OUR VISITOR FROM BETHLEHEM HAS NO VISA! EMBERS OF PEACE SADLY HAS BEEN POSTPONED,
AT LEAST THERE IS SOME GOOD NEWS

In the Netherlands, The Hague adopted a word-first municipal law in September last year banning fossil fuel ads – and now that law has survived its first legal challenge.

On Friday, April 25, The Hague District Court upheld the Dutch city’s ground-breaking policy, which is the first ad ban of its kind enacted through local ordinance. The law, which took effect on the first of this year, prohibits advertising in public spaces of fossil fuel products and services such as gasoline, petrol cars, and cruise and aviation trips. Travel industry groups promptly sued the city over the ad ban, arguing it violates the Dutch constitution and European law. But last week the court dismissed the industry groups’ claims, ruling in favor of the city’s interests to protect the health of its residents and to mitigate pollution and adverse climate impacts. Progress!!!

All Welcome as usual, including the bairns,

International Conciencious Objectors Day

Gather at 6:15 for 6:30 on the 15th May at the Peace Tree* to speak out against increased militarisation & for Conscientious Objectors refusing to take up arms, then to Quaker Meeting House.
Singing will continue as we walk up to the Quaker Meeting House, 7 Victoria Terrace EH1 2JL to hear from our speakers.
*The Peace Tree - site of the planned Opposing War Memorial - stands between the Bandstand and the Fountain in West Princes St Gardens

Earlier,on the same day, at 1.00pm, the Scottish Parliament Nuclear Disarmament Cross Party Group will host Okope Ajonya, the Research Director from the Nuclear Information Service, presenting a new report on the UK Government's nuclear facilities at Coulport and Faslane. If you would like to attend, please email scndcpg@yahoo.com with your full name.

BEYOND HUMAN RIGHTS

Secure Scotland’s next exhibition at WANDA is calledf Beyond Human Rights. This part of our exploration of what we mean by security is about extending the concept beyond the human-centred and has some interesting exhibits lined up, so it will be hard to curate!

We are excited about interesting possibilities, including performance evenings, and we would welcome new volunteers (especially some folks with practical skills in getting the work onto the walls in May). Plus some computer-capable people at the end of exams who could get onto our socials, or write for our substack. They could double that up with welcoming visitors and keeping everyone caffeinated!

We are still actively seeking submissions so artists and performers, poets and crafters please call in, email or phone. More info on the website events page

 Visit, email secretary@securescotland.scot or call Janet 07795594573 or David 07876593016

Secure Scotland, along with Scottish CND and Trident Ploughshares is another one of many members of the Lakenheath Peace Alliance.

Margaret Ferguson Burns travelled to the camp at Lakenheath and with others from Scottish CND they helped to make quite a stir.

No US nuclear weapons at Lakenheath, no UK nuclear weapons in Scotland - no nukes anywhere!

Do you have any thoughts or suggestions for our next in-house event, a face to face exploration of the rising war fever and escalating nuclear bravura in Europe and the Middle East, and the effect of the climate crisis in this context.? We are hoping to grow understanding of the socioeconomic impact on communities at war to better inform our actions in response.

Would you be interested in working with us to create a programme of short films in relation to this topic? We had hoped to finalise plans for an event by the end of April, but the shop has been very busy and our present workload is time consuming.

April has been a time for monitoring nuclear weapons disarmament diplomacy at the UN as the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty engages the nuclear armed states on why on earth they consider that modernising and upgrading their arsenals can bring peace. Melissa Parke the Executive Director of the International Campaign says "We’ll continue our efforts to hold governments accountable and urge action — and we thank you for being part of this global effort." Check our Substack and the links there to Reaching Critical Will's analysis of this as the next couple of weeks go on.

We have received sponsorship for one prototype set of WandA's non-competitive creative board game on Security (no rules!). Our sponsor has prepaid £25. Will you do the same?

Cooperative communities! Explore what security could be and have some fun. If so invite us to yours, or join us here with a few friends to play

Last word for the folks who are helping with regular monthly payments, so at risk of repeating myself, if we had 200 individuals or groups with a standing order for £10 a month we’d be able to plan and budget for months and get our software in order! Details on the donate page of the website.

Words and Actions for Peace (WandA), is hosted by Secure Scotland, which receives financial support from the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust

WandA is drop-in gallery and resource base - available for public or private meetings, film and acoustic music nights

General enquiries contact@wordsandactions.scot 

Open Monday - Friday 10.00 - 16.00 

(Secure Scotland, Peace & Justice Scotland, Scottish WILPF, CAAT and others work from WandA )

Secure Scotland Media enquiries +44 (0)7795594573

or +44 (0)7876593016

Secure Scotland Project enquiries hello@securescotland.scot  

Socials : @securescotland on Substack, instagram, Youtube, X , Facebook