Press Releases & Updates 2002

During the camp activists swam onto and painted a Trident submarine, cut their way into the Coulport base, blockaded the gates of both bases and took part in a number of vigils and commemoration events. All of the 55 arrested have been released from custody, though many have either standard bail conditions or more oppressive ones, such as an injunction to stay at least 2 miles away from the base they were arrested at. Activists have acquired a growing familiarity with the inside of police cells in Clydebank, Dumbarton and Greenock.

The camp has had a strong international flavour with representatives from all over the UK, from Ireland, Italy, France, Belgium, Finland, Germany, Columbia, the US and Japan.

Ulla Roder, who is on remand in the controversial womens’ prison, HMP Cornton Vale, until 11th September for anti-Trident actions, and has followed the events at the camp through the media and by phone, yesterday expressed her delight at the way it had gone: "It’s great when you are banged up here to know that all this good work is going on!"

Camp first-timer Lance Goodey, from Glasgow said: "For me this has been the chance not just to act for peace but to be part of a peaceful community which, however imperfectly, is putting the ideals into action through mutual support and co-operation."

As well as the 11 disarmament actions that took place during the camp a great deal of planning was done for future actions, from smaller actions to be undertaken by affinity groups to bigger events, such as THE REALLY BIG BLOCKADE of Faslane on 22nd April next year.

Gillian Sloan, who spray-painted HMS Vigilant last week, said: "We are packing up the camp now but that is far from being the end of our active opposition to Trident. We may no longer be living directly alongside the base but each of us takes the spirit of opposition and resistance into our own communities where we continue the work of disarmament. The camp has given us inspiration and energy to go in the face of the very real threats of nuclear war being issued by our government."

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