Kingston CND: Climate change film includes militarism

A group of Creative Media students from Kingston College has chosen, for their final assessment project, the climate crisis, with particular emphasis on the need for system change.

Director Neha Sunda and Production Managers Jack Pauley and Era Birka, together with their team, were out filming at the XR protest in London last October when they spotted Kingston Peace Council and Movement for the Abolition of War banners at the XR Peace site near the Ministry of Defence.  They were intrigued to hear our particular message concerning the connection between militarism and climate change and decided to include it in their 24-minute filmed magazine show – devoting four minutes to a specialist interview.

We have been to their studio in Kingston for practice sessions, with the final filming scheduled for 16 January.  This is an exciting project and it has been enjoyable and eye-opening to see how such a studio operates and to work with such a charming, focussed and professional team.  The magazine show ‘Changing London’ features footage of the XR action plus pre-recorded interviews with Richmond Councillor Martin Elengorn and with a group of allotment holders, then live filming  including  KPC’s Mary Holmes participating in a debate on system change and I was being interviewed on the significance of military-related greenhouse gas emissions.

It has been a delight working with the group.  We wish them well with their project and hope their important message will spread far and wide!

- Hilary Evans

New Year Social

London CND members met at Ev Cafe, Waterloo on the 24th January 2020, to celebrate the new year.

This was a great opportunity for new introductions and sharing between groups, and a chance for members to meet our new Vice President Emma Dent Coad.

Emma gave a galvanizing speech, and offered her support with our events and activities.

Jeremy Corbyn MP sent a message to the gathering:

Sorry I can't make event. All best, never been more important time to support NPT process to save Iran deal and help to create nuclear free world. Well done peace campaigners for always being there. Thank you especially to London Region CND from one of your members.

Emma Dent Coad

We are delighted to welcome aboard Emma Dent Coad, London CND’s newest Vice President. She joins Bruce Kent, Jenny Jones and Catherine West. All four Londoners will be helping attract support and increase interest in nuclear disarmament across the capital in the months and years ahead.

Emma Dent Coad was MP for Kensington 2017-19 and is perhaps best known as the first Labour MP ever to win the seat. The Grenfell Tower fire happened only days after her election, and Emma became a nationally-recognised figure criticising Kensington and Chelsea Council for their failings which led to what she considered an ‘entirely preventable’ tragedy. A long-time opponent of nuclear weapons, Emma became Labour Vice Chair of Parliamentary CND speaking out against Trident and opposing war. She was born and educated in London, graduating from the Royal College of Art with an MA in the History of Design and continuing her studies at the University of Liverpool’s School of  Architecture. Emma has been a Kensington Councillor since 2006 and continues in that role. Westminster’s loss is London CND’s gain.