On Hiroshima Day, 6 August, Scotland Justice and Peace tweeted a reminder of the Scottish bishops' statement of 1982.  ICN

“It is in the interests of all NPT states parties that this practice [of nuclear sharing] does not spread further. And to guarantee that, it must be brought to an end.” Watch the video by ICAN

One year ago, in 2022, the 40th anniversary of this landmark statement, we produced this video with the help of schools, our bishops and some life-long anti-nuclear activists to reafirm our stance against nuclear weapons of mass destruction.  #Hiroshima #Nagasaki #NeverAgain.

PAX and ICAN’s new report "Moving away from mass destruction" shows that more and more financial institutions around the world are rejecting nuclear weapons, and citing the #nuclearban treaty as a reason to stop banking on the bomb.  

 “use all diplomatic means, even those that may not have been used so far, to bring an end to this terrible tragedy,” since “war in itself is an error and a horror.”  Vatican News.

“Presidents Biden and Putin should come to an agreement that both U.S. and Russian nuclear sharing must end.”  Truth Out.

Archbishop Nolan and the Sally Foster-Fulton, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland supported the recent Faith Vigil at the South Gate of Faslane Naval Base to pray for an end to nuclear weapons.  Watch the service here.

Justice and Peace Scotland are hosting a 'Weekend of Action' on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 23, 24 and 25 June.  Find out more here.  ICN

The world's nuclear powers, and China in particular, increased investment in their arsenals for a third consecutive year in 2022 amid swelling geopolitical tensions.  France24

Pope Francis pens a message for the annual World Day of the Poor, stressing that “whenever we encounter a poor person, we cannot look away, for that would prevent us from encountering the face of the Lord Jesus.”  Vatican News

The #nuclearban treaty is crystal clear -  hosting another country's nuclear weapons is illegal. Deploying nuclear weapons outside your own territory is wrong - and no state can be considered responsible when they do. ICAN/Reuters.

The Zaporizhzhia power plant was taken under Russia control last March, becoming one of the first major areas to be captured by Vladimir Putin's forces - but staff say they are intimidated by Russian troops to keep quiet about what's happening behind closed doors.  Sky News.

Pope Francis' Prayer Intention for June:  "For the abolition of torture - We pray that the international community may commit in a concrete way to ensuring the abolition of torture and guarantee support to victims and their families."

The previous high was £6.9bn in 2015, a time when Syria had collapsed into civil war.  “The latest export licence figures for 2022 show that the UK arms industry is working overtime to arm some of the world’s most authoritarian regimes,”  The Guardian.  

The Bishops' Conference of Scotland have announced the appointment of Anne Marie Clements as the new Catholic Social Teaching Engagement Officer for the National Justice and Peace Commission.

Pope Francis stresses once again ‘War is Madness’  “Using weapons to resolve conflicts is a sign of weakness and fragility. Negotiation, proceeding in mediation, and conciliation require courage. #Peace“.  April 2023 Pope Video.

"Behind the wars, there is the arms industry, this is diabolical," Pope Francis says.  ICN

An exercise testing the emergency response to a nuclear bomb convoy crashing, exploding and spreading a cloud of radioactive contamination was plagued by errors and confusion, according to official reports.  Sunday Post. 

Justice & Peace Scotland joined Glasgow Catholic Worker and Pax Christi Scotland at the Faslane Ash Wednesday service of repentence for nuclear weapons kept here in Scotland and all across the world.  A short excerpt from the service here

Justice & Peace Scotland are recruiting for a new full time position - Catholic Social Teaching Engagement Officer.  Click the link for further details.  

A guide to caring for our living planet.  The booklet, promoted by the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) and the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, was launched in a virtual event on Tuesday, February 14. The booklet distils the science on urgent environmental issues and explains how individuals and communities can take action to build a more sustainable and socially just future.

Peace witnesses will be held in Edinburgh & Glasgow on Friday 24th February 2023 to mark the 1st anniversary of the Invasion of Ukraine.  More details here.

Join us this Ash Wednesday, 22nd February, at Faslane as we join Glasgow Catholic Worker to witness against weapons of mass destruction.  All Welcome - More details here 

The Laudato Si’ Movement and the Care of Creation Office have organised an online Scottish screening of the film The Letter: A Message For Our Earth for Thursday 2nd February at 7.00pm.

