From ‘Campaign Against Arms Trade’…..From The John Rae Society…..From ‘Wild Justice’….
by Bernie Bell - 08:19 on 07 June 2024
From ‘Campaign Against Arms Trade’…..
“Let’s keep up the pressure on the Government*: Demand an Israeli arms embargo NOW!
Here is your latest edition of CAAT News, CLICK HERE to read it.
Thank you all for your great encouragement and support over the past months, you've really kept us going through some trying times.
Our appeal last month for funding to keep pressure on the Government
for an Israeli arms embargo was very well-supported - and it was especially welcoming to see so many first-time donors. Thank you!
Do, please, keep supporting us as you are able.
Here are a few of the main subjects explored in this issue:
• We look at the protests around the increasing links between universities and the arms industry and the new report Weaponising Universities. See page 3.
• On page 5 you can see a pie chart showing the global share of arms exporting countries from SIPRI’s annual report.
• We focus on legal and parliamentary issues around the genocidal war on Gaza on pages 6 & 7.
• We turn our arms fair lens towards Twickenham and Bristol on pages 8 & 9.
• Read about the cosy relationship between the Scottish Parliament and the arms trade and the reception organised by the ADS group (yes, they of the Arms Dealers’ Dinner) on page 13.
Check our Events page on our website for details of CAAT’s 50th anniversary. On Wednesday, 19th June, Sam Perlo-Freeman will give a lecture at the LSE Library entitled Campaign Against Arms Trade at 50: Adapting resistance to a changing world. Limited tickets are available by following THIS LINK; Sam's lecture will be recorded and shared through YouTube for all to see (I'll send a link round when it's published).
Do try to get to see the exhibition A Say in the End of the World: Solidarity and Nuclear Defence in the Cold War at the LSE Library, too. Details are HERE. We are also planning an afternoon for supporters to gather and see the exhibition at the LSE Library in September. And there is an idea for something arty and musical for November. Keep watching for updates (and do let us have your email address as much of the promotion will be online).
Please do make a donation, if you can. Do consider regular giving by Direct Debit.
You can CLICK HERE to go to the Donation page on our website.
We can’t thank you enough for all your support, whether it’s turning out in the rain to protest at an arms company, writing to your MP, leaving strategically placed copies of CAAT News to encourage and inform others, or by giving financially to our work. It all really matters.
Charles Wright
Supporter Development Manager
Campaign Against Arms Trade
P.S. CAAT has been much in the news this year: our research and comment have been used widely across all branches of the media. Encourage your friends to join our email list at www.caat.org.uk/signup for the latest updates.
* Whoever the new Government may be!”
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From The John Rae Society…
“A free talk in Stromness on June 15th at 7 p.m. As space is limited please request tickets by emailing secretary@johnraesociety.com.
The John Rae Society presents:
The Last Link – Rae and Franklin, A Tale of Tragedy and Heroism.
Dr Rawnsley, a direct descendant of Sir John's niece and ward Catherine Franklin, will be giving this free talk on:
Saturday, 15 June 2024 at 7pm
at
EMEC Building, The Old Academy, Back Road, Stromness
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From ‘Wild Justice’….
“Wild Justice is one of a large group of environmental organisations taking a legal challenge against the Westminster government's failure to act effectively to meet wildlife recovery targets - click here for BBC coverage. Wildlife and Countryside Link sent a Pre-action Protocol letter to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs back in May. Wild Justice has been centrally involved in this initiative.
This legal action, the first by Wildlife and Countryside Link, shows that wildlife groups, from the big guys such as RSPB, Wildlife Trusts and Woodland Trust to the many much smaller organisations including Wild Justice, River Action and the Wildlife Gardening Forum, are determined to use the law to make governments honour their commitments.
With the calling of the general election, it is a little unclear who will be in government on 5 July (although the odds on the Conservatives being the party with most seats are currently 35/1) but the task of responding to any evolving legal challenge will fall to that new government. We may hear fine words about wildlife conservation during the election campaign (although we haven't heard much yet) but it will be action after the election that really matters.
We will scrutinise the manifestos of all the major political parties to assess their promises on environmental matters.
Richard Benwell, CEO of Wildlife and Countryside Link, said:
“In the Environment Act, the previous Government established a groundbreaking legal framework for nature recovery, and it is positive to see politicians of all stripes pledge to halt wildlife decline. Yet time after time, environmental targets are missed.
The Office for Environmental Protection [OEP] says that once again delivery is falling short. It’s time for the culture of non-compliance with environmental law to end. When plans to restore biodiversity and stop pollution aren’t delivering, we can’t afford to stand by. Environmental charities are ready to take legal action where any Government falls short of its own promises for nature.
As we approach polling day, we’re calling on all parties to set out what they’d do for nature if elected. Environmental charities large and small have written to all party leaders to challenge themto explain to the voting public how they would restore our natural world and pass on a country rich in nature for future generations.”
Wildlife and Countryside Link is represented by Leigh Day whose Ricardo Gama said:
“The government set ambitious targets for itself in the Environment Act 2021, as well as setting up an independent regulator, the OEP, to monitor whether it is on track to meet those targets. The OEP’s most recent assessment is bleak, finding that the government is ‘largely off track’ to meet the targets that it set for itself. Link are rightly asking the government how it can carry on with a business as usual approach and still meet its targets in light of the OEP’s findings. A pre-action letter has been sent asking that question. If the government don’t give a satisfactory response then Link will consider issuing a claim for judicial review in the High Court.”
Wild Justice's Mark Avery said:
"The next government needs to act to restore wildlife in our lives. Fine words won't do. Promises need to be delivered and as Wild Justice has shown in our work, legal action is a potent force to make politicians keep their promises."
A reminder: on Saturday 22 June there will be a big march for wildlife in London supported by scores of other wildlife and environmental groups, including, of course, Wild Justice. See you there? - click here for more details.
Another date for your diary: our friends in Hen Harrier Action are organising an event on Saturday 10 August back at Carsington Water in Derbyshire. We'll be there - click here - to celebrate progress made in the decade since the first Hen Harrier Day. Come and see us, listen to a great line-up of speakers and artists."
That's it for now!
Thank you,
Wild Justice (Directors: Mark Avery, Chris Packham and Ruth Tingay).”
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