Dear London CND supporter
I’m writing to ask for your financial support in the busy year ahead. London CND faces big challenges – the return of US nuclear weapons to Lakenheath, Britain’s role in the new cold war, which is the subject of our upcoming annual conference, and deescalating the drift towards nuclear war posed by the Ukraine crisis. We also have some important opportunities – expanding support in Britain for the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, and last but by no means least, continuing to press our government to abandon Trident.
Our activities in 2021 were marked by strong actions and creative ways of attracting new audiences to our message. There’s a short account of this below. We plan to keep up the pace this year too.
Activities began with a London CND Annual Conference, exploring Britain’s international role in the context of the AUKUS, with guests from America and Australia adding their perspective on the new tripartite treaty. An AGM followed, which agreed to expand our committee meetings to include reps from all London CND groups. As #KillTheBill protests kicked off, we hosted an explanatory session with one of London CND’s Vice-Presidents Baroness Jenny Jones, who was instrumental in the House of Lords voting down some of the worst elements of the bill.
With the covid ban lifted, we demonstrated side by side with sister struggles, such as Palestinian solidarity, and highlighted the discrepancy between the urgent need to prioritise welfare spending as opposed to the nuclear spending spree heralded by the Integrated Review and the military spending hike the Ukraine War represented. As the cost of living crisis grew, London CND joined protests organised by the People’s Assembly and the TUC, under the banner of Nurses Not Nukes and Wages Not Weapons.
In line with our priorities, we deepened our social media presence, producing explanatory videos such as NATO Debunked, a format we re-employed when the return of US nukes to Britain was announced. As we organised transport to RAF Lakenheath, we recorded a last video from Bruce Kent, just before his sad death, encouraging everyone to join the protest.
We held our traditional Hiroshima Day commemoration in Tavistock Square and supported the London Peace Pagoda’s Nagasaki Day ceremony. Thanks to London Coordinator Julie’s creative campaigning, we also developed a partnership with the Victoria and Albert Museum, with an exclusive tour of the museum’s archive of anti-nuclear posters with artist Peter Kennard. A second event brought a cultural angle on the horrors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki with Bombs and Monsters, exploring the links between Japanese mythology and the nuclear bomb.
In September, we led national CND’s creation of a TikTok account, launching with a comedy video confronting the Labour Party’s pro-nuclear stance and another made for the Just Stop Oil month of action, highlighting the links with militarism. In November, London CND joined forces with Yorkshire CND and Drone Wars UK, to organise an in-person Future War: the shape of things to come conference, aimed at scientist and science students. After an xmas break we’ll kick off activities again with an annual conference on New Cold War Challenges on Saturday 14th January, an AGM, and a New Year get together over supper in Waterloo on Friday 27th January.
London CND is self-financing, so I hardly need say we’re relying on your support to see us through 2023. We recognise it’s going to be a difficult year for everyone, please donate if you can, or better still make a regular financial commitment, by completing the form. If you make a bank transfer, please reference it ‘Appeal’; if you’re sending a cheque or setting up a standing order, please return it to Phil Sedler, London CND Treasurer, 6 Headlam Street, E1 5RT.
With warm wishes,
Carol Turner
London CND Co-Chair