“We can imagine with what suffering he (God) must witness wars and acts of violence perpetrated by those who call themselves Christians.”  Vatican News.

A Guided Tour of the Unacceptable is a geographical and historical tour of the UK’s nuclear weapons on the Clyde and resistance to them.  Monday 23rd January 2023 at 7.30PM The Hippodrome Bo'ness.

Bishops, including Archbishop Nolan, from across Europe and North America who make up the Holy Land Coordination Group  have released this statement following their recent visit to Jordan to support the Christian population there. image Mazur/cbcew.org.uk.

Dr. King believed that nuclear disarmament was essential and inextricably linked to the quest for social justice and racial equality.  Outrider.

Catholics may have heard of the Pope's encyclical 'Laudato Si' but what does it mean in practical terms for individuals, parishes & Dioceses.  Join this online event on Tuesday 17th Jan at 7.30pm.

Archbishop Nolan, President of Justice & Peace Scotland, delivers his yearly message to be read at all services in Scotland across the weekend of 7th/8th January 2023, the Feast of the Epiphany.  

The suggested prayers, below, were edited from contributions of several of our National Commissioners. You are encouraged to use some of them at the Sacred Liturgy in your worshipping community.

Archbishop Nolan releases this message to be read at all Catholic Churches on 7th & 8th January 2023.

Pope Francis releases his message for the World Day of Peace to be celebrated on 1 January 2023, and recalls that all crises are interconnected and that we must not forget any of them, but work for the good of humanity. “No one can be saved alone.

In his message for the 6th World Day of the Poor, Pope Francis invites Christians to greater solidarity and responsibility for the poor in society, stressing the importance of putting our faith into practice through personal involvement that cannot be delegated to others.

Watch the Peace Witness Service at the gates of Faslane held on Saturday 29th October, where we were joined by Archibishop Nolan and the Dr Greenshields, Moderator of the Church of Scotland.  #NuclearBan

As Disarmament Week came to a close on Saturday, 29 October Justice & Peace Scotland gathered with our Bishop President, Archbishop Nolan of Glasgow, Dr Greenshields, Moderator of the Church of Scotland and some dedicated anti nuclear campaigners to hold a Peace Witness at the gates of Faslane Nuclear Base on the Clyde. ICN  Image Janet Fenton.

Justice & Peace supporters will be at the North Gate at Faslane Nuclear Base in Scotland on Saturday, 29th October, at 1pm to pray for peace and an end to nuclear weapons.  ICN.

We are delighted to announce that Archbishop Nolan, President of Justice & Peace Scotland and Rev Iain Greenshields The Moderator of the Church of Scotland will be present and address the Peace Witness at Faslane on Saturday 29th Oct @ 1pm.

In his remarks, Archbishop Caccia recalled that the Cuban missile crisis was averted only through banning nuclear weapons, disarmament, dialogue, and the building of mutual trust.  ICN

From 5.30pm on Tuesday 4th October, The Feast of St Francis, The Letter - A Message From Our Earth will be available to watch here.

The Justice & Peace Europe International Workshop took place from 7-9 October in Assisi and Rondine.  More than sixty participants from 21 countries were present. Here is the final declaration: 

During a speech last Friday, President Putin said the US had created a "precedent" by using nuclear weapons against Japan at the end of World War Two.  BBC 

OTD, 70 years ago the UK carried out its first nuclear tests in Australia. This kicked off 12 atmospheric tests and radiological and toxic experiments. Decades after, survivors are still suffering the consequences and also fighting for justice.  ICAN.

In 2015, Pope Francis wrote Laudato Si’ (The Letter); an encyclical letter about the environmental crisis to every single person in the world. A few years later, four voices that have gone unheard in global conversations have been invited to an unprecedented dialogue with the Pope. Trailer - film release 4th Oct.

At a time in which nuclear rhetoric and the threat of nuclear war is on the rise, Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Parolin has stressed the Holy See's firm stance against nuclear tests and expressed its support for the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.  ICN

1982: Since I have been asked to do so, and not because I have any exclusive wisdom, experience or success in this field, I would like to share a few thoughts on the work of trying to mobilise public opinion for disarmament.  Peace News.

