Press Releases & Updates 2002

Petter Joelson from Sweden and Elisa Silvennoinen from Finland were arrested carrying out both a practical act of disarmament preventing normal operation of the base and a symbolic protest against Britain’s illegal nuclear policies.

Once again Trident Ploughshares activists have shown MOD security to be woefully inadequate at a time when the possibility of a terrorist attack is at its highest. At the time of writing Petter and Elisa are being interviewed by the MOD at Charles Cross police station and should be released later today. They will be available for interview at the main indoor camp venue. This is at the former MOD building opposite the army recruitment centre on Madden Road off Cumberland Road. (Through the big brown double gates to the right immediately as you turn into Madden Road). We invite anyone who is happy to abide by our non-violence guidelines to join the camp.

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.

Bishop Christopher Budd, the Catholic Bishop of Plymouth supports Trident Ploughshares and has prepared a message of support to be used at the multi-faith service on Sunday at HMS Drake.

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.

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