UN Peace Day in Bromley

Each year the International Day of Peace (IDP) is observed around the world on the 21st of September. The day was first established in 1981 and is devoted to strengthening the idea of peace, through observing 24 hours of non-violence and cease-fire. Never has our world needed peace more.

This year, the SE London Network for Peace, Justice and Solidarity organised an event at Bromley Friends Meeting House. On the programme: music, poetry, films, speakers and stalls.

A great effort by all to create more awareness about working for peace!

London CND at the V&A archives, with Peter Kennard

On Thursday 9th June 2022, London CND had the immense priviledge of being given access to some of the Victoria and Albert Museum’s collection of anti-nuclear posters, in the presence of the artist Peter Kennard.

After a few minutes of perusing through a rich layout of posters from CND, Greenpeace and many other organisations from Germany to the USA, our group of 25 gathered up to listen to Peter Kennard.

Throughout the 1970s and 80s Peter Kennard’s hugely powerful photomontages ensured that the movement, and the striking imagery that came to represent it, were etched onto the public consciousness.

Peter has gone on to become one of Britain’s leading political artists, creating work which has come to define modern protest.

His iconic, haunting images have appeared in publications such as New Scientist, The Guardian, New Statesmen and many more.

It was fascinating to hear about the behind-the-scenes of how Peter produced his striking collages with kids’ toys, cardboard and many other unexpected elements.

We were shocked to hear that CND had to take a reactionary campaign to court for violating the copyright of one of these posters - only to be told by the judges that the copyright couldn’t be violated on the ground that “there wasn’t enough artistic thinking behind the poster”!

Through this rich collection of posters, we are reminded that the struggle for nuclear disarmament is as pressing as ever. While the UK already owns hundreds of nuclear bombs 8 times more powerful than the ones dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the UK government announced an increase of 40% of its nuclear stockpile in 2021. Furthermore, while the Ukraine war saw direct threats of nuclear escalation, the news broke out last month that US nuclear weapons would return to the base of Lakenheath in Suffolk, 100km from London.

As our Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament continues, the need for impactful imagery and design persists.

We are very grateful to the V&A archivist Zorian for working with us on this event and preparing the posters, and to Peter Kennard for his haunting work and fascinating presentation.

Peace One Day Report - Ann Garrett

Peace One Day Report  - 2021, by Ann Garrett

This was a virtual event on September  21st and was kindly facilitated by Julia Saumagne of London Region CND.

The evening began with music from Nick Jeffries  and the Gillies [ Susan Turner and Mark Evans ] followed by Hanifa Smith who spoke about the Woodcraft Folk and their involvement in human rights and peace issues. She showed film excerpts  to illustrate this.

There was also music from Paul Steele and Curtis Savage , and poems from Richard Hart, Patricia Mc Kinnon - Lower, Roisin Robertson, Leon and Ben Silver and Ann Garrett .

Kirsten Bayes  - Senior Outreach Worker for CAAT  spoke about the immoral Arms Fair and the Uk’s profits from selling weapons to Saudi Arabia, as a result of which millions have died , especially in the Yemen.

David Leal showed part of a film of the work of the Peace One Day organisation, who campaigned to get the UN to pass a resolution to make September 21st each year  a global day of peace and non violence. Their work has a great influence in countries  throughout the world . especially with young people and in third world communities . They have recently been focussing on human rights situations resulting from climate change.

We were grateful to David Leal, Mike Coulston and other technicians for their competences throughout the evening and to all those who attended and participated,  sharing their talents and messages in working to make changes in an increasingly challenging world .

Gini  Bevan and Ann Garrett [ chair and member of the SE London Peace , Justice and Solidarity Network ].

Future Wars: videos from the conference

The Future Wars conference explored the impact of new technologies on war and it took place on the 10th November at Birkbeck University of London. Below you can watch video clips from some of our amazing speakers!

Join London CND for our 2019 conference!

We’re really excited to announce the details of this year’s London CND conference - with the theme ‘Trump’s finger on the nuclear button.’

We’ll be exploring themes of global conflict, nuclear escalation and grassroots resistance, with speakers including Catherine West MP, Ambassador Husam Zomlot, and Medea Benjamin from Code Pink USA.

Tickets are free, and you can book yours here.

We look forward to seeing you!