In 1982 the Scottish bishops released a prophetic statement on Peace & Disarmament, specifically on the nuclear threat.  Today, the world faces this same threat once again.  This video version of the 1982 statement is therefore as relevant today as it was 40 years ago.

Entries are now open for the Columbans Schools competition.  If you are aged between 13-18 why not take a look here for a chance to win.

Recently, we have been seeing false and very harmful arguments around tactical nuclear weapons and how their use wouldn’t be "THAT bad". ICAN have produced these infographics about what tactical nuclear weapons are and the catastrophic damages they would cause. #nuclearban

Already aware of the immorality of nuclear weapons, Bruce joined Christian CND in 1960. In 1975, he carried out an exorcism of a Polaris nuclear submarine at the base in Faslane, in Scotland, with the words ‘From the willingness to murder, Good Lord, deliver us.’

“The hits that this facility has received and that I could personally see and assess together with my experts is simply unacceptable. We are playing with fire and something very, very catastrophic could take place,”  IAEA chief Rafael Mariano Grossi

Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said the team was expected to arrive at the plant later this week.  "We must protect the safety and security of Ukraine's and Europe's biggest nuclear facility," BBC

As people of faith committed to building a peaceful and just world, we come together to unite our voices on this occasion of the Tenth Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), which coincides with the solemn anniversaries of the days atomic bombs were dropped on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945.

In 1982 the bishops of Scotland released a powerful and prophetic statement on nuclear weapons.  Justice & Peace Scotland have made a short film of this statement using voices of today.  On this 77th anniversary of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki we hope you will watch and share our message.  

Andrew Hamilton SJ wrote this short reflection as part of the liturgy at Faslane on Saturday 6th August 2022.  #Hiroshima #Nagasaki #Remembrance.

"You have a catalogue of things that should never be happening in any nuclear facility," BBC News
 

All talks from NJPN Conference 2022, 'Hope is a verb with its sleeves rolled up' can be seen on Youtube here  

SNP ministers have been urged to drop their “ideological opposition” to nuclear power in light of the current energy crunch.  Image by catatanbelajar from Pixabay 

At this particular moment in history where the world seems to be at a crossroads, the courageous vision of this legal instrument, strongly inspired by ethical and moral arguments, appears ever more timely....

The term "low-yield nukes" is deceptive since it implies that weapons on par with the bomb that destroyed Hiroshima are less monstrous and more safely usable than they are.  Outrider.

"As people of faith we are called to be custodians of God's creation, 'this is essential to a life of virtue; it is not an optional or a secondary aspect of our Christian experience' (Laudato Si, 217). On this the seventh anniversary of its publication, I strongly encourage all people to read Laudato Si' and inform themselves of their faith-based ecological obligation.  ICN.

Statement of the secretaries general of national commissions of Justice and Peace Europe gathered on May 14th - 15th 2022 in Szombathely/Hungary.

As the war in Ukraine wages on, the Vatican’s Secretary for Relations with States, British Archbishop Paul Gallagher, is planning to visit Kyiv next week, where he is expected to hold top level meetings.  CRUX.

Pope Francis has once again strongly spoken out against nuclear weapons. In a 25 minute meeting today with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, before the General Audience, he said the use and possession of nuclear weapons is inconceivable.  ICN.

food for thought on Chernobyl Disaster Remembrance Day.  ICN.

The Earth Day 2022 Theme is Invest In Our Planet. This is the moment to change it all — the business climate, the political climate, and how we take action on climate. Now is the time for the unstoppable courage to preserve and protect our health, our families, our livelihoods.  Earthday.org.

The Pontifical Academy for Sciences issues a declaration calling for an end to the war in Ukraine and urging nations to avoid the proliferation of nuclear weapons.  Vatican News.

Justice & Peace Scotland, in conjunction with Sancta Familia Media have produced a video featuring four of our Scottish Bishops with many young people and laity representing every diocese in Scotland to reaffirm our opposition to nuclear weapons and to mark the 40th anniversary the Scottish Bishops 1982 landmark statement on nuclear weapons.

The soil is heavily contaminated but, despite that, Russian troops were ordered to dig defensive earthworks, say Ukrainians who've now retaken the site after Russia's retreat.  Sky News.

