TO celebrate the Year of Young People, every week in 2018 The National is giving a platform to young Scots. This week, 25-year-old Dagmar Topf Aguiar De Medeiros.
MY long-standing interest in nuclear disarmament started with a book review I did in high school. Although it was a work of fiction, the book made me realise that nuclear weapons were very real and countries were still bragging about being willing to inflict unimaginable harm and suffering with them.
So when I got the chance last summer to be a part of a Scottish civil society delegation to the negotiations of the treaty to prohibit nuclear weapons at the United Nations in New York, it was like a dream come true. The great part for me was that I really got to engage with both sides of the treaty negotiation process.
Every morning civil society representatives from all over the world met for a strategy meeting headed by Beatrice Fihn and Daniel Hogsta. We would discuss the focus points of the day and divide tasks according to each person’s strengths and interests. In addition to co-operating with and sharing strategies with campaigners from all over the world there was also plenty of opportunity to engage with the UN delegates. It was great to see how willing many were willing to make time for civil society and engage with us in discussion in various formats.
I really enjoyed working with such a wide variety of people and it taught me that regardless of any differences in background, conviction or experience, it is always possible to find common ground and to work together for a better future. Everyone’s hard work paid off when the United Nations officially adopted the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons on July 7 last year.
My experience at the UN was both inspiring and educational. I learned a lot about strategic communication and community building. Other campaigners before me have dedicated their lives to getting the international community to the point where they could accept a treaty banning nuclear weapons. Now it is my turn, to build on their success and use the treaty as a frame of reference to continue engaging with our governments on the topic of nuclear disarmament.
The fact that the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for its efforts towards the treaty has provided a great starting point for continued local campaigning. I do this through/with Scottish CND and UN House Scotland (UNHS), who are both partner organisations of ICAN. By being partnered with ICAN we can continue to connect our local campaigning activities on a global scale. ICAN provides a great platform for continued international co-operation.
If you’re interested in getting involved, why not apply for the Generation Y Peace Campaigning Academy organised by Scottish CND Education (Peace Education Scotland). It is taking place from July 27 to 29 and if you’re aged between 18 and 30 and resident in Scotland you can apply for a fully funded place at peaceeducationscotland.org. Alternatively, there are many great resources online (see banthebomb.org) and most of the groups have regular local meetings.
Dagmar Topf Aguiar De Medeiros is a youth campaigner with Scottish CND and a research intern at UNHS
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel