Two sample press releases

Press release: 12th August 2013

Trident Ploughshares activists plan to hold a TWO WEEK DISARMAMENT CAMP at AWE Burghfield from 26th August 2013

Today it was announced that peaceful disarmers will be camping outside the UK’s nuclear weapons factory at

Burghfield. They are determined to disrupt the ‘business as usual’ work and aim to stop the uk’S war crimes plans

from being implemented. They are part of the 3 year Action AWE Campaign.

They will be setting up their camp around the perimeter fence and holding nonviolence workshops to encourage

people to engage in safe and responsible nuclear disarmament. They will be joined by their European antimilitarist

colleagues in the 2nd week.

The group are aware that taking part in the protests may lead to arrests but are well prepared. Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx, a

gardener and mother of two from Basingstoke, said: ‘We are excited and a bit nervous since most of us haven’t

done anything like this before but we are all so ashamed and alarmed at having this nuclear bomb factory on our

doorstep. The lies and cover-ups about the accidents, fires, and radiation leaks are very worrying but worst of all is

the immorality and hypocrisy of our own country planning mass murder while going to war with countries that are

planning to do the same thing. I felt it was about time I took part in the protests and did my bit to stop my country

breaking international humanitarian law. It’s good to feel part of something where so many people are determined

to take a stand for what’s right.’

The Action AWE (Atomic Weapons Eradication) campaign started in February this year and there have been

events and actions in the local towns as well as at AWE Burghfield and AWE Aldermaston..

Contacts:

Xxxx Xxxxxx:

07778

Xxxxxx Xxxxxx:

07876

See also: http://www.actionawe.org and http://www.tridentploughshares.org

Sample Press Release – During the Action

Press release: 26th August 2013, 11.30 a.m.

MASS ARRESTS AT AWE BURGHFIELD PEACE CAMP

Over fifty protesters were arrested and taken to police stations all over Berkshire this morning as the campaign

group Trident Ploughshares persisted in setting up their peace camp at the nuclear weapon assembly factory AWE

Burghfield.

The activists aim to disrup the ongoing work of the site which they regard as illegal under international

humanitarian law. As the arrests were proceeding more campers continued to arrive and set up tents.

Lawyers for the group are determined to get the protesters released as soon as possible as the right to peaceful

protest (however effective and embarrassing to the authorities) is guaranteed by the European Convention of

Human Rights.

Responding to the accusation from Defence Secretary ………….. that the AWE protesters were reckless and

irresponsible, Xxxxxx Xxxxx, one of the legal observers said: ‘That’s rather ironic, coming from a Ministry that

runs one of the world’s most deadly nuclear arsenals. Our presence here today has been peaceful, courteous and

responsible. Local residents from Newbury, Reading, Basingstoke and several villages in the area are very

conscious of the UK’s Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) since the bomb convoys regularly pass through our

district. I am glad to be a small supportive link in this amazing chain of people power’.

XXXX a nurse from Newbury said: ‘XXX has got it upside down. This is about being responsible, about caring

for the future of humanity and the planet’.

Trident Ploughshares have declared they will continue with their disarmament work - inside or outside the

county’s jails.

Action AWE has already led to numerous events and actions and is succeeding in highlighting the immoral and

illegal attempts by the UK Government to modernise and replace its Trident nuclear weapons system in

contravention of the Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Contacts:

At AWE: Xxxxx Xxxxxx 07778…. and Xxxx Xxxxx: 07876….

Photos and digital film footage from Xxxxxxx on 07987….

See also: http://www.actionawe.org

Checklist

A press Release should contain:

• Short Title

• Single sentence paragraph summarising the story

• Two short paras developing the story

• Quote

• Background note

• Contacts