Peace & Disarmament

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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A new report from Scottish CND shows that if Scotland voted for independence and maintained its anti-nuclear position then Britain would be left without any nuclear weapons. The report was also the subject of an article in the Guardian Read the full report here   Read More...

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...

During his Homily for Midnight Mass  at Westminster Cathedral Archbishop Vincent prayed for 50 families in Beit Jala on the West Bank who face losing their land and homes - as Israel completes the separation wall across the district of Bethlehem.   Read More...

Message from Pax Christi. During this Advent and Christmas, we invite you to share in these times of hope and change. In the past we made a call for sending wishes and prayers, now we invite you to exchange stories for peace. These can be short, about a situation in the world or about your own life. What they will have in common is a message of peace and justice, nonviolence and bridge building that have offered hope and inspiration.
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MPs will be discussing nuclear weapons in a debate on "The cost of Trident nuclear missile and submarine replacement" at 4.30 pm on Wednesday 7 December in Westminster Hall, House of Commons. The debate has been initiated by Jeremy Corbyn MP, Vice Chair of CND.
Please use this opportunity to contact your MP about the billions of pounds that are being wasted on nuclear weapons.   Read More...

Eight actual or potential conflict situations around the world deteriorated and four improved in November 2011, according to the new issue of CrisisWatch.
Deteriorated Situations: Afghanistan, Burundi, DR Congo, Kosovo, Pakistan, South Sudan,  Sudan, Syria   Read More...

Dundee Churches for Justice and Peace is holding a peace service for the Holy Land on Saturday   10th December in the City Square, Dundee at 3pm.  The service will include prayer, song and reflection. Dundee Churches for Justice and Peace is an ecumenical group which includes representation from the Church of Scotland, the Roman Catholic church and the Scottish Episcopal Church. There is no political agenda other than a desire for reconciliation.   

World church leaders have met in Edinburgh, to discuss plans to rid the world of nuclear weapons and to hold discussions with civic and political leaders. Earlier this week the leaders met with Bruce Crawford MSP and Cabinet Secretary for Parliamentary Business and Government Strategy to find out about the context of the nuclear debate in Scotland and the impact of the independence debate. The World Council of Churches group have also held talks with the Cross Party Group for Nuclear Disarmament in the Scottish Parliament.   Read More...

VATICAN CITY, NOV. 10, 2011 (Zenit.org).- At a meeting with religious leaders from Israel, Benedict XVI affirmed that a rightly lived relationship with God is a force for peace. A delegation of Israel's Council of Religious Communities met with the Pope at the Vatican, representing Christian, Jewish, Muslim and Druze communities.    Read More...

Newly uncovered documents by Jubilee Debt Campaign reveal that Vince Cable’s Department for Business is still demanding money from the Egyptian government in payment for loans made to General Mubarak to allow him to buy arms.  Egypt owes £100 million to the Export Credits Guarantee Department (ECGD), nicknamed ‘the Department for Dodgy Deals’ because of its support for arms, aviation and fossil fuels.   Read More...

Deteriorated Situations: Kenya, Philippines, Somalia, Yemen   Read More...

One of the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize winners, Leymah Gbowee, a Liberian activist who helped bring her country out of a brutal civil war, says that the best way to achieve global peace is to start in local communities. "It is time for us to do justice in our communities ... one day the world's problems will meet you at your doorstep," she said at the Interchurch Center in New York.   Read More...

8 actual or potential conflict situations around the world deteriorated in September 2011, according to the latest issue of the International Crisis Group's monthly bulletin CrisisWatch.   Read More...

Labour's Shadow Trade Minister Wilf Stevenson has said it is "completely bonkers" that the Ministry of Defence (MoD) effectively lobbies within government for the interests of private arms companies.   Read More...

The United Nations World Day for Peace is also known as 'Peace One Day' check out the website to find out how you can take part   

Arms Trade
The UK government exports arms to Algeria, Iraq, Libya, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates; Put your MP to work demand they sign EDM 2166. Early Day Motions are very good ways of raising issues in parliament, which may not get debated in normal sittings of parliament. You can contact your MP for free, through: WriteToThem.Com   Read More...

George Square, Glasgow, 17 September 11am - 2pm
Make Peace Festival with speakers, stalls and entertainment. The centre piece of the event will be at 12 Noon when there will be the formation of a Human Peace Chain as a symbol that Scotland rejects nuclear weapons.  This is part of a series of events which will take place around the world to mark the UN International Day of Peace which is 4 days later on 21 September   Read More...

The world's arms industry is descending on London from 13-16 September. Acres of weaponry, from fighter jets and battleships to drones and tear gas, will be on display to thousands of visitors in an immense arms dealing extravaganza. Take action with CAAT to stop the arms fair and stop arming repressive regimes.   Read More...

