacular macho bling to dazzle on the world stage. While that argument has significance and cogency among the political elites, it does not have huge popular force in a Scotland largely and rightly alienated from the whole of the UK war-making adventure.   Read More...

Since early in 2010, that the cornerstone of the coalition government’s deficit reduction plan was radical and savage cuts to welfare spending. After announcing initial plans to reduce the benefits bill by £18 billion per year by 2014-15, they have ramped up the anti-welfare rhetoric further this year with the announcement that a further £10 billion is to be cut with a new round of reforms from 2017. What is absent from the government’s announcements on welfare ‘reform’ so far, however, is an analysis of just who it is that stands to lose and how exactly that loss will affect them. To some extent, the sheer complexity of the welfare system has assisted the government in hiding the cumulative impact of the changes.
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7 actual or potential conflict situations around the world deteriorated and two improved in March 2013, according to CrisisWatch. Deteriorated Situations: Central African Republic, Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon, Myanmar, North Korea, Syria   Read More...

The Final Conference has opened at the United Nations to a packed room and high expectations. Several delegations have sent their Foreign Ministers to attend the opening of the negotiations. During his opening statement, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon remarked “We owe this treaty to all the innocent victims of armed conflict and violence” and reminded representatives and negotiators that [they] are here to “strengthen and conclude the work that has been done in earnest since the beginning of the ATT process in 2006.”   Read More...

The Scottish Parliament is holding a debate on Trident at 2 pm on Wednesday 20 March. The motion will be presented by the Scottish Government and there will be a vote at 5 pm, see Agenda for 20 March: Please contact your MSPs and encourage them to oppose Trident. On the day when the Scottish parliament is discussing nuclear weapons, the House of Commons will be hearing George Osborne announce his budget for the year. Please encourage MSPs to say that Trident should be cut, not welfare or public services.   Read More...

8 actual or potential conflict situations around the world deteriorated and none improved in February 2013, according to the new issue of CrisisWatch 115. Deteriorated Situations: Bangladesh, Guinea, Lebanon, North Korea, Syria, Tunisia, Yemen, Zimbabwe   Read More...

Organised by Scottish Clergy Against Nuclear Weapons
The Easter Witness for Peace 2013 will take place at the gate of Faslane Trident base from 12 noon on Saturday 23 March. This will be an opportunity to meet together and to witness to our common faith in Jesus, the Prince of Peace, and to underline our belief that nuclear weapons are immoral and they should not be maintained or renewed. There will be a short act of worship with singing, prayers for peace, followed by a picnic. Bring food to share. Tea, coffee and juice will be provided. Speakers: Rev Sally Fulton (Church of Scotland), Bishop Joe Toal (Catholic Church) and Bruce Kent (Vice President, CND).  Short statements against nuclear weapons from a range of churches will be read out. Music by the Wild Goose Resource Group.
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That this House calls on the Government to recognise the dire water situation faced by Palestinians in Gaza; notes reports by both the World Bank and the United Nations Environment Programme that found the water crisis in Gaza to be critical and potentially irreversible by 2020; recognises that Gaza is almost completely dependent on a coastal aquifer but that low levels of rainfall have left it filled with inconsumable sea water; expresses concern that Israeli occupation policies in both the West Bank and Gaza Strip mean that essential access to consumable water supplies by Palestinians is hampered; and calls on the Government to lobby its counterparts in Israel to ensure adequate water sources and supplies are restored.
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Small arms weaponry, ammunition and various other military equipment were among millions of pounds' worth of goods exported last year from Britain to Sri Lanka under licences for arms and other closely regulated exports. Sri Lanka is listed by the Foreign Office as a 'country of concern' because of its human rights record. In a December update, the Foreign Office also said the human rights situation there had been marked by negative developments over the last three months.
(Ben Quinn, guardian.co.uk, Monday 18 February 2013)  
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Sudan, Turkey/PKK, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Mali, Nigeria, DR Congo, Kenya, Syria and Lebanon. Every year, around the world, old conflicts worsen, new ones emerge and, occasionally, some situations improve. There is no shortage of storm clouds looming over 2013: Once again, hotspots old and new will present a challenge to the security of people across the globe.   Read More...

