European Nuclear Disarmament

In early 1980 an Appeal for European Nuclear Disarmament was drafted by E P Thompson and revised by Ken Coates (of the Bertrand Russell Peace Foundation), Mary Kaldor, Robin Cook and others. The document was released at a press conference in the House of Commons in April 1980. Its major aim was to mobilise public opinion to campaign for a non-aligned and nuclear free Europe 'from Poland to Portugal'. Structurally, END's main body was its Coordinating Committee. It also had a number of 'lateral committees', including on higher education, churches, trades unions and parliamentarians. Among its many publications were its bi-monthly END journal, books, newsletters and pamphlets. To emphasise its commitment to a Europe-wide campaign, END developed links with Eastern European peace groups and activists. END activists visited their counterparts in Eastern Europe; issued statements in support of their activities; publicised government attempts to suppress them; published pamphlets on what was happening in Eastern Europe; and, supported the struggle for political freedom in Eastern Europe. END was a member of the Liaison Committee - an organisation of 50 pressure groups from across Europe which arranged END Conventions. Following a 'consultation' in Rome in November 1981 the conventions occurred annually: in Brussels in 1982, West Berlin (1983), Perugia (1984), Amsterdam (1985), Paris (1986), Coventry (1987), Lund (1988), Vittoria (1989), Helsinki/Tallinn (1990) and Moscow (1991). Apart from the opportunity for networking, the Conventions included public meetings, round-table discussions, debates, films, cultural events and workshops. In 1990, leading members of END (and other organisations) formed European Dialogue, a pressure group promoting peace, democracy, social justice and environmental responsibility.