Irrefutably, fossil fuels have become a weapon of mass destruction, both for war in Ukraine and in the climate crisis. Still, we must continue believing that we can overcome not only a war in Ukraine and conflicts in other regions of the world but also our dependency on oil, gas and coal, now and forever.  Earthbeat.

 “In March 1982 the Scottish Bishops published a pastoral letter on Peace and Disarmament.  In this letter they challenged not just the use of nuclear weapons, something the church has always condemned, but they challenged also the very notion of deterrence and the morality of deterrence". ICN.

"Unfortunately, the violent aggression against Ukraine does not stop, a senseless massacre where every day there is a repetition of slaughter and atrocities. There is no justification for this!  ICN.

Archbishop Nolan will speak at this online event on the issue of #NuclearWeapons on Monday 21st March at 6.30pm. Also speaking will be Daniel Hogsta from #ICAN.  Last chance to register for this event this evening.

Pope Francis speaks with Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill by videoconference on Wednesday, March 16.  Crux

The prospect of a nuclear war, “once unthinkable, is now back within the realm of possibility. The security and safety of nuclear facilities must also be preserved”. UN

"In the face of the shocking loss of life, bloodshed, displacement of people and destruction of property in Ukraine, we make these heartfelt appeals."  ICN

Please join us if you can at the South Gate at Faslane on Ash Wednesday, 2nd March 2022 at (3pm) as we  witness to the Peace of Christ at the home of Trident.

Veteren #Peace campaigner Bruce Kent delivers a letter to the Russian embassy in London urging the Russian Gov to de-escalate.  ICN.

Pope Francis made a heartfelt appeal for peace in Ukraine, saying that the threat of war had caused "great pain in my heart." 

Pope Francis urges world leaders to seek a peaceful solution to the situation in and around Ukraine, as Western nations warn Russia could invade its neighbor at any time. Vatican News.

"As I overcome my initial shock at being appointed Archbishop my thoughts now turn to the challenges that lies ahead....from now on I belong to Glasgow. And I assure the people of Glasgow of my commitment and dedication to them.  ICN.

Pope Francis has named justice and peace champion Bishop William Nolan to lead the Archdiocese of Glasgow.  The Tablet.

In the past, the world has experienced a number of very high-profile (and sometimes dangerous) false alarms. Here are some of the most ludicrous, terrifying and near-deadly.  The Washington Post.  

Pope Francis at his Jan. 23 Sunday Angelus said he is deeply concerned by growing tensions between Russia and Ukraine and called for a day of prayer for peace Jan. 26

One year on from the day the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons was ratified on 22 January 2021 at the UN in New York, Justice and Peace Scotland joined our fellow anti-nuclear campaigners from Scottish CND, Pax Christi Scotland, Glasgow Catholic Worker and the Faslane Peace Camp to hold a vigil at the 'home of Trident' at Faslane on the Clyde.  ICN

Letter to the Catholics of Scotland on 'Day Of Prayer For Peace', 2nd January 2022 from Bishop Nolan, President of Justice & Peace Scotland.  Read the full text here.

$63 billion drop in investments: New report shows impact of nuclear weapons ban treaty on nuclear weapons business

Every 3 months the National Commission of Justice & Peace Scotland meet and each diocese gives an update on their activities.  The December 2021 update is now available here.

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State addressed a conference on nuclear disarmament in Assisi last week, arguing that the challenge is to overcome the logic of deterrence by adopt forward-looking strategies to achieve the common good. IN his video message, he repeated Pope Francis' call to convert weapons resources into a fund to fight poverty and promote development.  ICN.

Bishop Nolan gave a wonderful talk in Glasgow recently on the topic of "Where Is God At COP26?".  Watch his talk here.

Trillions of dollars a year are ‘adding fuel to the fire’ of the climate crisis, experts say.  The Guardian.

Despite a recent stroke, 83-year-old Quail has pledged to keep on campaigning against the weapons and wants the Pope to join in when he visits Scotland for the COP26 climate change conference in November.  The National.

“Now is the time to eliminate nuclear weapons from our world , and usher in a new era of dialogue, trust and peace”, declared UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Sunday, marking the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons. UN.  UN photo/Yoshito Matsushige.

