Press Releases & Updates 2000

The blockade began simultaneously at the base’s two gates at 7 a.m. At the south gate activists set up a tripod made of scaffolding poles to which two climbers attached themselves. This is still in place.

At the north gate the beginning of the blockade was signaled by the arrival of the 30 walkers who have been on the road since June 26th from Aldermaston, where the Trident warheads are made. After a brief ceremony activists blocked the gateway by sitting down or locking on to each other. After warnings police moved in to remove, arrest and charge them. Leeds MP Harold Best and Scots writer A.L. Kennedy were present to give their support and encouragement.

Among those arrested were activists from Finland, Scotland, Germany, England, Wales, The Netherlands; Ulla Roder and Angie Zelter of the "Trident Three"; Ray Davis, a local councillor from Wales; Japanese monks and nuns from Milton Keynes.

A Trident Ploughshares spokesperson said:

"Again we have been encouraged to see so many people willing to confront this crime against humanity in such a peaceful but determined way. We feel that there is a significant shift away from complacency about Trident. There is more unease about it in official circles and more ordinary people are realising that they can do something about it. We are looking forward to continuing the good work over the next 14 days."

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