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Hundreds gather for Aldermaston march send-off

JK | 09.04.2004 15:30

More than 1,000 people gathered in a sun-bathed central London this morning for the first stage of the London-Aldermaston march.
The colourful rally, held in Trafalgar Square, marked the beginning of the four-day march to the Atomic Weapons Establishment Aldermaston in Berkshire.

Speakers including Tony Benn, Jeremy Corbyn, Caroline Lucas and Bruce Kent, addressed the crowds, which included original 1958 marchers and a new generation of marchers - making the journey for the first time. Celebrities from the worlds of music, film and television - including Damon Albarn, Susannah York and Roger Lloyd Pack also participated in the event.

More than 500 have begun the march to Southall - where it will stop tonight, before moving on to Slough and then Reading. It will arrive at AWE Aldermaston on Monday 12 April, at around 1pm.

At Aldermaston marchers and protesters will surround the base to draw attention to the planned developments. Aldermaston is at the heart of the UK's nuclear weapons programme, and is where Britain's nuclear warheads have been produced since the 1950s.

In 1958, the very first London to Aldermaston march, over four days, saw the birth of CND and the introduction of the famous CND symbol. People are marching again in 2004 to call on the British government to stop the upgrade of the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) Aldermaston, and prevent any further and unlawful development of Britain's Weapons of Mass Destruction
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Setting off on the march, previous marcher Jasmine Lail (Nottingham) said “This march is not taking place in isolation, it is part of an international movement against war and nuclear weapons. The nuclear issue is one that people worldwide are concerned about", adding "The atmosphere this morning is great and the march is getting a really positive response from the people it is encountering on London's streets. It is great to be here".

Aldermaston2004 has been jointly organised by Aldermaston Women's Peace Camp(aign), CND, and Slough4Peace

-end-

JK
- Homepage: http://www.aldermaston2004.net

Comments

Hide the following 7 comments

How Many ?

09.04.2004 18:35

A thousand people ??? What a joke. At a time when concerns over war would have indicated thousands on the streets all that turned up was just over 900 !!

Did you lot ever get the mood of the country wrong. You were out of date in the 80's now your just a irritation to traffic.

Aldermaston worker


Some pics from the send off

09.04.2004 19:19

Aldermaston 2004 pic1
Aldermaston 2004 pic1

Aldermaston 2004 pic2
Aldermaston 2004 pic2

Aldermaston 2004 pic3
Aldermaston 2004 pic3

Here are some pics from the send-off...
Who cares about the comment of the AWE worker - good action, although more people would be nice. Shows again that Stop the War is more into anti-Bush, than looking at UK nuclear and military policy...

ask


It's the principle of the thing!

10.04.2004 00:38

It's not numbers that count - it's the dedication to the cause that is important.

Wouldn't expect a pro-military person to understand where they're coming from, though, would you?

Besides, there will be more walkers joining en route, as is the way of these things.

All Da Massed On


Numbers

10.04.2004 13:31

Of course it's about numbers you idiot. If we can only get 900-1000 people on the streets for this we will never be taken seriously. CND were predicting 50,000 !!! We are just looking like a bunch of fringe losers without more people out there.

For those of you who could't be bothered to get off your fat middle class arses you should be ashamed.

Sam


See you at Aldermaston, troll

10.04.2004 16:56

Dear Aldermaston Worker (as if you really are!), I bet you are too chickenshit to come debate the issues with me at Aldermaston over the weekend. I will be there, in Bluebell woods from this evening until at least Monday evening so roll on up. Of course you are too chickenshit because you are making weapons for chickenshit others whose only power is violence and who are too scared to carry out their obscene coertion face to face.

You will recognise me straight away - I'll be wearing a dhoti and turban (as I always do). Come debate with me - I have the courage.

Prajña
- Homepage: http://warcrimes.org.uk/


rally turnout

10.04.2004 20:54

Yes, the turnout for the rally was poor. I think that people who cared about the war in Iraq were focused on just that, and many of them are now demoralised anyway. It is not an irrational decision to give up doing anything against the war, if governments like Blair's show no concern for the wishes of the majority. I can understand that reaction though I disagee with it. And even those who still care, don't seem to think much about the basic issues of weapons, militarism and the state.

On top of that, it was in the easter holiday...

For an activist event a 1000 is not bad and it's important to still do this march, even if it's just several hundred.

rachel


ben okri poetry

10.04.2004 20:57

What was the Ben Okri poem that Roger LLoyd-Pack read? It was very powerful!

rachel