Monday November 27th 2006 - World’s largest weapons
inspection as Blair pushes for new N-Bomb

Hundreds of people from across Britain are this
morning marching on the Atomic Weapons Establishment
at Aldermaston in Berkshire. They are converging in
large groups from all directions - by bus, train,
bicycle and on foot - determined to carry out the
world’s largest ever inspection of a nuclear weapons
factory. A big police presence of several hundred
officers is protecting the site.

Hans Blix will tonight make a scathing speech
condemning Tony Blair for pressing ahead for a renewal
of the Trident nuclear weapons system. The move comes
as Tony Blair prepares to publish a White Paper
advocating the policy, at a reputed cost of tens of
billions. The Prime Minister is known to support a new
N-bomb and is determined to clear the way for its
development before he leaves office next year. Work is
already underway at Aldermaston to build the Orion
Laser – a vital component in building a new British
bomb – despite ministers’ claims that no decision on
Trident’s future has yet been taken.

Today’s mass weapons inspection, organised by
Greenpeace and Block the Builders, sees 400 people
from every corner of the country attempting to reach
the fence at Aldermaston to conduct citizens
inspections and document preparations at the site for
building a new nuclear bomb. The inspectors include
Bodyshop founder Anita Roddick and Norman Baker MP.
Teams are attempting to take pictures of the building
site, despite laws banning photography at the
facility.

Last week saw the release of a legal opinion by
eminent international lawyer Philippe Sands which
warned that Tony Blair will probably break the same
international treaties he says Iran and North Korea
must abide by, if he pushes ahead with his desire to
renew Trident. Bodyshop founder Anita Roddick intends
to present a summary of Professor Sands’ legal advice
to the authorities at Aldermaston today, warning them
they risk breaking the Nuclear Non-Proliferation
Treaty (NPT).

The mass inspection of Aldermaston began at 7am this
morning as people disembarked from trains and buses
and began walking along country lanes to the site in
Berkshire. They will later attempt to pin a summary of
the legal opinion to the fence at the nuclear
bomb-making facility. A bus that drove across Europe
to Iraq before the 2003 invasion is attempting to
circle the site.

Greenpeace disarmament campaigner Louise Edge said:
“While Tony Blair rattles his sabre and waves
international treaties at foreigners, he’s agitating
for Britain to break those same treaties. That’s why
hundreds of people from across Britain have come here
to inspect our country’s bomb making factory and
highlight Tony Blair’s hypocrisy. Our Prime Minister
is threatening to wreck the global framework that
remains our best hope of stopping nuclear weapons
spreading across the planet.”

She continued: “Work to build a new nuclear bomb must
halt until the country has had the promised debate.
The real threat to Britain isn’t nuclear attack, it’s
climate change. Blair’s successor could make Britain a
low carbon country with the tens of billions it would
cost to build a new atomic weapons system. If New
Labour wants to renew itself, like it says it does,
then dropping Trident renewal should be the first
thing a new leader does.”

Greenpeace was founded 35 years ago when campaigners
sailed a boat into a nuclear test site off Alaska in
an effort to stop President Nixon exploding nuclear
weapons in the atmosphere.

Bodyshop founder Anita Roddick, attempting to reach
the Aldermaston fence this morning, said: “Sixty years
ago we invented a way to extinguish life on Earth at
the touch of a button, which was one of the less
impressive things human beings ever did. Now Tony
Blair has the chance to leave an historic legacy to
the world by making Britain the first UN Security
Council member to say we no longer want or need these
monstrous weapons. If he doesn’t he’ll break
international treaties and send an invitation to every
nation on Earth to join the nuclear club.”
Sian Jones of Block the Builders said: “To continue
pouring money into building new nuclear weapons
facilities makes a mockery of the promised debate.
Actions speak louder than words. If the government
genuinely wants a debate then construction work at
Aldermaston must stop today. Block the Builders will
return to AWE Aldermaston on 11 December to verify
whether construction work has ceased, and if not we
will attempt to halt construction work through
positive non-violent direct action. The battle for
hearts and minds is won. Most people would rather
money for Trident replacement is spent on real
security needs like health and housing. We’re inviting
all those people to put their bodies where their
hearts are and come join us.”

Download the Sands legal advice and media briefing
documents at www.greenpeace.org.uk
www.blockthebuilder s.org.uk