News from National CND

In this email: 

• Doomsday Clock set at 85 seconds to midnight
• Stopping Trump’s global war and new nuclear dangers webinar this Thursday
• National march for Palestine, 31 January

On Tuesday, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists’ Doomsday Clock, which serves as a warning of how close we are to a human-made catastrophe such as nuclear war or climate collapse, was pushed forward. At 85 seconds to midnight, it is the closest we have ever been to midnight. 

Among the reasons for pushing the clock forward was that countries with the largest nuclear stockpiles had become increasingly aggressive, adversarial, and nationalistic. All countries with nuclear weapons are modernising and increasing their arsenals and there has been increased talk about the use of nuclear weapons on the battlefield.

Space could also become a frontier for nuclear use as the development of Donald Trump’s ‘Golden Dome’ could lead to a new space arms race with Russia and China. Advancements in AI weaponry, bioweapons, and a lack of cooperation in tackling the climate crisis were also factors in pushing the clock forward.  

The warning came as Trump’s military threats to Greenland has intensified opposition to Britain’s so-called special relationship with the US. More and more people are calling for the withdrawal of US bases from Britain and challenging Britain’s nuclear dependence on the US.  

As the Atomic Bulletin makes clear, people are waking up to the urgency of these dangers. Being informed, showing up to demonstrations, and putting public pressure on our representatives can influence policy. At tomorrow’s Register now

Help us promote the webinar by sharing on Facebook, Bluesky, Threads, and EXTEND START TREATY NOW!

The collapse of critical arms control treaties is fueling the increasing nuclear dangers. An important arms control treaty between the US and Russia, New START, is set to expire in 8 days’ time. This places limits on the amount of strategic nuclear warheads that can be deployed. An extension on these limits could be agreed tomorrow ahead of further negotiations and you can write to the Foreign Secretary using our easy lobby tool to push for the British government to support this crucial extension.

National march for Palestine: Saturday 31 January 

This is a crucial time for the Palestine solidarity movement. The situation in the Occupied West Bank remains serious with continued attacks and raids by Israeli settlers.  

In Gaza, Isreal continues to violate the terms of the ceasefire with regular artillery and air strikes which have killed nearly 500 Palestinians since it came into effect three months ago. The humanitarian situation for Palestinians there remains critical amid bad weather over the winter and the spread of disease like bacterial meningitis.  

While Israel has indicated it will open the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt to travellers in the coming days, they haven’t agreed to allow in aid agencies with much-need medicine, food, and humanitarian supplies. While this is the reality of those living in Gaza, Donal Trump’s so-called ‘Board of Peace’ continues to discuss the city as a gross real estate investment opportunity built over the bodies of Palestinians.  

Join CND and the Palestine Coalition for the first national demonstration of 2026, this Saturday, 31 January, to demand that the British government stops its attacks on those who show solidarity with Palestine and reject the US-led attempts to cover up Israel’s genocide.  

• Saturday, 31 January 
• Assemble 12 noon, Russell Square London 
• More details and route map here 

Speakers at the rally at Whitehall include: Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah, British-Palestinian surgeon; Jeremy Corbyn MP; Zarah Sultana MP; John McDonnellMP; Juliet Stevenson, actor; Andrea Egan, UNISON General Secretary; Claire Hinchcliffe, mother of Filton 24 activist; Maryam Eslamdoust, TSSA union General Secretary; Kevin Courtney, Together Against the Far Right; Aimee Shalan, director of Makan.