A week on Friday a planning committee comprised of the ludicrously parochial will - most likely - rubber stamp a planning application for a new enriched uranium facility at AWE Aldermaston - Britain's nuclear bomb factory. The facility is called "Pegasus" (to go with Orion, Gemini and the other facilities they are busy building). The application is not subect to the normal environmental reporting regime as the project is "defence exempt".

Enriched uranium is a vital element in the construction of components for nuclear warheads. It is also used as fuel for nuclear submarine reactors. It doesn't really have any other purpose (heavy, deadly doorstop anyone?). Detailed background information on Pegaus from the Nuclear Information Service can be found here:  http://nuclearinfo.org/view/nuclear_sites/AWE_Aldermaston/a2038

Next time you hear someone in power banging on about Iran, try to remember what is going on a bit closer to home. The Iranian government may be complete shits with nuclear ambitions. The British government are simply shits already in posession of these weapons of mass destruction - and with ambitions for shiny new ones.

So, if you fancy having a moan about this particular manifestation of Britain's nuclear ambitions then feel free to drop the planning committee a line (especially if you have an RG postcode). Details of how to object to the Pegasus enriched uranium facility application can be found here:  http://aldermaston.net/campaigns/sting/alerts/333:

However - for our dear sisters at least - if you want to do something more fun in the armageddon stakes, why not come and join us next Sunday (9 January) for a women's training for action in preparation for the Trident Ploughshares blockade at AWE Aldermaston on 15 February.

The training session is organised by women from Aldermaston Women's Peace Cam(aign) and is open to women only. Should be a fun day that gets you in the mood for something naughty - and not just on 15 February, we want more women to play with on a regular basis. So, if you are feeling up for it, come on over to Reading this Sunday. Existing affinity or other groups welcome to join. Further details here:  http://aldermaston.net/events/297

Further details of 15 February 2010 blockade at AWE Aldermaston
 http://tridentploughshares.org/article1577

Detailed background information on the next generation of British nuclear weapons
 http://tridentreplacement.net