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1 Ri campaign THE MAGAZINE OF THE campaign FOR NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT FEBRUARY 2022. Can the Middle East be nuclear-free? CND is organising an online conference on Working for Peace in the Middle East'. Two of the speakers, Sharon Dolev and Emad Kiyaei from the Middle East Treaty Organisation, write here about efforts to make the region a nuclear weapons-free zone. C ALLS FOR the Middle East to become campaign for Nuclear 2015 NPT Review Conference failed. Disarmament, a nuclear weapons-free zone (NWFZ) In December 2018, the United 162 Holloway Rd, London N7 8DQ. go back to the 1970s. In 1995, states parties Nations General Assembly adopted a to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty decision , submitted by the Arab States, 020 7700 2393. (NPT) adopted a resolution that linked the which requested the UN Secretary- NPT's indefinite extension with the establish- General to convene a regional conference ment of a verifiable' Weapons of Mass on the zone by the end of 2019.

2 The Destruction Free Zone (WMDFZ) and their first conference took place on 18 22. means of delivery in the Middle East. November 2019 in New York. All 22. But there has been little tangible progress Arab states and Iran participated. Four on the zone. Attempts to convene a nuclear-armed states participated: China, conference on the zone in 2012 and to France, Russia, and the UK. The United CND reach consensus on a final declaration in the States and Israel did not. The conference campaign adopted a political statement, diverting the conversation to which reaffirms the intention to negotiate a legally-binding the lack of progress on the Middle East WMDFZ as a Sp o tlight instrument for the scapegoat for failure to reach a establishment of a Middle East final document. This month WMDFZ. The upcoming 2022 NPT. The second conference, Review Conference will Birkenhead CND. which due to Covid took place probably suffer from the same only in 2021, also ended on a lack of commitment from the positive note.

3 Nuclear-armed states but this The final report was adopted time there will be growing by consensus on the last day of pressure from those advocating Nuclear ban the conference, and agreed to for nuclear disarmament, and communities continue the discussion through especially from the Treaty on inter-sessional meetings aimed the Prohibition of Nuclear at bringing technical and Weapons. diplomatic experts together to At the 2022 Review 2021. develop ideas, policies, and Conference, states must technical solutions to an array welcome the UN General of issues. Assembly resolution on the With the UK government refusing to engage with the A failure on returning to a nuclear deal with Iran Treaty on the Prohibition of will decrease the shaky belief states already have Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), CND. in disarmament-related agreements with the supporters across the country superpowers. are taking matters into their own hands and building However, the November WMDFZ and acknowledge support from the ground up with our Nuclear Ban conference room does not exist that the resolution is being Communities campaign .

4 In a vacuum. A failure on implemented through the Birkenhead CND is one of the returning to a nuclear deal with November Conference and the groups working hard on this, Iran will decrease the shaky intersessional work. with their work to get Wirral belief states already have in Join us in calling all states Borough Council to support the disarmament-related parties to the NPT, and in TPNW. agreements with the particular, the UK. Birkenhead CND has contacted superpowers. government to protect this every councillor, met with the During the final days of the precious November Mayor and the local MP. If you most recent NPT Review Conference process and let it would like to get involved with Conference in 2015, the five take its course with as little this work, or support the group nuclear-armed states diverted interference as possible. in any other way, please attention from their failure to n Email contact 0151 201 2273 or make progress on their to commitments to disarm by register for the conference.

5 2. February 2022. Talks not bombs CND Campaigns Director Sara Medi Jones writes about CND's ongoing campaign to get Britain to attend a crucial conference on nuclear disarmament. H AVING CAMPAIGNED. for decades for the global abolition of nuclear weapons, TPNW by getting local councils to support the Treaty and building support from the attend. We must make her re- consider. We have a page on our CND supporters had reason ground up. And now we're website with all the different to celebrate in 2021 when the asking our supporters to help ways you can get involved, Treaty on the Prohibition of us with a campaign to get the including contacting the Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) UK government to engage Foreign Secretary directly. entered into force. This with the global majority who Join our webinar which has United Nations treaty was support the Treaty. the President of 1 MSP, supported by most of the Countries that have ratified Alexander Kmentt, as the world's states and makes the TPNW will meet for the guest speaker.

6 He sees no nuclear weapons illegal in the first time in Vienna this reason not to engage countries that sign it. summer. The conference constructively with the 86 countries have already referred to as 1 MSP was due international community on signed up to the Treaty, but to take place in March but has these very serious arguments . shamefully the British been postponed due to Covid- There is a digital toolkit government will not even 19 related practicalities. As a available with graphics to use engage with this historical non-signatory to the Treaty, on social media, and a poster agreement. There was a the UK can still attend as an you can print out and display. particularly memorable observer. NATO states There is no reason for the mment when the UK Norway and Germany have UK not to go along, especially representative at the UN stood already indicated they will be as it proclaims to want and alongside former US President doing so, despite the latter is legally committed to Trump's Ambassador outside hosting' US nuclear bombs.

7 Working towards a world the building denouncing the CND's campaign Talks without nuclear weapons. The talks (which eventually led to not Bombs calls on the government keeps insisting it the agreement), while the Foreign Secretary Liz Truss to wants multilateral nuclear more mature countries got on commit to going to the disarmament what could be with the business of conference in Vienna. Last more multilateral than a treaty negotiating inside. week in Parliament she supported by most of the CND groups are already ignored a question from CND world? taking matters into their own Vice-President Jeremy Corbyn n More details at: hands in regards to the MP on whether she would 3. What's on: For a full, updated list of events, see Talks not Bombs webinar 9 February, 6:30pm-7:30pm Online. n To register contact: SOS NHS Day NURSES. of Action NOT NUKES. Kill the Bill: live interview 26 February with Baroness Jenny Jones 14 February, 6:30pm CND is supporting the SOS NHS campaign to highlight how Online London CND event the cost of nuclear weapons could instead be invested in n To register contact: the NHS.

8 A national day of action has been called for February 26th: Abingdon Peace Group get involved. Local groups will be organising stalls and meeting events across the country get in touch with your local 15 February, 8pm CND group to see if they have anything planned. Online. n To register contact: Find out more at Legacy of the atomic bomb: LABRATS seminar Meet the staff 19 February This month: Pendulum Hotel, Sackville Helen Griffin, Peace Street, Manchester M1 3BB Education Officer n Contact I was very pleased to join CND. as the Peace Education Officer Working for Peace in the this January. My background is Middle East CND in teaching, training and conference global education and my role 20 February, 1pm-4:15pm is principally to promote and Online. further develop the excellent n To register contact: CND Peace Education resources for schools. CND Peace Education provides free teaching packs, workshops and assemblies for schools and Nuclear convoys webinar training for teachers and students learning to be 3 March, 6:30pm-7:30pm teachers.

9 We aim to empower students with knowledge Online. on nuclear weapons and peace issues, so that they can n To register contact: come to their own conclusions on these crucial matters. We have a wonderful group of committed volunteers to support the work in schools and universities and we are Nuclear power: not fit for hoping to recruit more, particularly in the London region purpose where demand is highest at the moment. So if you are 14 March, 7pm-8pm interested in working with schools please do get in Online CND webinar. touch: n To register contact: Opinions expressed by authors in online campaign are their own, and do not necessarily reflect the policies of CND. 4.