Public meeting
Disarm Now Plowshares Priest Bill ‘Bix’ Bichsel SJ With Leonna O’Neill of Faslane Peace Camp, St John’s Church Hall, West End of Princes St, Edinburgh. 4:45pm. Friday 21 December. Followed by Peace and Justice Centre Christmas Party 6:15 – 7:30pm www.peaceandjustice.org.uk 0131-229-0993   Read More...

The Afghan crisis, now well into its fourth decade, has many layers. The military and political dimensions of the crisis grab the headlines. But the structural violence and poor governance that underpin it-grinding poverty, rampant abuse of power, criminalized economy, parlous condition of women and girls, poor access to health and other services-receives much less attention. This report focuses on the lives and vulnerabilities of those affected by the crisis.  Reliefweb: Humanitarianism in Uncertain Times   Read More...

2 actual or potential conflict situations around the world deteriorated and none improved in November 2012, according to the new issue of CrisisWatch.  Deteriorated Situations:  DR Congo, Egypt   Read More...

On Wednesday 5th December, George Osborne is expected to announce further spending cuts with his Autumn Statement. But one thing we know he isn't planning to cut is Trident. Funding the Trident nuclear weapons system and its replacement comes at the cost of key services and facilities across the economy - up to £100 billion over its lifetime. With the nation's media watching the Autumn Statement - make sure our message is getting through - tell George Osborne what he should cut.
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African Catholic Church leaders who met in Kinshasa recently say that escalating violence in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo is causing a major humanitarian tragedy. Presidents of Bishops' Conferences and Bishop-Presidents of national Caritas organisations from 34 countries in Africa signed a statement condemning the conflict, which saw the city of Goma fall to 'M23' rebels on 20 November. (Ekklesia)   Read More...

The Scottish Catholic Justice and Peace Commission with the approval of its President, Bishop Moran and the approval of Cardinal O'Brien and Archbishop Tartaglia, President of the Bishops' Conference of Scotland, joins in the wider call for a Day of Prayer for Peace in the Middle East on 4 December. This is the feast of St John of Damascus (676-749), who lived and worked under the early Muslim Caliphate which had its capital in Damascus.
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Finland was scheduled to host a conference in December of this year on behalf of the United Nations, with the goal of making progress towards a WMD-free zone in the Middle East. The efforts to convene this conference have been breaking down and now it appears that it could be postponed. Now it is more important than ever to get your MP to sign Early Day Motion 273.   Read More...

Here is an article by Uri Avnery, an Israeli writer and founder of the Gush Shalom peace movement, now aged 89.  He writes regularly on peace/war in Israel- Palestine; and here gives a balanced account of the futile conflict between the governments of Israel and Gaza; and some suggestions for an acceptable way out.’ 

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The prime minister has chosen about the worse possible time to flog jets to the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Saudi Arabia - Guardian editorial, 5 Nov 2012.
Former Defence Minister Peter Luff on UK arms exports to the Middle East: "I'm not condoning human rights abuses, of course not, but sometimes you have to be pragmatic." Arab Spring jitters complicate British-Gulf ties - Reuters
  

Palestinian and Israeli peace groups have sharply criticised Israel's government following the demolition of a peace centre on the edge of Jerusalem. The Beit Arabiya Peace Centre, built by Palestinians, Israelis and international volunteers, was demolished by the Israeli army in the early hours of Thursday 1 November. It was the sixth time it had been destroyed.   Read More...

The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament condemned Defence Secretary Philip Hammond's announcement of a further £350m spending on Trident replacement, ahead of a parliamentary decision in 2016. It also criticised the government's 'shabby attempt to intervene in the Scottish independence debate' just days after the Scottish Affairs Committee called on the government to consider the implications of potential Scottish independence for Trident.

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4 actual or potential conflict situations around the world deteriorated ands none improved in October 2012, according to the new issue of CrisisWatch. Deteriorated Situations: Guinea-Bissau, Lebanon, North Korea, Myanmar   Read More...

