Nuclear – Page 19 – Earth First!

No Christmas Cheer as Arms Giant Lockheed Gets Locked Out

“We never forget who we’re murdering and spying for”. Cornerstone of the UK military-industrial complex / Orwellian state, US-based arms firm Lockheed Martin was targeted early on Thursday morning (13th December) at its central London HQ as activists from Trident Ploughshares and London Catholic Worker delivered a seasonal message to the company, locking workers out of the building for 45 minutes.

Lockheed Martin, whose corporate slogan is “We never forget who we’re working for”, was paid a visit on Thursday morning by a group of non-violent activists from a Trident Ploughshares affinity group called the Muriel Lesters, and London Catholic Worker. The group chained shut and blocked off all the entrances to the building for 45 minutes, from around 8am. The anonymous building (Manning House, 22 Carlisle Place, London. SW1P 1JA), hidden away in a side street near Victoria station, houses the UK corporate headquarters of the arms giant, which makes Trident nuclear weapons (warheads and missiles) and produces surveillance systems used by intelligence services to spy on the public and for commercial espionage. Several banners and placards were on display, including one that read “Lockheed Martin – Nuclear Crime Scene”, and workers and visitors to the building were leafleted, as well as passers by.

A crowd of workers and visitors trying to gain access to the building had gathered on the pavement within a quarter of an hour. Several accepted leaflets. Belgravia police were called to deal with the protesters. There was a delay as the police awaited bolt-cutters and back-up, but the chains were eventually removed from the front door, after which the protesters blocking the back entrances, including an elderly lady in a wheelchair, decided to unchain the doors and move round to the front. Police were admitted to the building for discussions, but no arrests were made (either of the peace campaigners or the arms dealers). The protesters were allowed to continue demonstrating and leafleting peacefully outside the building, until finally leaving of their own accord at 9.30am.

Father Martin Newell, a Catholic priest from east London, says: “I feel it is my duty as a Christian to follow the prince of peace and oppose the horror of nuclear weapons.”

Myra Garrett from east London says: “I felt I had to target the company because of the new nuclear weapons facilities they are developing right here in the UK, at Aldermaston.”

Chris Gwyntopher from east London says: “the building had to be closed in the interests of public security and world peace. Unlike Lockheed, I feel my purpose is to save life, not destroy it. I wish the workers would leave the building for good and seek more humane employment.”

Irene Willis from Essex says: “Christmas seems an appropriate time of year to reflect upon the horrific effects the arms trade and nuclear weapons have in the world and to ask ourselves whether we really need them.”

The group intends to pay the company another visit in the near future.

Notes:

1. Lockheed Martin, SERCO and – currently – British Nuclear Fuels Plc (BNFL) are equal shareholders in AWE Management Ltd, which the UK Ministry of Defence has awarded a multi-billion pound contract to manage and operate the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) sites at Aldermaston and Burghfield, both in Berkshire, until at least 2025. This is where Britain’s nuclear weapons are developed and maintained, and where new facilities are being constructed to enable the production of a new generation of nuclear weapons.

http://www.awe.co.uk/main_site/about_awe/the_company/index.html
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/11/385666.html
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/11/385357.html
http://www.awe.co.uk/main_site/scientific_and_technical/publications/Strategy_Plans/index.html

2. Lockheed Martin promotes itself thus:

“Our vision: As an increasing number of nations of all sizes around the world indicate the desire and capacity to develop nuclear, chemical and biological weapons of mass destruction, it is necessary to expand our field of vision.

“Our aim: To sustain capability to design a warhead to succeed Trident by facilitating production of British nuclear warheads.

“Our priorities: The key elements of the science-based programme we are putting in place to maintain the country’s nuclear stockpile.

“Our future: We can now look forward to a long-term stable future for AWE and for the UK nuclear weapons programme.”

Lockheed Martin is the world’s largest arms company. Besides nuclear weapons, it produces a host of killing and spying machines, devices and systems, including ‘bunker buster’ bombs, cluster bombs and landmines.

The company also provides military interrogators for places like Guantanamo Bay and Iraq. It is also a leading partner in the Echelon global surveillance network. Its employees work alongside the American NSA (National Security Agency) at Menwith Hill spy station in Yorkshire.

