Edinburgh Peace and Justice Centre

On Saturday 16 April Scottish Clergy Against Nuclear Arms held an Easter Witness Against Faslane. About 200 Christians and other peacemakers outside the North Gate of Faslane where a Trident is based. Cardinal Keith O'Brien, former Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland Alan MacDonald and Bruce Kent, retired Secretary General of CND spoke to the gathering . They were united in declaring that the possession of nuclear weapons is contrary to the Easter message of peace.

Making his first visit to Faslane the Cardinal said: "There is no better place to say that it is not courageous of Britain to have these dreadful weapons of mass destruction. It is shameful to have them. If our government wished to truly be courageous it would unilaterally give up its nuclear deterrent, giving the witness and impetus for other nations to do the same." And, speaking of his personal experience visiting Rwanda and Darfur he condemned corporations that manufacture and sell arms for profit at the cost of human life.

Former Moderator Alan MacDonald, who has been arrested for blockading Faslane spoke of being on the road of peacemaking, which brings us to these gates, beyond which lie weapons of mass destruction. And Bruce Kent said that Trident is immoral not only because the money spent on it should be used to meet human needs but because it is sheer barbarism to threaten to kill milliions of people.

The Wild Goose Singing Group led the congregation in uplifting music and during the service Quakers held a silent meeting for worship by the fence. After the service the Cardinal showed his support for peacemaking of other persuasions when he called in to visit the Faslane Peace Camp.