That this House welcomes the new All Party Parliamentary Group on Drones, also known as unmanned aerial vehicles; notes that the use of drones by the UK, in Afghanistan and elsewhere, is an issue of concern; draws attention to allegations that the UK is sharing information with other states for the purposes of targeted killings using drones; further notes the human rights questions which arise from the direct and indirect use of drones by the UK; further notes the need for increased  transparency and accountability on this use; and calls on the Government to work with the All Party Parliamentary Group on this issue.   Read More...

The Scottish Affairs Committee published a report on the 25th October which points out that Scottish independence could lead to nuclear disarmament for Britain. It also says that Scottish CND's timetable for disarming Trident is realistic.   Read More...

To mark the sixtieth anniversary of the first UK atomic test explosion – ‘Operation Hurricane’ at the Monte Bello islands off the north-west coast of Australia in October 1952 - Nuclear Information Service has prepared an interactive timeline showing the history of the United Kingdom’s nuclear weapons programme. The timeline shows the importance of key events in the British nuclear weapons programme – both political and technical – from World War Two, when the UK first commenced research into atomic weapons, looking forward to the forthcoming decision on whether to replace Trident which will be taken after the next election. It also shows how international events have influenced the UK's nuclear programme over six decades.

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Scottish CND is hosting a meeting on the 50th anniversary of the Cuban Missile Crisis when the world stood on the brink of nuclear war. They have also produced a new briefing on the crisis and the implications for Scotland. (http://bit.ly/R9vE9l). 10 am to 1 pm Saturday 27 October, Wellington Church Hall, 77 Southpark Avenue, Hillhead, Glasgow, G12 8LE (next to SCND office). Speakers: John Ainslie (Scottish CND) and Kath Campbell (Scottish Cuba Solidarity Campaign). Plus short films. The meeting is free and open to all.

    

The Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) welcomed the report of the Foreign Affairs Committee (FAC), on its overview of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) human rights work in 2011. CAAT has consistently focused attention on UK arms sales to the repressive regimes in the Middle East, especially Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Libya. While the report examines important questions and made recommendations on all three countries, CAAT feel that their impact will be limited.   Read More...

Two of the biggest recipients of British aid in Africa have broken a United Nations arms embargo by supplying rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo with weapons and ammunition, a Security Council investigation found last night. Ask your MP to sign EDM 597: Rwandan Proxy Wars In Congo
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Over the past few years we've had countless examples of the nexus that binds politicians, civil servants, the arms trade and despotism (The Independent 14/10/2012)   Read More...

The United Nations and its partners stressed that stronger actions and commitment are needed from world leaders to prevent conflict-related sexual violence and to secure justice for survivors of gender-based crimes. "In conflict zones, women are disproportionately affected by sexual and gender-based violence, forced displacement, the destruction of civilian infrastructure and rights violations," said the Executive Director of the UN Entity for Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women (UN Women), Michelle Bachelet.  (Reliefweb)   Read More...

4 actual or potential conflict situations around the world deteriorated and none improved in September 2012, according to the new issue of CrisisWatch. Deteriorated Situations: China/Japan, Mali, Nagorno-Karabakh (Azerbaijan), Syria   Read More...

The UK government has spent millions of pounds on training military, police and security personnel from oppressive regimes that have arms embargoes in place.  In the last five years, Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo have received from the UK government £2.4m between them in training and support for military and defence personnel. (Guardian)   Read More...

Drones: the West's New Terror Campaign - The CIA's Predator drones are bringing to Pakistan the same horror that Hitler's doodlebugs inflicted on London. Until now, the most heated dispute has revolved around how many drone victims in the Pakistan border region are dangerous extremists, and how many children, women or men with no connection to any terrorist group. Living Under Drones, a new report from Stanford and New York universities. (Clive Stafford Smith,The Guardian, 25 /09/12)
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The International Day of Peace ("Peace Day") provides an opportunity for individuals, organizations and nations to create practical acts of peace on a shared date. It was established by a United Nations resolution in 1981 to coincide with the opening of the General Assembly

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Three Catholic peace activists were found guilty of criminal damage on Monday 3rd Sept, at Hammersmith Magistrates' Court. Ray Towey (aged 68) Henrietta Cullinan (aged 50) and Katrina Alton (aged 44) had been charged following their peace witness at the Ministry of Defence during Holy Week 2012. In a challenge to the UK's nuclear weapons policy, they marked the building with charcoal using the words "Trident Crucifies the Poor" and "Disarm Trident", and drew simple crosses. ( Ekklesia)   Read More...

