Peace protestors call for Trident to be scrapped

Bitter winds did not freeze the enthusiasm of peace protestors who gathered at the gates of the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) in Aldermaston.

Thousands turned out on Easter Monday to call on the Government to scrap the Trident nuclear weapons system and cancel its replacement.

‘Stop fooling with nuclear weapons’ was the slogan of the day and it was a colourful affair.

The protest launched the Scrap Trident Tour, with CND vice-president Bruce Kent campaigning countrywide throughout this month.

Among the masses waving it off on Monday were Green Party leader Natalie Bennett, MP Jeremy Corbyn and fashion designer Katharine Hamnett.

Protestors carried placards and banners, tied ribbons and other decorations to the AWE boundary fence and made music.

Peter Chan, co-ordinator of Reading Greenpeace and a member of Action AWE, said: “I was there and it was positive, happy and there was lots of good spirit. Numbers varied from gate to gate, but there were a few hundred people [at each]. I spoke to the policemen and they were also keen to keep it a friendly atmosphere.”

CND general secretary Kate Hudson said: “It is testament to the strength of opposition to Trident that so many have joined us here today… We have until 2016 when a parliamentary decision on Trident replacement is due to make clear to the Government that jobs, healthcare, transport, education and renewable energy mean more to the people of this country than a strategically redundant, economically untenable, indiscriminate weapons system.”

source : http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/s/2132059_peace_protestors_call_for_trident_to_be_scrapped