Author: Andy Morton

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Nuclear Ban Week of Action – Virtual Lobby of Parliament

The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) – which officially becomes international law on January 22nd – offers the UK government an opportunity to engage in the global nuclear disarmament process, and honour its commitment to a world without nuclear weapons. But shamefully the UK government refused to even participate in the treaty talks and now says it will never sign. But that will not stop us from making progress.

CND is therefore calling a period of action in the run-up to the treaty entering into force and asking our supporters to arrange a meeting with your MP between January 11th-22nd.

Put pressure on your M.P.

We need you to contact your local MP to explain why this treaty is so important. Face to face meetings may not be going ahead but you can request a virtual meeting with your MP.

Why this action is important

This is a historic treaty which is a significant pointer towards changing international attitudes to nuclear weapons. Previous treaties prohibiting chemical and biological weapons helped to stigmatise them in the minds of the public. This is now taking place with nuclear weapons and we need to explain to MPs how they can be on the right side of history.

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No to War on Yemen

Resister Here

The shockingly under-reported war in Yemen has led to the death of 250,000 people and created the worst humanitarian crisis anywhere in the world according to the UN. They estimate that more than 24 million people in the country, which was already one of the poorest on the planet prior to the war, will need humanitarian assistance in 2021.

The war is led by Saudi Arabia, with the involvement of the UAE, but it is backed by some key Western powers – the US, the UK, France, Spain, Italy and Canada. In particular, the US and the UK have maintained unquestioning support for Saudi Arabia since the war began and are both participants in the war.

This protest is timed to take place just days after the inauguration of Joe Biden, who has promised to end US support for the war. This is our one central aim – to hold him to his word and force fellow governments to follow suit.

Over 230 organisations from 17 countries have signed up for a call to action against the war on Yemen so far, making this the biggest international anti-war co-ordination since the campaign against the Iraq war. Unfortunately, due to the circumstances in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic many of the planned physical protests have had to be postponed but our global movement will not be silenced.

For the World Says No to War on Yemen Global Online Rally we have brought together a group of prominent voices from across the world to speak out against this utterly brutal war and call for its immediate end.

Amongst those joining us at 7pm GMT on Mon 25th January will be…

Ahmed Al-Babati (British-Yemeni Soldier)
Jeremy Corbyn MP
Danny Glover (Actor)
Tawakkol Karman (Yemeni Nobel Peace Laureate)
Daniele Obono (French National Assembly Member)
Yanis Varoufakis (MeRA25 Secretary-General)

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Nuclear Ban Week of Action

The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) will officially become law on 22nd January.

It gives the British government as unprecedented opportunity to join the global process towards nuclear disarmament to honour its commitment to a world without nuclear weapons. However, to its shame, the government has refused to even take part in the treaty talks and now says it will never sign. But that can not stop much of the rest of the world from making real progress.

Put pressure on your MP

We are therefore calling for a period of action leading up to the treaty coming in to force and are asking our supporters to arrange a meeting with their MP between 11th and 22nd January.

Please contact your MP to explain why the TPNW is so important and why the UK should sign it. Prior to your meeting you can sign up for a session with CND staff and read the online briefing.

Why this action is important

The TPNW is truly historic in its ambition to rid the world of nuclear weapons and is a highly significant indication of changing international attitudes towards those weapons. Previous legislation banning chemical and biological weapons helped to stigmatise them in the minds of the general public. The same is now happening with nuclear weapons and we need to explain to our MPs how they can be on the right side of history.

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International Day of Action on Yemen

Be part of the World Says No to War on Yemen Day of Action on the 25 January 2021

This is a situation in which action can make a difference. The Saudis are making no headway in the war. Their war coalition cracked in 2019 when the UAE pulled out and they face serious economic problems at home. International opinion against the war is growing and leading politicians in the West, including President-elect Joe Biden, have been forced to speak out against it.

We call on people around the world to protest the war on January 25, 2021, just days after Biden’s inauguration and the day before Saudi Arabia’s ‘Davos in the Desert’ Future Investment Initiative.

Pledge your support for the people of Yemen

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Santa Dash

Congratulations to our Co-Chair, Barbara Hardcastle, and her husband Dave who completed the 5K Santa Dash from New Brighton to Egremont and back!

If you would like sponsor them, please contact barb.hardcastle@gmail.com