No US Nukes in Britain! Reports from the day of action in London

CND condemns the return of US nuclear weapons to RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk. US nuclear weapons make us all a target in any nuclear war. This is a national problem not a regional one.

All supporters were therefore encouraged to join a day of action against this extremely dangerous and destabilising development on Saturday 23rd September.

London would be particularly impacted by nuclear activity at RAF Lakenheath, as the airbase is located only 100km away. At least two major incidents involving nuclear weapons have occurred at RAF Lakenheath and official US documents declared it was a ‘miracle’ that none of the bombs detonated, and that ‘it is possible that a part of Eastern England would have become a desert’.

We stood up to say: NO US NUKES IN BRITAIN!

London CND: protest and video at the US Embassy

A few days before the day of action, the CND General Secretary Kate Hudson, London CND vice-president Emma Dent Coad, trade union and climate activist Samantha Mason, Alison Williams from Wimbledon CND, Rosemary Addington from Kingston CND as well as London CND co-chairs Carol Turner and Hannah Kemp-Welch met at the US embassy in Vauxhall.

We brought placards and recorded a video which was shared on the day of action. It did well, with a total of 3000 views across our social media platforms. Click on the video above to watch it!

Bromley Borough CND: Leafleting

This issue concerns everyone, and it is also important to speak to people directly on a local level. A group of Bromley Borough CND activists did just that by giving out Wages Not Weapons leaflets in Bromley Market Square.

Lewisham and Greenwich CND: Protest

Lewisham and Greenwich CND met at the General Wolfe statue in Greenwich Park near the Prime Meridian at midday. Protestors brought banners and signs and marched to the sound of drummers through the park, handing out leaflets after some speeches about “the West” right on the physical east/west divide.

If you’re interested in this issue, we really advise reading CND’s excellent briefing document here:

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!

This year at Tavistock Square

A warm summer day and the presence of friends such as Jeremy Corbyn, Emma Dent-Coad, and Roger McKenzie attracted a good attendance at London CND’s Hiroshima Commemoration in Tavistock Square this year, which included a performance by Michael Mears & Riko Nakazono of an extract from Michael’s play The Mistake, on tour across England and Wales during September & October.

As always the Mayor of Camden, Cllr Nazma Rahman, launched the 2023 commemoration on Sunday 6 August, and laid a wreath at the Hiroshima Cherry Tree in memory of all those who died as a result of the United States bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. She was followed by traditional chanting from Reverend Nagase from the London Peace Pagoda, which celebrated its 38th anniversary in Battersea Park this year.

London Co-Chair Hannah Kemp-Welch compered the event and spoke on behalf of London CND at the Nagasaki Commemoration a few days later. Other contributors to this year’s event included Shigeo Kobayashi representing Japanese Against Nuclear and London CND’s other Co-Chair, Carol Turner.

Hugh Goodacre contributed some of the peace movement’s favourites songs accompanying himself on acoustic guitar, and Raised Voices choir gave a rousing rendition of H-Bombs Thunder to close the proceedings.

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Carol Turner is co-chair of London Region CND. She is a directly elected member of CND’s National Council and part of the International Advisory Group.

Carol is a long-time peace campaigner, a member of Stop the War Coalition’s National Officer Group, and author of Corbyn and Trident: Labour’s Continuing Controversy.

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