See the following for details of the above: http://censusalert.org.uk/lockheed_martin.html

As well as being one of two lead bidders for the 2011 UK Census
http://censusalert.org.uk/
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/05/09/census_boycott/ , Lockheed Martin also has civilian contracts in the UK with:

Metropolitan Police Service
http://www.lockheedmartin.co.uk/products/metpolice.html

Transport for London
http://www.lockheedmartin.co.uk/products/lul.html

Network Rail
http://www.lockheedmartin.co.uk/products/networkrail.html

Railways – Positive Train Control
http://www.lockheedmartin.co.uk/products/ptc.html

Royal Mail
http://www.lockheedmartin.co.uk/products/ai.html

More on the company here: http://www.schnews.org.uk/archive/news402.htm

The company’s corporate websites:
http://www.lockheedmartin.com
http://www.lockheedmartin.co.uk

3. Trident Ploughshares is committed to bringing about the disarmament of British nuclear weapons through peaceful non-violent direct action. They call upon the British government to stop deploying its submarine-launched Trident nuclear weapons system with immediate effect, safely decommission every one of its warheads as soon as practicable, reverse its decision to renew / replace its (US-dependent) Trident system, and insist that the UN adopt a global Nuclear Weapons Convention outlawing all nuclear weapons at the very earliest opportunity.

See: http://www.tridentploughshares.org

Reports on recent Trident Ploughshares actions against Lockheed Martin (Oct 2007):

http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/10/384043.html
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/10/384284.html

Reports and pics from Trident Ploughshares London ‘weapons inspections’ earlier this year (Feb 2007), which included Lockheed Martin:

http://www.tridentploughshares.org/article1485

http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/02/363646.html

Reports from previous Trident Ploughshares actions at Lockheed Martin’s UK headquarters:

http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/09/351270.html

http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2005/06/314195.html

http://www.tridentploughshares.org/article1248

http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/oxford/2004/12/302877.html

Sizewell Nuclear Power Blockade

1.12.2007
At 6:50 am this morning 8 sleepy protestors arrived at the gates of Sizewell A and B in Suffolk. What else would you do at this time in the morning at a nuclear power station, other than lay on the road, lock yourselves together, unfurl your banner reading ‘nuclear power is not the answer to climate chaos’ and wait 15 minutes for the security to notice you.

As the shift change began, we lay comfortably on the wet and cold road, and only one worker threatened to run us over.
The griffins arrived (civil nuclear police), Suffolk police, and a couple of gnomes (or maybe security people). Apparently, people wanted to go to work, and so the police asked us to move. We declined.
After 2 and a half hours of shift change disruption (job done!) we made a deal with the coppers that we could leave, with all of our equipment, not get arrested, and be free to come and do it again another day. Bizarrely, the police agreed to this. Watch the video below of what happened just after release – apparently, they couldn’t arrest us under the human rights act – proportionality and all that, innit.

Videos:
The reasons: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9i7-Z3wdjAM
Interactions with the police http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57OiMfCGC94
Leaving http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GnPMcvj7BBQ

Below is the press release we sent out.

This week it was announced that Sizewell is one of the four sites proposed for the new build of nuclear power plants. Brown indicated that large government incentives for new nuclear stations will be promised in the new year. These would include a planning reform bill that will speed up the planning process. The protesters say that this will take away the ability to refuse permission on a local level and that many safety features were introduced during the extensive planning phase for Sizewell B.

One of the protesters, Peter Lux from Norwich said, “Gordon Browns statement is completely at odds with what we should be doing to combat climate change. The proposed aviation policy with the expansion of Heathrow will cause several times more greenhouse gas emissions than could possibly be saved by replacing our existing nuclear power stations even if nuclear power was carbon neutral which it is not.”

Another protester said: “It is so frustrating to think that we do not even have a democracy when it comes to our energy needs and use. That’s why we have to come and take direct action, how can we sit back and watch when we know this is the wrong route to be taking?.” Said Mell Harrison, one of the protesters and Campaigns Coordinator for Eastern Region CND. She went on “The government are going ahead with building new nuclear power stations without proper public debate and consultation. All you ever hear from the Government is about our growing energy needs, but the real answer is energy conservation and more sustainable life styles. For example we hear about China’s ever growing energy needs, but it’s the West’s desire for more cheap goods from China that is one of the biggest reasons for their carbon emissions.”
Sizewell B was the last nuclear reactor to be built in the UK and was completed in 1995. It took 15 years to complete, cost over £3billion with about £800 million in cost overruns, which resulted mainly from additional safety features.
The nuclear industry also suffered a setback earlier this month when it was announced that the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority was unable able to say what the costs of cleaning up Britain’s nuclear power stations would reach, but last month it raised its estimate by more than 12 per cent to £72.7 billion. This rising cost will be met by the taxpayer rather than the nuclear industry.

plunk@hushmail.com
http://www.easterncnduk.org

A Dozen people arrested at AWE Aldermaston Blockade

12.11.2007
About 50 people went down to AWE Aldermaston, Berkshire, very early this morning to blockade the on-going construction of the Orion laser, designed to help build the next generation of UK nuclear war heads.