5 actual or potential conflict situations around the world deteriorated in August 2011, according to the latest issue of the International Crisis Group's monthly bulletin CrisisWatch.   Read More...

Sunday 11 September 2011
CAAT Christian Network Day of Prayer: This year's Christian Network Day of Prayer will take place on the eve of DSEi, one of the world's largest arms fairs, and on a poignant date ten years from the attacks on the twin towers: Sunday 11 September 2011. Many will already be reflecting on the legacy of that day: two illegal wars, increased inter-community tension, and an increasingly militarised approach to security. Please put the date in your diary, and download materials to encourage reflection in your Christian community   Read More...

The UN Security Council's response to the recent bloodshed in Syria is deeply inadequate, Amnesty International says, after the council released a statement condemning the Syrian government's deadly crackdown on protesters. The UN statement called for an end to violence and said it "condemned the widespread violation of human rights by the Syrian authorities", but fell short of taking decisive action. The call was issued as a presidential statement, which is not legally binding.   Read More...

8 actual or potential conflict situations around the world deteriorated in July 2011, according to the latest issue of the International Crisis Group's monthly bulletin CrisisWatch.   Read More...

7 actual or potential conflict situations around the world deteriorated in June 2011, according to the latest issue of  CrisisWatch.   Read More...

Lawyers acting on behalf of Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) have written to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) laying out their intention to request a judicial review of his department's failure to revoke any licences for the export of military equipment to Saudi Arabia, despite evidence that UK-manufactured armoured vehicles have been deployed by the Saudi government in Bahrain to help suppress democracy protesters. The UK government's export licensing criteria states that it will "not issue an export licence if there is a clear risk that the proposed export might be used for internal repression".   Read More...

Peace campaigners across Britain have been remembering anti-war activist Brian Haw, who died of cancer at the weekend. They want a permanent memorial in Parliament Square. Mr Haw, who is survived by his former wife Kay, and seven children, set up a high profile camp opposite the Houses of Parlaiment in 2001, in protest against UK and US wars in Afghanistan, Iraq and elsewhere.    Read More...

International lawyers have identified an existing but previously unacknowledged requirement in law for those who use or authorise the use of drone strikes to record and announce who has been killed and injured in each attack. The finding is contained in a new report, 'Drone Attacks, International Law, and the Recording of Civilian Casualties of Armed Conflict', published today (23 June) by London-based think tank Oxford Research Group (ORG).   Read More...

Britain's ongoing operations against Muammar Gaddafi have cost around £260 million, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed. By Alex Stevenson at politics.co.uk   Read More...

Peace activists convicted for nuclear protest at AWE Aldermaston Three Christian peace protesters were convicted on 21 June at Newbury Magistrates Court of Criminal Trespass under the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act (SOCPA), and Criminal Damage. The convictions follow a protest at the Atomic Weapons Establishment in September 2010 organised by the Catholic Worker movement. The three, Susan Clarkson (64), Chris Cole (47) both from Oxford, and Fr Martin Newell (42) from London were Conditional Discharged for 18 months and ordered to pay £553 each costs and compensation.   Read More...

Ask your MP to sign EDM 1924 'Trident Review'
The Trident 'initial gate' report has announced that the expected cost of building the new nuclear weapon submarines has doubled from that first announced. The case for a full review of the policy is now clearer than ever.  Ask your MP to sign EDM 1924 'Trident Review' calling for a full reconsideration before the construction of replacement submarines begins. With cuts to spending hitting all areas of the public sector we must make it clear to MPs just how unacceptable it is to refuse to reconsider Britain's possession of nuclear weapons.   

Scottish CND Publication
The latest issue of Nuclear Free Scotland looks at the opportunities presented by the results of the Scottish election and includes articles from MSPs Elaine Smith, Jean Urquhart and Alison Johnstone.  It also has reports on the latest developments with Trident, nuclear submarine safety, and a recent Scotland's for Peace conference on Afghanistan.   Read More...

7 actual or potential conflict situations around the world deteriorated in May 2011, according to the latest issue of  CrisisWatch.   Read More...

International Crisis Group, 02/06/11
As US troops are primed to leave Iraq and the situation in Iraq's disputed territories remains unresolved, the likelihood of escalating tensions along the so-called trigger line increases. While communication and cooperation between Iraqi army and Kurdish regional guard forces has improved, they continue to face off across this unmarked line of control, which meanders through an elongated territory that is rich in ethnic diversity and, by twist of nature, oil, stretching from the Syrian to the Iranian border. Their tenuous relationship could come unglued when the US presence in their midst changes from military to civilian at the end of this year.   Read More...

The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament condemned the decision to authorise billions of pounds of further spending on the Trident replacement programme, prior to the major decision point on the nuclear weapons system, not due to be taken until 2016. However, CND welcomed the launch of a government study into alternatives to Trident, to be led by Lib Dem Defence Minister Nick Harvey as providing the opportunity for other options – so far excluded for reasons of dogma rather than on an evidential basis – to be considered.   Read More...

