The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) opposes all nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction: their development, manufacture, testing, deployment and use or threatened use by any country.
As a British campaign, CND concentrates first and foremost on British nuclear weapons but they also work with anti-nuclear groups in other countries to eliminate the global threat. CND is also present at the United Nations and other international disarmament conferences.
Almost all CND’s income comes from membership subscriptions and through special appeals. There are both national and local fundraising events: everything from street stalls to concerts and sponsored activities. As a matter of policy, CND never accepts money from any agency of any state that possesses nuclear weapons.
CND campaigns non-violently to rid the world of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction to ensure a peaceful world for future generations. They work nationally and locally, finding out and publicising often deliberately concealed information. They lobby MPs and other people in positions of influence. They work through political parties, media, trade unions, churches and schools as well as on the streets. They protest in towns and cities, as well as at the gates of the nuclear sites – and sometimes inside them. They also co-operate actively with other groups.
Over the years, CND has probably been best known for the Easter Ban The Bomb marches from Aldermaston in Berkshire to Trafalgar Square in London; thousands of people have attended with banners, placards, bands and a few blisters. In recent years these kind of large scale demonstrations have once again been seen, this time in the Demonstrations Against the War on Iraq; in fact, on 15th February 2003 CND helped to organise the largest protest rally the capital has ever seen.
Furthermore, there are still rallies in city centres in places such as Glasgow, Leeds, Birmingham, Oxford and Manchester and at bases such as Faslane in Scotland and Devonport in Plymouth where the submarines and their nuclear-armed missiles are based. These events are peaceful, legal and carefully organised. Their purpose is publicity but they also act as meeting and morale-boosting occasions, particularly for members of small or isolated CND groups.
Other demonstrations may feature Non Violent Direct Actions (NVDA); these are peaceful actions where nuclear bases are typically blockaded or entered, usually by small groups, either over or through security fences. Those taking part are prepared to be arrested. Every effort is made to ensure that only these volunteers are involved. Whilst there may be a small amount of damage to property – for instance to fences - great care is taken to make sure that there is no violence towards people. Demonstrators do not do anything that might provoke violence.
After condemning the attacks of September 11, CND organised demonstrations under the slogan “stand shoulder to shoulder for peace” and against the war on Afghanistan. One of the most notable protests was held in October 2001, when around 50,000 people marched against the military air strikes on Afghanistan. Placards carried a wide range of messages from "CND says not in my name" and "CND says peace & justice for all" to "fight US/UK imperialism".
In the midst of that war, the CND Council meeting of December 2001 outlined plans for actions opposing any possible war on Iraq. That meeting also agreed that CND would co-operate with the newly-formed Stop the War Coalition (STWC). CND supported the STWC action in November 2001 and organised many anti-war protests during 2002. It also supported the demonstration jointly organised by STWC and the Muslim Association of Britain (MAB) in September 2002
During the build up to the war on Iraq, CND was very involved in organising anti-war protests. The major demonstration on 15 February 2003 was the biggest in London’s history and was jointly organised by CND, STWC and MAB. Two million people from across the country took part in the protest held in London, while there were also demonstrations held in Belfast and Glasgow. The three-and-a-half mile march began at two different meeting points before coming together at Piccadilly Circus and finishing at Hyde Park with a massive rally. Demonstrators carried signs, chanted slogans and made a huge amount of noise with horns and drums; while high profile speakers, like Tony Benn and world famous US civil rights activist, Rev Jesse Jackson, voiced their opposition at the rally. Whether people were on the stage or in the crowd, the message was loud and clear, ' No War on Iraq'.
CND continued to organise demonstrations against the war on Iraq, together with STWC and MAB. These included the largest wartime demonstration in British history (22nd March), which was held simultaneously in London, Fairford (where B52s were taking off) and Menwith Hill, the largest electronic monitoring station in the world.
After President Bush declared the war over, CND continued to campaign against the British and US occupation of Iraq, to highlight the suffering of the Iraqi people under the occupation and to raise the dangers of future pre-emptive wars. Protests took place across the country and included a national demonstration of about 100,000 people, organised with STWC and MAB, on the eve of the Labour Party conference, on the theme of “No More War Lies”.
From the 19th – 21st November, during the visit of President Bush to Britain, CND, along with STWC, MAB and others, was involved in organising massive protests across the country including a rally of 200,000 people in Trafalgar square at which a statue of George Bush was toppled. Pictures of this event were broadcast on TV stations across the world.