Young activists meet London CND's vice-presidents at Parliamentary reception

On Monday, Parliament’s Jubilee Room was filled with enthusiastic young activists from London universities, come to hear from our vice-presidents about getting involved with London CND.

We were kindly hosted by Catherine West MP, who spoke alongside Jenny Jones and Bruce Kent about their support for the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament.

The event was attended by students from universities including University College London, University of the Arts London and Pearsons Business College, as well as Catherine West’s alma mater, the School of Oriental and African Studies. It was a great opportunity for students to meet other activists, and find out about starting their own university CND societies with the support of London CND.

Before the drinks reception, a small group of students was given a private tour of the House of Lords by Jenny Jones, Baroness of Moulsecoomb, who is another of London CND’s vice-presidents.

You can see more photos from the event on our facebook page.

The Man Who Saved The World: Film Screening

Welcome to this blog entry from Lydia!

You might have heard about my time here with London CND from my previous blog. Last Monday, I had the opportunity to help out with London CND’s screening of The Man Who Saved The World, part of our  annual ceremony to commemorate the victims of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. With 50 people attending, many of whom have been members for decades, it was truly inspiring to see everyone come together for the purpose of remembering those who were lost to violence, and maintaining the endeavor for peace.

Catherine West MP speaking at the start of our film screening

The evening started with a warm welcome and talk from Catherine West MP; a woman admirably passionate about the fight against nuclear weapons. She gave a heartfelt speech followed by a  reading of an extract from Fallout, by Fred Pearce, a book which explored the detrimental effects of nuclear energy since dropping the first atomic bomb.

The movie began afterwards. Before our eyes played the story of Stanislav Petrov, the man who on 26 September 1983 - a time when the US-Soviet relations were severely strained -  prevented not only the start of a nuclear holocaust, but also the end of the world as we know it. Throughout the movie flashed images that reveal the real impacts of nuclear weapons. It stressed that these  are not merely a hypothetical issue, but an issue that threatens human extinction by the minute. They are the ingredients to a war which can never be won. The documentary included a mention of a US nuclear missile that really solidified the room’s perception of nuclear weapons. The soldier introducing the missile to Stanislav Petrov described the damage: if all the bombs dropped on both sides of WW2 were combined into a single missile, it would only cause 60% of the damage caused by this one. These were the kinds of missiles that threatened human existence in 1983, and still do to this day. Stanislav Petrov’s actions demonstrate the importance of always choosing to do what is right, despite being alone in believing it is the right thing to do. He demonstrates the reality of the power of the individual in preserving humanity, and in the fight for peace. Most importantly, he personifies the extent to which saving the world - or destroying it - can be truly momentary.

In stressing this, he left us with a crucial reality-check:

“We must learn to coexist like brothers, or perish like dinosaurs”.

Until next time,

Lydia.

Nagasaki Day

Driving rain didn’t deter Rosemary Addington, London CND Vice Chair, or others from London CND and elsewhere from attending this year’s Nagasaki Day commemoration at the Battersea Peace Pagoda, organised by Reverend Nagase. A brief commemoration, compered by Shigeo Kobayashi, was followed by lantern floating on the Thames at dusk.

Hiroshima Day 2018

Raised Voices choir performing at our ceremony

London CND held our annual ceremony to commemorate the victims of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on Monday 6th August. In a powerful and moving ceremony, we heard from a range of speakers and and performers, and were joined by around 100 attendees. 

Councillor Maryam Eslamdoust, the Deputy Mayor of Camden, lay a wreath at the memorial tree, and we were sent a message from the Mayor of Tower Hamlets which you can read below, alongside the statement from the Mayor of Hiroshima which was read out by Shigeo Kobayashi at the ceremony.

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Statement from the Mayor of Tower Hamlets

The 6th of August is an important point of reflection each year, where we take the time to remember the terrible events of World War 2, particularly Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

This day is marked around the world as a vital moment to pause, reflect, and think about how we can all work together to avoid and agree to prevent such events in the future. This has become increasingly important in a world which can sometime feel ever more fragmented.

The last century also marked an increased targeting, particularly with modern and more powerful weapons and particularly those able to strike remotely, of urban populations in war.

The events of 1945 feel increasingly distant as each year passes, yet we must not forget them. They are a reminder of what can happen in the darkest of days, and a reminder that we must always strive for peace.