7 actual or potential conflict situations around the world deteriorated ands none improved in August 2012, according to the new issue of CrisisWatch. Deteriorated Situations: Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea, Lebanon, India (non-Kashmir), Syria, Tunisia, Turkey   Read More...

That God is a God of just-peace not violence is the revelation of Christ and the real truth of Christianity, two leading church figures have said. The comments came as part of a conversation entitled 'The Spirituality and Practice of Peace in a World of War', held at St John's Episcopal Church in Edinburgh on 22 August 2012. The participants were Fr John Dear, a Catholic priest and Nobel Peace Prize nominee, and the Rev Kathy Galloway, head of Christian Aid Scotland and a former leader of the Iona Community.  (Ekklesia) 
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Andrew Feinstein, the Guardian on facebook 16 Aug 2012
The arms trade accounts for about 40% of corruption in all world trade. 'National security' is not a good enough defence. News that the Serious Fraud Office is investigating allegations of corruption in a deal between the UK government, GPT Special Project Management (a subsidiary of the arms company EADS), and Saudi Arabia is to be welcomed.   Read More...

Kathy Galloway and Fr. John Dear, SJ. A Festival of Spirituality and Peace Conversation. 22 August 6:30 - 7:30pm. St John’s Church, Edinburgh
Nobel Peace Prize nominee John Dear SJ, an internationally recognised teacher of nonviolence will speak with Kathy Galloway, head of Christian Aid and former leader of the Iona Community. Both are authors of numerous books and faith-based activists for peace and justice. They will speak about the practice of peacemaking in a world addicted to war and weaponry, and the gospel call for transformation of our militaristic culture. Further information from the Peace and Justice Centre 0131 229 0993 or email: contact@peaceandjustice.org.uk Tickets: £8.50 / £6.50 concession.   Read More...

Did you know that 60 percent of all violent deaths are due to small arms and light weapons? Small arms, such as revolvers, assault rifles and light machine guns, and ammunition represent a $8.5 billion industry. Google Ideas have created an amazing interactive data visualization of global small arms and ammunition trade to better understand and map the global arms trade.   Read More...

Both sides fighting in Aleppo may be held criminally accountable for their failures to protect the civilian population, says Amnesty International as the organisation released new satellite images showing the extent of heavy weapon use in the city.  The satellite images - from Aleppo and the surrounding area - show an increased use of heavy weaponry, including near residential areas. Amnesty said they raise urgent concerns over the assault on the beleaguered Syrian city. (Source Ekklesia)    Read More...

Killing, kidnapping, rape and displacement increases dramatically across two provinces. Millions of people in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo are now at the mercy of militias as the country's long-running conflict descends into widespread lawlessness with killing, kidnapping and abuse against the population at alarming levels, Oxfam warned. Rebel groups have taken control of vast swathes of the east, Oxfam said today, leaving a terrifying absence of state authority and security. Close to half a million people have fled their homes in the past four months and a humanitarian crisis has descended into "catastrophe".  Reliefweb, 07/08/12
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5 actual or potential conflict situations around the world deteriorated ands none improved in July 2012, according to the new issue of CrisisWatch. Deteriorated Situations: India (non-Kashmir), Madagascar ,Mali, Syria, Tajikistan. Download the full report: CrisisWatch N°108 http://www.crisisgroup.org/ ~/media/Files/ CrisisWatch/2012/cw108   Read More...

5 actual or potential conflict situations around the world deteriorated ands none improved in July 2012, according to the new issue of CrisisWatch. Deteriorated Situations: India (non-Kashmir), Madagascar ,Mali, Syria, Tajikistan. Download the full report: CrisisWatch N°108   Read More...

