Don’t make us a target – shut down Fairford!

With risks of the US illegal war on Iran widening, it is vital that we keep up the pressure on the British government to end its support for US war crimes and withdraw permission for Trump to use of British bases, including RAF Fairford.

We’re just five days away from our demonstration at the base, where we’ll be calling on Prime Minister Andy Burnham to help secure an end to the war and shut down British bases.

This comes as trade unions add to the pressure on the British government to do more. In a letter to Burnham last week, the general secretaries of ten unions are calling on him to revoke permission for the US to use Fairford to attack Iran. They rightly say that the illegal US-Israeli war is “deepening the cost of living crisis faced by our members and the British public”.

RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire is a vital base for US long-range bombers as it is the only base with a runway long enough to facilitate their take offs and landing. Its use has allowed Donald Trump’s bombers to illegally attack Iran without having to fly from the US.

CND, along with Fairford Action, Stop the War Coalition, and Iranians Against War, have been busy shining a light on the role of this base since the US started attacking Iran in February. The bombers remain there as negotiations on ending the war struggle to end in a resolution.

Join us this Saturday, 15 August to call on Burnham to send the US bombers home and close the bases!

• Saturday, 15 August
• RAF Fairford, Whelford Road, GL7 4EE
• 1:00pm to 3:00pm
• Book the coach from London and Bristol here

Getting to Fairford

Coaches are being arranged from Bristol (with pick up in Weston-super-Mare) and London. They will drop off supporters at the base and pick you up after it finishes.

For those driving, there is no parking near the protest site. Shuttle buses will pick people up from Fairford town car park and will drop you back to your car following the demonstration. Shuttle pick up times are 12:20pm, 12:50pm and 1:20pm to take you to the base. Returning approximately 3pm and 3:30pm to Fairford Town. Please email [email protected] to book your place on the shuttle: this is essential to reserve your space.

Help us send a strong message that the British government must stop Trump using this base to commit war crimes. Bring banners, children’s clothes or pack-packs to tie to the fence. They’ll also be card and pens so you can write your own messages to Burnham. Be sure to bring food, water, suncream, hats and umbrellas for the shade. A portaloo will be available at the protest.

Never again: Help CND end nuclear dangers

With the threat of nuclear weapons being used at its highest since the Cold War, over the last week, the anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki have been a critical opportunity to raise the call for the abolition of nuclear weapons. CND groups and supporters from across the country organised powerful commemorations to mark the 81st anniversary. We’d like to thank everyone for their hard work in marking these anniversaries. We’ll be sharing photographs of the events shortly.

This year’s anniversary comes amid growing nuclear dangers. Britain is now the third largest spender on nuclear weapons as it replaces its old nuclear-armed fleet and expands its nuclear capabilities with the purchase of nuclear-capable F-35A fighter jets. In Europe, the US is looking to expand the number of nuclear weapons it has stationed at NATO bases, while Europe governments are discussing a plan to host French nuclear weapons. Conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine continue to take lives and pose a risk to escalating into a nuclear confrontation.

As we remember the hundreds of thousands of people who died so horrifically at Hiroshima and Nagasaki, we must redouble our efforts to ensure that the catastrophic scenes witnessed on August 6 and 9 1945 are never repeated.

These themes are expressed in two excellent articles to mark the anniversary from CND General Secretary Sophie Bolt and CND Vice-President Jeremy Corbyn. You can read them here and here.  

You can also watch Jeremy’s Hiroshima Day message on CND’s Instagram and Facebook pages here and here.  

We’d also like to sincerely thank everyone who has donated to CND’s Hiroshima and Nagasaki Appeal so far. If you haven’t and can contribute, you can do so here. Our work is only possible because of the donations we have received from supporters like you.