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Bromley Borough Newsletter 2018 ann rpt

Notice from Secretary

Since Orpington CND dissolved early this year we have now become Bromley Borough CND. This is to emphasise that we that are a united CND group incorporating all areas of Bromley.
Grateful Thanks to those of you who are officers, attend meetings, campaign, give donations and pay their subs.  As usual the newsletter has been reduced to one per year mainly recording our campaigning. Subs are now due raised to £5 -please send them to Tahrir Swift.[use tear-off slip at end of newsletter ].   

CND still very much needs support especially with the continued conflicts exacerbated by the US CND pulling out of the Iran Nuclear Deal. Our military intervention in Syria has made the situation even more unstable  and the human rights situation a great deal worse.  There are still concerns regarding UK's plans for Trident renewal, the failure  of the UK signing up to the Nuclear BAN Treaty and the increasing danger from nuclear power pollution from the Fukushima fall out.  

It would be really supportive if local Bromley Borough CND members could also join National CND, if they don't already belong. 
Please also visit our Facebook page  -   https:/www.facebook.com/Garrettcnd
If you wish to receive our online newsletter please email Tahrir Swift  at tahrir_swift@yahoo.co.uk



Secretary's Annual Report  

Acknowledgements
Grateful thanks to those who have supported local and London No Intervention in Syria, No to More Gaza Massacres vigils, the Nuclear BAN Treaty campaigning, the Fukushima rally, march and regular vigils outside the Japanese Embassy and TEPCO office, Conscientious Objector's Day ceremony on May 15th, also for help at last year's Chernobyl Day and Bromley August Bank Holiday Monday stalls. 

Grateful thanks as always to Brian Phillips and his son Bryan for photocopying our newsletter each year. 
Our press officer Tahrir Swift has continued to report all our events meticulously.

Hiroshima/Nagasaki Events 2017 
Leaflets were distributed in Bromley, signatures collected on the petitions. Then we had a silent march through Bromley and walked to the lake in the Library Gardens where we scattered white chrysanthemums.  We read poems and made statements. As usual a very moving occasion, and the silent march was well respected by members of the public. A picnic was held in the Archbishop Tutu Peace Garden in Chinbrook Meadows, Grove Park on August 9th in pouring rain to mark Nagasaki Day. This was supported by Lewisham and Greenwich CND. We read poems and made statements in the cafe and emailed photos to the Archbishop Tutu Foundation. 

National CND AGM 2017 
National officers were elected : including  Kate Hudson as General Secretary,Dave Webb as chair and Linda Hugl as treasurer.

                   White Poppy Ceremony 2017
It was heartening to have support from Forest Hill and Sydenham and Lewisham and Greenwich  CND groups. The wreath made by Ruth Fabricant was again bio-degradable  - Ruth also sang peace songs. Poems were read by Patricia McKinnon and Ann Garrett. Speakers included Denis Cobell ,Richard Hart and Geraldine Cowan 
 London Region AGM  January 13th/ 2018 
The following officers were elected - Carol Turner [ Chair], Tim Wardle [Sec] and Phil Sedler [Treasurer].[See report from Tahrir Swift]. 

Campaigning Activities 
We have leafleted in Bromley, Beckenham and Penge, collecting signatures on the Nuclear BAN Treaty petition and sent many signatures on Preventing Trident Replacement petition to CND. We have also continued ant nuclear trains actions at Bromley South Station. We supported Lewisham and Greenwich CND's  Aug 6th Hiroshima event in The Pleasance gardens where the Blackheath folk club members sang and the Bromley Peace Poets read. Our banner has also been present at the London anti austerity actions. We marked the anniversary of Chernobyl on April 26th and also the 7th anniversary of Fukushima with a stall in Bromley Market Square. The public response was encouraging and we sent a donation to the Chernobyl Children's Project. 

Nuclear Power/Waste Update 
NTAG [ the nuclear trains action group ] and Kick Nuclear have been focusing on campaigning at Brixton, Wembley and Willesden, and also supported us at Bromley South station where the trains still travel through from Dungeness on their way to Sellafield.  We did actions at Bromley South on Nov 4th/17 and May 5th/18. NTAG/Kick Nuclear/ Japanese Against Nuclear organised a parliamentary meeting chaired by Dr Ian Fairlie. Lis Fields of Kick Nuclear organised an exhibition in Wales of her photos and statements from Fukushima victims. 

International Peace Day Event -2017 
This was held again on Sept 21st at Bromley Parish Church Rooms and was organised by Bromley Peace Council. The main speaker was David Leal who spoke about the Nuclear Ban Treaty. Music was provided by Flaky Jake.  Stalls from local groups were present and Richard Hart chaired the evening. Bromley Peace Council is supported by people who aren't all members of CND, so it still functions as an umbrella group for different organisations. 
Meetings continue to be held at The Therapy Centre, 96 Martins Rd, Shortlands - thanks to Paula Lloyd. [ July 16th and October 21st/2018 at 3.00 pm ]. Sept 21st/2018 Peace Day will again be at Bromley Parish Church Rooms, Church Rd, Bromley. 
Condolences:
We have recently learnt of the sad death of Isobel McHarg who joined our group for occasional events. She was a dedicated campaigner, a CND council member, treasurer of London region CND for many years, and also a member of the Nuclear Trains Action Group.

Comment We supported the Stop the Arms Fair demonstrations last September and helped block lorries from getting through the gates at the peace camp entrance.  CAAT has reported that the UK government has signed a memorandum of intent to sell 48 new Typhoon aircraft to Saudi Arabia following a meeting with Theresa May and the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia. The Typhoons are involved in the ongoing bombardment of Yemen and the slaughter of the civilian population. Further arms deals with the USA, ensures their continued programme of militarization, despite hypocritical dictating to North Korea that they should reduce their nuclear weapons. This attitude is reiterated by UK and US's decision not sign up to the Nuclear Ban Treaty. On a positive note  - many congratulations to ICAN for being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. 

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