At Easter 1958 the recently formed Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) organised a march from London to the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment close to Aldermaston in Berkshire, England. On March 24 2008 CND marked the anniversary of this event by returning to the base. Protesters from around the country formed a four and half mile long human chain around the base, symbolically closing it.
A contingent from Nottingham and Leicester went along to participate in the protest. They joined protesters from the East of England at the "Boiler House" gate to express their opposition to the renewal of the Trident nuclear missile system and call for nuclear disarmament.
Audio: Nottingham, Leicester and Lougborough Join Aldermaston Blockade - an audio piece
Photos: Aldermaston Anniversary
Newswire: Nottingham, Leicester and Lougborough Join Aldermaston Blockade - an audio piece | 50th Anniversary of founding of CND - event in the Market Square | The Bomb Stops Here: Surround the Base | Notts Indymedia Anti-militarism Topic Page
Links: Aldermaston 2008 | Aldermaston Women's Peace camp | CND | Nottingham CND | Leicester Mercury Coverage: 1 | 2
Among those travelling from the East Midlands were several campaigners who had been at the base in 1958. Also making the trip was Alice Beer who, at 95, is Leicester CND's oldest campaigner. Another Leicester CND member dressed as Thomas Cook (in a frock coat and top hat). While most famous for setting up the travel agency of the same name, Cook was also apparently an active campaigner in his native Leicester. Clowns from Nottingham kept the crowds amused and - crucially as the snows blew in - warm.
Building on the success of the Aldermaston protest, Leicester CND (contact details here) will be hosting peace campaigner Bruce Kent on Tuesday April 15th at the Friends meeting House, 16 Queens Road, Leicester LE2 1WP. The meeting at 7pm is entitled, "The Way Forward for Peace."
London to Geneva anti-nuclear walk starts Chernobyl Day, Sat 26 April
28.03.2008 23:15
You are warmly invited to join Footprints for Peace on Saturday 26 April for the start of their three-month, 1500km International Peace Walk towards a Nuclear-Free Future, from London to Geneva through France.
The day has special significance as it marks the 22nd anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. The opening ceremony will take place at Battersea Park Peace Pagoda, London from 9.30am (nearest tube: Sloane Square; speakers to be confirmed). The walk will set off shortly after the informal one-hour ceremony.
All are warmly invited to attend to remember those who have lost their lives and those still suffering from the Chernobyl tragedy 22 years ago. We of course also remember all those affected by the nuclear industry; from Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the nuclear bomb test veterans to aboriginal communities affected by the uranium mining industries; from victims of ‘depleted’ uranium (DU) munitions used in Iraq and the Balkans to all the children who have contracted leukaemia from living close to nuclear power stations.
It is time to send out a loud and clear message that we will not allow our world and our future to be further blighted by a deadly radioactive legacy and the risk of nuclear war, supposedly in the name of fighting climate change, 'keeping the lights on' and national security.
Please join us for an hour, a day, a week or the entire walk!!
Please note: this is a drug and alcohol free walk.
Schedule for Day 1 - Chernobyl Day, Saturday 26th April 2008
9.30 - Opening ceremony marking Chernobyl Day
10.30am - Walk from Battersea Park south along Albert Bridge Rd
12.30 - Wandsworth along A3
1.30 - Lunch at Richmond Park: Kingston Gate entrance
2.30 - continue walking along London Rd A307 Kingston-upon-Thames
3.30 - A307 / Portsmouth Rd Thames Ditton
4.30 - Finish in Esher
If you plan to walk with us, please bring your own lunch and drinking water, rain gear or sun hat, any flags or banners you want to carry, lots of friends and good spirits!
Further details, flyers, itinerary, etc can be found here:
Blog archives from last year's very successful 86-day walk from Dublin to London here:
Footprints for Peace homepage:
For further details, including accommodation in London on Friday 25 April and thereafter, please contact the walk organisers:
Kerrie-Ann (K.A.) Garlick: 07881 425 531 or Marcus Atkinson: 07807 727 201
e-mail: ka [at] footprintsforpeace.net ; marcus [at] footprintsforpeace.net
dv
e-mail:
dv2012 [at] yahoo.co.uk
Homepage:
http://footprintsforpeace.tripod.com/index.htm