Scotland (Central & Southern) – Page 40

Bilston Glen Sunday free cafe, November 26th

Come down to Bilston Glen anti-road protest camp on the 26th of November for the Sunday free cafe.

This month we will be opening the “Bilston cinema in the woods” with an evening of political films. There will be folk music and drumming througout the day, there will be Reiki and massage and of course the famous free cafe. It is also a great chance to find out about our campaigns in defence of nature, meet loads of free minds and enjoy an evening in the woods around the campfire. Bring booze and whatever else, wrap up warm and celebrate the beautiful little woodland that is Bilston Glen.

Come down to Bilston Glen anti-road protest camp on the 26th of November for the Sunday free cafe.

To get there simply take the number 37 or 47 bus from North Bridge or Nicolson st in Edinburgh and ask the driver to let you off at Bilston Glen, go down the gate next to the bus stop and you’re there. If you have any problems call the site phone on 07753280009. If you miss this months free cafe, dont worry they happen on the last sunday of every month but you come down whenever you like. We have plenty space in the the trees if you want to stay. Everyones welcome, so see you there.

http://www.bilstonglen-abs.org.uk/

Daughters of Rebecca at Faslane

Approximately 100 people from across Wales took part in the rolling 1-year Faslane 365 campaign over three days this week (Mon 13th – Wed 15th November). 19 protesters including eight teenagers, some of whom were as young as 14, were arrested for blockading the nuclear base. Those under 16 were almost immediately de-arrested by the police, but those aged 16 and over are treated as adults in Scottish law and were detained overnight in police cells along with everyone else. Warning letters from the procurator fiscal were issued to arrestees on their release. Since the campaign began on October 1st, only one Faslane 365 case has been referred to court.

The South Wales group brought with them a contingent of the Rebel Clown Army, a giant red dragon and assorted politicians, while the North Wales group included a sizeable group of “Merched Beca” (Daughters of Rebecca) with voluminous skirts, bonnets and blackened faces. The actions of Merched Beca in 1839-44, where protesters dressed up in womenâ€™s clothes and destroyed much-hated toll gates in Wales, led directly to a Royal Commission to examine the issue, and by 1844 most of the remaining toll gates had been legally removed, allowing ordinary people to move freely along the roads. The 21st Century Daughters of Rebecca hope that their nonviolent direct action as part of Faslane 365 will bring about the decommissioning and dismantling of Britainâ€™s nuclear weapons, allowing taxes to be diverted to more useful purposes.

wrexhamsaw@yahoo.com
http://www.wpjf.org.uk

Bradford Priest Arrested at Nuclear Blockade

16.11.2006

Over 50 Anti Nuclear protestors from Leeds and Bradford took part in a mass blockade of the Faslane Nuclear Naval Base in Scotland this morning. Twenty seven of the protestors, including the Revd Chris Howson from Bradford were arrested for their role in the blockade, which included ‘locking on’ to a giant CND symbol outside the main gates of the base.

16.11.2006

A group of women were also arrested after succesfully blocking the second gate of the base. They were dressed as lollipop ladies and carried ‘Stop Trident’ signs.

Protestors managed to cause disruption to traffic trying to enter the base for almost an hour whilst police removed protestors lying in the road and used cutting equipment to remove the ‘lock ons’.

The blockade was part of ‘Faslane 365’, a year-long campaign set up to oppose the existence of Trident, the British nuclear submarine programme and to oppose the introduction of any replacement to Trident.

The Rev Chris Howson said, “I came to Faslane to show support to those who had planned to take part in the blockade. I was arrested by the police whilst standing on the pavement outside the base for reasons they would not explain to me, despite my repeated requests. “It is clear to me that the Government’s interests are not with the majority who are opposed to Trident replacement and would rather see the billions wasted on the nuclear weapons programme spent on health, education or climate change, but with George Bush and his colleagues who want us to live in a world of threat, fear and nuclear hypocrisy.”

Professor Dave Webb from Leeds and Convenor of Yorkshire CND said, “Today’s turnout has been fantastic. We have had a great mix of people blockading today, young and old. It just goes to show that people are prepared to take action for the world we live in. The Government must listen to us all and allow a full public and Parliamentay debate on Trident replacement, and disarmament must be an option.”

http://www.faslane365.org/leeds_and_bradford