Define your own message

It is a key feature of Action AWE that no one person or group owns the campaign and each group should take the opportunity to make the links between their own mandate and the Trident issue - on the understanding that the deployment and threat to use nuclear weapons undermines their vision of a better society.

Past protests at AWE have had a great diversity in the concerns and issues that people highlight as they sit down at the gates. Today more than ever the massive financial cost of owning and developing new nuclear weapons whilst sacrificing of so many crucial services in the community in order to own those weapons is a shameful indictment of our politicians priorities. We can’t look after our elderly or sick, feed our hungry, educate our children, house ourselves properly or maintain critical infrastructure. We can’t keep children alive with clean drinking water………but we can slaughter millions anywhere in the world at the push of a button?

The most pervasive connection to Trident is the fact that state violence in the form of nuclear weapons is inextricably linked to the devaluing of humanity and the natural world that underlies so many of the ills we face, but there are many others, including:

• The link between a weapon the threat of which is used to protect our vital interests and the unequal economic structures which maintain worldwide poverty and exploitation.
• The tolerance of weapons of mass destruction as a brutalising influence in our social life.
• The waste of precious resources and human skills which could be used to relieve poverty in the UK.
• The suicidal carelessness behind our nuclear weapons policy as a key example and symbol of our inability to see beyond the end of our own noses.
• Trident as a refined expression of extreme tribalism - our interests above those of others at all costs - which fuels our racism and xenophobia.
• Trident’s role in legitimising violence, rape, torture and abuse.
• Trident as the core expression of how our economy and trading interests are intertwined with militarism and the weapons of war.

And so much more.

Your message can go out by:

Banners

Can add colour and tone to an action as well as words. Very portable and making them is a good teamwork exercise.

Placards

If black on white around A2 size can be very effective in getting your words into press photos and videos. Simple method is to paste printed words onto sheets of fluted polyproplene -there are firms who will print them for you.

Media work

Your introductory press release should carry an explanation of why it is important for your particular group to be taking part and everyone who is interviewed should be ready to give that message. If possible get this message into journals and periodicals which specialise in your area of concern.

Good timing

Aligning your blockading days with an event in your own field of interest.

Parliamentary work

Having a sympathetic MSP/MP ask a related question at the time or in the lead-up. Or better still have them join with you in the blockade.

Arrest and Court

Those arrested can make an issue of their concerns at trial. This process can begin with the response to the arresting officer’s Have you anything to say? since what you say should be read out in court.