"Block the builders" is an explicitly nonviolent campaign initiated by Aldermaston Women's Peace Campaign (AWPC) and others, which aims to physically obstruct and attempt to prevent the building of the new Orion Laser facility, planned for 2005.

Prior to the launch more than 30 people, including Green MEP Caroline Lucas and Kate Hudson, Chair of CND, have already made their pledge to "block the builders".

Caroline Lucas said: "The proposed Orion Laser facility is an assault on local health and local democracy and threatens the fragile peace in our already destabilised world ... it also breaches the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. I will be pursuing all legal nonviolent means to 'block the builders'."

Meanwhile, in recent weeks over 90 local authorities have pressed the government for a public inquiry into the new developments at AWE, [1] a move which AWPC supports: "These developments should be subject to both public and parliamentary scrutiny ... but if the government won't let parliament or the public discuss what it is planning, then we will use all nonviolent methods at our disposal to stop this laser facility being built".

The proposed high-powered laser will be housed in massive building 100 metres long. If built, it would play an essential role in the testing of new nuclear weapons, endlessly replicating the conditions of a nuclear explosion.[2]

"The government have continuously denied any plans to build new nuclear weapons", said AWPC, "but - after Iraq - why should anyone believe anything they say about weapons of mass destruction?"

The government claim that the new developments enable the stewardship of the current Trident programme. [3] They have also said that a decision about a replacement for the current Trident system will be made in the next parliament, but - in a "pre-emptive strike" - will start building the
laser before any parliamentary decision is made.

Kate Hudson, Chair of CND said: "CND fully supports Block the Builders. It is crucial that the planned developments at the Atomic Weapons Establishment Aldermaston are stopped. The development of a new generation of UK nuclear weapons also risks provoking a new nuclear arms race and escalating the drive for other countries to develop their own WMD."

Plans for new weapons systems are already underway in the USA - and regular exchanges of staff between US and UK nuclear establishments, under the Mutual Defence Agreement - suggest that where the US leads, the UK follows.

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NOTES

Saturday 7 August, 11am
Press, photographers - and anyone wanting to support the launch - are invited to AWE Aldermaston, Main Gate, near Tadley, Berkshire for the launch of " block the builders"

[1] On 23 June, Thatcham Parish Council gave the go-ahead to the laser,
despite an earlier legal challenge and more than 500 objections. It was
within their powers to refer the matter for public inquiry.

[2] The laser is the first of a series of new developments which form part
of a £5.2 billion 25-year contract awarded to AWE ml by the government in
January 2003.

[3] Other elements in the Site Development Stratgy Plan (Published August
2002, updated October 2003) include proposals for a new hydrodynamics
facility, a supercomputer and other testing facilities.

[4] If developed - any new weapons system would violate the international
Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, and eventually lead to live testing - in
breach of the government obligations under the Comprehensive Test BanTreaty.