The 50 activists were split in four different blockades at various strategic points to attempt to stop all construction traffic – including a blockade of Burgfield, the nearby factory where the warheads are put together (and then shipped to Coulport/Faslane in Scotland)

The blockaders used a variety of large concrete lock-ons, lock on tubes and super glue and while they stopped short of blocking the base entirely, they managed to severly disrupt the construction traffic for 2 and half hours.
4 arrests at AWE Burghfield, including a 77-year old man, after a 2-hour lock-on from sunrise, with choir and violin accompaniment, on a chilly but beautiful Monday morning,

13 arrests in total (9 at Aldermaston, near the two main construction gates – Tadley gate and Home Office gate) – everyone released in the afternoon, after 5-6 hours in custody. Some cautioned, some charged with obstruction of the highway. About 70-80 people joined the protests in total, travelling from as far afield as Yorkshire, Wales, Plymouth, Southampton, Essex, London, Cambridge, Salisbury…

Special thanks to Newbury Friends for your continued support.

More detailed action report

14.11.2007 14:55
13 Arrests at Atomic Weapons Establishment Blockades

Around 70-80 anti-nuclear campaigners took part in the ‘Block the Builders’ direct action against the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) facilities at Aldermaston and Burghfield in Berkshire during the morning rush hour on Monday 12 November. There were thirteen arrests in total, with traffic around the base severely disrupted for around two and a half hours.

At Aldermaston, protesters sought to disrupt the construction of new multi-billion pound state-of-the-art facilities at the site, including the Orion laser. Campaigners say the new facilities will be used to develop new weapons of mass destruction, in collaboration with the United States. This, they say, breaches the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, to which both the UK and the US are signatories.

There were three separate human blockades at Aldermaston, on the A340 close to Tadley Gate and Home Office Gate respectively. They were designed to block the entry of construction vehicles into the facility. Concrete-filled wheelie bins, lock-on tubes made from concrete and other materials, and superglue were used. 9 people were arrested for obstruction of the highway and taken to Newbury Police Station, including some young people and members of the Aldermaston Women’s Peace Camp.

At Burghfield, on the outskirts of Reading – where the existing Trident warheads are assembled, before being sent by road convoy back to the armaments depot at Coulport on the west coast of Scotland – four activists chained themselves together using arm lock-on tubes to block off a private road, off the Burghfield Road, which leads to the main entrance to the facility. They had to wait nearly 2 hours for the cutting team to arrive. The blockade was accompanied by a four-person choir from Turning the Tide singing protest songs, and a violinist. All four blockaders were arrested for obstruction of the highway and taken first to AWE Aldermaston and eventually to Newbury Police Station. They included a 77-year-old man and members of Trident Ploughshares.

All those arrested were held in the custody of Thames Valley Police for around six hours, before being either cautioned or charged with obstruction of the highway. They were then released, with supporters waiting for them at the police station.

People had travelled from as far afield as Yorkshire, Wales, Devon, Wiltshire, Southampton, Essex, Kent, Northants, Cambridge and London to join the protests. Other groups represented on the day included Menwith Hill Peace Camp, Salisbury and Kent CND, the Green Party and Reading Peace Group.

A spokesperson from Block the Builders said, “We are living in dangerous times, largely due to the interventionist foreign policies of the United States and Britain. What we urgently need is a UN Nuclear Weapons Convention banning all nuclear weapons. What business do we in the West have threatening military strikes on Iran for its uranium enrichment programme, whilst at the same spending billions of pounds upgrading our nuclear weapons facilities right here in the UK? The hypocrisy is plain to see. Would we not be better off spending the money on healthcare, education, tackling poverty and caring for the environment?”

Articles relating to Monday’s action:

http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/11/385357.html?c=on
http://www.newburytoday.co.uk/News/Article.aspx?articleID=5608
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/berkshire/7090404.stm
http://greenreading.blogspot.com/2007/11/brave-aldermaston-protestors-survive.html

Nuclear Convoy Stopped

At approximately 10.30 on the 12th of November 3 activists from Faslane Peace Camp locked on across the Glen Fruin Haul road, stopping a nuclear convoy for half an hour whilst it was en route from RNAD Coulport to AWE Burghfield. The convoy itself carries weapons of mass destruction the equal of 24 Hiroshimas along public highways and through population centres. The monitoring of these movements by activists have resulted in this being the second consecutive convoy stop in as many months. For further information about nuclear weapons convoys see www.nukewatch.org.uk

Autumn EF! Action Update out – and advance notice of the Winter Moot, 22-24 February (gathering of eco-activists), Nottingham

The latest issue of the quarterly EF!AU was dished up at the Anarchist Bookfair – bursting at the seams, it had to be turned into a bumper issue, with a round-up of the actions around the time of the Camp for Climate Action, plus loads of action reports from around the world since then – from pieing oil executives, blockading garages & airports, polar bears locking-on, sabotage, prisoners, occupied spaces, digger-diving, GM crop-trashing, to cake and the cunning use of mung beans (oh, and of course, much much more).

