Peep Show Actress Stars in New Campaign Film
December 14th, 2012
The WMD Awareness Programme has launched a new film with a voiceover from Isy Suttie, the comedian and actress better known as Dobbie from Channel 4′s Peep Show. The film – a stop-frame animation made from thousands of individually folded pieces of paper – can be seen here: www.thousandreasons.org.uk
The film was made to promote the Thousand Reasons initiative, a campaign that will publish a thousand unique reasons why the UK should not renew its nuclear weapons. One reason will be posted on twitter for the next thousand days, until 2016 when the government will make a final decision on the renewal of Trident, the submarine-based nuclear deterrent.
The first reason read: “With the money it will spend renewing Trident, the government could give every person in the UK £1500!”
The inspiration for a campaign came from the Origami Crane, an anti-nuclear icon. According to Japanese folklore, folding one thousand origami cranes can bring a miracle, and following the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, children across the city made a thousand cranes to try and cure themselves of the cancer and radiation sickness caused by the nuclear fallout.
The full list of a thousand reasons will feature quotes from famous anti-nuclear campaigners and the general public, who will be encouraged to submit their own reasons at events and through the Thousand Reasons website. To follow the campaign on twitter go to @Thousand_reason
Rose Gottemoeller speaks at Hay on Wye
June 13th, 2012
Rose Gottemoeller in conversation with Nick Gowing
The WMD Awareness Programme was once more proud to work with the Hay Festival to host the Joseph Rotblat Memorial Lecture. This year the Lecture was given by Rose Gottemoeller, Acting Under Secretary for Arms Control and International Security within the Obama Administration, and US Chief Negotiator for the new START treaty.
Ms Gottemoeller began by honouring Sir Jospeh Rotblat’s contribution to disarmament, explaining that his tireless campaigning helped establish nuclear abolition as an acceptable policy goal. She then outlined progress made towards ‘nuclear zero’ in recent years – most notably President Obama’s Prague Agenda and the new START treaty – and used these as a platform to imagine how future technologies and social media might help overcome obstacles to global disarmament, particularly the problem of verification and ensuring any one country doesn’t ‘cheat.’ A transcript of her speech can be downloaded here.
Journalist Nick Gowing then joined Ms Gottemoeller on stage for a lively question and answer session that could have extended well beyond the allotted hour.
The event was a fascinating insight into disarmament from one of the world’s leading authorities. We would like to give an extra special thanks to Ms Gottemoeller for taking part, and to Hay for hosting the event.
Tens of thousands See New Films at Glastonbury
July 1st, 2011
Our brand new films were launched to huge audiences at Glastonbury. The three films – which make up the ‘Don’t Buy It’ project – star Alistair McGowan and James Redmond and urge people to think again about Trident renewal. See the films and project website here – www.dont-buy-it.org
Glorious Gala performance of Get Up Stand UP! Edinburgh Fringe 2011
June 15th, 2011
Get Up Stand Up! Glorious Gala Edinburgh Fringe 2011
Tuesday 16th August, 10 – midnight, ₤14 Edinburgh International Conference Centre
Get Up Stand Up! back for a 6th year with a glorious gala performance of comedy and politics featuring a whole host of top comedians: Mark Thomas, Josie Long, Robin Ince, Isy Suttie, Gordon Southern, Phil Nichol, Patrick Monahan, Paul Sinha, Craig Campbell, Shazia Mirza, Markus Birdman, Andrew Bird, Imran Yousef and ‘The Noise Next Door’. Where else could you see so many fantastic comedians in one place!!!!!
PLUS – 3 short satirical films starring Alistair McGowan, James Redmund, Katherine Ryan and star of ‘Don’t Panic’, Heydon Prowse.
The Fringe as it should be – sharp, edgy and brilliant value!
Tuesday 16th August, 10 – midnight, ₤14
Alistair McGowan stars in our new film!
WMD Awareness Programme at the NASUWT Conference
May 16th, 2011
Using traditional global symbols and myths to help pupils understand complex issues of conflict and peace.
