Messages of support for Burghfield Lockdown

‘In 1968 the UK signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and in 2010 the British government confirmed its commitment to “make special efforts to establish the necessary framework to achieve and maintain a world without nuclear weapons.” And yet we still have Trident and the government has pledged to rebuild a new generation of British nuclear weapons at enormous cost and at a time when social services budgets including those for health and education are being drastically cut.
Having nuclear weapons doesn’t make us safer, it just brings the possibility of nuclear conflict ever closer. We need to protect this planet not put it at even more risk of destruction. We all have a voice so please use yours and join me in supporting ACTION AWE.’

John Hurt

Bishop Thomas McMahon, former RC Bishop of Brentwood

“You are a voice– endeavouring to remind the world and our country in particular of the madness and immorality of weapons of mass destruction.
What kind of madness is it when practically all major nuclear weapon states are refusing to negotiate the abolition of nuclear weapons? In the face of such madness we have to keep telling people that the use of weapons of mass destruction would be a crime against God, humanity and creation.
When we think of our own country how can we tell Iran & N. Korea to stop developing their own weapons of mass destruction when we are about to renew our own?
In my view it is obscene to contemplate spending £100bn on replacing Trident when there are so many other pressing needs.
In the areas where we live we must make sure that this issue is high on the agenda as lobbying takes place for the General Election.
We must continue to be that strong prophetic voice confronting the present madness.
I end with a quote from St Hilary of Poitiers (and this was early 4th Century). He said “where caution is everywhere, courage is nowhere to be found”. Our ancestors were not so quiescent. We will die of prudence yet, you will see”.

Bishop Paul Bayes, Anglican Bishop of Liverpool

“Christians are called to speak clearly, calmly and powerfully for peace. From time to time we are also called to stand up for peace, or to sit down for it. The replacement of Trident is a matter for national discussion and decision. It should not simply be assumed, and any preparations for it before a decision has been taken in Parliament should not go unnoticed. So I shall be praying for you and I regret that I cannot be with you. May God bless you, in the name of Jesus who is Prince of Peace.”
+Paul Liverpool

Hi, friends,

“The Pacific Life Community is having an anti-nuclear protest and civil
resistance action at Lockheed Martin in California on Monday, March 2,
to call for an immediate end to the Trident nuclear weapon system which
Lockheed Martin researches, manufactures, maintains and operates for the
U.S. Navy.
With you in solidarity across the miles,”
Felice
P.S. Looking forward to Burghfield Lockdown reports and photos to post
on the Nuclear Resister blog!

Bishop Stephen Cottrell, Bishop of Chelmsford
“On the night that Christ was born the angels sung of peace on earth. We love singing that song at Christmas, but we rarely do much about it during the rest of the year. Thank you for singing that song today and doing what you can to slow down the traffic of war and hasten the day of peace where swords will become ploughshares and Trident missiles a thing of the past.”
+Stephen

“Spending £100 billion on replacing Trident is a catastrophic folly. I’m sure I am one of many who support the those, like Action-AWE, who campaign actively and imaginatively against it”

– Ken Loach

“I have received news from our colleagues of Pax Christi UK that they will be
joining a peace action at the AWE Burghfield factory next Monday. The
International Secretariat on behalf of the global movement would like to
endorse the action. I know that some other international organizations have
done that and we would like to be part as well. Please let me know if you
need some additional information from us.”

With my best wishes,

Jose.

José Henríquez
Secretary General
Pax Christi International Secretariat
21 Rue du Vieux Marché aux Grains
B-1000 Brussels,
Belgium

“I am confident that the witness on 2 March will make an impact on the slowly changing public
recognition that our nation does not need and cannot afford nuclear weapons.”

John Hull, Emeritus Professor of Religious Education at the University

Action AWE Front Page, here!

Burghfield Lockdown info, here!