UK
Kate Hudson: my time at CND
CND General Secretary Kate Hudson retires at the end of this month. Here she looks back on her time with CND.
I accepted nomination as a vice-chair of CND in the summer of 2001. Little did I know that just days before my election, the terrible attacks of 9/11 would take place: the ‘War on Terror’ followed, and the build-up to the war on Iraq. It was a baptism of fire, travelling around the country to meetings virtually every evening. But I drew strength from the enormous love and support from CND members, and the unity that has been a constant throughout my time with CND.
The years that have followed, as Chair from 2003, and as General Secretary from 2010, have been a roller coaster – the Iraq war, Trident replacement, missile defence, NATO, nuclear power, ‘low yield’ nuclear weapons, nuclear ‘use’ policies, the climate emergency, the Ukraine war, the genocide on Gaza… the challenges have been endless. But that has always been the case for our movement.
The greatest lesson that I have learnt is that CND is most effective when we work in alliance with others, united across the movements, embracing diversity and engaging internationally. And above all I value CND’s democracy, the fact that it is a member-led organisation making its own political decisions, without fear or favour. And sometimes that means hard debate and discussion.
But that is our greatest strength, because only a movement open to different views can adapt and develop in an ever-changing world, and CND members are so passionate about our goals we are determined to get it right. As a result we have been able to play a leading role in virtually every peace campaign since CND was founded. Our most important asset has always been the accumulated experience of our members and I am confident that will continue. We are at our best when we relate directly to people’s most pressing concerns – linking our issues to the reality of what is going on in the world.
The history of CND is the history of postWorld War II, told from the side of those fighting for humanity against the horror of war. It is the story of ordinary people’s struggles to shape a world without nuclear weapons and war, based on legality and morality; to make our governments responsive and accountable over our right to stay alive, our right to breathe air free of radioactive pollution, our right to say no to the indiscriminate killing of other peoples. We continue to make this history and I am proud to have been part of our struggle to bring our vision of the world into being.
It has been an immense privilege to serve in the leadership of CND for over two decades and I thank you all for the trust and support that you have shown me.
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