Press Releases & Updates 2002

In February this year HMS Vanguard, the first of four Trident submarines, arrived in Devonport for its scheduled refit. It is expected that refitting the four submarines will take a total of eight years. This poses appalling hazards from radioactive emissions and horrifying danger from an accident or a terrorist attack to everybody who lives within at least a 30 mile radius of Plymouth, adding to the existing grave risk posed by the 12 nuclear powered submarines already sited at Devonport. And all in the middle of a major and densely populated city.

Trident Ploughshares was established in 1998 to challenge the UK’s illegal and immoral possession and threatened use of nuclear weapons. Trident Ploughshares activists pledge to dismantle the UK’s nuclear arsenal in a peaceful, non-violent, open and accountable manner. So far in the campaign there have been 1,790 arrests, 366 trials, 1,675 days spent in prison and £49,945 of fines and compensation orders.

Programme Of Events

Friday - familiarisation/tours/local leafleting

Saturday - leafleting/stalls/banner walk/street theatre in Plymouth centre - 10am-1pm gathering/picnic in peace garden 1pm - 2pm

Sunday - multi-faith service at HMS Drake - 2:30-3pm followed by candlelit vigil

Monday - blockade at 6:30am at Camels Head gate

Tuesday - take down camp

Individual affinity group actions and non-violence training will take place throughout the camp.

Britains four Trident nuclear submarines are normally berthed at Faslane, Scotland. Their deadly arsenal is over 1,000 times more powerful (1) than the Hiroshima bomb which killed at least 200,000 people in 1945. We invite anyone who is happy to abide by our non-violence guidelines to join us as responsible global citizens in condemning this nuclear madness and celebrating life and hope. Activists from many countries will be joining this international disarmament camp.

Peace activist Matt Bury said "It is the duty of all citizens to prevent crimes against humanity, even if it means contradicting orders."

Come and uphold international law and take the next step towards a more peaceful world...

(1) Hansard 28 July 1998, George Robertson, former British "Defence Minister", now NATO Secretary General.

Printer friendly version

Home | Top