Hiroshima - Anniversary of Atomic Bomb. Hiroshima Day commemorates 6 August 1945, the day when an atomic bomb was dropped on the Japanese city of Hiroshima, followed a few days later by another dropped on the city of Nagasaki. Events will be held across Scotland to mark the anniversary of the destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki visit Scottish CND to find details
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The fight to end the illegal and irresponsible arms trade goes on after delegates at the United Nations failed to reach consensus and agree an Arms Trade Treaty.  The lack of agreement on a final text was disappointing but not the end of the story. In spite of the lack of agreement, momentum is gathering for an international and legally-binding treaty to bring the arms trade under control. Governments now have a second chance to make the treaty a reality by taking the text forward to the General Assembly, in the Autumn. To follow the UN negotiations through tracking of State's positions, blogs and analysis click here.    Read More...

2,000 people are killed EVERY DAY from arms. We need a bulletproof ATT that can help change that.
24 July, New York the first draft of the Arms Trade Treaty finally arrived. Unfortunately, while there were some points to celebrate, the text reflected the compromises and blocks which some sceptical countries have been arguing for since the conference began.  Read also 'The UK government must "get off its backside" on the Arms Trade Treaty!' Former UK Foriegn Secretary David Miliband in the Gaurdian 
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107 people were killed on 23 July and 268 injured in multiple bombings and shootings across Iraq as insurgents mainly targeted members of the majority Shia population in easily the bloodiest day of violence since US troops pulled out seven months ago. Attacks appeared to underline the capacity of an emboldened insurgency to exploit weaknesses in the country's security apparatus.
Indpendent, 24 July 2012    Read More...

In the first five months of 2012, a combination of factors has worsened humanitarian conditions in Afghanistan and further increased vulnerability of Afghans. While the reported security incidents for the first quarter of the year showed a 40% decrease from 2011, the number of people displaced by conflict has continued to rise. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), 86,360 people were displaced by conflict between January and April, representing a 5% increase compared to the same period in 2011. Reliefweb, 23/07/12    Read More...

Trident faces public opposition whether or not it is forced out of Scotland, experts told the House of Commons Defence Committee on 3 July 2012, as they offered varying visions on the likely impact of Scottish independence on the future of Britain's nuclear weapons system. The comments echoed the findings of a detailed report by CND on the lack of possible sites for relocation of Trident. (Source Ekklesia)   Read More...

5 actual or potential conflict situations around the world deteriorated ands none improved in June 2012, according to the new issue of CrisisWatch   Read More...

Philip Hammond, the Secretary of State for Defence, was called to the Commons  after trying to quietly announce a £1.1 billion investment contract in part to develop reactors for the Trident replacement submarines. The investment is part of a controversial plan to order the reactors before the go-ahead decision to construct the submarines has even been made - due to be in 2016.   Read More...

7 actual or potential conflict situations around the world deteriorated and 1 improved in May 2012, according to the new issue of CrisisWatch. Deteriorated Situations: DR Congo, Lebanon, Mali, Mexico, Nepal, Pakistan, Syria   Read More...

The United States has been accused of blocking a UN report which examines claims that Rwanda is fuelling a violent rebellion in neighbouring Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Congolese government said the UN group of experts' report is being stalled by Rwanda and its allies on the security council to protect President Paul Kagame.  Claims that Rwanda's military has been aiding a mutiny in eastern Congo led by the renegade general Bosco Ntaganda have been gathering momentum in recent weeks, with a leaked UN report followed by allegations from Human Rights Watch. guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 20 June 2012
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In keeping with ancient tradition, Britain, as the host nation of the 30th Modern Olympiad, is presently honouring 100 Days of Peace which began as a Sacred Truce back in 776BC. 50 days of peace enshroud both sides of this summer’s Games from 08 June to 27 July and 09 September to 28 October. Please consider joining with 1000’s of others in prayer and reflection for peace using
Your Journey to Peace published by Redemptorist Publications (www.rpbooks.co.uk) cost £1.00.     Read More...