11 actual or potential conflict situations around the world deteriorated in April 2011, according to the latest issue of the International Crisis Group's monthly bulletin CrisisWatch.   Read More...

In a world where any level of state violence is deemed acceptable (so long as it’s ours) it is good to find a dissenting voice to the unholy myth of redemptive violence. See the Vatican response http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/14683 and a valuable reflection by Simon Barrow
http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/14686   

Pope Benedict XVI appealed for peace in the Middle East, and especially in Libya, during his Urbi et Orbi message on Easter Sunday.
“May the splendor of Christ reach the peoples of the Middle East,” the Pope prayed, after proclaiming the joy of the Resurrection. He called for a diplomatic rather than military solution to the conflict in Libya, and urged help for the civilians caught up in the fighting.   Read More...

Church leaders in Ivory Coast say they are preparing to respond to urgent humanitarian needs as the country adjusts to the deposition of former dictator Laurent Gbagbo on 11 April 2011, and the accession of democratically-elected president Alassane Ouattara   Read More...

16 April 2011

Here at the gates of Faslane, there is no better place to say that it is not courageous of Britain to have these dreadful weapons of massdestruction. It is shameful to have them. If our government wished to trulybe courageous it would unilaterally give up its nuclear deterrent, givingthe witness and impetus for other nations to do the same.

Trident is fast becoming obsolete, and we have the chance now to do theright thing and give it up. We have the chance to be peacemakers, echoingthe Easter desire of Jesus Christ for a lasting peace. We will all, I trust,continue working and praying together for this, and I thank you for thiswitness you all give today. May God bless each of you with deep peace, thisHoly Week and at Easter.   Read More...

ForcesWatch is a new network that challenges the ethics of military recruitment and questions government initiatives, such as Armed Forces Day, which seek to manufacture a climate of uncritical national pride in the armed forces in order to garner public support for foreign policy.   Read More...

Pope Benedict XVI issued an urgent appeal yesterday,  for military and political leaders to consider the safety of civilians during the attack on Libya   Read More...

Scottish CND has obtained a key Ministry of Defence document which explains why the Trident Replacement Initial Gate decision, due in September 2009, has been delayed for 18 months. The paper also reveals that the reactors on current British submarines are sub-standard.   Read More...

As reports by Human Rights Watch and formal documentation from the UN Human Rights Commission decry the worsening human rights situation in Côte d’Ivoire, many Ivoirians IRIN spoke with in Abidjan are appalled by recent acts of gruesome violence.   Read More...

Sign the online petition
The UK's scandalous approach to arms sales is in the spotlight. As protests against authoritarian regimes across the Middle East have been met with violent repression, CAAT has exposed the UK's role in arming the region. Right now, the government is under pressure and with your help we have a tremendous opportunity to turn that pressure into change   Read More...

In a landmark case human rights activists hope will reduce a culture of impunity for sex crimes in the beleaguered central African country, a military court has convicted a lieutenant colonel in the Congolese army to 20 years' imprisonment for mass rapes committed on New Year's Day. Simon Akam, Independent, Tuesday, 22 February 2011   Read More...

UK arms sales to Middle East include tear gas and crowd control ammunition to Bahrain and Libya
As protests against authoritarian regimes across the Middle East are met with violent repression, Campaign Against Arms Trade highlights the UK's role in arming the regimes.   Read More...

The Trade Union Prospect say that "Pressure to make cuts [at Faslane] was greater than the pressure to maintain a safe nuclear environment". Steve Jary, national secretary of the union was worried about the impact of moving nuclear safety posts into the private sector. The MoD's internal regulator is already concerned about safety procedures at the base. This latest news comes after a series of incidents, including the grounding of the Navy's newest submarine, HMS Astute, on Skye.

This was reported by Rob Edwards in the Sunday Herald   Read More...

Four actual or potential conflict situations around the world deteriorated and two improved in January 2011, according to the latest issue of the International Crisis Group's monthly bulletin CrisisWatch.   Read More...

A Christian activist has been imprisoned following a nonviolent protest against the arms trade. Chris Cole was today (19 January) sentenced to 30 days in prison at Westminster Central Magistrates’ Court, London for non-payment of a fine resulting from his opposition to a conference of arms dealers.   Read More...

February 2011 edition now available online.   Read More...

Campaigners and commentators have pointed out that the government's National Security Strategy, published yesterday (18 October) undermines the case for renewing the Trident nuclear weapons system, to which ministers are committed.   Read More...

The BBC has reported that the Main Gate decision on the Trident replacement programme will be put back from 2014 to 2015, beyond the next general election. However this does not mean that Trident is on hold. A different decision, the Initial Gate, is imminent.   Read More...

