Yorkshire CND news
Posted: 19th August 2025
Apologies that the links in what follow don’t work when transferred to our website. I hope the newsletter is still of interest to show the scope of Yorkshire CND’s work.
Find out about the upcoming Sheffield demo and more…
Hello readers and supporters of the Yorkshire Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament!
Since our last newsletter, we commemorated 80 years since the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Read on to find out how these went and to learn more about other news and upcoming events. We are particularly keen to draw your attention to the demo scheduled on Wednesday 27th August at the AMRC, which we hope you will join us for.
If you read the entire newsletter to the end, you will also find office updates and some volunteer opportunities. Please note that the deadline to apply for the social media team is this Wednesday.
News
80 years on: vigils held throughout Yorkshire
On 6th and 9th August, peace groups from all over Yorkshire (Sheffield, Leeds, Bradford, Keighley, Hebden Bridge, Bradford, Settle, Skipton, and York) gathered to commemorate 80 years since the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
If you were unable to attend a vigil, please get in touch if you would like a copy of the speeches provided by the mayors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki: [email protected]
Photos provided by Neil Terry & peace groups all over Yorkshire.
The New START Treaty is set to expire next February. What can be done?
Presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin met on Friday to discuss how to achieve peace in Ukraine. Whilst a ceasefire was not agreed, there remains hope that the conversation could lead to a ground-breaking agreement on nuclear arms control.
The threat of a new nuclear arms race has been growing. The last remaining agreement limiting the world’s two largest nuclear arsenals — the New START Treaty — is set to expire next February. When that happens, for the first time in over half a century, U.S. and Russian strategic weapons could be entirely unconstrained, and both countries’ militaries will plan their future nuclear posture based on worst-case estimates of each other’s arsenals.
‘Security guarantees’ for Ukraine are on offer but Russia wants some too
Volodymyr Zelenskyy has hailed the decision to offer a Nato-style,“Article 5-like” security guarantee to Ukraine as part of a peace deal as he prepared to meet Donald Trump in Washington today.
Russia is supposedly in agreement with that, but expects that Moscow will also get efficient security guarantees too.
War and Peace in Ukraine and in Gaza
This book interrogates the wars in Ukraine and in Gaza and asks whether meaningful distinctions can be made between just and unjust wars. The author analyses the global roots of both wars, including unresolved clashes of contending imperialisms, rooted in different variants of capitalism.
In this time of rancour, fear and war, peaceful nuclear cooperation in the Middle East is still possible
Ten years ago, after the Iran nuclear deal, Javad Zarif wrote in the Guardian about the urgent need for global nuclear disarmament – starting with the establishment in the Middle East of a zone free from weapons of mass destruction. A decade later, as our region teeters on the edge of catastrophe, that call is no longer just noble – he writes that it is essential.
Scientists can help stop a slide to nuclear war — don’t shut them out again
At the end of last year, member states tasked UN secretary-general António Guterres with appointing a panel to study the physical and societal consequences of a nuclear war, and to publish a report by 2026. The World Health Organization will also be updating earlier reports on the health consequences of nuclear war.
MoD failures result in radioactive waste leaking into the sea
Files compiled by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) and released after a protracted battle between journalists and the Ministry of Defence, have revealed that Britain’s nuclear warhead base is crumbling and toxic waste has been leaking into the sea.
Reports from CND’s representatives in Japan
A few weeks ago, Jeremy Corbyn and Caroline Lucas visited Japan as reps on behalf of CND for the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings.
You can read their letters on Hiroshima and Nagasaki here:
As the world hurtles ever closer to nuclear oblivion, where is the opposition?
The puerile standoff between the US and Russia ought to alert a slumbering public to a risk that is in many ways greater than during the cold war.
UPCOMING EVENTS
PROTEST AGAINST THE UNIVERSITY OF SHEFFIELD’S NUCLEAR WEAPONS RESEARCH
(Wednesday 27th August, 12 noon @ the gates of the AMRC, Wallis Way, Rotherham, S60 5TZ)
The Sheffield Tribune recently published an investigative article detailing how the University of Sheffield is designing Britainʼs next nuclear weapons. So far we know:
• UoSʼs Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) is working with the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) to design a new generation of nuclear weapons.
