Rethinking Security

The UK government didn't want you to see this report on ecosystem collapse. I'm not surprised | George Monbiot It took an FOI request to bring this national security assessment to light. For ‘doomsayers’ like us, it is the ultimate vindication, says Guardian columnist George Monbiot

The JIC/DEFRA report on ecosystem collapse "provides a powerful vindication of certain messages that, when voiced by environmentalists, have been greeted with hatred, fury and denial.
"But what was cut from the report is, according to The Times, even graver..."

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

How Europe should respond to Trump’s threats over Greenland The crisis over Greenland marks the greatest possibility of rupture in trans-Atlantic relations since NATO’s foundation. Ian Davis considers how European states might respond to US sanctions and po…

New article:

How Europe should respond to Trump’s threats over Greenland

Ian Davis considers how European states might respond to US sanctions & potential annexation of Greenland, arguing that planning should start now for a post-NATO security architecture in Europe & the Arctic.

lnkd.in/eq4bDepB

Nature security assessment on global biodiversity loss, ecosystem collapse and national security This strategic assessment explores how global biodiversity loss and the collapse of critical ecosystems could affect the UK’s resilience, security and prosperity.

Essential Reading:

Global Biodiversity Loss, Ecosystem Collapse and National Security.

UK gov't used yesterday to release/bury a long-embargoed report, compiled by the Joint Intelligence Committee but released by DEFRA.

It's exactly what should have been in the NSS.

www.gov.uk/government/p...

Rethinking security in an interconnected age: Achim Steiner on… The Oxford Martin School at the University of Oxford brings together the best minds from different fields to tackle the most pressing issues of the 21st…

This new global initiative to rethink security from Achim Steiner of @oxmartinschool.bsky.social is necessary in so many ways.
It aims "to contribute to a security narrative that is both realistic about risk & confident about humanity’s capacity to respond."
www.oxfordmartin.ox.ac.uk/blog/rethink...

Strategising for Peace in the New Age of Empire This month’s US National Security Strategy underlines an ongoing shift away from liberal values into a new age of empire. In this new long read, Larry Attree discusses how – by rethinking alliances…

New long read:

Strategising for Peace in the New Age of Empire

The US National Security Strategy underlines a shift from liberalism to overt imperialism. Larry Attree discusses how the UK can oppose these dangerous trends & promote a more peaceful future.

rethinkingsecurity.org.uk/2025/12/11/s...

Over 25,000 people have already signed the letter to Keir Starmer and national broadcasters calling for a televised emergency briefing.
www.nebriefing.org/open-letter-... #NEB2025

Efforts to end the Israel-Palestine conflict The horrors that have unfolded in Gaza since 7 October 2023 have shocked the world and polarised political communities in many countries. With a very fragile ceasefire at constant risk of collapsing, ...

Speakers:
Nidal Foqaha, Palestinian Peace Coalition/Birzeit University
Eran Nissan, CEO, Mehazkim
Nivine Sandouka, Regional Director, ALLMEP
Netta Loevy, Co-Director, Centre for Women, Peace & Security

Chair:
Larry Attree (Rethinking Security)

Register: indico.bisa.ac.uk/event/605/

Efforts to end the Israel-Palestine conflict - Security Policy and Practice | BISA - Security Policy and Practice Working Group

New Event - BISA Security Policy & Practice - 09 Dec, 10am

*Efforts to end the Israel-Palestine conflict*

This event offers space for scholars & peacebuilders to share their perspectives about roadmaps for peace within Israel, Palestine & at regional & int'l levels.

bisa.ac.uk/members/work...

We are pleased to have signed on to this letter to the PM calling for an urgent rethink of the government's ill-thought, uncosted plan to acquire F-35A jets for the NATO 'tactical nuclear' role.

COP30: What to expect on conflict, climate and militarism - CEOBS COP30 is taking place against a backdrop of wars and rising military spending, what will it deliver on conflict, climate and militarism?

Wars affecting every corner of the globe, military spending at a record high, and 1.5 degrees breached. Our #COP30 preview wonders what, if anything, will be delivered on conflict, climate and militarism. ceobs.org/cop30-what-t...

An alternative vision of security for the UK and France | ICN Peace organisations from the UK and France, including Pax Christi England and Wales and Pax Christi Scotland, hosted a peace conference at St Anne's Church, Soho, London on Saturday.Held to mark the 1...

RS's Jo Frew joined UK & EU peace orgs in London to call on UK & French gov'ts to end their collaboration on developing nuclear arsenals and to collaborate instead on real threats to human security such as climate change, wealth inequality and failing democracy.
www.indcatholicnews.com/news/53608

SMRs vs Renewables: A Costly Distraction? Politicians in many countries, including the UK and Australia, have recently advocated the development of ‘small modular reactors’ (SMRs) as a means to speed up nuclear power production as an alter…

🚨New on the Blog:

Hyping ‘small modular reactors’ is all the rage. But with the tech still some 15 years from maturity, Ian Lowe argues that SMRs are an expensive & risky distraction from rapidly building safer, cleaner & cheaper renewable energy capacity.

rethinkingsecurity.org.uk/2025/11/05/a...

There was no opportunity for outsiders to input to this year's National Security Strategy but the Joint Committee on the NSS currently has an inquiry into the NSS, which has recently published our evidence submission.

committees.parliament.uk/writtenevide...

‘Dangerous World’, Dangerous Narrative: Countering the National Security Strategy’s Assumptions The UK’s latest defence and security reviews set out a simple but effective narrative of an embattled UK in need of urgent military and societal mobilisation amid “radical uncertainty&#…

🚨New on the Blog:

What are the deep assumptions that the UK's 'national security' narrative feeds off? How can a counter-narrative harness other national values and stories to plot a course towards a more stable and peaceful world? Joanna Frew reports.

rethinkingsecurity.org.uk/2025/10/21/c...

