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Trump and the nuclear danger

Labour CND is holding a workshop on Trump and the nuclear danger at the Arise Festival of Labour’s Left Ideas in London, 10am on Saturday 28 July at Student Central, Malet Street, WC1E 7HY.

Speakers are Christine Blower (former General Secretary NUT), Ted Seay (US arms control specialist) and Carol Turner (Labour CND).

Festival details here:
http://labourassemblyagainstausterity.org.uk/arise-a-festival-of-labours-left-ideas/
www.facebook.com/ariselabourleftfestival

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Our Democracy Review submission

Labour CND has made a submission to the Labour Party Democracy Review.

Overview:

How party democracy helps get a Labour government elected

A Labour government will only be voted into office if the electorate is convinced that the party’s commitments – on international as well as domestic policies – are equitable, fair and in the interests of society as a whole, not simply the few elites who exercise political, economic and social power.

In the last analysis, it’s policies that win elections. We believe that the most effective way of ensuring Labour hits the spot with the electorate is by:

  • electing a party leader who respects our members, and is prepared to listen to and reflect our views, recognising that half a million people provide a significant cross-section of opinion in British society as a whole;
  • greater involvement of members in deciding the policies contained in Labour’s manifesto;
  • ensuring CLPs and affiliates have clear and fair access to local, regional and national policy-making; and
  • integrating party members into policy-making structures at all levels.

Over a number of years differences of opinion within the party have been actively discouraged in the mistaken assumption that uniformity of view equates to unity of purpose. It does not. Debate is positive, not divisive. It guarantees issues are properly aired so that sound policy decisions can be reached.

Download full text:

LabCND democracy review submission

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Jobs not Bombs day school – Leeds

Come along to this day school on defence diversification for Labour activists, trade unionists and peace campaigners. The afternoon will be split into two sections, the first featuring expert speakers and a Q&A; the second, parallel small group sessions on taking the ideas forward.

Speakers include Fabian Hamilton MP (Shadow Minister for Peace and Disarmament) who has been given responsibility by Labour for developing a Defence Diversification Agency; Barnaby Pace (researcher and writer on the arms trade); Ann Feltham (Campaign Against the Arms Trade); Kevin Allsop (Unison) and Julie Ward MEP.

This event is organised by Yorkshire CND and supported by Momentum.

Click here for more information

For any enquiries, contact 01274 730 795 or email info@yorkshirecnd.org.uk

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Motion to Labour Party Women’s Conference

Labour Party Women’s Conference 2018 will take place on Saturday 22 September, the day before Annual Conference opens. This year CLPs and affiliates can submit a resolution for debate by the deadline of FRIDAY 29 JUNE. We encourage all CLPs to submit motions supporting the UN treaty for a global ban on nuclear weapons. Here’s an example from Finchley and Golders Green:

This Labour Women’s Conference:

  1. Welcomes the efforts from North and South Korea to denuclearize the Korean peninsula.
  2. Congratulates ICAN (International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons) on the award of the Nobel Peace Prize in December 2017.
  3. Urges Labour women to read and disseminate the Nobel Lecture delivered by Beatrice Fihn and the Hiroshima survivor Setsuko Thurlow.
  4. Notes that:
    a.   122 states adopted the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in July 2017
    b.   58 states or more have signed this Nuclear Ban Treaty, including Ireland, Austria, New Zealand, Brazil, Nigeria and South Africa
    c.   Ratification by 50 signatories will bring the Treaty into force; at least 9 have already ratified.
  5. Calls on Labour to support this urgent work to prevent accidental or deliberate use of nuclear weapons by pledging to sign and ratify the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.”
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Together Against Trump demo

The date is set. Book the day off work. Trump is visiting Britain and CND is supporting the Together Against Trump national demo on Friday 13th July.

This must be the day we stand up to the nuclear warmonger of our age.

Trump’s torn up the Iran nuclear deal. He’s threatened to kill millions with US nukes in North Korea. Those around him stalled the crucial Korean peace negotiations with talk of “doing a Libya” on North Korea.

One minute Trump’s posing as the peace broker, the next minute he’s preparing for war. His presidency threatens the security of the world and it’s time for our movement to confront him.

Friday 13th July is our chance to rise up and say enough is enough. We reject the collusion of Theresa May and her government with this dangerous US administration and deplore the invitation to President Trump.

Get the word out. Put on transport. Donate to the campaign. Contact us for support and make sure you and your friends are there on the 13th July.

Share the event with your Facebook contacts

Together Against Trump national demo
Gather 2pm BBC, Portland Place
London W1A 1AA
March to Central London
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Support the Ban

CLPs and branches have been passing resolutions supporting the Nuclear Weapons Ban, and a few have been posted onto the Policy Forum. Please get your branch or CLP to pass a resolution.

Then ask your Secretary to post it on the Policy Forum, and email it to your local MP and to our Shadow Minister for Peace & Disarmament: fabian.hamilton.mp@parliament.uk

Also show your individual support: post a submission yourself, or vote for submissions you like at https://www.policyforum.labour.org.uk/commissions/international

Here is an example of a resolution supporting the Ban

passed by Finchley & Golders Green CLP:

This Constituency:

notes with alarm the tensions on the Korean Peninsula;

holds that this underlines the urgency of the nuclear powers’ obligation under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty to bring about nuclear disarmament where North Korea and the US are in danger of plunging the world into nuclear war;
supports the UN Nuclear Weapons Ban by taking the following actions:

  • We congratulate CND and the other peace organisations in 100 countries who make up ICAN (the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons) on winning the Nobel Peace Prize. The prize was awarded for their role in achieving the UN Nuclear Weapons Ban Treaty.
  • We call on Labour MPs to support the Nuclear Weapons Ban by signing Early Day Motion 374, so far signed by at least 35 MPs.
  • We note that our manifesto stated, “Labour will lead multilateral efforts with international partners and the UN to create a nuclear-free world.”
  • We therefore urge our Shadow Minister for Peace & Disarmament Fabian Hamilton to lead multilateral efforts by publicly pledging that Labour will sign the Nuclear Weapons Ban Treaty.
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Labour CND conference

 

Topics include

  • International trends and US strategy
  • TUC policy
  • Labour’s Defence Diversification Agency
  • Middle East update
  • US-EU divided on Iran
  • Nuclear winter
  • Human security

Speakers include

  • Julie Ward MEP
  • Ted Seay, arms control specialist
  • Kate Hudson, CND General Secretary
  • Sami Ramadani, Iraqi Democrats
  • Barbara White, Musicians Union

Admission Free * All welcome

Followed by Labour CND AGM

Labour CND is a specialist section of CND. If you’re a member of CND and of the Labour Party, you’re eligible and welcome to participate in our annual meeting. 

Need more info? Contact labourcnd@gmail.com

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Trump and Iran nuclear deal

The Iran nuclear agreement agreed some verifiable limits on Iranian nuclear development in return for lifting some economic sanctions. That’s exactly how deals between parties who don’t trust each other are negotiated. Hasn’t Trump’s withdrawal just proved Iran right to be suspicious of the US?
– Carol Turner, Vice Chair