During his apostolic journey to Japan in 2019 Pope Francis stressed the moral imperative to never allow "present and future generations to lose the memory of what happened here".  ICN.

Congregation Leader Sister Susan Francois. ‘The time is now to act, to put our values into action on behalf of Earth and all creation.’  Brightnow.

Justice and Peace Scotland film on weapons of mass destruction. Footage of faith leaders, Archbishop Tartaglia, Bishop Nolan, Rev McLachlan and Rev Mumford, as well as footage of the SCANA Witness of Peace event at Faslane.

With COP26 described as the ‘last best chance' to address the climate crisis, our choice of bank is more critical than ever before. Sustainable banking enables us to align our finances with our values in a way that traditional banking, the evidence shows, simply cannot.  The Tablet.

The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (Ican) estimates £4.38 billion was splurged on the defence systems in 2020, making the UK the fourth biggest spender behind the US, China and Russia.  The National.

Millions of dollars have been spent cleaning up radioactive fallout from nuclear bombs detonated in outback South Australia, but recent tests show the contamination is worse than previously thought.

GLASGOW City Council has won praise for passing a resolution supporting the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW).  The National.  

The UK has increased its nuclear warheads by 44%, while cutting aid to the world’s poorest by 30%. #DefundTheMilitary. Where do you think the UK’s military budget should be spent instead? CAAT Campaign.

Japan has approved a plan to release more than one million tonnes of contaminated water from the destroyed Fukushima nuclear plant into the sea.  BBC.
 

40+ organisations that have signed a letter to NatWest Group CEO Alison Rose to update the group's defence sector policy to reflect that nuclear weapons are now prohibited under international law. The call comes following widespread condemnation of the UK government's decision to increase the cap on the nuclear weapons in its stockpile by up to 40%.  ICN

“blessing to see Dorothy honored as her journey progresses towards canonization and that a ferry bearing her name will transport workers, to whose dignity she dedicated the Catholic Worker Movement.”

I would like for the British Government - in a heavily controlled manner - to dispose of any nuclear warheads in the United Kingdom's possession, and encourage other nations to do the same, in order to promote world peace and to eventually create a no-nukes world. 

Bishop William Nolan, Bishop of Galloway and President of the Commission for Justice and Peace Scotland, has joined seven other Scottish church leaders in signing a statement responding to the UK Government’s integrated review of foreign and defence policies. The review, discussed in the UK Parliament on Tuesday, proposed removing the cap on the number of nuclear weapons stockpiled, allowing for an increase of up to 40%.

The UN human rights office (OHCHR) said on Tuesday it is “deeply disturbed” that the crackdown on peaceful protesters in Myanmar “continues to intensify”, with a soaring death toll on the streets, increasingly aggressive use of lethal force, arbitrary arrests, and reports of torture in custody. 

In response to the UK Prime Minister's statement today, Tuesday 16th March 2021, on plans to increase the UK's nuclear warhead stockpiles by 40% from 180 warheads to 260 warheads Justice & Peace Scotland have issued the following statement.

Boris Johnson announcement on Tuesday will end 30 years of gradual disarmament.  The increased limit, from 180 to 260 warheads, is contained in a leaked copy of the integrated review of defence and foreign policy.   Guardian.

The ripple effects from one of the world’s worst nuclear catastrophes continue after a decade, with implications for human health and remediation efforts.  National Geographic 

Who am I? A 91-year-old Englishman who was once a junior officer in our Royal Tank Regiment and then spent nearly 30 years as an active Catholic parish priest and University Chaplain.  ICN.

A joint statement from the Catholic Bishops of England & Wales and Scotland has called on the UK Government to “forsake its nuclear arsenal” and to support the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, which comes into force on Friday 22 January 2021.

"The entry into force of the ban treaty signals a massive change globally. Recognising that nuclear weapons are one of the greatest threats to humanity - the countries of the United Nations have outlawed them. Countries which everyday threaten to launch nuclear weapons are outside the norm of civilized society.  ICN.
 

