Individuals present at the blockade, which was aimed at halting construction of multi-billion pound facilities for research and development of a new generation of nuclear warheads, included Nobel Peace Prize laureates Jody Williams, from Vermont, USA and Máiread Corrigan-Maguire, from Belfast, Northern Ireland, both of whom participated in the blockade. Also present were the Catholic bishop of Brentwood, Thomas McMahon; the Anglican bishops Stephen Cottrell (Reading), Mike Hill (Bristol) and Peter Price (Bath and Wells); Jill Evans MEP, Vice President of Plaid Cymru and chair of CND Cymru (Wales); and Kate Hudson, chair of CND.
The blockaders either sat or stood in front of the gates or lay down, linked together with arm tubes and locks, or with their hands superglued together. The police had to deploy specialist cutting teams to release many of the protesters. Most of those blockading were removed without being arrested, even though many were in place for several hours.
It was described as the biggest blockade of Aldermaston in years. The UK Government is intent on spending more than £90 billion to replace Trident, its nuclear weapons system, whilst the country remains in recession due to the international economic crisis, with planned cuts in essential services. Although the modernisation programme has been delayed until the next election, it remains on the cards for the future.
On the other hand The UK is signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty with a commitment to eliminate its nuclear arsenal, but not only has it failed to honour such commitment but the new bomb making facilities represent a clear violation of the Treaty, due for its five-yearly review in May this year.
*by Silvia Swinden, based on the press report prepared by Trident Ploughshares* www.tridentploughshares.org. *Photos by D. Viesnik*
