The State of the Nation……From ‘Whale & Dolphin Conservation’…… From ‘Campaign Against Arms Trade’…..
by Bernie Bell - 09:43 on 23 December 2024
The State of the Nation…..
I’ve been thinking about all the Labour/Starmer bashing that’s going on. Here’s my view – just my view.
Say a farmer inherits a farm which has been wrecked by the bad management of his/her parents. Drainage not maintained, resulting in soggy fields, maybe leading to ‘poached’ fields – bad for the animals. Animals unhealthy – buildings in disrepair – plus possibly huge debts accumulated from random, pointless attempts at bolstering up a failing enterprise.
That farm is capable of becoming a functioning, profitable, healthy farm again, but it would take time. It couldn’t be restored in a year, or maybe even five year’s.
Labour inherited an un-holy mess – they’ve not been in power long.
I look at what’s happened and what’s happening and some of what they’re doing, I can see as being a good idea. Some of it, I wonder about. But - I’m not a politician, I didn’t take on that job – they did and they haven’t had long in which to even begin to try to restore balance in Britain.
I’m giving them a chance – observing - and asking folk ….would you seriously go back to the Tories - Boris and his corrupt cronies? Would you?
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From ‘Whale & Dolphin Conservation’….
“Welcome to your December enews
Before we dive into your latest whale and dolphin update, we want to wish you a very merry Christmas! Thanks to your support, this year we’ve made significant strides toward a world where every whale and dolphin is safe and free. We are incredibly grateful for everything you’ve helped us achieve.
We’re excited to share all the successes you’ve made possible in your January e-newsletter, but today, we want to say a heartfelt thank you for supporting our Don’t Go To The Show campaign.
This summer, we asked for your help to urge holidaymakers not to go to whale and dolphin shows when they’re abroad, and you rose to the challenge. Then, when our posters in UK departure lounges were pulled at the last minute, your backing allowed us to change tack. And your support didn’t stop there - in October we called on you to help expose the horrors of whale and dolphin shows, and so many of you shared your thoughts.
We want to say a massive thank you for every donation you’ve given, post you’ve shared and conversation you’ve sparked. Together, we will make this generation of captive whales and dolphins the last. Click on the button below for a deeper dive into our campaign this year.
You've been instrumental in protecting whales and dolphins throughout 2024 and we look forward to sharing lots of good news and achieving many successes with you in 2025.
On behalf of everyone at WDC, we wish you a very merry Christmas and a happy and peaceful new year.
End captivity
You’ve brought us closer to a world where no whale or dolphin suffers for entertainment. Ending these shows isn’t something we can do overnight, but with your help, we can expose the cruelty and end captivity forever.
Healing the planet
Last month, Ed Goodall gave you a glimpse into COP29 – now he’s back with the full scoop! Discover how your support is amplifying the voices of whales, dolphins, and all non-human animals at these global meetings.
Dolphin guardians
We’re inspiring children in the Peruvian Amazon to make a promise to protect river dolphins. Sandra Rengifo once made this promise, and now, thanks to your support, she’s empowering the next generation to do the same.
Hope for Iceland
We are devastated to share that, despite our efforts, Iceland’s caretaker government has granted two five-year whaling licences. We won’t give up our fight for the whales around Iceland - click below to find out why.
Restoring nature
Thanks to your support, we’ve been supporting Natütama, an education programme in the Colombian Amazon, to inspire children and local communities to restore populations of river dolphins, manatees, and other wildlife.
Merry Christmas
Thank you for your incredible support this year! Our team has a special festive message to share with you. Click on the button below to hear our heartfelt and warmest wishes for a joyful season!
Please consider making a donation today
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From ‘Campaign Against Arms Trade’…..
Peace on Earth – Goodwill to all.
“CAAT is 50!
Fifty years of campaigning against the arms trade.
We sincerely hope our work will not be needed in another 50 years.
But, while this trade in death and destruction continues, we remain resolute in our opposition and commitment to end it.
Welcome to the last CAAT News of 2024 – it’s now on our website to read, just follow the link below.
Those of you who, like me, enjoyed the occasional double issues of your favourite comic will be pleased by this “bumper” edition, which includes a special supplement covering some stories and reflections relating to our 50th anniversary. We all hope you enjoy reading it.
Thank you to all who have joined us on this journey, we couldn’t have come this far without you!
And thank you for all the donations we’ve received towards our work.
Do please continue your support!
Here’s a brief overview of some of the highlights you’ll find in this issue:
1. Still arming Israel: the government in the dock. We have an update of the Global Legal Action Network (GLAN and Al-Haq’s hearing in the High Court, and information about CAAT’s involvement.
2. Spotlight on Lancashire. A special look at how Lancashire is the heart of the UK arms manufacturing industry. (STOP PRESS: since CAAT News was laid out, it seems as if the Typhoon may have reached its end, as orders have dried up. But does that mean even more F-35s?)
3. Arms fairs looming: dates for your diary. 2025 is a DSEI year, one we fear will be even bigger than usual, requiring as much support for our campaigning as possible. But January has a big kick off with the International Armoured Vehicles fair and the Arms Dealers Dinner; why not come and join us outside?
4. US elections. Read our first thoughts about Donald Trump and the arms trade.
5. Scotland. We held a very successful and well-received Scotland Gathering in Glasgow. It created a useful template, which we hope to reproduce elsewhere as a way to bring supporters and CAAT staff together. And our searchlight was focussed on Strathclyde University and its role as a “playground” for major arms companies.
And a look some of the things in the 50th supplement:
1. LSE Library. Personal thoughts from Samantar and Angèle, the people who have archived decades of CAAT’s history. Our archives are now searchable.
2. A brief history of CAAT. A fascinating timeline of some of the special moments over the past 50 years.
3. How to support CAAT. The main ways our supporters give their financial support are set out; do see how your support could fit in.
4. CAAT News. A retrospective from the editor.
5. Then and now. We look back at what is different now - and what remains similar - when compared with 1974.
Events
Do keep an eye on the Events page on our website for details of in-person and online events.
We use these emails to ask you to support CAAT in our continuing work to STOP the arms trade by making a donation.
Do, please, help as you are able.
We trust that you believe in what we are doing, and support our work. Do let us know your thoughts, and alert us of anything you hear of that you think would be useful for us to know.
As you know, one of my major themes this year has been to ask you to consider making your donation to us by Direct Debit: these are easy to set up and really do mount up over time (you can easily stop them at any time). There’s the further benefit of helping us manage our regular budget and plan for the future. One-off donations are still greatly welcomed, of course!
If you are not able to help financially at the moment, you can read on for plenty of other ways to get involved in our work.
Thank you all again so much for your support in so many ways over the years!
With best wishes for a peaceful Christmas and New Year,
Charles and all of the team at CAAT
PS – Do let me know if you have any stories you’d like to pass on about your involvement with CAAT over this half-century. I’d love to include them in future issues of CAAT News. charles@caat.org.uk “
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