Contacts: Dr. Rebecca Johnson 07733 360955 /Brian Larkin 07768 312 676
Scotland’s First Minister Alex Salmond sent his best wishes for a successful event as 8 MSPs and one MEP have so far pledged to join hundreds of protesters on Monday in support of the Faslane 365 Big Blockade in opposition to Trident, Britain’s nuclear weapons based there. Among the messages of support received by the Campaign, Sandra White MSP (SNP) and Jill Evans MEP (Plaid Cymru) called on the Scots and Welsh respectively to join them in going to Faslane.
Sandra White MSP (SNP) said "I will be at the Big Blockade at Faslane on Monday 1st October and I encourage as many people as possible to come join in opposing Trident. I congratulate all those who have taken part in the Faslane365 campaign this past year. This is the most important event in the Scottish calendar this year because we can no longer afford both morally and financially to have these weapons of mass destruction on our shores".
Jill Evans MEP (Plaid Cymru Deputy President) speaking in her keynote address to the Plaid conference last Thursday, which was televised on BBC Wales said "It's too late to prevent the disaster in Iraq, and the plans for new nuclear weapons for Britain move ahead. But not unnoticed and not unimpeded. I invited all of you to come and take part in the big blockade at the Faslane nuclear submarine base where the Trident missiles are sited. I would invite you all again to join others from far and wide to protest against these Weapons of Mass Destruction and come and take part in the final day on October the 1st". Ms Evans was among the elected representatives arrested at the gates of the Faslane nuclear weapons base in January this year.
Alex Salmond’s office sent a letter on behalf of the First Minister to the Faslane 365 organizers conveying "his best wishes for a successful event" and affirming his full support for "responsible and peaceful protest against the replacement of Trident". The letter further stated that Mr. Salmond "shares" Faslane 365’s "objective of removing nuclear weapons from Scotland’s soil" and affirmed that "He is committed to doing whatever he can to persuade the UK government to alter its position on nuclear weapons." As a first step, on October 22, the Scottish Government will hold a Summit of key stakeholders to discuss Scotland’s future without nuclear weapons.
Angie Zelter of the Faslane365 Steering Group said, "We look forward to participating in the National Conversation organised by the Scottish Government about our common goal of ridding Scotland – and the world – of nuclear weapons. In inviting Faslane 365, the Government is clearly recognizing the important role played by people power in mobilizing resistance to the illegal deployment of these nuclear weapons, including the transporting of nuclear warheads on public roads."
Hundreds of peace activists will risk arrest on October 1st when over a thousand people are expected to join the "Big Blockade" of Faslane to highlight the illegality, insecurity and waste of resources inherent in the deployment and renewal of Trident. Throughout the day there will be colourful, creative and dramatic actions at the gates, including many different kinds of lock-ons and sit-downs.
For the earlier Press Advisory on the Big Blockade, a summary of the political context of the campaign, and other background information on the yearlong blockade see the full Press Briefing Pack here on the website.
Contacts: Dr. Rebecca Johnson 07733 360955 /Brian Larkin 07768 312 676