This Saturday (9 August) a giant peace scarf measuring 7 miles (11km) will be stretched between the UK’s two nuclear bomb factories to protest against plans to spend £100bn replacing the Trident nuclear weapons system.
The Wool Against Weapons campaign has been almost two years in the making, and has received contributions from over 5,000 knitters from around the UK and as far as Africa, the Middle East, and South America.
The campaign has received media attention across the country, with knitters taking their peace scarves to local landmarks including Edinburgh’s Royal Mile and the Angel of the North.
This Saturday, the scarf will be joined together to stretch between the Atomic Weapons Establishment sites of Aldermaston and Burghfield in Berkshire.
After the demonstration, the scarves will be repurposed for use as blankets in areas of humanitarian need.
CND’s General Secretary Kate Hudson said:
‘People are fed up with the government saying there’s not enough money for vital public services while waving through the purchase of a £100bn Cold War weapons system.
‘Trident doesn’t keep us safe: because it encourages nuclear proliferation. We can’t afford it: at a time when we’re slashing public services. And its use would be illegal: because it kills indiscriminately.
‘This colourful and vibrant protest is an innovative way of showing the scale of opposition to Trident replacement in the UK and abroad.
‘Every single bit of scarf joined together between the UK’s nuclear bomb factories represents a voice calling for reason over dogma, for peace over war – a step towards real global security and a triumph over an outdated and dangerous Cold War mentality.’
For media enquiries, please see this Media Pack for more information and contact CND’s Press & Communications Officer Luke Massey on 07968 420 859 / pressoffice@cnduk.org