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50 years on, still campaigning for peace
Posted by bex on 2 April 2008.
Thousands joined hands to surround Aldermaston base on Easter Monday
On the Easter weekend of 1958 - a few weeks after the birth of CND - thousands of people braved the icy weather and marched from London to the nuclear weapons factory at Aldermaston in Berkshire to protest the building of nuclear bombs. The march marked the birth of the peace movement in Britain.
Sadly, 50 years on, the peace movement is needed as much as it ever was; last year, our government (which counts many former CND members among its numbers) voted to replace Trident, and to lock the world into at least another 50 years of nuclear bombs. Despite the rhetoric of Brown's recent national security strategy
(he wants "to free the world from
nuclear weapons", apparently), £5 billion is being poured into building new facilities at Aldermaston to design new nuclear bombs - most likely in contravention of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
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Join in - surround the UK's WMD factory on March 24th
Posted by tracy on 29 February 2008.
It seems a sad milestone to celebrate - 50 years of anti-nuclear protest. Not the protesting bit, but that 50 years later insanity still prevails in our governments and there are approximately 27,000 nuclear weapons in the world.
This Easter marks the 50th anniversary of the first legendary march on Aldermaston, the UK nuclear weapons laboratory. It was a four day march from London in snow and rain and one of the biggest protest movements ever to emerge in Britain.
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Videos from our peace campaign
Nuclear weapons are weapons of mass destruction - they indiscriminately incinerate people and contaminate air, soil, and water across national boundaries and across generations. Greenpeace is opposed to the proposed upgrading of the UK's Trident nuclear missile system - it's an unnecessary cold-war white elephant at a time when we should be focusing all our energies combating climate change.
Stand up for what you believe in
Posted by tracy on 5 January 2007.
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Greenpeace attack Blair Trident announcement
Commenting on today’s announcement by Tony Blair that his government intends to build a new nuclear weapons system to replace Trident, John Sauven Acting Director of Greenpeace UK said,
“Tony Blair's decision to build new, more advanced nuclear weapons decades after the Cold War has ended is a monstrous waste of money and resources”.
He continued, “Saying there may possibly be a reduction in submarine and missiles means nothing – its typical Blair spin and a clear attempt to head off opposition. It doesn’t matter whether UK nuclear weapons are capable of annihilating millions of people rather than tens of millions – new nuclear weapons are still illegal under international law and still destroy international treaties”.
“The huge sums of money involved would be much better spent on real security needs including tackling climate change and reducing our dependence on oil from regions of conflict”.
He concluded, “It’s obscene that Blair is trying to push this crucial decision through without time for a real debate. It shows he is more interested in his nuclear legacy than getting the best outcome for the country and the taxpayer”.
Hundreds converge on nuclear bomb factory
World's largest weapons inspection as Blair pushes for new N-Bomb
Hundreds of people from across Britain are this morning marching on the Atomic Weapons Establishment at Aldermaston in Berkshire. They are converging in large groups from all directions - by bus, train, bicycle and on foot - determined to carry out the world's largest ever inspection of a nuclear weapons factory. A big police presence of several hundred officers is protecting the site.
Hans Blix will tonight make a scathing speech condemning Tony Blair for pressing ahead for a renewal of the Trident nuclear weapons system. The move comes as Tony Blair prepares to publish a White Paper advocating the policy, at a reputed cost of tens of billions. The Prime Minister is known to support a new N-bomb and is determined to clear the way for its development before he leaves office next year. Work is already underway at Aldermaston to build the Orion Laser - a vital component in building a new British bomb - despite ministers' claims that no decision on Trident's future has yet been taken.
Today's mass weapons inspection, organised by Greenpeace and Block the Builders, sees 400 people from every corner of the country attempting to reach the fence at Aldermaston to conduct citizens inspections and document preparations at the site for building a new nuclear bomb. The inspectors include Bodyshop founder Anita Roddick and Norman Baker MP. Teams are attempting to take pictures of the building site, despite laws banning photography at the facility.
