Nuclear weapons crime in the UK has been reported to Thames Valley Police.
The Reading Chronicle
PROTESTS began last week against the production of nuclear warheads in Aldermaston.
New group Action Atomic Weapons Eradication (AAWE) launched a three-year protest plan on Wednesday, bringing 70 people together in Reading Civic Centre to try and halt nuclear weapon production at the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE).
Speaker Dr Rebecca Johnson said: “We will keep up the pressure and put a public and political spotlight on the nuclear bomb factories at Aldermaston and Burghfield until at least the 2015 election.
“Action AWE’s aims are to scrap Trident and ensure that Britain joins other governments in multilateral negotiations to get a global treaty banning all nuclear weapons.”
The organisers spread the word throughout last week with banners hanging from The Oracle car park, stating “Ban Nuclear Weapons”, and they now plan for thousands of people to gather on Easter Monday, April 1 on the site for the first protest.
Helen Ledger, spokewoman for Action AWE, said: “The only places that nuclear weapons are aimed at, are the places that have them. There are only nine in the world, the other 180 countries are managing fine without them, why can’t we?”
Offering her support on the night, general secretary for Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND), Dr Kate Hudson, said: “We demand that Britain stops playing the fool with weapons of mass suffering.
“Trident can’t be used without causing a humanitarian disaster of global proportions, deploying it breaches international law, and in times of austerity we can all think of much better ways to spend a hundred billion pounds.”
Philippa Kent, spokeswoman for AWE, recognised the right for free protest, and added: “On site security as well as the Ministry of Defence Police will ensure that safety and security at AWE sites is not compromised.”
Thames Valley Police superintendent Robin Rickard said: “We have also liaised with the protest organisers and hope to develop a good understanding with them. We respect everyone’s right to protest in this way. However, should activity go beyond peaceful those breaking the law will be dealt with proportionately.
A Twitter account is running to inform people of the impact of protests on roads. Go to @westberksprotestinfo
Source: The Reading Chronicle
