ND\u2019s50th anniversary year has seen a
strengthening of our global profile and
an increasing level of awareness of the
nuclear issue. With events such as our
successful Global Summit for a Nuclear Weapon-
Free World and the Aldermaston 2008 \u2018Bombs Stops
Here\u2019 encircling of the nuclear bomb factory \u2013 and
countless other campaigning events \u2013 we have seen
increasing popular backing for nuclear disarmament.
And this support is coming from many quarters.
In December, a new initiative was launched in Paris,
called Global Zero. Bringing together one hundred world figures calling for the
elimination of nuclear weapons, British signatories include Margaret Beckett,
David Owen, Richard Branson and Malcolm Rifkind. Add this to a whole
stream of initiatives calling for an end to nukes. And all this is taking place
against the backdrop of a big change in the White House. It is well known that
Barack Obama supports the goal of global nuclear abolition.
So where are we going with all this? Are we reaching \u2013 or even at \u2013 the
tipping point? Where the momentum for change becomes unstoppable?
The Global Zero initiative has produced a poll which shows that 76% of
people across 21 countries \u2013 including nuclear weapon states \u2013 favour an
international agreement to eliminate all nuclear weapons. Clearly the critical mass
is there in sheer numbers terms, and it is increasingly there in terms of
celebrities, and \u2018worthies\u2019 of various sorts. But it is the politicians who wield the
power who have to shift, and for that to happen they have to really experience
popular pressure.
So there\u2019s still a way to go. Yes, things are going in our direction, but there are
still enormous hurdles to be overcome. We need to take action to turn the
majority desire for nuclear abolition into real policy change. Let\u2019s work for that
in the year ahead, with others in Britain and around the world. Every bit of
pressure will help, whether opposing the next stage of Trident replacement,
protesting at the NATO 60th anniversary summit in April, or preventing the
new \u2018missile defence\u2019 bases in central Europe. It\u2019s all part of the process.
Thank you to everyone who has helped make our anniversary year such a
great success \u2013 you can read about much of it in this Campaign Review. Now let\u2019s
look together to the year ahead, to make 2009 a real tipping point \u2013 the time
when nuclear disarmament becomes unstoppable.
Kate Hudson, Chair CND
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CND campaigns non-violently to
achieve British nuclear
disarmament \u2013 for scrapping the
Trident nuclear weapons system
and preventing its replacement.
CND works to secure a Nuclear
Weapons Convention which will
ban nuclear weapons globally, as
chemical and biological weapons
have been banned. We also work
to end Britain\u2019s participation in
the US Missile Defence system
and \u2013 with other campaigns
internationally \u2013 against missile
defence and weapons in space.
Other current campaigns include
the prevention and cessation of
wars in which nuclear weapons
may be used, opposition to
NATO and its nuclear policies,
and to nuclear power.
CND is funded entirely by its
members and supporters, and
our policies are decided upon by
our annual national delegates\u2019
conference, where our national
leadership is also elected.
Details of our national offices,
and our network of regions and
local groups can be found at the
back of this Review.
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