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HANT Bulletin: February 2017 

Welcome to what HANT plans to be a bi-monthly Bulletin to update for members and supporters.

Some feedback we received indicated that people would prefer shorter and more frequent bulletins rather than longer ones which people may be put off from reading. So we will try this approach and see how it is received – you are welcome to provide feed back on the HANT email – hello@hant.co.uk

The four main items we wish to report on in this bulletin are :

  • The HANT AGM with Guest Speaker Sean Morris : International Secretary of NFLA (Nuclear Free Local Authorities) : Friday 3 February 2017 . 7.30 pm in the Spectrum Centre, Inverness..
  • HANT Meeting with the UN Special Rapporteur on the implications for human rights of the environmentally sound management and disposal of hazardous substances and wastes, Mr. Bascut Tunkak, in Stirling on 21 September 2017
  • HANT’s proposed Crowdfunder Launch.
  • Campaign Plans for 2017 and what HANT Members / Supporters can do.
Read on for more details!
 

The HANT AGM

We welcome everyone to come along to this important meeting where HANT will hear from Sean Morris (International Secretary of the NFLA : Nuclear Free Local Authorities). Details about Sean’s work with NFLA, his background and the important partnership working between HANT and the NFLA were in the last bulletin. Sean will be happy to answer questions and participate in debate about the issue surrounding nuclear transport and how this links to all nuclear matters including new nuclear build and storage of nuclear waste.

Please bring along friends and family with you and if you are unable to attend please share the information on social media.

When: Friday 3rd February, 19:30
Where: Concourse Room
Spectrum Centre
1 Margaret Street
Inverness
IV1 1LS
(Ground floor with disabled access)
Refreshments: will be provided!
 
Everyone welcome – come along to learn about our efforts in stopping the transport of nuclear waste by rail, sea and air!

Further information : Tor Justad (07710 392 666) or hello@hant.co.uk and on Facebook


HANT Meeting with the UN Special Rapporteur

Mr. Tunkak is an international attorney specialising in toxic chemical-related matters.

This meeting came about through HANT attending and having a stall at the Scottish Green Party Conference in Perth in October 2016 where contact was made with Maire McCormack who is the Head of Policy at the Children and Young person’s Commissioner for Scotland and who was co-ordinating the UN Rapporteur’s visit to Scotland.

The aim of the meeting was to hear evidence from campaign groups in Scotland involved in issues such as the nuclear weapons convoys and transport of nuclear waste and especially the human rights issues raised by the transports. Mr. Bascut listened to HANT’s concerns very carefully and the issues raised including

The lack of any meaningful consultation prior to the start of rail and sea transports in 2012 and air transports in 2016 which all create unacceptable risks to local populations, the environment and the economy which relies on clean seas and unpolluted atmosphere - the main industries are tourism, fishing, agriculture and aquaculture           
  • The secrecy surrounding the transports which are far in excess of the measures necessary to avoid breaching required security requirements.
  • Distrust and concern is created in local populations by the lack of consultation and extreme secrecy imposed and the lack of transparency of emergency plans and the effects of nuclear radiation on health.
  • Despite the existence of the Dounreay Stakeholder Group (DSG) there is very little consultation involved and the DSG is also confined to a narrow remit which precludes meaningful stakeholder engagement.
  • Serious incidents such as the radiation leak of fuel from a nuclear test reactor at HMS Vulcan at Dounreay in 2012 was only revealed to the House of Commons in 2014.           
  • HANT was able to inform the UN Rapporteur of its aim to halt the transports and to retain all nuclear waste on the site under constant monitoring and security.
All of the evidence presented by HANT will form part of the UN Rapporteur’s report to the British Government which will be published in September 2017 and he will be making a statement to the British press at the end of his visit on 31 January 2017.
 

Crowdfunder Launch

HANT has been extremely fortunate in being successful in applications to two charitable trusts which support campaigns related to environmental issues.

HANT also raises funds through contributions from Members and Supporters – usually at Public Meetings which since 2013 have been held in Dingwall, Ullapool and Inverness.

In order to harness the support which HANT believes exists in the wider community and outwith the Highlands the HANT Committee has decided to launch a Crowdfunder Campaign – more information on www.crowdfunder.co.uk.

HANT has received online and direct support from supporters in the Highlands, many parts of the UK, the US and from supporters in Europe.

The Committee has started to investigate the practicalities of this approach and to set out HANT’s story and why funding is required.

The initial target set is £1000 which would cover one year’s running costs for HANT including hire of premises for meetings, advertising, producing publicity materials and volunteer expenses.

In return for a donation members and supporters will receive regular updates of HANT’s campaign and have access to any publicity materials produced in future such as car stickers and badges.

The current plan is to launch the Crowdfunder on 1 March 2017 and to close it on 30 April 2017.

Please look out for the Link on the HANT website and facebook (hant.co.uk) from 1 March 2017 and we are optimistic about the potential support that exists and look forward to reporting on a successful outcome.
 

Campaign Plans for 2017 & what you can do!

The HANT Committee holds regular teleconference meetings and part of the meetings are spent planning future events and activities.

You can find the names of the current Committee on the website and also their ways about the issues that concern them related to HANT’s campaign.

Current Committee members are : Tor Justad (Chairperson), Committee Members : Veronica Egan (Secretary), Diana Mackenzie (Treasurer), Sue Gorrie, Maree Todd and Stephen Pennington with Charlie Egan as a voluntary IT Adviser.

HANT, which is an unincorporated association has a constitution which allows for up to 15 Committee Members so if you would like to join the Committee come to the AGM or contact HANT on hello@hant.co.uk

You can come from any part of the Highlands as Committee meetings are held by teleconference so anyone can join from any locationIn the past HANT’s activities have included Public Meetings, awareness raising street stall, demonstration, attendance at meetings and conferences (including Dounreay Stakeholder Group, Green Party, Hitrans Rail Summit etc.) and film showing so it’s a mixture of raising awareness in the Highlands and beyond and contributing to the wider debate about nuclear transport, nuclear waste and the nuclear industry

Linked to these main issues are parallel issue such as the UN Conference in 2017 to negotiate a legally binding treaty to prohibit nuclear weapons and the current Scottish Government’s policy to remove nuclear submarines from Faslane and to close down Scotland’s three nuclear power stations in favour of a non-nuclear future

HANT supports efforts to achieve these aims which includes greater investment in renewable energy and moving towards a conventional defence force not involved in costly and unjustifiable wars

In 2017 the current plans include:
  • AGM and NFLA guest speaker (February)
  • Street Stalls: dates and venues to be confirmed – watch this space
  • Regular teleconference Committee Meetings: (March, May; August, and October / November)
  • Participation in National No to Nuclear Trains Awareness Raising Day (July)
  • Stalls at Events & Conferences (TBC)
How can Members and Supporters help?
  • By attending and participating in HANT’s public meetings and AGM and other events.
  • By contacting your MP, MSP and Councillors about nuclear transport concerns.
  • By donating at Public Meetings or to the Crowdfunder campaign.
  • By regularly reading the HANT website and facebook and sharing any posts considered of interest to friends and / or colleagues.
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And as mentioned earlier in this Bulletin, HANT welcomes feedback - please email us. HANT looks forward to meeting you or hearing from you in 2017 - The Campaign continues!






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