Download it to print out and share here. Do get in touch with the editorial collective to let them know if you’re dishing it up round your way, or need paper copies, or want to give them one of the rarer ingredients, dosh (to send it to prisoners, protest camps and far beyond) – their contact details and more are here

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The EF! Winter Moot will happen from 22nd – 24th February 2008, in Nottingham – more details nearer the time, as this is just advance notice.

It’s a gathering for environmental activists – in the past, it’s been a chance for people involved in all kinds of ecological direct action to get together for a weekend indoors to chat about where things are at in the UK, and so improve all aspects of how we work together, in order to take direct action in defence of the earth.

Contact 0845-0223 5254 for more info

Activist Film Festival is seeking submissions

Undercurrents is calling for submissions of short videos and animations on the theme of the festival: social justice and environmental action.

Subject: Political Activist videos wanted
From: undercurrents

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS OF FILMS

FOR BEYONDTV FESTIVAL NOVEMBER 2007

What is BEYONDTV?
From November 28 to December 2, 2007, Radical media charity, Undercurrents will host the 8th annual BEYONDTV festival of political documentaries, animations and music videos from inspiring media directors.

Undercurrents is calling for submissions of short videos and animations on the theme of the festival: social justice and environmental action.

Important Note: We do not screen dramas using actors

BEYONDTV will be hosted at the Dylan Thomas Centre and Taliesin Cinema Swansea from November 28 – December 2, 2007

More details at http://www.beyondtvfestival.info
beyondtv@undercurrents.org

Undercurrents
Old Exchange
Pier st
Swansea
SA1 1RY
UK

Next AWE Aldermaston Blockade on Monday 12th November

Next AWE ALDERMASTON BLOCKADE: http://www.blockthebuilders.org.uk
on Mon 12th Nov. A major blockade of the Aldermaston nuclear weapons factory.
Work on the Orion laser – a key facility for the future of Britain’s WMD project –
is well underway. The AWE (Atomic Weapons Establishment) is reported to be
developing a new nuclear warhead. The device, designated the High Surety Warhead
is understood to be under development in conjunction with the US who want modernised
‘failsafe’ nuclear firepower for its submarine-launched Trident missiles. Overnight
accommodation available Sunday. This is a day of non-violent direct action. Legal support on the day. Info pack on website. Call 07807 522454.

The Bath Bomb Issue #3 October ‘07 * @nti-copyright: copy and distribute! *

“Soapy suds of truth in a bathtub of b*llshit!””

Oh, Just More Shops…

“Soapy suds of truth in a bathtub of b*llshit!””

Oh, Just More Shops…

Walking past the rubble of the Southgate Centre, could my ears be deceiving me? I have now heard several people remarking how nice the view looks without the buildings. The latest one of these came when I was walking behind three very fashionable looking girls who looked like they were ‘born to shop’:
“What are they putting there?”
“Oh, just more shops.”
Could it be that more people than we realize would like more from life? Could it be time for something new? Could it be that consumer culture is really on the wane? Coz it’s gonna take more than a Debenhams to impress me.
What would the people of Bath like to see in a new shopping centre’s place? What could happen if we let our imaginations run wild? Why not get in touch with your ideas?

Reduce Carbon, Cut Capitalism!

Sunday the 16th September saw the arrival of the ‘Cut the Carbon’ march in Bath. The group, including a member of MST, a Brazillian peasants movement who take land back from the rich to cultivate and feed their families, has been marching all over the UK, starting in Dublin, and ending the following week in London, to publicise the effects of climate change on the planet. The group was met in Abbey Courtyard by 50 supporters, including a contingent from Bath Activist Network, waving red and black flags and a banner reading ‘social change not climate change!’.
Their message was simple, we can all do our bit to help stop climate change, but it is the rich and the big businesses, from oil companies to coal mining corporations to the road building industry, that are really raping the planet. We reckon that the solutions to climate change, poverty, wage slavery and greed can all be solved when we get together and take the power away from those causing the problems – politicians, the idle rich and the corporations. Bath Bomb would like to wish the ‘Cut the Carbon’ marchers well on the last leg of their journey and good luck in spreading their important message.

Work Kills

A new campaign has started in Bath to highlight the dangers of casual and temporary work. This campaign is aimed at students and young people, many of whom are killed and injured doing this type of work each year. The campaign is being run by the Trades Council, a grass-roots trades union group, and the Simon Jones campaign (an action group set up to demand justice for a student killed at work due to the neglect of company management)
The campaign will be talking at schools and universities, offering advice and help. In early 2008, there will be a public meeting and an exhibition (keep an eye on the Bath Bomb for further details!)
This campaign is needed because the state justice system and bosses care more for control and profits at work than safety.

