Welsh Peace groups to present at the Senedd on March 5th the UN’s International Day for Disarmament and Nonproliferation Awareness
On Wednesday 5th March, Campaigners from a range of Peace & anti-War organisations in Wales will host a day of presentations in the Pierhead building at the Senedd to which they have invited all Members of the Senedd to attend.
Headed up by Heddwch ar Waith (Peace Action Wales) the peace summit will be themed; ‘Highlighting Militarism in Wales’.
Sponsored by Plaid Cymru’s Heledd Fychan MS the events are being held on the UN’s International Day for Disarmament and Nonproliferation Awareness. The main thrust of the day will be a lunchtime presentation at which PARC Against DARC’s lead campaigners will seek to inform MS’s of their concerns and objections to the proposed DARC Radar at Cawdor barracks in Pembrokeshire. Heledd Fychan MS will introduce the presentation where MSs will have an opportunity to ask the campaigners questions about DARC.
This comes following a vote at Plaid Cymru’s national conference last October where the Party unanimously backed a motion to oppose DARC and support the campaign to halt its development.
Heledd Fychan MS said:
"Plaid Cymru has a long history of opposing militarism and campaigning for peace, which is why I’m proud to sponsor such an important and timely event at our national parliament.
“We are also supporting the campaign by Pembrokeshire residents to the DARC proposal, and I strongly encourage all Senedd Members to support and attend this important event to understand the strength of opposition and the reasons why this should be of concern to everyone in Wales.”
Peace groups involved in hosting the day include CND Cymru, The Peace Pledge Union & Stop The War who have all urged their supporters to email their MS’s to encourage them to attend the events, especially encouraging MSs to attend the lunchtime presentation at 12.30PM which will be hosted by PARC Against DARC and aimed at briefing MS’s on their key concerns around the proposed DARC Radar as well as encouraging MSs to support Cefin Campbell MS’s Statement of Opinion which was tabled on 29th January in opposition to the proposed Radar.
Opposing Trump's military Radars in Pembrokeshire
A spokesperson for PARC Against DARC told us:
“From our experience in Pembrokeshire it’s very rare that you see what seems at first like a local issue with the kind of public feeling behind it to have not only a statement of opinion tabled in the Senedd with this kind of support, but teams of locals voluntarily out delivering 18,000 flyers against DARC radar by hand. But when you think what it means that these radars would play a massive part in Trump and Elon Musk’s attempt to dominate space against the wishes of most countries, you see why so many people are demanding Labour not to take Donald Trump’s side against the very Pembrokeshire people the party’s supposed to represent.”
Adding: "The world watches on as Trump unleashes his dangerous & clearly deranged global agenda, the Welsh Government must make a stand against this, and must under no circumstances allow Trump to militarily dominate space from Pembrokeshire. Our peace event could not come with more perfect timing!”
Peace Action Wales
Heddwch ar Waith the main host of the day, was formed by a collaboration between Cymdeithas y Cymod and CND Cymru, has successfully become a peace network organisation which encompasses all of the Peace campaigns in Wales.
Sam Bannon, project coordinator at Heddwch ar Waith encouraged MS’s to attend the event saying:
"Heddwch ar Waith is hosting ‘Highlighting Militarism in Wales’, at the Senedd to make the collective voice of the peace movement in Wales heard and listened to by our elected representatives. Militarism in Wales occupies 23,000ha of land, utilises 85% of our skies, and over 6,500 square kilometres of our sea. It is omnipresent in our schools, universities and public institutions. It already has deep ties with: Trump’s Whitehouse, by way of MOD Sealand; Israel, by way of Aberporth; and will soon put us on the frontline of a new theatre of space war, by way of DARC. During a uniquely dangerous era of unprecedently high international tensions, being exacerbated by climate change, it is crucial now more than ever that governments pursue a policy of cooperation, peace and reconciliation, spending less on the military, and instead funding public services and a just transition to net zero."
