Friends in Newcastle anti-nuclear event
Friends in Northumbria took part in a recent event highlighting the link between their anti-nuclear campaigning and social justice concerns
Northumbria Friends were among those who took to the streets of Newcastle upon Tyne last month to publicise the links between their anti-nuclear campaigning and social justice concerns.
Sue Bennet and Caroline Westgate, from Northumbria Area Meeting, took part in the ‘Common Threads – Making the Links’ action on 18 May as part of the Gareloch Horticulturalists Women’s Peace Group.
Caroline Westgate told the Friend: ‘Their colourful banners immediately attracted curious passers-by who wanted to discuss climate justice, an end to austerity and poverty, and Atos assessments and their effect on people with disabilities. The banning of nuclear weapons and the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) was news to some folk who were glad to have the [handout] with lots of local and global information.
‘People’s responses were amazing, ranging from “You have made my day, I am just so happy that you are making the links” to disbelief that the UK still has nuclear weapons!’
The group also sang songs of peace and solidarity, which, according to Caroline Westgate, had ‘their own crowd-pulling factor’. She added: ‘In general there seemed to be an agreement that we have a government which fosters corruption and perpetual warfare and that it will be the small actions of concerned citizens that will bring about change.’
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