CND today welcomed the blockade of AWE Aldermaston this morning, when four gates into the site were closed by anti-Trident activists.
Eleven people were arrested as Trident Ploughshares activists working with Bikes Block Bombs, Scrap Cars-Scrap Trident, Aldermaston Women’s Peace Camp, and Eastern Region CND closed the gates in protest at the building of new nuclear weapons facilities and the lack of democratic accountability. The surprise blockades caused massive road blockages and construction vehicles were prevented from getting into Aldermaston.
Kate Hudson, CND Chair, said: “The blockade this morning highlights public anger at the government’s decision to replace Trident, particularly given the huge and wasteful cost to the taxpayer. This is all the more shocking when the economy is in such a bad state and thousands of people are losing their jobs.
But it also underlines the importance of the call put to the government by the Foreign Affairs Committee yesterday. Their report urges the government to delay a decision on moving to the next stage of the Trident replacement process until MPs are able to debate the issue. The government must abandon the planned behind-the-scenes decision during the summer recess and put this crucial issue before parliament again.
‘The Committee recognised an extremely important factor. Our government cannot say one thing and do another. It cannot claim to oppose nuclear weapons proliferation and simultaneously pursue new nuclear weapons itself. If the government is serious about preventing nuclear proliferation it has to lead by example and end plans for Trident replacement. ”
For further information and interviews please contact Ben Soffa, CND’s Press Officer, on 0207 7002350 or 07968 420859
The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) is one of Europe’s biggest single-issue peace campaigns, with over 35,000 members in the UK. CND campaigns for the abolition of all nuclear weapons everywhere.
For more information on the blockading action contact Angie Zelter on 07835 354 652.