13th February 2002, 2pm
8 week old baby and mother arrested at Faslane

This, the third of 3 days of non-violent direct action, saw around 100 activists descend upon the Trident nuclear submarine base at Faslane, Scotland, to peacefully oppose the British Governments nuclear insanity by blocking access to the base.

Nora Barnes and her 8 week old baby son Murray were arrested shortly before midday. Nora was charged with Breach of the Peace inside a police van by the gates and immediately released, as the Police had no facilities to take baby Murray into custody. Nora said, "I didn’t intend to get arrested today, but I just felt I had to do something as I stood there with Murray in my arms and thought of all the babies who would be murdered if Trident were ever used."

Faslane is the base for Britain’s four Trident submarines, whose deadly arsenal is over a thousand times more powerful (1) than the Hiroshima bomb, which killed at least 140,000 people in 1945.

By 2pm today there had been 29 further arrests bringing the total to 186 over three days including activists from 12 countries. A van load of senior Navy officials was stopped at the main gate when protestors locked themselves underneath and in front of it.

The Adomnan of Iona affinity group held a moving Ash Wednesday service at 10am in memory of all victims of war and terror. Following the service, protesters, including 2 in wheelchairs, burned small paper Trident submarines and used the ash to make crosses on their foreheads, before sitting in front of the main gate to prevent access to the base. Police appeared visibly moved by the events at the gate with people singing hymns and songs.

9 activists were due in court in Helensburgh today on various charges. One woman protester was acquitted after police failed to identify her.

--------------------

13th February 2002, 6pm
"We'll be back!" say Faslane Blockaders

The anti-Trident campaigners who took part in the blockade of Faslane naval base in Scotland which ended this afternoon vowed to continue the non-violent campaign, their conviction and determination increased.

Marcus Armstrong said, "While we achieved a lot of what we set out to do this week, by disrupting the operation of the base on every one of the three days, the most thrilling outcome has been the tremendous spirit that has been in evidence. People have been willing to come from all over Europe and risk their liberty, members of the Scottish Parliament have stood with us at the gates and Scottish clergy and Buddhists nuns have prayed alongside us. It has strengthened my hope that as a race we have the love and potential in our hearts to ensure that everyone’s basic needs are met, that conflict can be resolved without killing, and we can all work together in peace for the common good."

There were nearly 200 arrests at the blockades, mostly for breach of the peace, adding to the large number of protesters the local courts are already struggling to cope with. On the first of June the Scottish CND peace carnival "Love the Planet" will be held in George Square, Glasgow and Trident Ploughshares campaigners gather for their two-week disarmament camp at Coulport on 5th August.

One of the senior naval officers in the van that was stopped on Block'n'Roll Day 3 was Captain Tim Lawrence i.e. Princess Anne's husband.