What we stand for

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, we concentrate first and foremost on British nuclear weapons but we 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.

Our aims

- To change Government policies to bring about the elimination of British nuclear weapons as a major contribution to global abolition.

- To stimulate wide public debate on the need for alternatives both to the nuclear cycle and to military attempts to resolve conflict.

- To empower people to engage actively in the political process and to work for a nuclear-free and peaceful future.

- To co-operate with other groups in the UK and internationally to ensure the development of greater mutual security.

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.

War on Iraq

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.

How we campaign

CND demonstrations

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.

Click on the following links to read more about peaceful protestors:

BBC NEWS | Wales: Chained war sit-in arrests

BBC NEWS | Scotland: CND leader fined after protest

GUARDIAN UNLIMITED |Special reports | Waging their own war

TELEGRAPH | News | News in brief

CND behind the scenes

Although demonstrations are an effective way of gaining publicity for campaigns at both a national and local level, CND does a lot of important work behind the scenes. We try to influence the political process itself by lobbying MPs at the Houses of Parliament by letter, e-mail, telephone and face-to-face meetings. We encourage them to raise parliamentary questions aimed at bringing the government to account for its domestic and foreign policies in relation to nuclear disarmament. Our Parliamentary Worker prepares briefing papers and drafts Parliamentary Questions and Early Day Motions for MPs. He also produces the Lobby Parliamentary Newsletter, which highlights topical issues on nuclear disarmament, and encourages CND members and other interested parties to voice their concerns to their local MPs and the Government.

At an international level CND has increasingly been present at the United Nations in New York and Geneva because of the growth in international disarmament negotiations, covering such areas as nuclear testing and non-proliferation (preventing the spread of nuclear weapons). Here, our purpose is not to demonstrate but to talk to delegates, particularly from the smaller non-nuclear states. As a Non-Governmental Organisation we provide independent advice and expert analysis, helping to counter the often intimidating presence of the big powers with their huge delegations.

CND presentation to the NPT Review Conference Preparatory committee, New York, 2004

Alternative methods

CND organises peace camps and runs stalls at Glastonbury (see articles: Glastonbury Festival : Historical Overview

CND is a network of regional organisations, local groups and individual members, covering the whole of Britain. There is a national office in London, regional offices in several major English cities, and independent Scottish CND,  Irish CND and CND Cymru organisations, as well as specialist groups like Youth & Student,   Student, Christian, and Labour sections. At the annual conference delegates from local groups, regions and specialist sections, as well as individuals, elect a Chair, three Vice Chairs and a Treasurer; they then debate and decide on general campaigning policies and priorities for the year ahead.

Different groups are free to concentrate on different aspects of the campaign, as well as joining in national events such as rallies. They also uncover details of local nuclear installations and nuclear traffic, both road and rail, in order to publicise and mount local protests against them. Regional and national workers, as well as looking after their own areas, often act as national co-coordinators for specific campaigning aspects, e.g. Missile Defence.

Where does the money come from?

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.

What we do

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. We work nationally and locally, finding out and publicising often deliberately concealed information. We lobby MPs and other people in positions of influence. We work through political parties, media, trade unions, churches and schools as well as on the streets. We protest in towns and cities, as well as at the gates of the nuclear sites – and sometimes inside them. We also co-operate actively with other groups (click here for links to some of those organisations).

Our campaigns

Click on the link to find out more about each campaign

Scrap Trident– Trident is Britain’s nuclear weapons system. CND campaigns for the complete elimination of all Britain’s nuclear weapons. There are often protests outside Trident bases, lobbying of local MPs and the government.

Missile Defence: the new threat– CND is firmly against the US plans for a missile defence system and wants the UK and US to concentrate on peaceful initiatives instead. Actions usually involve protests at the relevant sites, like Fylingdales and Menwith Hill; a recent tour across the UK organised by CND, started at Faslane and finished at the US Embassy in London.

No to NATO Campaign– CND disagrees with Britain’s membership of NATO because of the organisation’s nuclear policy and believes that all US military bases and nuclear weapons should be removed from British soil. As well as producing leaflets and supporting protests at NATO bases, CND has worked behind the scenes to try to persuade the British government to end its relationship with NATO.

End the Plutonium Trade Campaign- CND wants the establishment of a British nuclear waste management policy and the prevention of the re-use and transportation of plutonium. It also campaigns against any expansion of Britain’s civil nuclear power programme. There have been protests outside nuclear power plants, as well as lobbying of the relevant government bodies

Anti-War Campaigning– CND campaigned against the war on Iraq and is committed to campaigning against wars in which nuclear weapons may be used. CND believes that military action is an ineffective way to deal with weapons of mass destruction. Actions have included organising mass demonstrations, encouraging people to lobby their MPs and even starting legal proceedings against the government for illegal war