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London-Aldermaston
march. 9-12 April 2004.
Organised by AWPC. CND and Slough4Peace. Click
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6-8
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12-14 March
9-11 April
7-9 May
11-13 June
9-11 July
6-8 August
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10-12 December |
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29.2.04
Weapons Inspection at the Atomic Weapons establishments
Juliet McBride
At 2.0pm on Wednesday 11 February, four women arrived at AWE Aldermaston, suitably equipped with white suits, clipboards & questionnaires. Ministry of Defence Police were on hand (about 4 large men) to deny access to the Establishment.
Carol Naughton who, with others, had undertaken to make the weapons inspections in order to present to the next Non-Proliferation Treaty prep com the reality of this country's (non)compliance with the its Treaty obligations, struggled against the boorish rudeness of Sgt O'Brian. Eventually he allowed her to telephone AWE ML in reception. She was informed, much to her disbelief, that there was no one inside the Establishment... or possibly that there was no one inside the Establishment able to talk to her.... or possibly that there was no one inside the Establishment who was willing to talk to her.
It all came to the usual time honoured conclusion; re-inforcements were
called (4 more large MDP), and the Establishment was saved from having to
answer questions as to the lawfulness of the activities carried on behind
the fence.
Undaunted, the 4 women continued on to AWE Burghfield where they were met
with the same result, but politely conveyed by PC Allsop. At both
Establishments the Main Gates were closed and traffic prevented from coming
or going, despite the women offering to stand to one side, and meet anyone
willing to talk with them outside the Establishment.
The Weapons Inspectors were told they did not belong to an accredited
organisation, and therefore AWE did not recognise them. This makes sense,
as neither the government nor their "Goco" partners-in-crime recognise civil
society, with whose money they commit their crimes.
posted by Ippy
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17.2.04
MOD climb down on new developments at AWE Aldermaston
ALDERMASTON WOMEN'S PEACE CAMP
PRESS RELEASE
16 February 2004
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The Ministry of Defence has withdrawn their flag-ship planning proposal to build a state-of-the-art laser facility at AWE Aldermaston as support grows for a mass LONDON TO ALDERMASTON MARCH this Easter. The march is in protest at proposed developments which would equip AWE Aldermaston to test, design and build new weapons, in violation of the UK's obligations under the Non-ProliferationTreaty.
The march is being organised by Aldermaston2004, a new group initiated by Aldermaston Women's Peace Camp (AWPC) and Slough4Peace. The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament is giving the march a star-studied send-off from Trafalgar Square on Good Friday, before hundreds walk the 50 miles to Aldermaston arriving on Easter Monday to Surround the Base.
The laser facility, codenamed Orion [1], would enable the nuclear weapons production factory to simulate conditions within a nuclear warhead, and in conjunction with other planned facilities, allow AWE to laboratory test new nuclear weapons.
"We welcome the MoD's withdrawal of their planning proposal, but the march will still go ahead", AWPC said, "We do not imagine for one minute that this is the end of the UK plans to build new weapons, and to undermine the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), under which underground tests are banned". [2]
The legal challenge was brought by Public Interest Lawyers [3], on behalf of a local resident, following the failure of the MoD to consult with Berkshire residents or provide an environmental impact assessment when it submitted a Notice of Proposed Development (NOPD) for the new laser, to West Berkshire council, which approved the NOPD in December 2003. AWE's plans also received hundreds of objections from ordinary members of the public.
Apart from plans for new laboratories, the ill-fated laser facility and a hydrodynamics facility, AWE has already taken on a new wave of young scientists and installed a super-computer. Although AWE have now buried their Site Strategy Plan deep in their website [4], it is expected that plans to build facilities to test warhead capabilities on site will continue unless there is massive public opposition to these developments, which have not yet been debated in parliament.
AWPC are calling on Geof Hoon to make an immediate [5] statement in the House of Commons, declaring that Britain is not planning to develop a new weapon or a follow-on to Trident, and that the UK will honour its obligations under Article VI of the Non-Proliferation Treaty, by stopping funding [6] AWE to re-design its site infrastructure for new weapons development. He should also commit the government to stop refurbishing Trident warheads, and concentrate instead on decommissioning.
ENDS
Notes
[1]The laser project is called Orion by the MoD: Is AWPC the Scorpion?
Orion was a mighty hero of Roman mythology, who boasted of his mighty deeds to anyone who cared to listen -and even to those who did not. Finally, Jove responded by sending a scorpion to kill him. As bold and as boastful as he was, he was no match for the sting of the tiny scorpion.
Orion, the mighty hunter, was killed. After his death, he and the scorpion were transferred into the night sky, where Scorpio is in eternal pursuit of Orion. [AWPC's commitment to nonviolence is not compromised by this analogy since the scorpion was performing an instinctive response to a threat. AWPC's instinctive response is nonviolent.]
[2] The CTBT, which the UK has signed and ratified, is not yet in force.
[3] http://www.publicinterestlawyers.co.uk/
[3] See, for example,
http://www.awe.co.uk/main_site/scientific_and_technical/featured_areas/hydrodynamics_contents/hrf/index.html
[5] A statement was promised "in the next parliament" in the December 2003 Defence White Paper.
[6] AWE ml's contract to run the site was extended to 25 years in January 2003. The contract is reportedly worth £5.3 billion.
posted by Ippy
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8.2.04
New camp at "dingly dell"/"windy pine"/"sit-a-dell"
Having a large housing development begin in our field opposite our long-standing (if seriously reduced in size over recent years) camp at Falcongate, we have temporarily moved round the corner to a new camp on the A340 next to construction gate (AKA 340 gate).
It is in a bit of a dip, but not so close to the road as Falcongate, lots of nice camping space, woodland, etc - and very close to the business end of the base (that's plutonium milling, not pushing papers!).
It is not ideal for anyone with serious mobility problems or non-adventurous weelchair users (unless you are up for a bit of off-road rallying!). But mya do us as a temporary abode. Come and visit!
Camp yesterday was cold (not the best advertisement!)
posted by Ippy
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