Faslane protesters make a last stand (UK)

[struggle4progress]

Source: The Observer

Paul Kelbie
Sunday September 30, 2007

One of the longest demonstrations against Britain's nuclear arms policy comes to an end tomorrow, amid divided opinion over its success. Faslane 365 was intended to disrupt the nuclear submarine fleet by blockading the Faslane naval base, on the river Clyde, every day for a year. Thousands of protesters from the UK and abroad took it in turns to block the gates of the maximum-security defence establishment, in protest against the Trident missile programme.

A year on, the protest - which led to more than 950 arrests and a policing bill of almost £6m - ends with a final effort. More than 1,000 protesters are set to join the 'Big Blockade'. Members of the Scottish and European parliaments, musicians and artists, along with representatives of blue-collar trades and white-collar professionals, will gather outside the main gates in a bid to highlight the 'illegality, insecurity and waste of resources inherent in the deployment and renewal of Trident'.

'This will be a carnival of resistance to celebrate Faslane 365's achievements in highlighting and disrupting the illegal nuclear deployments over the year,' said Rebecca Johnson of the Faslane 365 steering group.



Read more: http://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,2180346,00.html

---

Year of protest at Faslane ends

... MSPs and European parliament members are expected at the blockade.

Scottish National Party MSP Sandra White said: "I congratulate all those who have taken part in the Faslane 365 campaign this past year ...

Scottish Green MSPs Robin Harper and Patrick Harvie said they would attend to show opposition to the replacement of Trident ...

"We should take a lead in fighting the wars of this century - the war against poverty, injustice and environmental destruction - not spend £25bn on weapons of mass destruction aimed at civilians."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/glasgow_and_west/7020833.stm