BAN THE BOMB REMEMBERED

There is a lovely interview with Walter Wolfgang in today's Independent recalling the heady days of the first Aldermaston marches and the founding of CND in 1958. Not something i recall, being only one year old at the time. But in my youth I went to Greenham Common and various events , inclufing a "die-in" at Barrow In Furness and the big anti Cruise Missile marches ofthe 1980's. In the days before e-mail, CND had "telephone trees" which involved letting each other know of the movements of nuclear convoys and events at Greenham. I lived in a house where the phone was clearly tapped by MI5.

Labour, in those days, was of course unilateralist. As were people like Gordon Brown.

Now the world has changed. But that does not makes nuclear war LESS likely, indeed it's far more possible now than it ever was.At 84, Walter Wolfgang may not be standing again for the NEC. But he's proudly marching on under the CND banner. Here

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/walter-wolfgang-we-saved-the-world-780418.html

BENN 4 LEADER!

I was absolutely delighted yesterday to read that Tony Benn plans to stand again as an MP. I nearly fell off my chair actually but nevertheless the news that TB hopes to contest the Kensington and Chelsea seat has many positives. Firstly it gets the left agenda back in the headlines. Secondly, if selected Tony would be able to make it clear that socialism and socialists are still very much alive in the Labour Party and have a real platform for our ideas. Thirdly, he is now such a national treasure that he might even win! This is one eventuality Gordon Brown could not have bargained for and I applaud it. On Monday, Tony and his fellow octogenarian Walter Wolfgang will defy the police and lead an anti-war march on Parliament. I think they humble us all with their courage and conviction. Tony and Walter, you are both marvellous role-models and thanks for brightening up my week......