Justice and Peace Scotland is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Archbishop Phillip Tartaglia, Archbishop of Glasgow on Wednesday 13th January 2021. Archbishop Phillip was a consistent advocate for the causes of justice and peace and in particular was a vocal opponent of nuclear weapons and their presence on Scottish soil. We pray today that he may enjoy his eternal rest safe in the arms of the Lord and we pray also for consolation for his family, friends and all who mourn his loss.

The non-violent disarmament campaign Trident Ploughshares has written to the UK Prime Minister and the commanders of the UK's nuclear weapon submarines outlining the challenge to their policy and conduct that is presented by the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW)...  ICN

History was made on Saturday when a treaty making nuclear weapons illegal was finally ratified at the Unites Nations. The UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) opened for signature three years ago. The treaty needed 50 countries to ratify it before it before it could come into force. On Saturday night that milestone was reached. ICN.

By Fifty-Six Former Officials of Nuclear-Dependent Nations, coordinated by the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons. 

Setsuko Thurlow was a 13-year-old schoolgirl when the United States dropped an atomic bomb on her city, Hiroshima.  Setsuko wrote to Boris Johnson telling him what happened on that day in 1945, she urged him to sign the UK up to the treaty to ban nuclear weapons.  This is the UK governments repsonse to that letter.

As we approach the 75th anniversary of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombings the following powerful statement has been released by the Catholic bishops of Scotland, England and Wales.

The picture shows Bishop Nolan addressing the crowd at Faslane naval base.

We are very thankful that Pope Francis and our Bishops are unequivocal in their stance on nuclear weapons stating clearly that possession as well as the threat of use of nuclear arms is immoral.  We also give thanks that on the 6th August (the anniversary of the nuclear bombing at Hiroshima) Ireland, Nigeria, Niue ratified the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons and yesterday on 9th August (the 75th anniversary of the nuclear bombing of Nagasaki) the Caribbean nation of St Kitts and Nevis also ratified the treaty!

44 nations have now signed the treaty - 50 nations are needed to sign up to bring the treaty into force....we are so close.

Scroll through the poignant testimonies and pictures of the survivors who will not rest until they are sure that no one will ever have to endure what they did as a child that August in 1945. Until the world has gotten rid of nuclear weapons for good.

Accident Report on the investigation of the near miss between the ro-ro ferry Stena Superfast VII and a submerged Royal Navy submarine in the North Channel on 6 November 2018.
 

"Weapons with catastrophic humanitarian consequences cannot credibly be viewed as instruments of security," International Red Cross Red Crescent Movement urges all nations to end the nuclear era.

Our friends at CND have launched a new action for you to contact your MP and highlight these inconsistencies, calling for Trident to be scrapped and the money to be diverted to fighting real threats. ICN.

An application by the MoD to overhaul waste disposal from the Faslane and Coulport nuclear bases near Helensburgh suggests that radioactive discharges could rise sharply as more submarines are stationed there.  The Ferret

On Saturday 4th April, this conference will pose the question: "Why would we in Scotland want or need to have nuclear power stations when we have almost unlimited potential for clean, renewable energy production?" Consequently Beyond Nuclear will be a day of two halves, with an examination of the downside of nuclear power in the morning and the potential for renewables in the afternoon.

There are many reasons to speak out against the killing of General Qassem Soleimani, a powerful leader in Iran who was killed in an airstrike by U.S. forces on January 3, 2020.

Pope Francis was speaking in Nagasaki, at the memorial to the many thousands killed in 1945 by the atomic bomb  The Tablet. 

Photo: CNS photo/Paul Haring

More than a million tonnes of contaminated water lies in storage but power company says it will run out of space by 2022.  The Guardian.

Kazakhstan has become the 26th state to officially join the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, officially notifying the United Nations on 29 August, a date of huge significance for the state which was at one time the holder of the fourth largest nuclear arsenal in the world.

A filmmaker from Quebec, Canada, lain Vézina, has received Special Recognition for his documentary THE SISTERS OF NAGASAKI about a group of Catholic nuns who survived the Atomic bomb dropped over Nagasaki, 74 years ago.  ICN Report

Watch Bishop Nolan's address to a Scottish Christians Against Nuclear Arms protest at Faslane on 13th April 2019.

On 6 August 1945, the US dropped an atomic bomb called “Little Boy” on Hiroshima in Japan. Three days later a second atomic bomb (“Fat Man”) was dropped on the city of Nagasaki. These are the only times nuclear weapons have been used in war.