• This research has been taking place for at least the last 3 years.
• The weapon being designed with AWE is expected to be 30 times as powerful as the bomb that was dropped on Hiroshima.
• This research is receiving government support from the South Yorkshire Mayoral Authority and all the way to to Downing Street.
We encourage you to join the protest at the AMRC on 27th August at 12 noon and make it clear that we donʼt want Sheffield University involved in designing the next generation of weapons of mass destruction!
Threads Screening (22nd & 23rd August @ Sheffield Showroom)
Sheffield Film Festival presents two very special screenings of Mick Jackson’s seminal film, Threads.
The Friday 22nd August screening of Threads will be introduced by Craig Ian Mann, producer of the upcoming documentary Survivors: The Spectre of Threads.
Peace activists will also be leafletting this event, to raise awareness about the demo at the AMRC on 27th August.
Ishiro Honda: Memoirs of a Film Director + Q&A
(20th September, 11:30am @ Cultplex
Ishiro Honda: Memoirs of a Film Director is a documentary that explores the life and career of prolific Japanese director Ishiro Honda, highlighting his filmography (e.g. his work on the Godzilla films), war experiences, and obsession with the atomic bomb.
Through interviews and analysis, it also delves into his friendship and collaboration with Akira Kurosawa.
The screening will include a talk from the director (Jonathan Bellés) + Q&A panel with special guests.
Peace History Conference
(20th September, 10:30am @ John Stanley Bell Lecture Theatre, University of Bradford, BD7 1DP)
The all-day event continues a series of Conferences that was initiated in 2007 and sponsored by the Movement for the Abolition of War (MAW). The conferences aim to help develop a culture of peace by raising awareness of individuals, movements, ideas and initiatives from all periods of history concerned with promoting peace, overcoming violence, and abolishing war.
Peace & Crafts Fair (29th November @ Victoria Hall, Saltaire)
The Peace & Crafts Fair returns on 29th November 2025!
Stall bookings are now live for our annual fundraiser in the beautiful Victoria Hall in Saltaire!
Discounted stalls for campaigns, charities, and other good causes.
More info coming soon…
Email us if you have any questions: [email protected]
WEEKLY EVENING DEMOS AT MENWITH HILL
(TUESDAYS @ 6-7:30pm)
There is a peaceful witness, demonstration and protest outside the Main Gate entrance to the American base at Menwith Hill every Tuesday evening (6 – 7.30 pm). This demonstration has been going almost every week since July 2000.
Please note that there are many bright lights inside the gate now which can be seen for miles; no lighting outside for protesters as there was before.
Wear some warm water proof clothing and bring a high viz vest to keep you warm, dry and safe during the protest.
Please contact Sarah if you’re thinking of coming up: [email protected] / 01765 600928
OFFICE UPDATES
Over the past couple weeks, we’ve been busy with a variety of things. This includes: preparing for the Hiroshima/Nagasaki vigils and a variety of other day-to-day admin tasks like accounting/updating social media accounts/answering email enquires/updating membership records etc.
Please be aware that the Yorkshire CND website will be going into Maintenance mode later this week, as we are rebuilding it to give it a fresh look. We expect our website to be online again from early-mid September. In the meantime, please check out our social media pages for the latest updates.
Upcoming opportunities to volunteer include:
- Helping with transport for the Menwith Hill demos on Tuesdays
- Website stock management
- Leafletting the Threads screenings, to raise awareness about the AMRC demo.
- We are doing a call out for someone to lead the social media team. We would like to offer this to a students or young person, to help build their portfolio and to encourage stronger engagement with the campaign. DEADLINE WEDNESDAY 20TH AUGUST!
If you have any news to report or you need help – be it getting on a webinar, organising a zoom call or calling an action – contact: [email protected].
Stay Safe. Be kind to yourself and to others. Solidarity from all at Yorkshire CND!