www.simonjones.org.uk

Events Listing

Monday nights Bath Hunt Saboteur meetings back room of Bell, Walcot Street, 8pm
6th Oct Fight the Pipe benefit gig, 8pm, The Plough in Easton, Bristol, with Crowzone, Drug Sniffin’ Dogs and Burnt Porkchops
13th Oct Bath FreeShop outside Holland & Barretts, Stall Street, 12-3pm
14th Oct Permaculture Collectiec Cafe food, film & workshop, Kebele Kulture Projekt 14 Robertson Road, Bristol, from 5.30pm
15th Oct Day of action against Royal Bank of Scotland, details tbc
19th Oct ‘Leftism’ Benefit club night in aid of B.A.N., downstairs at The Crown, Bathwick Street, 9pm-1am
19th Oct Anarchist Black Cross benefit gig, 8pm, The Junction, 51 Stokes croft, with Born Dead, Jesus Bruiser, 7 Crowns and War/System
21st Oct ‘Bubbling Under: Behind The Mask’ Porter Cellar Bar, George Street, 1-4pm
23rd Oct cheap house clearance, benefiting animal shelter in Kent! Ring 07990 847700 for details
27th Oct Anarchist Bookfair in London www.anarchistbookfair.org.uk
1st Nov Bath Activist Network meeting downstairs Hobgoblin, St James Parade, 7.30-9pm
1st-11th Nov Bath Film Festival www.bathfilmfestival.org
3rd Nov Bash The Rich, Notting Hill, Portobello road, London, 2pm www.bashtherich.org.uk [come along if you’re Class War or cop]
3rd Nov Gagged! benefit gig, Le Pub, Caxton Place, Newport, 9pm, with No Choice, Kilnaboy & Gunrack?
7th Nov Bath Animal Action meeting back room of the Bell, Walcot Street, 7.30-8.30pm
10th Nov SHAC demo Huntingdon town centre, national day of action against animal abuse in Huntingdon Life Sciences, www.veggieromance.com/f/61290
13th Nov Green Light Lecture – ‘Peak Oil: how to face the challenge of global oil decline’ – BRLSI, Queen Square, 7.30pm
24th Nov Punk all-dayer gig, benfitting legal costs from the National Camp for Climate Action, from 1pm at backroom [Walcot Palais!] of the Porter Butt on London Road – Tofu Love Frogs, Kilnaboy, Spanner, Jesus Bruiser, and more!

Fur Patrols

Here in the Bath Bomb office it’s starting to get a bit nippy, now that winter’s on its way. But don’t worry, this isn’t a call for heating donations – we’ve still got plenty of Chrons to feed the fire! What this does mean though, is that fur will soon start returning to our high streets, and we can’t have that. Around 40 million innocent animals die every year to feed the fashion market, often spending their entire lives in tiny cages, going mad with hunger and fear. ‘Pelting’, or slaughter, often takes the form of brutal hangings, electrocution, car exhaust gassing – that is, if they’re not skinned alive.
For the last couple of years, Bath Animal Action and friends have been campaigning against fur outlets in the city, with a string of successes: Square signed the fur-free pledge last year, and John Anthony the year before. After weeks of regular demos, it now remains to be seen as to whether Eleanora Brown at AH Moda will bring in rabbit fur, again. Crying wolf like any of today’s best actresses, she collaborated with police last year to try and fit up a couple of activists on false Public Order charges back in January, both of whom were found not guilty.
BAA sleuths are now investigating the shopping centres of the city to see if any stores are intent on profiting from this animal abuse. Real fur is softer than synthetic fur, and if you do suspect any stores of selling, please drop them a line: bathanimalaction@yahoo.co.uk.

http://www.caft.org.uk/

How Many MPs Does It Take To Veto Nuclear Power…

We are hearing more and more that nuclear is the solution to our power needs, how plants are so much safer these days, blah blah blah. STOP. This is a dangerous thing to be considering and will not even achieve what we need it to (nuclear power, which only supplies electricity, would only cut UK emissions by 4% by 2025-2030, by the government’s own figures). Renewable energy will get forgotten about in the process, with hardly any funding allocated to research.
Nuclear power is wasteful, causes a lot of pollution, is dangerous in many ways and isn’t even more reliable seeing as it still needs a fuel source which we must get from other countries. Renewable energy offers a supply of clean fuel that is right on our doorsteps (such as wind, solar and geothermal), it will achieve much more and sooner. The government’s stubborn insistence on nuclear power is another example of a quick fix that seems like it’s solving a problem when really it’s only a temporary measure that will come back to bite us in the ass in the future. Hard. We’ve got to stop cutting corners and take the route that might take a bit more effort, may be a bit less familiar, but that is ultimately the only way to begin to get us out of this mess we’ve got ourselves into.
Have your say here www.greenlightonbath.org/ with a questionnaire or send out the model letter to add your views to the Government’s review of the future of nuclear energy. Also on this site, under the resources link is an interesting DVD you can view amongst other things. The deadline for this is the 10th October, but if you miss that, as it’s short notice, there’s bound to be more opportunities to have your say. We must all shout loud and be determined in our refusal of nuclear. The definition of stupid is doing the same thing (over and over) and expecting different results. Also remember two easy things you can do to reduce your energy use – low energy light bulbs (they cost more but last much longer) and turn off your standbys!

