CND gatherings for global peace
More than 50 people gathered on the green in Lamlash, and later at the Lamlash Church hall, to commemorate Hiroshima Day and remember the many people who died there, and in Nagasaki, on August 6 and 9, 1945.
Organised by the thriving Arran CND group, the event, on Sunday August 5, began with the ringing of the church bells, an address by the Reverend Lily McKinnon, and a two-minute silence during which the horrors of nuclear warfare were remembered.
Afterwards in the church hall, those who attended heard inspirational speeches from local MP Patricia Gibson, Janet Fenton from Scottish CND who spoke about the success of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), whose members were this year awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, and David Mackenzie of Nuke Watch, an organisation which monitors the transport of nuclear material around Scotland and the UK.
The afternoon finished with refreshments and two other short presentations. One described the origami peace cranes which CND members have been making as their contribution to the 150,000 being made across Scotland to represent all those who died as a result of the bombings.
The other encouraged those present to write messages of peace and hope for the peace tree placed in the church hall.
The message of the day was hopeful, believing moves such as the ICAN treaty offer a chance for nations to move towards a nuclear weapons-free future.
On Hiroshima Day itself, a small group of CND members gathered at the peace tree in Whiting Bay, planted on Hiroshima Day back in 1987. The plaque which sits at the foot of the beautiful rowan tree says: ‘In hope of a more peaceful future’.
Arran CND members continue to work towards this end and if you would like to join them, please go to the Scottish CND website where you will also find details of the International Rally being held at Faslane on September 22.