- Cllr John Biggs Mayor of Tower Hamlets

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Statement from the Mayor of Hiroshima

It’s 73 years ago and a Monday morning, just like today. With the mid-summer sun already blazing, Hiroshima starts another day. Please listen to what I say next as if you and your loved ones were there. At 8:15 comes a blinding flash. A fireball more than a million degrees Celsius releases intense radiation, heat, and then, a tremendous blast. Below the roiling mushroom cloud, innocent lives are snuffed out as the city is obliterated.“I’m so hot! It’s killing me!” From under collapsed houses, children scream for their mothers.

“Water! Please, water!” come moans and groans from the brink of death. In the foul stench of burning people, victims wander around like ghosts, their flesh peeled and red. Black rain fell all around. The scenes of hell burnt into their memories and the radiation eating away at their minds and bodies are even now sources of pain for hibakusha who survive.

Today, with more than 14,000 nuclear warheads remaining, the likelihood is growing that what we saw in Hiroshima after the explosion that day will return, by intent or accident, plunging people into agony.

The hibakusha, based on their intimate knowledge of the terror of nuclear weapons, are ringing an alarm against the temptation to possess them. Year by year, as hibakusha decrease in number, listening to them grows ever more crucial. One hibakusha who was 20 says, “If nuclear weapons are used, every living thing will be annihilated. Our beautiful Earth will be left in ruins. World leaders should gather in the A-bombed cities, encounter our tragedy, and, at a minimum, set a course toward freedom from nuclear weapons. I want human beings to become good stewards of creation capable of abolishing nuclear weapons.” He asks world leaders to focus their reason and insight on abolishing nuclear weapons so we can treasure life and avoid destroying the Earth.

Last year, the Nobel Peace Prize went to ICAN, an organization that contributed to the formation of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. Thus, the spirit of the hibakusha is spreading through the world. On the other hand, certain countries are blatantly proclaiming self-centered nationalism and modernizing their nuclear arsenals, rekindling tensions that had eased with the end of the Cold War.

Another hibakusha who was 20 makes this appeal: “I hope no such tragedy ever happens again. We must never allow ours to fade into the forgotten past. I hope from the bottom of my heart that humanity will apply our wisdom to making our entire Earth peaceful.” If the human family forgets history or stops confronting it, we could again commit a terrible error. That is precisely why we must continue talking about Hiroshima. Efforts to eliminate nuclear weapons must continue based on intelligent actions by leaders around the world.

Nuclear deterrence and nuclear umbrellas flaunt the destructive power of nuclear weapons and seek to maintain international order by generating fear in rival countries. This approach to guaranteeing long-term security is inherently unstable and extremely dangerous. World leaders must have this reality etched in their hearts as they negotiate in good faith the elimination of nuclear arsenals, which is a legal obligation under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Furthermore, they must strive to make the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons a milestone along the path to a nuclear-weapon-free world.

We in civil society fervently hope that the easing of tensions on the Korean Peninsula will proceed through peaceable dialogue. For leaders to take courageous actions, civil society must respect diversity, build mutual trust, and make the abolition of nuclear weapons a value shared by all humankind. Mayors for Peace, now with more than 7,600 member cities around the world, will focus on creating that environment.

I ask the Japanese government to manifest the magnificent pacifism of the Japanese Constitution in the movement toward the entry into force of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons by playing its proper role, leading the international community toward dialogue and cooperation for a world without nuclear weapons. In addition, I hereby demand an expansion of the black rain areas along with greater concern and improved assistance for the many people suffering the mental and physical effects of radiation, especially the hibakusha, whose average age is now over 82.

Today, we renew our commitment and offer sincere consolation to the souls of all A-bomb victims. Along with Nagasaki, the other A-bombed city, and with much of the world’s population, Hiroshima pledges to do everything in our power to achieve lasting world peace and the abolition of nuclear weapons.

- MATSUI Kazumi, Mayor, The City of Hiroshima

   August 6, 2018

Programme of speakers from the ceremony

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You can view more photos from the ceremony here. 

London CND's activities for Hiroshima Day 2018

This year, as usual, London CND will be commemorating Hiroshima Day with a ceremony in Tavistock Square. 

Many local groups will also be holding events - click here to see all the details of them.