Sam Bannon will open the morning at 10.30 AM which will take the form of a drop in for MSs and their researchers to meet and talk with the campaigns present, Following the lunchtime presentation on DARC there will be a symposium style series of lightning talks aimed at the public from 1.30PM onwards focussing on some key themes relating to the growing levels of militarism in Wales.
Wales as a nation of peace and a nation of sanctuary
Academi Heddwch Cymru is Wales’s national peace institute and recently produced an executive report on DARC radar for the Senedd’s Cross Party group for Peace and reconciliation which drew attention to key concerns about the proposed radar installation.
Jill Evans, former Plaid Cymru MEP and Vice-Chair of Academi Heddwch will host a talk themed Wales as a nation of Peace at 1.45PM.
Dr Bethan Sian Jones of the Academi said:
“Academi Heddwch Cymru is looking forward to presenting at Heddwch ar Waith’s ‘Highlighting militarism in Wales’ event on the 5th of March at the Senedd. Academi Heddwch’s role is to conduct high quality research and, through this, inform public understanding and debate on key issues relating to peace in Wales and beyond. Our Vice Chair, Jill Evans, will be discussing the findings of our newly released report, ‘Wales as a Nation of Peace’. The report argues that Wales can build on its historical legacy, proud culture and contemporary legislation to lead the UK in becoming a nation of peace – which is not only about acting as a globally responsible nation, but also about promoting social justice, human rights, fairness and trust within Wales.”
Militarism in Schools
At 2.15PM Ed Bridges of Peace Pledge Union, supported by Cymdeithas y Cymod and the Quakers of Wales will host a talk on militarism in Schools.
Inviting members of the public to attend his talk Ed Bridges said:
“Both within Wales, and as Wales’ voice to the UK and the world, we believe that Members of the Senedd have a moral duty to act as a force for peace, continuing Wales’ proud history of opposing war, conflict and division. To that end, the Peace Pledge Union wants our elected members at all levels in Wales to set out how they will make Wales a beacon of peace. That might include opposing the Welsh Government’s subsidies for arms companies, calling for regulation of military visits to schools, or just rowing back from language which normalises the presence of the military in everyday life.”
Militarism fuels racism
At 2.45 Cardiff Stop The War will present a talk themed ‘Islamophobia, Racism & War which will aim to draw the links that militarism and the ever-constant march to war creates and fosters racism within society, Key organiser and well known Cardiff activist Adam Johannes said:
“The Welsh Government says it wants to make Wales an anti-racist nation by 2030. Fine words. But let’s get real—you can’t fight racism while staying silent on war and militarism. Racism doesn’t just exist in people’s heads—it is structured into our economy, our institutions, and yes, our wars. Britain’s foreign policy, backed by the arms trade, fuels Islamophobia at home and devastation abroad. Who profits? Not the people of Wales, not the communities suffering from war, but the same elites who always do.”
“Racism and war are inseparable. The same machinery that bombs cities abroad manufactures hatred at home. Islamophobia has been carefully cultivated—not by accident, not by misunderstanding, but as a political tool to justify endless war and repression. The arms industry does not just sell weapons; it sells the ideology of fear and domination.If Wales is serious about being an anti-racist nation, We must tear the mask off this system. We must reject complicity in Britain's wars, stand against the arms industry, and expose the brutal truth: you cannot fight racism while feeding the war machine.”
Cardiff and District United Nations Association will conclude the afternoon’s talks with a presentation on Disarmament and Ecocide at 3.15pm. A spokesperson told us simply:
“The route to disarmament is through international collaboration.”
A Vigil for Peace
The day will conclude with a ‘vigil for peace’ at 4.30pm outside the Senedd where members of the public are encouraged to attend in their numbers to show their strength of belief that Wales must remain and strive to be a Nation of Peace and Sanctuary.
Alison Lochhead of CND Cymru who will close the event said: “We must de-escalate investing in conflict and militarism rather than security for a sustainable future”
Following the event, a report will be compiled which will contain a list of actions that each group would like to see followed. This will be sent to all 60 MSs.