Last week saw the release of a legal opinion by eminent international lawyer Philippe Sands which warned that Tony Blair will probably break the same international treaties he says Iran and North Korea must abide by, if he pushes ahead with his desire to renew Trident. Bodyshop founder Anita Roddick intends to present a summary of Professor Sands' legal advice to the authorities at Aldermaston today, warning them they risk breaking the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
The mass inspection of Aldermaston began at 7am this morning as people disembarked from trains and buses and began walking along country lanes to the site in Berkshire. They will later attempt to pin a summary of the legal opinion to the fence at the nuclear bomb-making facility. A bus that drove across Europe to Iraq before the 2003 invasion is attempting to circle the site.
Greenpeace disarmament campaigner Louise Edge said: "While Tony Blair rattles his sabre and waves international treaties at foreigners, he's agitating for Britain to break those same treaties. That's why hundreds of people from across Britain have come here to inspect our country's bomb making factory and highlight Tony Blair's hypocrisy. Our Prime Minister is threatening to wreck the global framework that remains our best hope of stopping nuclear weapons spreading across the planet."
She continued: "Work to build a new nuclear bomb must halt until the country has had the promised debate. The real threat to Britain isn't nuclear attack, it's climate change. Blair's successor could make Britain a low carbon country with the tens of billions it would cost to build a new atomic weapons system. If New Labour wants to renew itself, like it says it does, then dropping Trident renewal should be the first thing a new leader does."
Greenpeace was founded 35 years ago when campaigners sailed a boat into a nuclear test site off Alaska in an effort to stop President Nixon exploding nuclear weapons in the atmosphere.
Bodyshop founder Anita Roddick, attempting to reach the Aldermaston fence this morning, said: "Sixty years ago we invented a way to extinguish life on Earth at the touch of a button, which was one of the less impressive things human beings ever did. Now Tony Blair has the chance to leave an historic legacy to the world by making Britain the first UN Security Council member to say we no longer want or need these monstrous weapons. If he doesn't he'll break international treaties and send an invitation to every nation on Earth to join the nuclear club."
Sian Jones of Block the Builders said: "To continue pouring money into building new nuclear weapons facilities makes a mockery of the promised debate. Actions speak louder than words. If the government genuinely wants a debate then construction work at Aldermaston must stop today. Block the Builders will return to AWE Aldermaston on 11 December to verify whether construction work has ceased, and if not we will attempt to halt construction work through positive non-violent direct action. The battle for hearts and minds is won. Most people would rather money for Trident replacement is spent on real security needs like health and housing. We're inviting all those people to put their bodies where their hearts are and come join us."
ENDS
For more contact Greenpeace on 07801 212967 / 0207 865 8255
www.blockthebuilders.org.uk
Tony wants to go out with a bomb
Posted by tracy on 4 December 2006.
Modelling the bomb - a supercomputer like the one planned for AWE Aldermaston simulates a nuclear explosion
Tony Blair revealed that he intends to build new nuclear weapons to replace the current Trident nuclear weapons system. He plans to spend £20bn on a new generation of submarines for Trident missiles while joining the US programme to extend the life of the current Trident missile system.
Artists on Aldermaston
Posted by bex on 2 December 2006.
One of the hundreds of citizens inspecting Aldermaston earlier this week was the artist Kurt Jackson. He’s best known for his paintings of the Cornish landscape, but it turns out he’s also a dab hand at sketching nuclear weapons facilities. In the rain. Under the scrutiny of nosy police officers. Here's are a few of his sketches of the weapons inspectors outside Aldermaston, done in pencil, ink and charcoal (click on the thumbnails for to see them full sized):
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Citizens inspection of nuclear bomb making factory at Aldermaston
Posted by bex on 27 November 2006.
© Greenpeace
Hundreds of citizen weapons inspectors have just spent this morning patrolling through the muddy fields of England. They came from all over the UK, converging on the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) facility at Aldermaston. They arrived from all directions, by bus, train, bicycle and on foot.
Their mission? To carry out the world's largest ever inspection of a nuclear weapons factory, following reports that Tony Blair is building a new nuclear weapon.
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Hundreds converge on nuclear bomb facility at Aldermaston
Posted by darren on 27 November 2006.
It was a mucky, wet morning in Berkshire - but that didn't stopped hundreds of people from all over the country converging on the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) facility at Aldermaston. They arrived from all directions, by bus, train, bicycle and on foot. Their mission? To carry out the world's largest ever inspection of a nuclear weapons factory, following reports that Tony Blair is building a new nuclear weapon.