From Aberdeen to Aldermaston!

Isobel Lyndsay

Our demonstration in November 07 was able to use the slogan: People and Parliament Against Trident.
We are operating in a new dimension. In the past we have had local authority support (and still do) but now we have the support of a legislature and can work cooperatively with it. Scotland's For Peace brings together peace movement organisations with the main churches, trade unions and other groups in Scotland. Substantial working coalitions have been built and this has strengthened our position. The setting up of the 12–person Working Group, which will meet for the first time in April 2008, is a significant development. It will consider what actions could be taken within the powers of the Parliament to impede the Trident developments and promote disarmament. On the agenda will be alternative employment plans, the regulatory framework around transport, environmental issues, and the legality of nuclear weapons.

We recognise the need to continue with public campaigning and educational work but also that we are operating in a new situation in Scotland where we can co–operate with those in power.

Isobel Lyndsay is the convenor of Scotland's For Peace
See, http://www.scotland4peace.org

Local perspectives: Stirling

Kenneth Wardrop

Stirling CND has had a regular presence at Scottish CND and Faslane 365 demonstrations at the Trident base at Faslane through our Jeely Peace Cafe activities – a temporary Cafe serving hot drinks and food to fellow protestors.
The bright banners and good cheer of the cafe is a good humanising counter balance to what can be an intimidating environment outside the main gate of the submarine base. We will bring the Jeely Peace Cafe to the "Arms around Faslane" demonstration on 14 June 2008.

Convoys

The Scottish Nationalist Party's Member for Scottish Parliament Bruce Crawford's local office is in Stirling. Last year, we met with him to talk, once again, about local campaign issues including Trident replacement and nuclear weapons convoys. These convoys travel along Stirlingshire's roads, travelling between Faslane and Aldermaston on a six weekly cycle (see http://www.nukewatch.org.uk/). On the whole we receive a very positive response from the people of Stirling to our street campaigning.

The new Scottish Government's proactive stance against the convoys and Trident replacement has been a great boost to our local morale and our campaigning. This renewal has also been encouraged by the support received from political groups (SNP & Lib Dem) on Stirling Council regarding our anti–convoy activities. We are hopeful that devolved and local government powers linked to public safety, contingency planning and environmental concerns will stop these weapons convoys travelling our roads.

The people of Scotland have a wonderful opportunity at this time, using the devolved powers at our disposal and the legitimacy of the Scottish Parliament to represent our views and stop the nonsensical replacement of Trident.

Kenneth Wardrop is Chair of Stirling CND.
See, http://www.stirlingcnd.org

Local perspectives: Aberdeen

Mike Martin

Trident replacement is a long–term campaign. Our local MPs Frank Doran and Anne Begg voted against it on 14 March 2007, which is a good start. We are collecting signatures for a petition aimed at persuading the City Council to make gestures towards the aims of CND.
In March 2008 we hosted a meeting at Aberdeen University with Kate Hudson, CND UK chair, and gave a press interview to the student newspaper. We would like to build on our relationship with the Shared Planet Group and develop relationships with other student organisations that share our aims.

We have had donations from local trade unions and would like to work more consistently with them. Organised labour is an important component in the overall struggle to rid the UK of nuclear weapons, especially in the light of the Scottish TUC/SCND paper on jobs and Trident (See PN2495, March 2008).

Aberdeen CND hold a stall on the last Saturday of each month. Quiz–night is on 28 April at 7.30pm in Cafe D'Ag, Crown Street.
See http://www.aberdeencnd.co.uk