Welsh Peace groups to present at the Senedd on March 5th the UN’s International Day for Disarmament and Nonproliferation Awareness
On Wednesday 5th March, Campaigners from a range of Peace & anti-War organisations in Wales will host a day of presentations in the Pierhead building at the Senedd to which they have invited all Members of the Senedd to attend.
Headed up by Heddwch ar Waith (Peace Action Wales) the peace summit will be themed; ‘Highlighting Militarism in Wales’.
Sponsored by Plaid Cymru’s Heledd Fychan MS the events are being held on the UN’s International Day for Disarmament and Nonproliferation Awareness. The main thrust of the day will be a lunchtime presentation at which PARC Against DARC’s lead campaigners will seek to inform MS’s of their concerns and objections to the proposed DARC Radar at Cawdor barracks in Pembrokeshire. Heledd Fychan MS will introduce the presentation where MSs will have an opportunity to ask the campaigners questions about DARC.
This comes following a vote at Plaid Cymru’s national conference last October where the Party unanimously backed a motion to oppose DARC and support the campaign to halt its development.
Heledd Fychan MS said:
"Plaid Cymru has a long history of opposing militarism and campaigning for peace, which is why I’m proud to sponsor such an important and timely event at our national parliament.
“We are also supporting the campaign by Pembrokeshire residents to the DARC proposal, and I strongly encourage all Senedd Members to support and attend this important event to understand the strength of opposition and the reasons why this should be of concern to everyone in Wales.”
Peace groups involved in hosting the day include CND Cymru, The Peace Pledge Union & Stop The War who have all urged their supporters to email their MS’s to encourage them to attend the events, especially encouraging MSs to attend the lunchtime presentation at 12.30PM which will be hosted by PARC Against DARC and aimed at briefing MS’s on their key concerns around the proposed DARC Radar as well as encouraging MSs to support Cefin Campbell MS’s Statement of Opinion which was tabled on 29th January in opposition to the proposed Radar.
Opposing Trump's military Radars in Pembrokeshire
A spokesperson for PARC Against DARC told us:
“From our experience in Pembrokeshire it’s very rare that you see what seems at first like a local issue with the kind of public feeling behind it to have not only a statement of opinion tabled in the Senedd with this kind of support, but teams of locals voluntarily out delivering 18,000 flyers against DARC radar by hand. But when you think what it means that these radars would play a massive part in Trump and Elon Musk’s attempt to dominate space against the wishes of most countries, you see why so many people are demanding Labour not to take Donald Trump’s side against the very Pembrokeshire people the party’s supposed to represent.”
Adding: "The world watches on as Trump unleashes his dangerous & clearly deranged global agenda, the Welsh Government must make a stand against this, and must under no circumstances allow Trump to militarily dominate space from Pembrokeshire. Our peace event could not come with more perfect timing!”
Peace Action Wales
Heddwch ar Waith the main host of the day, was formed by a collaboration between Cymdeithas y Cymod and CND Cymru, has successfully become a peace network organisation which encompasses all of the Peace campaigns in Wales.
Sam Bannon, project coordinator at Heddwch ar Waith encouraged MS’s to attend the event saying:
"Heddwch ar Waith is hosting ‘Highlighting Militarism in Wales’, at the Senedd to make the collective voice of the peace movement in Wales heard and listened to by our elected representatives. Militarism in Wales occupies 23,000ha of land, utilises 85% of our skies, and over 6,500 square kilometres of our sea. It is omnipresent in our schools, universities and public institutions. It already has deep ties with: Trump’s Whitehouse, by way of MOD Sealand; Israel, by way of Aberporth; and will soon put us on the frontline of a new theatre of space war, by way of DARC. During a uniquely dangerous era of unprecedently high international tensions, being exacerbated by climate change, it is crucial now more than ever that governments pursue a policy of cooperation, peace and reconciliation, spending less on the military, and instead funding public services and a just transition to net zero."
