Aldermaston Big Blockade.

Trident Ploughshares actions are generally inspiring and invigorating occasions.  The blockade on Monday 27th October of the Atomic Weapons Establishment(AWE) at Aldermaston was no different.  One never fails to be impressed by the ingenuity, the bravery, the good humoured determination, and the sheer bloody decency of TP activists.

Between 2 and 3 hundred of us descended on the nuke factory at the crack of dawn, intent on obstructing it’s ongoing operations.  Being non-arrestables at this event, our roles were to assist, make diversions for, and generally support those who were locked or glued together to cause maximum disruption, risking imprisonment and discomfort.

There are seven gates at AWE, and all of them were targetted.  It is our understanding that all of them were effectively blockaded at various times throughout the morning.  It took 4 hours alone to remove 3 intrepid ladies from a block of concrete at Home Office gate.  Tadley Gate was effectively closed due to weight of bodies for a number of hours.  A solitary girl on a tripod created hours of trouble.  Large numbers of people continually made a nuisance of themselves by wandering out on to the road, only to be dragged off again by Police. 

While no single action will achieve the goal of nuclear disarmament, this blockade can still be considered a great success in many ways.  The stated aim of causing disruption was certainly achieved, as was evidenced by the long lines of traffic all around the base.  The action generated some satisfying and positive media coverage highlighting the scale and determination of the opposition to these immoral weapons of mass destruction.  Diplomats and NGO’s attending a UN meeting were informed of our actions.  And despite the Police being apparently reluctant to arrest people, there were still 33 arrests, some of which may lead to opportunities to make the case against Trident in a court of law.  Other notable pluses include the making and remaking of friendships and contacts, the terrific food, and a huge boost in ones faith in mankind.

On the back page of the blockade’s Briefing Pack, it says “We’ve turned the tide against Trident in Scotland.  Now it’s England’s turn.“   If this action was a statement of intent, then it was a beautiful success.  Look out, England!  The good, good people of TP are a-comin’…..

More photos to follow, some day    Here are some links to other reports, pics, and film of the blockade - 
 
http://www.newburytoday.co.uk/News/Article.aspx?articleID=8293
Newbury Today (Excellent Article – 16 pics, and a GREAT video)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/berkshire/7692498.stm
“A spokeswoman for Thames Valley Police said the protest, which started at 0600 BST, had been peaceful with no violent incidents.”

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/oct/28/anti-nuclear-aldermaston-protest-disarmament
 
http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/community-news/15727/peace-campaigner-halts-work-at-nuclear-bomb-factory
(Pat Sanchez – outstanding article)

http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/s/2038165_protesters_stick_it_out_at_awe_factory
(Great article)
  
http://www.climateark.org/shared/reader/welcome.aspx?linkid=109198
(links to some interesting articles)
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2008/10/28/33-arrested-in-protest-at-nuclear-site-115875-20846583/

http://picasaweb.google.com/NuclearDisarm/Aldermaston#
Photographs
http://blockawe.blogspot.com/
pics
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/10/411702.html