Gaza: Ceasefire, international law and war in the Middle East at the Festival For Survival

On Saturday, Scottish CND will host the Festival For Survival. Taking place across two fantastic venues, Adelaides and the Renfield Centre in Glasgow, this event will bring together and incredible line up of campaigners, civic voices, think tanks, academics, cultural figures and international guests.

Conter Editorial Board member, George Kerevan, has written about the event here.

Emergency session added - Gaza: Ceasefire, international law and war in the Middle East

Events in the Middle East are spiralling out of control. In Gaza, thousands of civilians have been killed, alongside the bombardment of critical infrastructure. According to aid agencies, the situation is a humanitarian crisis of historic proportions.  

Meanwhile, the US is building up fleets in the East Mediterranean Sea as tensions with Iran escalate and the threat of a regional war - with global dimensions - mounts. 

This is a dangerous moment, with unfathomable consequences to add to the already catastrophic conditions being experienced by people in Gaza. The U.K. Government has made itself complicit with its handling of events.

That is why Scottish CND are introducing a new session with the above title at the this Saturday.

With expert speakers, the event will explore the following themes: why an immediate ceasefire is needed; the urgency for international law to be meaningful; how we can work to avoid further devastating wars in the Middle East; the nuclear threats involved. 

Speakers include:

Aamer Anwar  Human rights lawyer 

Jean Urquhart Veteran peace campaigner and former MSP 

William Nolan  Archbishop of Glasgow 

Roger Sturrock Moderator of Glasgow Presbytery 

David Hayman  Actor 

Chris Stephens  SNP MP 

Katy Clark  Labour MSP 

Bill Ramsay  SNP Trade Union Group 

Alex Gordon President of the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union 

Almut Rochowanski Expert in civic activism in Ukraine and on womens' and girls' rights 

Common Weal Scottish think-tank and advocacy group 

Vanessa Hanson International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons 

Cat Boyd  Herald columnist and PCS National Officer for Scotland and Northern Ireland (pc)

Nyuklia Eureka African Youth for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons 

Laura Young Climate activist, environmental scientist and Scottish influencer of the year 

Coll McCail  Progressive International, Editor of Skotia and climate campaigner 

Bill Kidd SNP MSP and Convenor of the Cross Party Group on Nuclear Disarmament 

Ross Greer Green MSP 

Mike Danson Economist with expertise on energy and transition 

Angela McCormick Glasgow Stop the War and EIS FELA committee member

Isobel Lindsay Scottish CND Executive Committee 

Dr Olamide Samuel  Centre for International Studies and Diplomacy 

The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons A coalition of non-governmental organizations in one hundred countries promoting adherence to and implementation of the United Nations nuclear weapon ban treaty.

Linda Pentz Gunter  Editor, Beyond Nuclear International 

Lynn Jamieson Chair, Scottish CND 

Arthur West Scottish CND Trade Union Network 

Dr Catherine Eschle,  Senior lecturer in the School of Government and Public Policy and Editor of Feminism and Protest Camps: Entanglements, Critiques and Re-imaginings 

Vladimir Unkovski-Korica Senior lecturer in Central and East European Studies 

Peter Burt  Author and founder of Drone Wars 

Layla-Roxanne Hill  Author of Black Oot Here: Black Lives in Scotland

Dr Claire Duncanson Senior lecturer in International Relations