Nat. CND Conference: 21st Century Security Challenges and Solutions

London 19th and 20th October 2019
Report back by Tahrir Swift

Report back from National CND AGM and 21^st Century Security Challenges and Solutions Conference at St. Thomas Hospital Please refer to this page on CND website for the a pdf of all resolutions. 

Concerns: We are entering a worrying era regarding global security and stability  

Positives: The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) - Nuclear Weapon Ban Treaty- is legally binding and an instrument for strengthening the NPT. Cooperating with all environmental groups not least XR-Peace, anti nuclear campaigning is indivisible from environmental combating of Climate change. CND is working with European and global partners. In the age of austerity it is easier to campaign for jobs, nhs and combating poverty in our communities.

1) prevent the resurgence of Intermediate Range Missiles after demise of INF Treaty (signed by Gorbachov & Reagan Dec. 1987)

2) current atmosphere of disregarding global treaties – fears for the START Treaty (due for renewal in 2021) and the Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

3) Militarisation of Europe –European Defence force by 2025 and EU defence fund €5.5bn so far. EU permanent structure cooperation for developing military capabilities.

4) Militraisation of Space Trump Space Force and EU Space Agency programs pose the threat of new conflicts over competing presence (satellites) in space.

5) NATO has become the largest  global military alliance  US conducting major military exercises with Ukraine, with the ‘Quads’ Quadrilateral Security Dialogue that obviously targets China. 

Moreover bi annual military operations such as Talisman Saber involving US, UK, Australia, NZ Japan Canada off the North east coast of Australia. Close military cooperation between Colombia and NATO is threatening a nuclear free zone in South America.

6) Climate Change was recognised by the conference on par of nuclear fallout. Wars and military corporations’ carbon foot print is the real culprit, in the fight against Climate change. Nuclear energy as an option was rejected. A resolution was passed for a proposed CND seminar on the Radiation and Women’s health in 2020. Another resolution on defence diversification  was passed as proposed by the Nuclear Education Trust , the Lucas Plan Group and Trade Unions for a Just Transition towards a low carbon economy. A resolution of recognising and listening to Scottish perspective by working with Scottish ICAN was passed.