The global trade in conventional weapons – from warships and battle tanks to fighter jets and machine guns – remains poorly regulated. No set of internationally agreed standards exist to ensure that arms are only transferred for appropriate use. Many governments have voiced concern about the absence of globally agreed rules for all Countries to guide their decisions on arms transfers. That is why they have started negotiating an Arms Trade Treaty. Preparations to address this issue have been underway since 2006 and will culminate in the Conference on an Arms Trade Treaty in July 2012.   Read More...

'For Christians, turning swords into ploughshares is not just a biblical injunction but an inspiration to our modern world to act against war and those who wage it.'  The Day of Prayer this year takes place on 3 June, the eve of the International day for Children as Victims of War. As Christians we are called to welcome children. Yet children are refugees, victims of war and want, child soldiers, victims of conflict and injustice, injured and killed by small arms and gun violence. This is not OK.   Read More...

EDM 95     DETENTION OF TORTURE SURVIVORS 
EDM 96     TRIDENT REPLACEMENT
EDM 117   HUMAN RIGHTS, DEVELOPMENT AND ARMS TRADE TREATY
  

Reuters reports that intensifying violence as NATO combat troops prepare to leave by end-2014 and a poor economic outlook in the face of shrinking aid could spell a humanitarian disaster for Afghanistan. Even in the capital Kabul, there are 35,000 internal refugees living in 30 makeshift camps. Amnesty International says 400 Afghans become internally displaced every day, and the organisation predicts this number will swell.

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Pat Gaffney, General Secretary of Pax Christi, has been attending these Annual Meetings since the mid-1990s when BAE were involved in the sale of Hawk Aircraft to Indonesia, at that time an occupying force in East Timor. Pat said: I raised questions to challenge their deep involvement with Saudi Arabia where defence spending is very high. I wanted to know why they continue with this when they speak of the financial risks of working in the Middle East, and in their own words, the political instability and civil disturbance in the region. I wanted to know if by this they meant the search for democracy and human rights that we see in Bahrain, Egypt and elsewhere? I also wanted confirmation that their 200 Tactica Vehicles, sold to the National Guard of Saudi Arabia,had not been used against protestors in Bahrain last year. Dick Olver, the Chair, was unable to give this.   Read More...

The Fairtrade Foundation has expressed outrage and shock at the news that Israel has ordered nine Palestinian olive farmers of Deir Istiya, Salfit on the West Bank to uproot 1,400 olive trees in Wadi Qana area by 1 May 2012. For farmers in this district olives are the primary source of income. Harriet Lamb, Executive Director of the Fairtrade Foundation said: ‘We are dismayed and appalled at this devastating news of what is a blatant act of aggression attacking people’s livelihoods. Sign the petition   Read More...

12 actual or potential conflict situations around the world deteriorated and 2 improved in April 2012, according to the new issue of CrisisWatch. Deteriorated Situations: Bahrain, DR Congo, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Guinea-Bissau, Macedonia, Mali, North Korea, Pakistan, South Sudan, Sudan.  Download the full report:  Crisis Watch 105   Read More...

The world is less peaceful for the third straight year, due to an increased threat of terrorist attacks in 29 nations and a greater likelihood of violent demonstrations in 33 countries. The fall in peacefulness in this year's Index is strongly tied to conflict between citizens and their governments rather than conflicts with other nations.   Read More...

A Quaker has interrupted a speech by Business Secretary Vince Cable to deliver his own impromptu speech against the government’s support for the arms industry. Sam Walton took the stage at an arms dealers’ conference and spoke for about a minute before being dragged away. The incident occurred on the 26 April in at the annual symposium of the Defence & Security Organisation (DSO), the arms trade wing of UK Trade and Investment (UKTI), a unit of Cable’s department. (Ekklesia)

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A report by Professor Malcolm Chalmers, defence policy director of the influential Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), has questioned whether an independent Scotland could remove Trident nuclear weapons from their base on the Clyde and remain in NATO.  The report, was commissioned by the 'Scotland on Sunday' newspaper, The report is published as the Scottish Nationalist Party (SNP) prepares to debate  whether to retain its long standing policy of opposition to NATO membership at its party conference in June.   Read More...