"Militaries have to be understood...as climate threats", accounting for more emissions than shipping and aviation combined.

Khem Rogaly of @transitionsec.bsky.social on the latest episode of New Economics Podcast discussing how the UK became a global arms dealer.

🎧 neweconomics.org/2025/10/how-...

How can we build on the ‘radical peace’ made in Northern Ireland? Among the UK and Ireland’s greatest successes of the last century has been the achievement of peace in Northern Ireland. Almost three decades on, Larry Attree asked five key experts how peace and s…

🚨New on the Blog:

Larry Attree asked five key experts how peace and security was built in Northern Ireland, and what is now needed to sustain it in the face of unrest, social division and uncertainty over the future.

rethinkingsecurity.org.uk/2025/10/16/r...

A fantastic opportunity for ant-nuclear activists to meet up and learn more about the movement to abolish WMD, in London on 01 November.

Don't miss our webinar tomorrow, 09.00:

'Rethinking Peace & Security Policy in Australia & the UK'

Reps from RS and the Australian Peace and Security Forum will discuss how and why our networks seek urgent change to security policies, incl. AUKUS.

rethinkingsecurity.org.uk/uk-australia/

CSBMs not shoot-downs are required to take the heat out of the escalating airspace violations A series of violations of NATO airspace by Russian crewed and uncrewed aircraft in September significantly escalated the rhetoric and potential for deadly violence between European adversaries beyo…

🚨New on the Blog:

After a series of violations of NATO airspace by Russian crewed & uncrewed aircraft in September, Ian Davis suggests 4 ways in which the alliance can deter Russia while reducing the risk of miscalculation & the dangers of escalation.

rethinkingsecurity.org.uk/2025/10/14/c...

WEBINAR Rethinking Peace and Security Policy in Australia and the UK Register here A new webinar on 16 October (09.00 UK time) will bring together representatives from Rethinking Security and a new peer network, the Australian Peace and Security Forum, founded last …

New Event - This Thursday, 9am.

On 16 October we'll bring together reps from RS & the Australian Peace and Security Forum, to discuss how & why our networks seek urgent change to security policies, incl. AUKUS & dependence on the US.

Info & Register: rethinkingsecurity.org.uk/uk-australia/

Is our Government Complicit in Genocide? The Genocide Convention imposes obligations on states and individuals not just to punish the crime of genocide but to actively prevent it. Two years into the war in Gaza and over 20 months since th…

The Genocide Convention imposes obligations on states & individuals not just to punish the crime of genocide but to actively prevent it. Carne Ross assesses the UK government & its officials' complicity in Israel’s ongoing genocide of the Palestinian people.
rethinkingsecurity.org.uk/2025/10/07/i...

Events Upcoming Wednesday 08 October 2025, 6.00pm to 7.15pm ‘Dangerous World’, Dangerous Narrative: Addressing the UK’s National Security Strategy Register here In June of 2025, the curr…

Tonight at 6pm!

Don't miss our Open Discussion on responding to the UK’s National Security Strategy.

Register: rethinkingsecurity.org.uk/home/events/

🪖HAPPENING TOMORROW!

Join @rethinkingsecurity.bsky.social for an online discussion exploring the UK government’s National Security Strategy (NSS) and its focus on militarisation.

Tickets + More info: https://rethinkingsecurity.org.uk/home/events/

Register to join this conversation we'll be part of on Wednesday evening! ⬇️

Rethinking Peace and Security Policy in Australia and the UK Register here A new webinar on 16 October (09.00 UK time) will bring together representatives from Rethinking Security and a new peer network, the Australian Peace and Security Forum, founded last …

🚨New Event:

'Rethinking Peace & Security Policy in Australia & the UK'

On 16 October we'll bring together reps from RS & the Australian Peace and Security Forum, to discuss how & why our networks seek urgent change to security policies, incl. AUKUS.💂‍♂️🦘

rethinkingsecurity.org.uk/uk-australia/

In a joint opinion from international law experts, they warn that Britain is breaching the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) with the purchase of nuclear-capable fighter jets and US nuclear bombs in Britain.

We were delighted to join the debate on military spending at this year's Labour Party Conference.
RS Coordinator Richard Reeve spoke on an Eleanor Crook Fdn panel on 'the future for aid & development in an era of defence and security', incl. @umakumaran.bsky.social & @tandhesi.bsky.social MPs.

In Liverpool for the Labour Party Conference next week?

Don't miss our Coordinator Richard Reeve and a great panel of speakers at this Eleanor Crook Fdn event on:

'The Future of Aid & Development in an Era of Defence & Security'

Mon 29 Sept, 12.30, Revolucion de Cuba, Albert Dock

Join @rethinkingsecurity.bsky.social for a discussion exploring the UK government’s National Security Strategy & its focus on militarisation.

An opportunity to share insights, challenge dominant narratives & develop constructive responses.

Tickets: https://rethinkingsecurity.org.uk/home/events/

‘Europe’s Role for Peace in the World’: A Positive Peace Scenario from Sicherheit neu Denken In order to overcome major global challenges, especially climate breakdown and the crisis in the international legal order, it is necessary to end the Ukraine war as quickly as possible. Europe als…

Europe urgently needs to reimagine its role in the world & find a sustainable peace for Ukraine.
Sicherheit neu Denken (German RS) has published a ‘Positive Peace Scenario for Europe’s Role in the World’.
Ralf Becker explains the concept and its reception.

rethinkingsecurity.org.uk/2025/09/23/p...