www.no2nuclearpower.org.uk/index.php
http://nuclearpower2007.direct.gov.uk/reg/reg.asp

Director’s [Bolt] Cut

The second film in the ‘Bubbling Under’ alternative cinema series screens on Sunday the 21st of this month, downstairs at Porter Cellar on George Street, at 1pm. Keith Mann, former animal liberationist jailbird, introduces ‘Behind The Mask’, a documentary about people who risk their liberty to save animals. He’ll also be discussing his book ‘From Dusk Til Dawn’. Great veggie food also available.

www.fromdusktildawn.org.uk

Who Are Bath Activist Network?

We are a local umbrella group campaigning on issues as diverse as development,
environmentalism, anti-war, animal rights, workers’ rights and more. Helping to produce
The Bath Bomb, we are open to anyone, and our members range from trade unionists to
anarchists, liberals to greens, and people who just want to change Bath for the better.
For details on meetings, demos, or just to get in touch, ring us on 07949 611912, email
bathactivistnet@yahoo.co.uk, or see our website: www.myspace.com/bathactivistnetwork

Dirty Money

Not a week goes by now without another climate change and severe weather horror stories hitting the press, causing around annual 160,000 deaths worldwide. And we know some of the culprits, too: while companies like Esso, Shell and National Grid plunder the earth and endanger our lives, the finance to do this has to come from somewhere. This is where the Royal Bank of Scotland come in. The self-proclaimed ‘Oil & Gas Bank’, whilst other investors are jumping to fund renewables projects round the world, RBS is busy undercutting competitors, and funding the deadliest and dirtiest projects around: liquefied natural gas in Qatar, oil pipelines in Azerbaijan/Georgia, tar sand extraction in Canada, North Sea Oil, and another drilling project off the coast of Russia, the summer feeding ground of the threatened western grey whale. And then they fund airport expansion, too!
In 2005, their various funded projects produced nearly 4 million tonnes of CO2 emissions, as well as displacing indigenous peoples and encouraging oil wars the world over.
Also, remember Bath Climate Camp? That was set up to oppose Land & Marine’s LNG pipeline in south Wales, also funded by RBS, putting the lives of thousands in jeopardy from potential gas explosions. Eco-campaigners are calling for a national day of action against the bank [who also own NatWest, Direct Line and Churchill Insurance] on the 15th of this month, so keep a look out!

www.theoilandgasbank.com
www.risingtide.org.uk
www.networkforclimateaction.org.uk
www.carbonweb.org/documents/Oil_&_Gas_Bank.pd
To find your nearest RBS branch or office:www.rbs.co.uk/microsites/general/branch_locator/step1.asp

HOT OFF THE PRESS!:
Cadbury’s prove yet again that they couldn’t give a Fudge about their staff, with the announced closure of their successful factory in Keynsham, Wink-ing out 500 jobs. And whilst it’s Time Out for the workers who have helped make the Mr Big execs rich, the relocation to Poland will no doubt prove a tidy Boost to the confectioner’s profits; as well as stirring up Moro racism and anti-Pole resentment over here. Greedy bastards.

http://www.thisisbath.com/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=180730&command=displayContent&sourceNode=232315&home=yes&more_nodeId1=163047&contentPK=18568762

Well Fed Not An Animal Dead!

Saturday morning of the 22nd September saw Bath Animal Action and supporters holding a stall of vegan food, gratis, proving that there is such thing as a free lunch! Held as part of ‘Go Veggie Month’, it all went like hot cakes, and the public enjoyed it, too! Recipes were swapped and debates were had, and a real feeling of community was [not Don!] fostered.

Fox Hunting’s Fishy History

Did you know that the expression ‘red herring’ originates from peasantry in centuries past trying to sabotage fox hunts? Pissed off with low pay, long hours and crap working conditions, it was a weekend pastime for many of the 18th and 19th Century rural poor to ruin their rich masters’ hobby. Amongst other tactics, they did this by laying herrings and other fish in the undergrowth, distracting the hounds from the scent of the fox, allowing it to escape. Our methods may have changed since then, but hunt saboteurs are still out in the fields every weekend protecting hunted wildlife from the over-rich, under-IQ’d inbreds that constitute Britain’s ruling class. If you are interested in publicising Bath Hunt Saboteurs, helping us raise money, or better yet, coming out and helping us actively sabotage local hunts, email bathactivistnet@yahoo.co.uk or give us a bell on 07854 062336

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_herring
http://hsa.enviroweb.org/hsa.shtml

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hundreds descend on faslane for the big blockade

100 arrests so far as 600 actvists block entrances to faslane nuclear weapons base.

