london

CND slams Westminster Abbey 'thanksgiving' service for nuclear weapons

Campaigners at CND and a host of other organisations have roundly condemned plans to hold a ‘thanksgiving’ service for Britain’s nuclear deterrent at Westminster Abbey.

The Royal Navy plans to host a National Service of Thanksgiving to mark 50 years of the Continuous at Sea Deterrent on the 3rd of May. New nuclear submarines are currently being constructed as part of a £205 billion Trident replacement scheme.

abadiaWestminster.jpg

CND will hold protests at Westminster Abbey if the service goes ahead.

Kate Hudson, CND general secretary, said:

“It’s morally repugnant that a service of thanksgiving for Britain’s nuclear weapons system is due to be held at Westminster Abbey. This sends out a terrible message to the world about our country. It says that here in Britain we celebrate weapons – in a place of worship – that can kill millions of people.

“If the Defence Secretary doesn’t cancel this service, we call on the Church authorities to step in to stop it. CND will hold protests at Westminster Abbey on the day of the service if this celebration of nuclear weapons goes ahead.”

In July 2018, the General Synod passed a motion which states “nuclear weapons, through their indiscriminate and destructive potential, present a distinct category of weaponry that requires Christians to work tirelessly for their elimination across the world.”

Take action

Videos from London CND's 2019 Conference

If you missed our conference in January, no fear - all the sessions were recorded on video and are available now on YouTube. You can watch them all below!

Palestinian Ambassador Dr Hasan Zumlot

First session: "Trump's Finger On The Nuclear Trigger". CND London Conference, 2019. Palestinian Ambassador to the UK, Dr. Husam Zomlot. Ambassador from 1 minute 40 secs.


Dr Hasam Zumlot Q&A

CND London Conference 2019, "Trump's Finger On The Nuclear Button". Video 2 of 8. Dr Husam Zumlot, Palestinian Ambassador to UK.


Catherine West MP and Ann Feltham from CAAT

Video 3 of 8, CND London Conference 2019, "Trump's Finger On The Nuclear Trigger". Catherine West, MP and Ann Feltham, Campaign Against the Arms Trade, (CAAT...

Video interview with Medea Benjamin of Code Pink USA

US women in action. Skype interview with Code Pink USA, for CND London conference 2019, "Trump's Finger On The Nuclear Button".


Rae Street, former CND Vice Chair, and Carol Turner, London CND

Session 2, "Trashing The Treaties", CND London Conference 2019, "Trump's Finger On The Nuclear Trigger". Rae from 1 minute 57 secs., Carol from 15m 48s.


Rebecca Johnson, ICAN, and Bruce Kent, CND

Video 6 of 8. CND London Conference 2019, "Trump's Finger on the Nuclear Button". Rebecca Johnson, the founder and executive director of The Acronym Institute for Disarmament Diplomacy, and Green Party spokesperson on Peace and Disarmament. Questions/answers from 17m 30s. Followed by Bruce Kent, Gen Sec CND 1980 - 1985.

Hannah Kemp-Welch, CND, and Sara Medi Jones, acting CND Vice-Chair

CND London Conference 2019, "Trump's Finger on the Nuclear Button". Third session, "Think Global, Act Local". Sara from 2 minutes 53 secs.


Jonathan Bartley, Green Party Co-Leader, and Nobu Ono, SOAS CND

Video 8 of 8, CND London Conference 2019, "Trump's Finger on the Nuclear Trigger". 37 m 04s; Nobu from 7 minutes 28 secs.