Press Releases & Updates 2007
28th July 2007
8 Young people arrested campaigning for an anti-nuclear future.
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Eight young people from Wales, Germany and Belgium have been arrested this morning, blockading the gate at Faslane Nuclear Base in a protest against the renewal of the British Trident Nuclear weapons system. The blockade came amongst lively and colourful actions carried out by young people from many countries, from Wales and Germany to Japan and the US. The action takes the number of arrests during the Faslane 365 year long blockade of Faslane naval base to over 900.
The group decided to take action after having met at an ‘academy’ in Glasgow where they discussed the issue of Trident nuclear weapons in the context of Europe and the rest of the world. They decided that Trident Replacement, which the British Parliament voted for this spring, is not only a current British issue but will also affect and endanger the next generation across the world.
They made a human knot in the road at the North Gate entrance to the base and stuck their hands together with super glue to make it as difficult as possible for the police to remove them. They were supported by action from an international clown army, a simultaneous teddy blockade, dancing and music from Japanese students and the poignant speech of a Hibakusha (Hiroshima survivor).
The blockaders included five people from Wales (Pembrokeshire), Hannah Chester (15), Naomi Proszynska (15), Georgia Coles-Riley (16) Alexander Ferraro (19) and Craig Wilkinson (18). For some this is their second arrest as they have already been active in the Faslane365 campaign which has been running since October 2006. There were also two blockaders from Germany, Stefan Hittmeyer (21) and Tobias Bollinger (22) and one from Belgium, Andy Vermaut (30).
Naomi Proszynska from Wales said:
“Blockading at Faslane changed the way I look at things. The reason why young people are not active on these issues is not because they don’t care about them, it’s because they don’t know about them.”
The young people decided to take action to raise awareness among all young people that any nuclear weapons are a danger to everyone. They also planned an awareness-raising media campaign, a European Postcard competition on nuclear weapons and have been keeping a blog. This will be continued by five girls who will travel with Japanese Peace Boat to New York.
It is almost impossible for the youth of today to imagine a world without nuclear weapons, let alone a future.
The group also participated in the Trident Ploughshares Coulport Camp.
Last updated: 1st August 2007
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