Thank you to
everyone at the NASUWT Conference who made our stand so successful. Thanks especially to those who took our new trial materials on Global Citizenship, Talking Peace. It would be great to get your comments on the six lesson plans and to have your advice on how to develop these further.
For those who didn’t get a chance to pick them up, download the lesson plans from here and let us know what you think. We invite you to help develop new creative ways to discuss conflict and peace in the classroom through global symbols, myths and legends.
For more information contact Carol Naughton on carol@wmdawareness.org.uk
Mohamed ElBaradei talks to Jon Snow
May 16th, 2011
Dr Elbaradei in discussion with Jon Snow at the Hay Festival
The WMD Awareness Programme was once more proud to work with the Hay Festival to host the Joseph Rotblat Memorial Lecture.
Dr Elbaradei, beamed in live form Cairo by satellite, was in discussion with Jon Snow. They discussed his book, The Age of Deception – Nuclear Diplomacy in Treacherous Times, a very undiplomatic book as Jon Snow described it, as well as the ‘Arab Spring’ and the forthcoming election in Egypt and Dr ElBaradei candidacy.
Dr Elbaradei spoke very warmly of Sir Joseph Rotblat and referred often to the need to implement Jo’s vision of a world free of nuclear weapons. An excellent event that, despite being conducted by satellite, was exceptionally lively with Dr Elbaradei giving forthright and hard hitting answers to both Jon and to questions from among the 700 folk in the audience.
Thank you to Hay Festival and to the wonderful Jon Snow yet again for all the support they have given us in making this a successful event and to Dr Elbaradei for giving his time to take part in this wonderful annual memorial to the Nobel Peace Laureate, Joseph Rotblat.
Carol Naughton pays tribute to the Nobel Peace Laureate, Sir Joseph Rotblat at the Hay Festival
US Scientist, Dr Richard Garwin visits the UK
March 16th, 2011
In conjunction with the British Pugwash Group, we hosted US scientist Dr Richard Garwin from 2nd – 5th March. Dr Garwin gave evidence, on behalf of four US scientists, to the Defence Select Committee inquiry in January 2007 on the future of Trident. This caused such a stir in the media and with the MOD that the then Defence Secretary, Des Browne (above right) tried to discredit Dr Garwin’s (above left) standing. However, the key points of the evidence he gave on the ability to prolong the life of the current Vanguard subs are now essentially recognised in current government policy on submarine lifetime extension.
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Happy 80th Birthday to President Gorbachev
March 1st, 2011
President Gorbachev speaking at the launch of WMD Awareness Programme
All of us at the WMD Awareness Programme will never forget the amazing moment when, not one but TWO Nobel Peace Laureates, our founder, Professor Sir Joseph Rotblat and President Mikhail Gorbachev, launched the Programme in 2004.
Both gave passionate speeches about the need for public awareness about nuclear weapons and for public engagement on abolishing them.
“So again it’s very important for public opinion to act and to push the politicians. The view of the public, the view of the world public opinion should be expressed and it should be known to the world and I believe it could have an impact on political leaders.”
Mikhail Gorbachev, Launch of the WMD Awareness Programme, London, September 2004.
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A thousand messages of peace at Bestival
February 1st, 2011
The WMD Awareness Programme had a massive success at this year’s Bestival with an installation that engaged thousands of people with the urgent need for nuclear disarmament. All around the festival a thousand origami peace cranes – a longstanding symbol of nuclear disarmament – were placed, each with a unique reason for getting rid of nuclear weapons printed on its wing. The installation proved very popular and will reappear at various festivals in the summer of 2011.
Women in Defence of Nations
July 29th, 2010
WMD Awareness Programme and Women in Public Policy event – July 2010
Women now have a greater voice than ever on matters of national defence. No longer a realm exclusive to “old white guys”, women can be found not just protesting against war and nuclear weapons but in decision making and influencing roles at all levels of Government and the media.
Defence issues concern us all – especially at this time of instability and increased religious and political polarization. It was inspiring to hear directly from these key women, each speaking from very different perspectives.
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