Sam Bannon will open the morning at 10.30 AM which will take the form of a drop in for MSs and their researchers to meet and talk with the campaigns present, Following the lunchtime presentation on DARC there will be a symposium style series of lightning talks aimed at the public from 1.30PM onwards focussing on some key themes relating to the growing levels of militarism in Wales.
Wales as a nation of peace and a nation of sanctuary
Academi Heddwch Cymru is Wales’s national peace institute and recently produced an executive report on DARC radar for the Senedd’s Cross Party group for Peace and reconciliation which drew attention to key concerns about the proposed radar installation.
Jill Evans, former Plaid Cymru MEP and Vice-Chair of Academi Heddwch will host a talk themed Wales as a nation of Peace at 1.45PM.
Dr Bethan Sian Jones of the Academi said:
“Academi Heddwch Cymru is looking forward to presenting at Heddwch ar Waith’s ‘Highlighting militarism in Wales’ event on the 5th of March at the Senedd. Academi Heddwch’s role is to conduct high quality research and, through this, inform public understanding and debate on key issues relating to peace in Wales and beyond. Our Vice Chair, Jill Evans, will be discussing the findings of our newly released report, ‘Wales as a Nation of Peace’. The report argues that Wales can build on its historical legacy, proud culture and contemporary legislation to lead the UK in becoming a nation of peace – which is not only about acting as a globally responsible nation, but also about promoting social justice, human rights, fairness and trust within Wales.”
Militarism in Schools
At 2.15PM Ed Bridges of Peace Pledge Union, supported by Cymdeithas y Cymod and the Quakers of Wales will host a talk on militarism in Schools.
Inviting members of the public to attend his talk Ed Bridges said:
“Both within Wales, and as Wales’ voice to the UK and the world, we believe that Members of the Senedd have a moral duty to act as a force for peace, continuing Wales’ proud history of opposing war, conflict and division. To that end, the Peace Pledge Union wants our elected members at all levels in Wales to set out how they will make Wales a beacon of peace. That might include opposing the Welsh Government’s subsidies for arms companies, calling for regulation of military visits to schools, or just rowing back from language which normalises the presence of the military in everyday life.”
Militarism fuels racism
At 2.45 Cardiff Stop The War will present a talk themed ‘Islamophobia, Racism & War which will aim to draw the links that militarism and the ever-constant march to war creates and fosters racism within society, Key organiser and well known Cardiff activist Adam Johannes said:
“The Welsh Government says it wants to make Wales an anti-racist nation by 2030. Fine words. But let’s get real—you can’t fight racism while staying silent on war and militarism. Racism doesn’t just exist in people’s heads—it is structured into our economy, our institutions, and yes, our wars. Britain’s foreign policy, backed by the arms trade, fuels Islamophobia at home and devastation abroad. Who profits? Not the people of Wales, not the communities suffering from war, but the same elites who always do.”
“Racism and war are inseparable. The same machinery that bombs cities abroad manufactures hatred at home. Islamophobia has been carefully cultivated—not by accident, not by misunderstanding, but as a political tool to justify endless war and repression. The arms industry does not just sell weapons; it sells the ideology of fear and domination.If Wales is serious about being an anti-racist nation, We must tear the mask off this system. We must reject complicity in Britain's wars, stand against the arms industry, and expose the brutal truth: you cannot fight racism while feeding the war machine.”
Cardiff and District United Nations Association will conclude the afternoon’s talks with a presentation on Disarmament and Ecocide at 3.15pm. A spokesperson told us simply:
“The route to disarmament is through international collaboration.”
A Vigil for Peace
The day will conclude with a ‘vigil for peace’ at 4.30pm outside the Senedd where members of the public are encouraged to attend in their numbers to show their strength of belief that Wales must remain and strive to be a Nation of Peace and Sanctuary.
Alison Lochhead of CND Cymru who will close the event said: “We must de-escalate investing in conflict and militarism rather than security for a sustainable future”
Following the event, a report will be compiled which will contain a list of actions that each group would like to see followed. This will be sent to all 60 MSs.