Jan 2021 – Veterans For Peace UK

A COPY OF THE LETTER FROM MICHAEL ELSTUB TO HIS MP, JULIAN SMITH

Dear Julian,

Firstly may I wish you a happy New Year and I hope a swift return to front line duties. You did a brilliant job in Northern Ireland, and should have been rewarded, not demoted to the back benches.

My first question concerns the None Proliferation Treaty on Nuclear Weapons. This was proposed by Russia, USA, and ourselves, and came into force in 1970. Article VI reads as follows;

Each party “undertakes to pursue negociations in good faith on effective measures relating to cessation of the nuclear arms race at an early date, and to nuclear disarmament and on a treaty on general and complete disarmament under strict and effective International control”.

In the last 50 years very little has happened. What effort has the Government undertaken recently to live up to these undertakings, if any at all?

Next, as the Treaty on Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons enters into International Law on 22 January 2021, why has the UK Government refused to take part in it’s formation, and refused point blank to sign it or ever abide by it’s rules? Surely this is against the spirit of the above treaty, and Article VI in particular.

I look forward to hearing from you as soon as you are able to glean all necessary information for me.

I remain,

Michael Elstub.

Member of Northern Friends Peace Board (Quakers)

Chair of Policy Group VFP. UK. 2021

NEW ARTICLES BY ALY RENWICK ON THEME OF NEUTRAL COUNTRY

Aly Renwick is working on a series of articles on the theme of Neutral Country, which it was decided at the 2020 AGM to be our priority campaign.

The articles will be under the menu item of Neutral Country.

The first one is now live, further articles will appear monthly.

1) The Origin of Today’s British Army

A look at events during the English Civil War, when Oliver Cromwell’s New Model Army became England’s first professional army – paid and controlled by Parliament.

2) A Scottish Soldier

A look at how Scots became soldiers in armies controlled by Westminster and describes how some Scottish units subsequently operated in Aden and other colonial situations.

3) Switching Soldiers-on to Violence

A look at military training to kill and how, over the last 50 years, an upped ‘Tin City’ training produced soldiers who automatically reacted aggressively – and how some were bringing home this violence to the UK.

4) Old Boys & the Officer-Class

A look at how the establishment in the UK produced a ruling system based on the Public Schools – that included the majority of senior officers in the British Army.

5) Recruitment, Basic Training & The Regiment

A look at the basic systems the military has in place for recruitment, basic training – and then serving in regimental structures.

6) Problems in Civvy Street

A look at how any veteran, including those who like the military as well as those who had an aversion to it, can have problems when they return to Civvy Street after serving.

7) Racism, Sexism & Homophobia In the Ranks

A look at how outbreaks of hate and abuse occurs among serving personnel, with those who are deemed to be different likely to be the victims – and how existing military mores and operations abroad contribute to this.

Aly Renwick is a published author and has written many articles for VFP UK.

His books; Gangrene, Hidden Wounds and Last Night Another Soldier are available for sale in our shop and offered at the special rate of all 3 three books for £10 pp inclusive.

NEW YEAR MESSAGE FROM CHAIRMAN MICHAEL ELSTUB

Firstly I would like to wish a healthy and happy new year to you all, as your Chair of Policy Group for 2021. VFP are a special group of people with a wish to pursue peace here in the UK and around the world, which is something we can all be proud of. With that in mind can I set you all a task. This last week has seen the entry into International law of the Treaty of Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons with 52 Nations now having signed and ratified this. Another 70 have indicated an intention to do so in the future. We of course refused to take part in the process, and the current Government has stated that it will never, ever, agree or comply with this treaty, even though we did sign and ratify the banning of Chemical Weapons, Biological Weapons, Landmines, and Cluster bombs. We as a group should not let them get away with this. So can I ask you all who reside in the UK to write to your MP quoting the following Article VI of the Nuclear None Proliferation Treaty, which we helped formulate, and signed and ratified in 1970.

“Each party undertakes to pursue negotiations, in good faith, on effective measures relating to cessation of the nuclear arms race at an early date, and to nuclear disarmament, and on a TREATY(my emphasis) on general and complete disarmament under strict and effective International control”.

I have already done so with my own MP, and I did not like his response. I have delivered a suitable bollocking of substantial proportions in reply to which I have yet to receive another response.

I first started campaigning for nuclear disarmament in 1979 when still in the Army after NBC Instructor training at Porton Down, and nearby Winterbourne Gunner. We are closer now than ever to getting rid of these awful weapons from the World. Up and ‘at ’em.