TRIDENT PLOUGHSHARES Block ‘n’ Roll Press Release:

Contacts: Blockade Information 0141 423 1222 (07967 819514)
David Mackenzie 07876 593016
TP website: www.gn.apc.org/tp2000/

Day 1 : Feb 11th
Faslane nuclear base is closed for over 3 hours
500 protestors, 113 arrests
Hundreds more expected Tuesday and Wednesday

Today, in what police are describing as a “good-natured demonstration” around 500 protestors peacefully and non-violently closed the Trident nuclear submarine base at Faslane, Scotland for over 3 hours. There were 113 arrests for minor public order offences at the calm protest. This is just the start of 3 days of non-violent direct action (February 11-13) to close down the base.

Faslane houses Britain’s four Trident submarines, whose deadly arsenal is over a thousand times more powerful (1) than the Hiroshima bomb which killed at least 140,000 people. During the morning everyone present was deeply moved by a minutes silence and a communion service led by church ministers and Scottish clergy held in remembrance of all victims of war and terror.

One protestor said “In view of the atrocities of September 11, in Afghanistan and elsewhere in the world, it is beyond belief that the British government is still planning the mass murder of innocent civilians on an even greater scale with nuclear weapons. What are the morals, if any, of a society who chooses weapons of mass destruction over care for the needy and is prepared to use them in callous self-interest?”

Among those arrested were Tommy Sheridan MSP (SSP), Lloyd Quinan MSP (SNP), Billy Wolfe (SNP) and the Reverends Richard Baxter, Ainslie Walton, John Webster, Colin Morton and Flora Munro together with other activists from around the world.

Police are rushing to empty their cells in anticipation of the next two days of protest. We invite anyone who is happy to abide by our non-violence guidelines to join us over the next two days in condemning this nuclear madness and celebrating life and hope.

A poll conducted by pollsters NFO System Three found that the majority of Scottish people supported the activists arrested at the February 2001 blockade. (2). Hundreds more activists are expected to blockade Faslane in the next two days of the 3 day Block n’Roll. This represents an unprecedented escalation in the peaceful disruption of a weapons system terrorising innocent people all over the world. ENDS

(1) Hansard 28 July 1998, George Robertson, former British “Defense” Minister, now NATO Secretary General.
(2) 4 March NFO System Three