Barnet Trades Council

• Free CND public conference – open to all
• 10th November, 9:30am-5pm
• Birkbeck University of London, Bloomsbury, London WC1E 7HX

We are living in increasingly dangerous times – most recently with President Trump’s announcement of US withdrawal from the INF Treaty. This opens the door to massive nuclear proliferation. At the same time, new technologies are emerging, rapidly transforming warfare; billions of dollars are being spent on a new hi-tech arms race. It’s already big news and the public is awakening to the serious consequences.

Space is being militarised, warfare is conducted online, and killer robots and drones carry out secretive wars via artificial intelligence and remote control. How do we organise to stop this new and uncontrolled wave of weapons and war?

Join CND and a host of expert speakers to discuss these issues at our public conference ‘Future Wars: The Impact of New Technologies’.

Sign up here for your free ticket

The assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi is barbaric and gruesome.

As more and more evidence emerges about the murder, the International Federation of Journalists has called on the international community to stop appeasing the Saudi regime.

On the eve of the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, the union has organised a silent vigil outside the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in London.

The event will take place on Thursday 1 November starting at 6pm for one hour at 30 Charles St, Mayfair, London W1J 5DZ.

Please spread the word and come along on the night.

https://www.nuj.org.uk/events/international-day-to-end-impunity-for-crimes-against/

Saturday 1 December 2018, 10am – 5pm
Congress House, Gt Russell Street, London
Discussion, films, stalls and music

Dr Mariela Castro is one of the special guest speakers at this year’s Latin America Conference.

Featuring contributions from more than 50 campaigners, politicians, trade unionists and academics from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, Mexico, Nicaragua, Venezuela and the UK, Latin America 2018 is the largest event of its kind in Europe.

With countries across the region facing the threat of intervention from Trump, this year’s Latin America conference comes at a critical time.

Mariela Castro Espín is the daughter of former Cuban president Raúl Castro and feminist and revolutionary Vilma Espín. However, she is best known in Cuba for her work as director of the Cuban National Centre for Sex Education (CENESEX), which is at the forefront of campaigning and promoting LGBT+ rights in Cuba.

As well as addressing the main conference, Mariela will be speaking in two seminars on LGBT+ rights and challenges in Cuba, and on the process of updating the Cuban constitution. There will also be a special Cuba60 seminar looking at Cuba’s achievements on the eve of the 6oth anniversary of the Cuban Revolution. This year we are delighted to welcome more Cuban speakers to the conference: Dr Mayelín Gonzalez, a Cuban teacher, and journalist Cristina Escobar, as well as the Cuban Ambassador HE Teresita Vicente.

Other guest speakers include
Maritza Espinales, Nicaraguan MP – Guillaume Long, former Ecuadorian Foreign Minister – HE Rocio Maneiro, Venezuelan Ambassador – HE Guisell Morales-Echaverry, Nicaraguan Ambassador – Tariq Ali – Chris Williamson MP – Karen Lee MP – Dan Carden MP – Victoria Brittain, Journalist – Laura Morales, Justice Mexico Now – Colin Burgon, Labour Friends of Progressive Latin America

And many more including:
Marcus Barnett, Young Labour International Officer – Christine Blower, National Education Union – Pablo Bradbury, Argentina Solidarity Campaign – Tony Burke, Unite – Dr Lauren Collins, Academic – Andy De La Tour, Actor – Dr Francisco Dominguez, Academic – Huda Elmi, Labour Party NEC –  Julia Felmanas, Brazil – Jesus ‘Chucho’ Garcia, Movement of Afro Venezuelans – Lindsey German, Stop the war – Artin Giles, Chair, London Young Labour – Dr Mayelín Gonzalez, Cuban teacher – Diana Holland, Unite – Kate Hudson, CND – Mike Jackson, Lesbians and Gays support the Miners – Jon Lansman, Momentum – Dr Grace Livingstone, Academic – Lara McNeill, Youth rep on Labour’s NEC – Dr Alan McCLeod, academic – Navendu Mishra, Labour Party NEC – Roger McKenzie, UNISON – Fidel Narváez, Ecuador – Pablo Navarette, Alborada – Dan Ozarow, Action for Argentina – Bernard Regan, CSC – Carol Regan, CSC – Gabriel Rodriguez, Argentina – Steve Sweeney, Foreign Editor Morning Star – Calvin Tucker, Morning Star – Steve Turner, Unite – Adrian Weir, Unite – Jack Youd, Unite

This week, activists from around the world are holding actions and protests to demand an end to plans for a US Space Force during the annual Keep Space for Peace week.

In June, President Trump made a highly controversial announcement: he directed the Pentagon to develop a ‘Space Force’ – a new branch of the US military, ‘separate but equal’ to the US Air Force – to ensure ‘American dominance in space.’

• Read CND Chair Dave Webb’s blog post

Here in Britain, at Menwith Hill outside of Harrogate in North Yorkshire tonight, a demonstration will take place between 6pm and 7.30pm. All are welcome to join. See Global Network Against Weapons website for more events.

Future Wars Conference: The Impact of New Technologies
10th November • London

The US Space Force will be a major theme of our Future Wars Conference that will explore The Impact of New Technologies, taking place on the 10th November in London.

• Tickets are available now

Speakers include Duncan Campbell investigative journalist Arielle Denis ICAN Campaigner Stuart Parkinson Scientists for Global Responsibility Ted Seay Former NATO arms control advisor Elke Schwartz Lecturer in International Politics at LSE Carol Turner London Region CND Dave Webb CND and Lucas Wirl International Network of Engineers and Scientists for Global Responsibility.

7th October will mark the 17th anniversary of the invasion of Afghanistan by the US, the UK and several of its allies. According to a conservative estimate, 217,000 Afgans have died as a direct result of the fighting.

Over a thousand more UK soldiers have recently been deployed to the country, although UK military intervention has been leading to more bitterness and more violence.

We are calling for action on the weekend of 7th October to demand the immediate withdrawal of UK troops from Afghanistan. We are asking supporters and local Stop the War groups to organise street petitions, stunts and protests. In London we will be handing in a letter of protest on Friday 5th October at Downing Street. You can download the petition here.