(NB more arrests occured after this was written)

12th February 2002, 2pm

Main Gate to Faslane nuclear base still closed
144 arrests over two days - more expected tomorrow

In an inspiring second day of peaceful protest at the Trident nuclear submarine base at Faslane, Scotland, activists yet again blockaded and closed the main gates from 6.30am.

Some were dressed as characters from The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party while others sealed themselves inside a giant Dragon marking the Chinese New Year. One protester climbed onto the main North gate and as we write is dismantling the razor wire and keeping the gate closed.

This, the second day of 3 days of non-violent direct action (February 11-13), saw around 150 activists descend on the base resulting in 30 more arrests bringing the total to 144 over two days.

Bruce Crawford MSP (SNP) was there, giving his support. Former Magistrate Paul Milling, 57, was arrested after he and three others locked themselves onto a model of a Trident Submarine. He said "Successive rulings by the international courts as well as recent decisions by Scottish courts mean no one should be prosecuted for taking part in these actions."

Five ministers were among the 114 protesters from around the world arrested yesterday, including Tommy Sheridan MSP (SSP), Lloyd Quinan MSP (SNP), Billy Wolfe (SNP).

Peace activist David Heller, 26, who was arrested today, said "Despite the existence of tens of thousands of nuclear weapons and more conventional arms than ever before in history there is no security or real peace in the world and we won't get it by threatening to murder innocent civilians."

We invite anyone who is happy to abide by our non-violence guidelines to join us tomorrow in condemning this nuclear madness and celebrating life and hope.

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12th February 2002, 9.30am

Peaceful protest continues at Faslane nuclear base
150 protestors, 7 arrests so far - more expected tomorrow

This morning, on the second day of 3 days of non-violent direct action (February 11-13) protestors have once again peacefully blockaded the Trident nuclear submarine base at Faslane, Scotland. Bruce Crawford MSP (SNP) took part. Both main gates have been closed since 8am and so far there have been 7 arrests for minor public order offences.

Faslane houses Britain's four Trident submarines, whose deadly arsenal is over a thousand times more powerful than the Hiroshima bomb which killed at least 140,000 people. Yesterday morning everyone present was deeply moved by a minutes silence and a communion service led by church ministers and Scottish clergy held in remembrance of all victims of war and terror.

Five ministers were among the 114 protestors from around the world arrested yesterday, which also included Tommy Sheridan MSP (SSP), Lloyd Quinan MSP (SNP), Billy Wolfe (SNP).

Protestor Andrew Gray, an archivist and Green Party general election candidate in 2001 is celebrating his 34th birthday today by getting arrested. He said "How could any sane person ever believe it is right to plan the murder of innocent civilians, and as US General and President Eisenhower correctly said 'Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired, signifies in a final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, from those who are cold and are not clothed.'"

We invite anyone who is happy to abide by our non-violence guidelines to join us tomorrow in condemning this nuclear madness and celebrating life and hope.

A poll conducted by pollsters NFO System Three found that the majority of Scottish people supported the activists arrested at the February 2001 blockade. Many more activists are expected to blockade Faslane tomorrow on the last day of the 3 day Block 'n' Roll. This represents an unprecedented escalation in the peaceful disruption of a weapons system terrorising innocent people all over the world.

The almost total news blackout of the actions of these brave people is weird. Like the pretence that we don't live in a nuclear-armed state. Like the pretence that we live in a democracy. Like the pretence that left wing or anarchist theologies are something to get het up about - while real sufferings and real actions can barely summon a reaction.

>>Coverage from Monday's blockading when over 110 people were arrested was almost non existant in the uk newspapers

>>The almost total news blackout of the actions of these brave people is weird


monday morning sky news it was one of the main items, interviewing one of the organisers, showing masked people drumming on plastic water barrels etc. Not, of course, that i was watching corporate news, er, my friend told me about it.

peace camp activist Ian slips through police lines, climbs main gate and occupies it for hours. 250 people, 30 arrests.

Day2 13thfeb'02.

7am protestors gather as workers begin to arrive, some cars get in early on. South gate opened at 9am. People locked on carnival style, with dragon costumes, pink flamingoes, pink bunnies etc. These extra materials numb the little round saws the police use to cut metal pipes, making the lock ons more effective by further delaying road access.

Around 10.30am Ian from faslane peace camp got through police lines during a moment of confusion and scaled the main gate onto a small platform covered in barbed wire. There he stayed for hours. Police had difficulty getting to him and started to build scaffolding beside the gate. Meanwhile no cars/trucks could get in or out. Ian tried to snap some of the wires he was wedged between with his boot, a tissue on his hand was soaked in blood. We tried to throw plasters up to him but were prevented by police. They were bringing in people with climbing gear to get up onto the scaffolding to get Ian down. As they approached he started to dance on the platform. Then when they finally got him down (around 3pm) he passively resisted, and police were not aggressive towards him.

Two of my daughters age 12 ( White Rabbit) and 14 ( Alice) and Myself ( The queen of hearts) along with some friends ( The mad hatter and the doormouse) were at the blockade day 2. The police were taken aback to see kids locked onto Flamingo's blocking the road, they arrested myself, the mad hatter, the doormouse and my older daughter who they later released. Although they were informed of my youngest daughters age, they thought she was 7 and it was eventually reported to the chief of Strathclyde police that she was 9. I was told later that he was not very happy about their presence at the blockade. What I find amazing is that if a 12 or 14 year old are caught at the wheel of a stolen car, burglaring a house, shoplifting or generally misbehaving the police wouldn't blink an eyelid. Apparently though kids are too thick to figure out that dropping bombs on people is wrong, especially weapons of mass destruction and are not allowed ( or not capable) of having an opinion about it.
From,
The Mad Hatters tea party.