Seventy-four years ago, on the 6th August 1945 the United States, with the consent of the United Kingdom, dropped an atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima, killing up to 80,000 people with over 70,000 people injured and dying from radiation sickness in the following weeks and months. The city was destroyed and over 100,000 people died from the bomb named "Little Boy".

Three days later, the US dropped "Fat Man" atomic bomb on Nagasaki in Southern Japan, killing nearly 100,000 people - the majority of whom were civilians. 

For details of commemorative events across Scotland, please see the Scottish CND website.

Energy bills in the UK are inflated partly because households are subsidising nuclear submarines, MPs have been told.  BBC

Have a look here at our latest newsletter filled with news and upcoming events.  

Bishop Nolan, President of Justice and Peace Scotland and Rt. Rev. Susan Brown, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland have released the following statement condeming a service of thanksgiving for nuclear weapons to be held at Westminster Abbey on 3rd May 2019.

Just days before states convene for the 2019 Preparatory Committee of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference at the UN in New York, the House of Lords International Relations Committee has called on the Government to address grave concerns about the deteriorating state of nuclear diplomacy.

Bishop William Nolan praised peace campaigners as a ‘thorn in the side of UK government, the establishment and the military’ as he took part in a protest outside the UK’s nuclear weapons base. Scottish Catholic Observer.
 

Church and Peace, The Ecumenical Peace Church Network have released the following statement condemning the European Parliament decision to sanction 13 billion euros on military research, including in nuclear weapons.

Bishop William Nolan of Galloway has confirmed that he will once again be present at the Scottish Christians Against Nuclear Arms (SCANA) event which takes place this Saturday, 13 April 2019 at 12 noon at the North Gate at Faslane.  ICN

As foreign ministers of the 29 member nations of NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation), gathered in Washington D.C. on 3-4 April to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the founding of this largest military alliance in the world, nonviolent peace activists across the U.S. and from around the world also gathered in Washington to proclaim: "No to NATO - Yes to Peace" ICN

The Ministry of Defence has been criticised over its failure to dispose of 20 obsolete nuclear submarines.  BBC News.

Everyone can play a part in the divestment campaign and this guide is intended to be a resource for those who wish to engage with Scottish organisations about nuclear weapons divestment.

The First Pax Christi Scotland Event will take place from 23rd-25th November 2018 at Conforti Institute in Coatbridge.  Everyone is invited to register for this free event.  Day places are available.  Contact: anna@confortiinstitute.org 

Treaty aims to stigmatise nuclear weapons as previous ones marginalised landmines and cluster munitions.
 

Speaking on behalf of Archbishop Bernadito Auza, the Holy See’s Permanent Observer to the UN in New York, Second Counsellor, Father David Charters addressed a UN General Assembly discussion on nuclear disarmament on October 22.

On September 26, Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States and Head of the Delegation of the Holy See to the 73rd Session of the United Nations General Assembly, gave an intervention during the High-Level Plenary Meeting to commemorate and promote The International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons.

Outrider is a website which uses digital media to provide accessible information on nuclear war and climate change.  You can witness the effects of the detonation of a nuclear bomb where you live by entering your address.

Bishop Nolan, along with other Christian leaders, was present at the annual Pentecost Vigil, organised by Scottish Christians Against Nuclear Arms (SCANA) at Faslane on Saturday 26th May. Read what he had to say about the Catholic position on nuclear weapons.

Bishop William Nolan, Bishop of Galloway and President of the Justice and Peace Commission of the Bishops Conference of Scotland, will tomorrow (Saturday 26 May) at 12 noon join other Church leaders and campaigners in calling for the Secretary of State to sign and ratify the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.

A fully funded 3 day youth training programme on all aspects of campaigning work, focusing on the nuclear disarmament movement. Learn all you need to know about nuclear weapons, communication tactics, lobbying activities, grassroots empowerment, legislative change, online engagement, fundraising tools and much more. Applicants should be between 18 and 30 years old and should reside in Scotland.

Details: http://www.peaceeducationscotland.org/peace-academy/

Pax Christi have prepared a liturgy for Ash Wednesday services