Edinburgh Peace and Justice Centre

Aldermaston Blockade
15 February 2010
Trident Ploughshares is organizing a Blockade of the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) Aldermaston. The government has postponed the "Initial Gate" decision on replacing Trident submarines until after the NPT Review Conference in May. But work is already going ahead at Aldermaston on the construction of the facilities for the next generation of nuclear bombs. By blockading Aldermaston on 15 February we intend to send a clear message to the government: Instead of moving forward with construction of facilities for new nuclear weapons the UK should cancel Trident replacement, take Trident off patrol prior to the NPT conference, and announce plans to disarm its illegal nuclear weapons now.
Affinity groups are coming from all parts of the UK. We want to let the government know that Scotland strongly opposes the construction of new nuclear weapons as well as the ongoing deployment of Trident. A group from Scotland will be blocking the Boiler House Gate. If you want to join this group email Jane Tallents: tp2000@gn.apc.org or call: 0845 4588367
Minibuses will be going from Waterloo Place in Edinburgh, and from George Square in front of Glasgow City Chambers and other locations in Scotland at 8:30am on Sunday 14 February and returning by 6:30pm Tuesday 16 Feb. Cost is £15 (£5 Deposit) Sponsorship available for those unable to pay the full cost. Accomodation will be in church halls. Bring sleeping mats and bags. A donation toward the cost of food and accomodation is requested. To book a place call Edinburgh Peace and Justice Resource Center: 0131 229 0993 or logon to the website: http://peaceandjustice.org.uk/
There will be NVDA Trainings for people planning to participate in the blockade in Edinburgh Saturday 6 February at St John's Church Hall, Princes St and in Glasgow at Anderston Kelvingrove Church, 759 Argyle Street (at Elderslie Street ) Sunday 7 February from 2 - 5pm.
For further information on Nonviolence Training, Affinity Groups, Legal Briefings and much more go to: http://www.tridentploughshares.org/index.php3
This is a crucial time for the nuclear disarmament movement. Barack Obama has spoken of a " vision of a world free of nuclear weapons" but the reality is that foreseeable nuclear arms reductions talks will only do that, reduce the numbers of nuclear weapons without seriously engaging the possibility of abolition of nuclear weapons. The world cannot wait another forty years. We must seize the moment and push hard now for disarmament.
So if at all possible Please come and join in the blockade. You can sit, lie down, lock-on or provide support for those blockading. You don't have to be prepared to risk arrest. People are needed to hold banners, drive, do legal support, do media work and more. Please bring your friends and relatives and join the blockade that will start at 7am and continue for as long as possible. And please spread the word about this blockade amongst your contacts. (Please reply to this e-mail if you would like copies of the leaflet for this event).