Keeping Trident will cause defence job losses.   Read More...

Cardinal Keith Patrick O'Brien - The Hexham Debates Series, 20 FEBRUARY 2010, St. Mary’s Church, Hexham   Read More...

Christians have joined with other faith groups to issue a “call to repentance” over the manufacture of nuclear weapons. Protesting at the Aldermaston Atomic Weapons Establishment in Berkshire yesterday (15 February), they declared that “the power of Trident is an affront to the power of God”.   Read More...

Scottish church leaders have intensified pressure on the Government to abandon plans to renew the Trident nuclear weapons system.   Read More...

The Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, has been criticised for avoiding the issue of Trident in his speech to the Labour Party conference yesterday (29 September).   Read More...

The prime minister has told the United Nations that he is willing to cut the UK's fleet of Trident missile-carrying submarines from four to three.   Read More...

New research published by Greenpeace and backed by senior politicians has warned that the cost of replacing the UK’s Trident nuclear weapons system will be over £95 billion – in contrast to the roughly £20 billion earmarked by the government.   Read More...

Reception on 13 November 2009 in the Scottish Parliament for delegates attending the NATO Parliamentary Assembly   Read More...

The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament today welcomed the formation of a new grouping of ex-ministers and retired senior military officers calling for multilateral nuclear disarmament.   Read More...

Scrap Trident, voters tell Brown. Money should go on health and education instead, survey finds. Article from The Independent.   Read More...

The Sunday Times has published a new poll which shows 61% of Scots are opposed to replacing Trident while only 24 % support the proposal. The survey of 1,040 people was carried out by MRUK between 7 and 13 August. Those who are opposed also hold their views more vociferously. 29% are strongly opposed to Trident replacement, plus 32% opposed. In contrast only 7% strongly supported the idea, with a further 17% saying they supported it.   Read More...

CND has called on new Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth MP to recognise how unpopular the government's Trident plans are and to delay the 'Initial Gate' decision as his first act in the job.   Read More...

The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament today gave a mixed reaction to Gordon Brown's speech on nuclear power and nuclear proliferation.   Read More...

Transcript of a speech given by the Prime Minister on 17 March 2009   Read More...

How the UK's export licensing system facilitates the arms trade
A report by researcher Anna Stavrianakis. This new CAAT publication is ideal for anyone who has struggled to understand or reconcile the wide variety of government, campaign organisation and media pronouncements on the issue of arms control.   Read More...

"The Family Is the First and Indispensable Teacher of Peace"
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Remarks by Margaret Beckett, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, United Kingdom Carnegie International Nonproliferation Conference June 25, 2007   Read More...

Scottish CND welcomed the decision by the Scottish Parliament to say No to Trident.   Read More...

The leading Protestant and Catholic church leaders in Scotland have renewed their criticism on Britain’s commitment to nuclear weapons and have called for a major non-proliferation effort – echoing similar calls from civic and peace campaigners.   Read More...

How Scottish MPs voted...   Read More...

National Secretary, Richard McCready's article in the Scotsman, 12 March 2007   Read More...

"We are writing to you on behalf of Scotland’s major Churches to voice our opposition to the replacement of the Trident Nuclear Weapons System..."   Read More...

Speech by Cardinal O’Brien   Read More...

Trident Defence White Paper   Read More...

The Bishops’ Conference of Scotland has condemned the Government’s decision to go ahead with the renewal of the Trident missile system.   Read More...

National Secretary Richard McCready and the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, Alan McDonald, hand over our petition against the replacement of Trident to the Ministry of Defence.   Read More...

Statement from the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales. English and Welsh Catholic Bishops Call on UK Government to Set the Example by Decommissioning Nuclear Weapons   Read More...

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The full text of Cardinal O'Brien's remarks at the end of the "Long walk for Peace". The Cardinal participated in a symbolic ‘foot washing’ for marchers at 1.00pm, at St John’s Episcopal Church, Princes Street, before walking to the Scottish Parliament for a rally at 3.00pm.   Read More...

Archbishop Mario Conti joined marchers taking part in the Long Walk for Peace from Faslane to the Scottish Parliament. The Archbishop walked with the marchers to Helensburgh and delivered a short address at Helensburgh Pier, before handing over a letter to be delivered to the Scottish Parliament.   Read More...

Cardinal welcomes 'heartening and encouraging letter'   Read More...

An ICM poll commissioned by the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament shows that 59% of British people oppose the replacement of Trident, Britain’s nuclear weapons system. The poll results demonstrate a 5% increase in public opposition to Trident replacement over an identically phrased question from a MORI/Greenpeace poll from September 2005.   Read More...

A useful article by Paul Rogers giving political background to the proposals to replace Trident   Read More...

Statement by the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Scotland. 11 April 2006   Read More...