100 arrests so far as 600 actvists block entrances to faslane nuclear weapons base.
600 Shut Down Faslane Nuclear Weapons Base to Mark Year of Protest
Alex Salmond sends protestors message of support
October 1, 2007

600 protestors from across the UK and Europe shut down road access to the Faslane nuclear weapons base on the Clyde this morning.

At 7am protestors non violently blockaded the Northern gate to the base with their bodies. Some have locked and superglued themselves together to make it more difficult for them to be removed. At around 8.30am other protestors successfully blockaded the South Gate. With both gates blockaded there is now no road access to the weapons base, which is home to the UK ’s nuclear weapons-carrying Trident submarines.

By 10.30 am Strathclyde police had arrested an estimated 100 protesters, but as fast as they are removed more are taking their place.

More protestors are expected and blockades are planned to continue throughout the day. Drummers, clowns and singers, including acclaimed folk singer Roy Bailey, are entertaining the protesters, creating a carnival spirit to the protest.

Politicians from across the country will join the demonstrators later this morning, including six SNP MSP’s (Members of the Scottish Parliament), an MEP, two Green Party MSPs and at least one Labour MSP (1).

Scotland’s First Minister Alex Salmond has issued a statement backing to the event. He sent his “best wishes” to the protestors and said he “shares” Faslane 365’s “objective of removing nuclear weapons from Scotland’s soil” (2).

Other messages of support have come in from clerics including the Head of the Scottish Catholic Church and Bishop of Reading Stephen Cotterell who said, ‘Our nation is demeaned and compromised by the presence of these weapons of mass destruction on our shores. The Church of England and most of the Christian churches in these islands stand united in calling upon our government to re-think its reliance on nuclear weapons for our security’. (3)

Today’s Big Blockade celebrates the last day of the Faslane 365 year of peaceful blockading. Since Faslane 365’s campaign started on October 1, 2006, thousands of people have blockaded the base and more than 950 have been arrested. High profile participants have included former UN Assistant Secretary-General Prof. Sir Richard Jolly, Nobel Peace Laureate Mairead Maguire, Adrian Mitchell, A.L.Kennedy, actor Roger Lloyd Pack and singer-songwriter Billy Bragg.

Over the year of the blockade the nuclear issue has been high on the political agenda. In February 2007 the Westminster Parliament voted for producing another nuclear weapons system to replace Trident and tie the UK into holding nuclear weapons for the next fifty years. The vote inspired the largest backbench revolt since that over the decision to invade Iraq. However in a twist to the story in May 2007 the Scottish National Party was elected on a platform that included ‘kicking Trident out of Scotland ’. Later this month the SNP are holding a summit with civil society groups to discuss how to get rid of the UK ’s nuclear weapons. Westminster is vulnerable to the strong Scottish opposition to nuclear weapons (4) as Faslane is the only UK base suitable for the massive nuclear weapons carrying Trident submarines.

NOTES:

For further information on Faslane 365, the Trident deployments and the Big Blockade, including background and political context on the year long blockade, see the full Press Briefing Pack on the website. www.faslane365.org/1oct/press

(1) Politicians attending the Big Blockade will include: Bill Kidd MSP (SNP), Gil Paterson MSP (SNP), Bob Doris MSP (SNP), Bashir Ahmad MSP (SNP), Jamie Hepburn MSP (SNP) and Sandra White MSP (SNP), Marlyn Glen MSP (Labour), Robin Harper MSP (Green) and Patrick Harvie (Green), as well as Jill Evans MEP (Plaid Cymru). For supportive quotes by these politicians visit the website www.faslane365.org/1oct/press

(2) Full Alex Salmond statement: Alex Salmond’s office sent a letter on behalf of the First Minister to the Faslane 365 organizers conveying “his best wishes for a successful event” and affirming his full support for “responsible and peaceful protest against the replacement of Trident”. The letter further stated that Mr. Salmond “shares” Faslane 365’s “objective of removing nuclear weapons from Scotland’s soil” and affirmed that “He is committed to doing whatever he can to persuade the UK government to alter its position on nuclear weapons.”

(3) Statements by church leaders:
Stephen Cottrell, Bishop of Reading (Anglican): ‘I send greetings in the name of Jesus Christ, the friend of the poor and the lover of peace. On the night before he died he said these words to his friends: Peace I give you, my own peace I leave with you, not as the world gives peace do I give to you. These words continue to challenge the powers and authorities of the world where there is still such misplaced confidence in a so called peace that can be secured by a so called deterrence. But these expensive and devastatingly destructive weapons cannot bring peace. They only encourage others to depend on force. They add to the instability of the world. They leech finances away from so many other things that could do so much good. Our nation is demeaned and compromised by the presence of these weapons of mass destruction on our shores. The Church of England and most of the Christian churches in these islands stand united in calling upon our government to re-think its reliance on nuclear weapons for our security. This is the peace the world gives and it is not working. Let us turn instead to the peace of Christ who bids us turn our swords into ploughshares and our trident submarines into hospitals and schools. And it is my pleasure to send greetings and prayers to those of you who are gathering at Faslane today as you lament the madness of the world and bravely bear witness to the way of lasting peace’.

