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The Scottish peace movement gets into gear
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THE Scottish peace movement will be kicking off the winter with a series of activities over November.
This Saturday, November 1, Scottish CND are organising an all-day conference called Stop the Nuclear Nightmare in Adelaide Baptist Church at 209 Bath Street in Glasgow city centre.
The conference aims to bring together campaigners against nuclear weapons, economic justice and climate change to discuss the cost of nuclear weapons to jobs, security, public health and the environment.
The conference is a very timely reminder that 260 nuclear warheads are based at Faslane and Coulport on the River Clyde.
Research indicates that if there was a nuclear weapons exchange involving these dreadful weapons radiation would be blown across an area from Helensburgh to Clydebank, Glasgow, Paisley, Stirling and Dundee.
It is clear that the effects of the use of nuclear weapons would be cataclysmic and last for generations.
Scottish CND has also scheduled its AGM to take place on Saturday November 15.
The AGM will elect office bearers and hear reports relating to the work of Scottish CND over the past year.
The AGM is an opportunity for Scottish CND members and affiliated organisations to put forward resolutions on the future priorities and policies of Scottish CND.
The AGM will also have a number of interesting speakers including Laura Pidcock from Declassified UK and professor Karen Bell — the editor and major contributor to the recently published Alternative Defence Review.
This review is an important document which looks at how increased military spending fuels global instability and undermines international law.
The review also makes a compelling case for a defence strategy which gives a priority to diplomacy and conflict resolution.
November will also see the Scottish Peace Network hold three anti war vigils in Glasgow, Paisley and Irvine.
Stop the War Scotland will also be stepping up their Welfare not Warfare Campaign during November with a series of information stalls and public meetings in various parts of the country.
During November Scottish CND and other peace movement groups will continue to support the case for Peace and Justice for the Palestinian people via attendance at demonstrations and other activities.
Although it is clear that we live in challenging times for individuals and organisations working for a peaceful world, it should also be acknowledged that Scottish CND and the wider peace movement are working hard to achieve this goal.
In these troubled times the Scottish peace movement and the peace movement across the UK are needed more than ever.
Arthur West is former chair of Scottish CND. For details (and booking) of Scottish CND — Stop the Nuclear Nightmare conference this Saturday, November 1 2025 and the Scottish CND AGM on Saturday November 15 are available on the Scottish CND website at www.banthebomb.org.
