Press Releases & Updates 2003

The anti-Trident campaign Trident Ploughshares is planning a five-day international disarmament camp in Plymouth. The camp will act as a focus for direct action against the refitting of the submarines in the Devonport dockyards.

Activists from throughout Europe will join the camp. At a similar camp last November two activists boarded HMS Vanguard and the base was subjected to a mass blockade. There will be unannounced actions throughout the coming camp and a blockade of the base on Monday 6th October.

Plymouth peace activist Claire Devereux said: “How can we justify invading and occupying Iraq just because we thought they had weapons of mass destruction, when the UK and US deploy and are actively developing these very same weapons? The hypocrisy of the British Government is overwhelming.”

Marcus Armstrong said: “The Trident refit poses appalling hazards from radioactive emissions and horrifying danger from an accident or a terrorist attack to every living being within at least a 30 mile radius of Plymouth. And all in the middle of a major and densely populated city, home to over 270,000 citizens.”

Trident Ploughshares (TP, est. 1998) challenges the UK’s illegal and immoral possession and threatened use of nuclear weapons. TP 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 over 2000 arrests, 300 trials, 1,970 days spent in prison and £59,917 of fines and compensation orders.

PROGRAMME OF EVENTS

Friday ­ familiarisation/tours/leafleting

Saturday ­ leafleting/stalls/events in Plymouth centre10am-1pm/gathering in peace garden 1-2pm

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

Monday ­ mass blockade at Devonport

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