Keith Patrick Cardinal O’Brien, President, the Bishops Conference of Scotland (Catholic): ‘My dear friends gathered at Faslane, I wish to assure you that the position of the Roman Catholic Church with regard to weapons of mass destruction is perfectly clear and has been emphasised by myself in recent years. The Roman Catholic Church is opposed to weapons of mass destruction and has regularly spoken out against the possibility of the renewal of the Trident Nuclear Weapons system. I personally am happy to think that in the new political situation in the new Scottish Parliament, where a majority is opposed to Trident, further positive steps may be taken in Scotland to ensure that the Trident Nuclear Weapons System is not renewed. With my kindest regards and union of prayer

(4) An opinion poll carried out by ICM for Scottish CND on 26-29 January 2007 found that 73 % of those polled were opposed to the government spending £50 billion on a replacement for Trident. http://www.banthebomb.org/newbombs/poll.htm.

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arrests mount at faslane…coulport also blockaded

at 11.30 another 43 people were arrested at the faslane base for nonviolently blockading the gates – briging the total arrests to around 150. about 450 protestors remain blockading the base.

Protestors have also successfully bloackaded the roads into The Royal Naval Armament Depot (RNAD) at Coulport, Loch Long – where Trident nuclear missiles are stored

Join Big Blockade of Faslane Nuclear Base 1st October

Hundreds of peace activists will risk arrest on October 1st when over a thousand people are expected to join in a “Big Blockade” of Faslane Naval Base. This will be the culmination of the Faslane 365 year of actions against Trident, Britain’s weapon of mass destruction. People and groups from all over Britain (and abroad) will use diverse nonviolent methods to block the entrances to the nuclear base and disrupt the ongoing deployment of Trident.

As they have done over the past twelve months, the groups and individuals, who will include Members of the Scottish and European Parliaments and well-known singers and artists, will highlight the illegality, insecurity and waste of resources inherent in the deployment and renewal of Trident. Throughout the day there will be colourful, creative and dramatic actions at the gates, including many different kinds of lock-ons and sit-downs.

“This Big Blockade will be a carnival of resistance to celebrate Faslane 365’s achievements in highlighting and disrupting the illegal nuclear deployments over the year,” said Dr Rebecca Johnson from the Faslane 365 Steering Group. “We will join together to mark the end of this year’s campaigning, and to make clear our determination to keep up pressure on the Scottish and UK governments to get rid of Trident and to take the lead in moving the world towards the total elimination of nuclear weapons, in accordance with the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and the wishes of the majority.”

As diverse groups of activists blockade the gates, folk legends Leon Rosselson and Seize the Day will be providing music, and the renowned Roy Bailey and David Ferrard will perform songs from a forthcoming album about the Iraq War. A twelve-member choir will sing the oratorio Trident – A British War Crime, by Camilla Cancantata, first performed at the Edinburgh High Court in 2005. The Rev. Kathy Galloway, leader of the Iona Community, will celebrate a communion service at 10am at the North Gate with Clergy Action and Christian CND. Several Members of the Scottish Parliament, including Marlyn Glen (Labour), Robin Harper (Green) and Patrick Harvie (Green), as well as Jill Evans MEP (Plaid Cymru) have confirmed their participation and will be available for interviews.

Since Faslane 365 started on October 1, 2006, thousands have participated and more than 950 people have been arrested. Participants have included elected representatives from Scottish, UK and European Parliaments and local councils, Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace, Buddhists, Christians, ‘Unity!’ union of asylum seekers, artists, writers, academics, students from the UK, Europe and Japan, atomic bomb survivors from Nagasaki, teachers, lawyers, health professionals and pensioners. Specific groups have come from many regions of Scotland, England and Wales and from eleven other European countries, as well as Japan and the United States. Prominent participants included the Bishop of Reading Stephen Cotterell, former UN Assistant Secretary-General Prof Sir Richard Jolly, Nobel Peace Laureate Mairead Maguire, Adrian Mitchell, A.L.Kennedy, actor Roger Lloyd Pack and singer-songwriter Billy Bragg.

NVDA trainings and accomodation will be Sunday afternoon and evening in Glasgow. Coaches leave from Edinburgh at 4:30 am and Glasgow at 5:30am
Monday. For details and to book see www.faslane365.org/1Oct

For further background information on Trident, a summary of the political context of the campaign, and a selection of photos from the yearlong blockade see the full Press Briefing Pack on the website. www.faslane365.org/1oct/press

Contacts: 0845 45 88 365 / 07733 360955 / 07768 312 676
info@www.faslane365.org
http://www.faslane365.org