9 actual or potential conflict situations around the world deteriorated and 2 improved in March 2012, according to the new issue of CrisisWatch.  Deteriorated Situations:  Afghanistan, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Yemen.  Download the full report: Crisis Watch 104   Read More...

Please support Scottish CND's new campaign "No Nuclear Weapons Here". SCND want people to add their pin to their map to show that people in every corner of the country want to see nuclear disarmament. Put yourself on the map if you want to see a Scotland which is free of nuclear weapons.  Today all British nuclear weapons are based on the Clyde

http://www.naenuclear.org/   Read More...

Malawi President Bingu wa Mutharika has rejected calls from faith groups to resign following a political and economic crisis that has rocked the southern African nation - writes Frank Jomo.
A delegation of civil society organisations meeting at a national conference organised by the Public Affairs Committee (PAC) on 15 March demanded that Mutharika "resign honorably within 90 days or if he thinks he is still popular, he should call for a referendum within the 90 days. Failure to follow this will call for mass action."  Ekklesia   Read More...

More than one person dies every minute from armed violence. 2 out of 3 people killed by armed violence die in countries at peace. Add your voice to the Thousands supporting the Global Arms Trade Treaty. Control Arms in partnership with Reaching Critical Will, has built an interactive tool to track all States' positions on key issues in the ATT negotiations called armstreaty.org. It also allows you – the user – to help fill in the gaps.   Read More...

Lent is a good time to focus on some of the injustices facing the faith communities of Jerusalem. On 30 March Pax Christi will be part of the delegation presenting the Act Now for Jerusalem petition to Downing Street. It is not too late to sign the petition on-line here or download from the Pax Christi website at http://www.paxchristi.org.uk/wall1.php.
  

The Easter Witness for Peace will take place at the gates of the Faslane nuclear submarine base at 12 noon on Saturday 31 March, which is the day before Palm Sunday. This will be a safe and friendly event, for all ages and is especially designed for those who have not been to Faslane before.  The event is organised by Scottish Clergy Against Nuclear Arms (SCANA), Bishop Toal will be among the speakers   Read More...

On 21st March Chancellor George Osborne will be announcing the 2012 budget. Money is tight, and no doubt austerity will be the guiding principle, but in the meantime the UK is spending £100 billion on nuclear weapons.Tell George Osborne: It's Time to Cut Trident. Cuts across public services are causing real pain but billions are being poured into the replacement programme for the UK's Trident nuclear weapons. Tell him that this is the spending cut you support.   Read More...

A Human Rights Watch report on Israel’s Control of Palestinian Residency in the West Bank and Gaza. This report describes the arbitrary exclusion by the Israeli military of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians since 1967 and documents the impact that exclusion continues to have on individuals and families.   Read More...

The number of civilians killed in the conflict rose eight per cent last year to reach 3,021 - with more than three-quarters caused by attacks from the Taliban-led insurgency. The findings that on average more than eight Afghans a day are being killed are at odds with Nato assessments that violence is falling. Deaths from suicide attacks rose more than 80 per cent to 431 over the year. The number of suicide attacks did not rise, but "the nature of these attacks changed, becoming more complex, sometimes involving multiple suicide bombers, and designed to yield greater numbers of dead and injured civilians" the report found. Ben Farmer, Telegraph, 04/02/12   Read More...

Seven actual or potential conflict situations around the world deteriorated and two improved in January 2012, according to the new issue of CrisisWatch   Read More...

Use CND's online tool to ask the Foreign Secretary William Hague to make a new disarmament commitment at this May's nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) meeting in Vienna.
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On 19th January, a meeting took place at Lambeth Palace in London between key representatives from the churches and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and his delegation. Ekklesia associate, regional exoert and churches' adviser Dr Harry Hagopian, who was present, reflects on the issues raised and the spirit of the gathering. (Ekklesia 21 Jan 2012)   Read More...

Ten actual or potential conflict situations around the world deteriorated and one improved in December 2011, according to the new issue of CrisisWatch   Read More...

Armed rebel groups active in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) derive their funds from several sources, notably trade in natural resources, but also ordinary commerce and illegal taxation, according to a report by a United Nations group of experts unveiled on 4 January 2012.   Read More...