Author Stuart Evers discusses his short story based on The Aldermaston Marches of the late 1950s and early 60s, which were anti-nuclear weapons demonstrations, involving thousands of activists walking from the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment in Aldermaston (in Berkshire) to London (just over 52 miles); a movement which has had a global impact, particular the 1960 protest against the use of the H-bomb and was integral in the early days of the CND. He is joined by Michael Randle, prominent peace activist and academic and a member of the committee that organised the first Aldermaston march, and Mai Chatham, life-long CND member who took part in the marches and is still active in CND today.
President Donald Trump is banging the drums of war as he ratchets up tensions with Iran. It should now be clear to all that the US withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal was a prelude to a much bigger confrontation.
President Trump announced US withdrawal last year. The withdrawal, fresh sanctions and a ramping up of the US military presence in the Middle East, has led to serious doubts about the future of the deal – and of peace in the region.
Iranian president Hassan Rouhani has announced that he will halt some of the commitments agreed under the accord, in line with a dispute resolution mechanism included in the deal. He has appealed to the other signatories to make good on their commitments to the deal, to ease the economic difficulties inflicted by US sanctions. If this happens Iran will revert to full compliance.
Kate Hudson, CND general secretary, said: “The responsibility for the unravelling of the Iran nuclear deal lies at Trump’s door. It began with the US withdrawal last year, at a time when the deal was working and preventing nuclear proliferation.
“With increased economic pressures on Iran, and the recent deployment of US aircraft in the Middle East, it seems tensions are being ratcheted up ready for Trump’s security adviser John Bolton to make the case for a new war.
It is essential that the other signatories step up to the plate and meet their financial commitments to the deal. They must not allow Trump to bully them into the destruction of a crucial diplomatic achievement.
“Because of Trump’s actions the world is a more dangerous place. He’s withdrawn from the Iran nuclear deal, he’s withdrawn from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, and more recently the Arms Trade Treaty.
Hudson continued “The US President’s trashing of the international rules-based system is a great danger to world security.
It’s
crucial that hundreds of thousands of people mobilise to say no to his
dangerous policies when Trump visits Britain in June.
On May Day last Monday, we joined a gathering in Liverpool of people who all believed that a better world is possible, and are all prepared to work to make it happen.
They included members of the Labour Party and supporters of Jeremy Corbyn, including Shadow Front-bencher Dan Carden, MP for Walton; Trade Unionists including Jeremy Corbyn ally Len McCluskey, leader of Unite, everyone should share the dignity of employment and all deserve a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work, and to share in the fruits of their labour by hand or by brain; there were CND campaigners for peace and opposition to nuclear weapons, no-one applauded the recent service in Westminster Abbey to offer thanks to God for Britain’s murderous nuclear weapons of indiscriminate mass destruction; there were campaigners for the human rights of the enslaved and oppressed Palestinian people; Jewish Voice for Labour members were there who supported Jeremy Corbyn, some had been investigated by the Labour Party on suspicion of hostility to Jews – yes – you couldn’t make it up – truth is stranger than fiction!!
Those campaigning to protect the planet were there, Extinction Rebellion and Frack Free Lancashire were represented, and our animal friends were championed by Labour Animal Welfare Society.
