Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament

As the nights draw in, temperatures drop and the economy falters it can be easy to get discouraged, so we thought we'd offer three reasons to be cheerful...

Reason 1: We can’t afford nuclear weapons – It’s finally official! A recent report by the Royal United Services Institute (a respected defence think-tank) describes Trident as “The largest, and politically most difficult, procurement programme over the next two decades” and predicts that if it doesn’t keep to budget (which is extremely likely) it will be “impossible to afford current equipment plans”. In other words there’s almost certainly not enough money to keep both Trident and a fully functioning armed forces.

The billions earmarked for Trident must be taken from other budgets. We might not all agree how the money should be spent, but whether it’s on renewable energy, the health service or Apache helicopters it’s clear that nuclear weapons are not a good use of resources.

We need to do more to make sure people realise what their money is being spent on (and what it is not). Public support for scrapping Trident currently stands at more than 60%. With your help we can push it to 90%. A donation of £24 could pay for us to place 1,500 leaflets in a national newspaper, to make sure 1,500 people realise what their money is being spent on (and what it is not).

Reason 2: Liam Fox has gone. The shabby behaviour of the former defence secretary, followed by his humiliating exit from the job, has not only removed one of the cabinet’s most vocal supporters of Trident but also highlighted the corruption and lobbying that blights defence spending.

I don’t want to overstate the case here; the new post holder is no Bruce Kent, but Liam Fox’s departure can only be a good thing, and the blanket exposure given to the cronyism that flourished during his time in office can do our cause no harm.

CND is constantly working in Parliament to promote disarmament. With your help we can continue and expand our Parliamentary lobbying, taking us ever closer to banning nuclear weapons completely. £24 could provide CND briefings on Trident for 12 MPs.

Reason 3: People are working together. From the students to the unions to the occupiers of financial districts worldwide, people are working together to focus society’s attention on what really matters.

As disarmament campaigners we can work together with other movements and achieve lasting change. Just as the great depression in the US brought the introduction of Social Security and the Second World War lead to the establishment of the welfare state in this country - benefitting the whole of society - the current crisis also brings the opportunity to advance, and to make a difference for the better.

We don’t need nuclear weapons, we certainly don’t want them, and anyway we can’t afford them. So let’s get rid of them. You, I and the thousands of others who support CND can do it together. Please donate £24 if you can.

Each of us leaves our mark on the world, through our relationships with other people, and through our beliefs and ideas. By leaving a gift to CND in their Will many of our supporters have been able to continue to speak out for nuclear disarmament after they are gone.

Since CND’s first meeting in 1958 we have had many successes, important treaties like the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty have been signed, developments in nuclear weaponry such as the neutron bomb have been successfully opposed, and overall CND and the peace movement generally have created an environment in which the use of nuclear weapons is anathema.

We may not all live to see the day that nuclear weapons are finally banned, but by leaving a legacy to CND it is possible to help ensure future generations are free from the nuclear threat

CND is not a registered charity, so if you wish to ensure that no tax is paid on your bequest it may be better to leave your gift to the Nuclear Education Trust, which exists to advance education by promoting the study and understanding of, and research into, arms control and disarmament, defence and security, with an emphasis on nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction.

Income from legacies has been incredibly important to CND over the years, if you would like more information about leaving a legacy to CND or the Nuclear Education Trust, please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .