Four people who took part in the Aldermaston Big Blockade on 27 October 2008 were found not guilty on Thursday (12 November, 2009) of obstructing the highway by a District Judge at Reading Magistrates' Court, Berkshire, south-east England.
Friday, 13 November 2009
Aldermaston blockaders acquitted!
Four people who took part in the Aldermaston Big Blockade on 27 October 2008 were found not guilty on Thursday (12 November, 2009) of obstructing the highway by a District Judge at Reading Magistrates' Court, Berkshire, south-east England.
Thursday, 22 October 2009
Aldermaston five sought to halt “nuclear war crimes preparations”
Five peace activists who were among 33 people arrested for blocking access to the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) Aldermaston during last October's Aldermaston Big Blockade claimed during their trial at Reading Magistrates’ Court this week (21-22 October) that they acted to stop preparations for war crimes involving nuclear weapons that they suspected were taking place at the Berkshire site in southern England.
Monday, 19 October 2009
Five in court for stopping nuclear proliferation at Aldermaston while Obama gets Nobel peace prize for calling for disarmament
Trial at Reading Magistrates’ Court, Berkshire on Wednesday, 21st October and Thursday 22nd October 2009
While Barack Obama is being congratulated for receiving the Nobel peace prize, partly for his commitment to ‘a world without nuclear weapons’ (1), five people who protested at the gates of Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) Aldermaston, where the renewal of Britain’s nuclear weapons is being planned, will be on trial for exactly the same commitment.
Tuesday, 16 June 2009
Secret blockade at Aldermaston disrupts nuclear bomb-making
Report by Angie Zelter, Trident Ploughshares
Monday 15 June, 2009 - It was a glorious morning as five separate groups made their way towards Aldermaston. At 6.30a.m., Trident Ploughshares (TP) affinity group the Muriel Lesters arrived at North Gate to find it had not been opened yet for the park and ride coaches so they further locked it with their own chains and some super-glue and arranged themselves as comfortably as possible in their lock-ons and hung their peace banners.
Thursday, 12 March 2009
Five women fined for blockading nuclear weapons factory
Defendants disappointed at failure of judge to uphold international law
(Photo: Campaigners outside Reading Magistrates' Court - Copyright D. Viesnik 2009)
The founder of Trident Ploughshares, Angie Zelter, from London, was one of five experienced female members of the group on trial at Reading Magistrates’ Court on Monday, 9 March 2009 for obstructing the highway during last October’s Big Blockade of the Aldermaston Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) in Berkshire, England.
Saturday, 29 November 2008
Saturday, 15 November 2008
“Guilty of trying to provide a better future for the world”
Irene Willis appeared at West Berkshire Magistrates’ Court in Newbury on Friday 7 November 2008 to answer the charge of "wilfully obstructing a highway without lawful authority or excuse" at Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) Aldermaston, Berkshire, England on Monday 27 October, 2008 (during the Aldermaston Big Blockade).
Irene (left) with supporters outside the Court building.
Irene (left) with supporters outside the Court building. Tuesday, 11 November 2008
Blockade makes front page of Peace News
Congratulations again to everyone who came from far and wide to blockade Aldermaston and support in various ways. It was a really successful blockade, sending a very powerful message to the British Government and the international community. Good luck to everyone who is in court for defending your beliefs and trying to save lives - our thoughts are with you.
The entire front page of this month's edition of Peace News is dedicated to the blockade:
http://www.peacenews.info/issues/2503/25030101.html
The entire front page of this month's edition of Peace News is dedicated to the blockade:
http://www.peacenews.info/issues/2503/25030101.html
British Government's AWE-ful lies continue (updated 11/11)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2008/nov/04/houseofcommons-lords
Yesterday in Parliament:
"[Defence Secretary John] Hutton denied the atomic weapons establishment in Aldermaston was being used for the development of new nuclear weapons. But he said it was "vitally necessary" for Britain to maintain the "minimum nuclear deterrent"."
This latest ministerial denial is at best exceedingly disingenuous and at worst an outright lie. Public documents such as AWE's own Site Development Strategy Plan reveal that at Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) Aldermaston and Burghfield, massive multi-billion pound developments - on the scale of Heathrow Terminal 5, according to AWE itself - have recently been constructed, are under development and are in the pipeline. These include a uranium enrichment plant planned for 2009, the state-of-the-art Orion laser still under construction, hydronamics and materials science laboratories, the installation of a new supercomputer and the massive Gemini complex to house well over a thousand new staff that include a number of warhead designers. Are we to believe that this massive expenditure of taxpayer's money is for the purpose of making strawberry ice cream?
In a separate written parliamentary reply, Minister for Defence Equipment and Support Quentin Davies revealed that capital expenditure at AWE increased from Pnds 171 million (Dlrs 350 m) in 2005-06, to Pnds 302 m in 2006-07 and to Pnds 500 m in 2007-08. (Source: IRNA)
Also noteworthy is the fact that John Hutton is the Labour MP for Barrow & Furness in Cumbria, where Britain's Trident-armed Vanguard-class nuclear submarines were built and their planned replacements are likely to be built (by corrupt arms giant BAE Systems), as well as the Astute-class hunter-killer submarines that escort them on patrol. Thus one could argue that the Secretary of State has a vested interest in the renewal or replacement of the Trident system.
See also:
Britain plans to spend £3bn on new nuclear warheads - The Guardian - 25 July 2008
Secret plan to replace nuclear warheads - Parliament misled - CND press release
Revealed: UK develops secret nuclear warhead - The Times
Britain in top-secret work on new atomic warhead - The Herald
So, minister, are we developing new nuclear weapons or not? - The Independent
Aldermaston recruits scientists 'to work on nuclear warheads' - The Independent
UK might seek new nuclear warheads - NTI
No new warhead yet, British official say - NTI
UK denies developing new nuclear warheads - IRNA
AWE Site Development Strategy Update 2005 - official public information leaflet
Yesterday in Parliament:
"[Defence Secretary John] Hutton denied the atomic weapons establishment in Aldermaston was being used for the development of new nuclear weapons. But he said it was "vitally necessary" for Britain to maintain the "minimum nuclear deterrent"."
This latest ministerial denial is at best exceedingly disingenuous and at worst an outright lie. Public documents such as AWE's own Site Development Strategy Plan reveal that at Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) Aldermaston and Burghfield, massive multi-billion pound developments - on the scale of Heathrow Terminal 5, according to AWE itself - have recently been constructed, are under development and are in the pipeline. These include a uranium enrichment plant planned for 2009, the state-of-the-art Orion laser still under construction, hydronamics and materials science laboratories, the installation of a new supercomputer and the massive Gemini complex to house well over a thousand new staff that include a number of warhead designers. Are we to believe that this massive expenditure of taxpayer's money is for the purpose of making strawberry ice cream?
In a separate written parliamentary reply, Minister for Defence Equipment and Support Quentin Davies revealed that capital expenditure at AWE increased from Pnds 171 million (Dlrs 350 m) in 2005-06, to Pnds 302 m in 2006-07 and to Pnds 500 m in 2007-08. (Source: IRNA)
Also noteworthy is the fact that John Hutton is the Labour MP for Barrow & Furness in Cumbria, where Britain's Trident-armed Vanguard-class nuclear submarines were built and their planned replacements are likely to be built (by corrupt arms giant BAE Systems), as well as the Astute-class hunter-killer submarines that escort them on patrol. Thus one could argue that the Secretary of State has a vested interest in the renewal or replacement of the Trident system.
See also:
Britain plans to spend £3bn on new nuclear warheads - The Guardian - 25 July 2008
Secret plan to replace nuclear warheads - Parliament misled - CND press release
Revealed: UK develops secret nuclear warhead - The Times
Britain in top-secret work on new atomic warhead - The Herald
So, minister, are we developing new nuclear weapons or not? - The Independent
Aldermaston recruits scientists 'to work on nuclear warheads' - The Independent
UK might seek new nuclear warheads - NTI
No new warhead yet, British official say - NTI
UK denies developing new nuclear warheads - IRNA
AWE Site Development Strategy Update 2005 - official public information leaflet
Friday, 7 November 2008
Nuclear weapons manufacturers urged to resign following university visit
Representatives of the Atomic Weapons Establishment near Aldermaston in East Berkshire have met calls for their resignation after they visited the University of Birmingham to recruit students into the development and manufacture of weapons of mass destruction.
Article continues here
Saturday, 1 November 2008
Folk singer David Ferrard on the blockade
It was great to have musicians David Ferrard, Seize the Day and Frankie Armstrong entertaining blockaders on Monday and keeping spirits high. David, who has performed many times at the gates of Faslane, travelled down to West Berkshire in the minibus from Scotland. He discusses his feelings about the day on his blog.
Thursday, 30 October 2008
More photos, courtesy of Roy St Pierre
Four pages of photos and notes from Monday's Big Blockade now up on Roy St Pierre's blog - check them out!
Media coverage
Like this blog? *Digg it!*
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Photos
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Aldermaston Big Blockade web albums
More photos courtesy of Europe's Nuclear Heritage
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Links to Mainstream & Independent Media Coverage
.
National & International
.
Peace News (front page feature)
Indymedia UK front page feature
.
Morning Star (front page feature)
BBC - 2nd report - "The arrests were made after dozens of people gathered at Aldermaston to mark World Disarmament Week." - Actually there were probably at least 300 campaigners present. It seems numeracy isn't the BBC's strong point when it comes to demonstrations. Probably taught maths by the police.
Ekklesia - Peace protesters successfully blockade Atomic Weapons Establishment
Earlier related event - Bishop and ordinands in lamentation at Aldermaston - Inspire magazine
Indymedia Ireland - Dublin Catholic Worker solidarity vigil
-Indymedia Ireland - Publicity for Dublin vigil
Common Dreams (Guardian reprint)
Climate Ark (Guardian reprint)
Rinf.com (Morning Sta
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Local
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Newbury Today / Newbury Weekly News
(excellent article, includes gallery with 16 photos)
Reading Evening Post / Get Reading website
-Imbecilic commentary with a couple of sensible readers' comments
Basingstoke Gazette / This is Hampshire website
Rochdale Online (featuring
Cornish Guardian / This is Cornwall website (featuring
Chester Chronicle (featuring Joan Meredith)
Kate Hudson, chair of CND on the Big Blockade
Kate Hudson reflects on Monday's blockade:
Oct 28, 2008
Protesting at Aldermaston
Monday's peaceful blockade of Aldermaston's nuclear bomb factory was the biggest for a decade. Hundreds of protestors gathered from 5.30am to block the gates and halt work at the site, which is being prepared for the building of new nuclear bombs. We wanted to delay that building process and raise public awareness of what is going on there, in our name - and at our expense.
In the event we had some success. A number of gates were blocked for several hours, and coverage of the issue has extended into the national media. The imaginative nature of the protests caught many people's attention - from locking themselves together inside concrete casings, to sitting atop a massive wooden tripod, blocking an approach road to the site. Colourful costumes were a feature, as were music and songs of protest and defiance.
Once again - as with the huge CND demonstration at Aldermaston last Easter - there were many young people on the protest, some participating in their very first blockade. More are questioning the basis on which our government pursues its war and nuclear weapons policies. And many students across the country are protesting about army recruitment, and military funded research, at colleges and universities.
This week's protest is just the tip of the vast iceberg of public opposition to Britain's nuclear weapons. Polls show a majority opposed to the replacement of the Trident nuclear weapons system, yet the government persists with its plans and its pointless wasteful spending. The system is estimated to cost in excess of £76 billion.
It is folly beyond belief that at a time of economic crisis, our government is prioritising nuclear bombs over healthcare, housing, job creation and investment in sustainable energy production - or the numerous other ways in which our government could spend our money for our benefit.
There are many ways to oppose nuclear weapons. Blockading at Aldermaston is one of them. But you can also write to the Prime Minister or your MP, sign our petition on this website, or raise the issue in your trade union or students' union, run a street stall or write to the local paper. Every action no matter how small contributes to our ultimate success. After all, no one ever knows which will be the last straw.
Oct 28, 2008
Protesting at Aldermaston
Monday's peaceful blockade of Aldermaston's nuclear bomb factory was the biggest for a decade. Hundreds of protestors gathered from 5.30am to block the gates and halt work at the site, which is being prepared for the building of new nuclear bombs. We wanted to delay that building process and raise public awareness of what is going on there, in our name - and at our expense.
In the event we had some success. A number of gates were blocked for several hours, and coverage of the issue has extended into the national media. The imaginative nature of the protests caught many people's attention - from locking themselves together inside concrete casings, to sitting atop a massive wooden tripod, blocking an approach road to the site. Colourful costumes were a feature, as were music and songs of protest and defiance.
Once again - as with the huge CND demonstration at Aldermaston last Easter - there were many young people on the protest, some participating in their very first blockade. More are questioning the basis on which our government pursues its war and nuclear weapons policies. And many students across the country are protesting about army recruitment, and military funded research, at colleges and universities.
This week's protest is just the tip of the vast iceberg of public opposition to Britain's nuclear weapons. Polls show a majority opposed to the replacement of the Trident nuclear weapons system, yet the government persists with its plans and its pointless wasteful spending. The system is estimated to cost in excess of £76 billion.
It is folly beyond belief that at a time of economic crisis, our government is prioritising nuclear bombs over healthcare, housing, job creation and investment in sustainable energy production - or the numerous other ways in which our government could spend our money for our benefit.
There are many ways to oppose nuclear weapons. Blockading at Aldermaston is one of them. But you can also write to the Prime Minister or your MP, sign our petition on this website, or raise the issue in your trade union or students' union, run a street stall or write to the local paper. Every action no matter how small contributes to our ultimate success. After all, no one ever knows which will be the last straw.
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