Invitation to join the second Power of the Word Block on June 5th 2007

Following the successful Power of the Word Blockade at the Faslane nuclear submarine base on December 6, 2006, we will be returning to Faslane on June 5, 2007 with what we hope will be an even larger group of poets, authors, journalists, performers and musicians. Please join us in the necessary civil resistance that will give power and strength to the new Scottish Parliament to refuse Trident.

Despite the government’s attempts to rush through votes on Trident renewal, Scottish rejection will make it necessary for Westminster MPs to rethink security and take the first steps towards eliminating nuclear weapons by getting rid of Trident.

Faslane is the home base of Trident, the UK’s weapons of mass destruction. This base, on the beautiful Gare Loch, 30 miles North-west of Glasgow, is central to Tony Blair’s plans to build a further fleet of nuclear submarines to carry UK nuclear weapons beyond the year 2050. Faslane 365 has facilitated the process whereby groups and organisations have conducted continuous peaceful blockades of Faslane since October 1, 2006, and we need to keep intensifying this pressure.

We have already won all the rational and security arguments against renewing Trident, but writing letters and marching through London won’t be enough. Because of the opposition to nuclear weapons in Scotland, Faslane is the weakest link. We can prevent the next generation of Trident, but only if we undertake the kind of massive civil resistance we did in the 1980s and directly disrupt the nuclear bases.

Since October, nonviolent protests at Faslane have included musicians and writers, academics, students, doctors and nurses, members of various parliaments... and people from all walks of life – up to 100 a day from all over Scotland, Wales, and England, as well as other countries. For more information, see the enclosed leaflet from Faslane 365, and the article from Adrian Mitchell, which is taken from the February 2007 issue of Red Pepper (website www.redpepper.org), containing articles from various writers and artists who took part in the first Power of the Word Blockade.

If you are willing to take part please fill in and return the attached response form so we can arrange accommodation, food and training for those taking part.

Invitation signed by :- David Ferrard (musician), A.L.Kennedy (writer), Roger Lloyd Pack (actor), Adrian Mitchell (poet and playwright), Vanessa Redgrave (actor), Leon Rosselson (songwriter), and Hilary Wainwright (editor).

Please fill in this form to indicate support and requirements

I want to take part in the Power of the Word Block YES NO

I’m willing and able to be at Faslane on June 5th from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
YES NO

I would like to take part in the Power of the Word Block but can only be at Faslane during the period [please indicate times]

I am willing to consider blockading and can risk arrest YES NO

I am willing to support and join in some kind of Speak Out/Performance event at Faslane before and during the blockading but cannot risk arrest YES NO

Any ideas for your own offering can be suggested here:-

I cannot come to Faslane on June 5, but would like to support in other ways [please give suggestions or ideas]

I would like to help publicise and mobilise for the Power of the Word at Faslane or otherwise help mobilise opposition to Trident YES NO

I would like to take part in a nonviolent direct action training as part of my personal preparation on the evening of 4th June in Glasgow YES NO

I would like to have accommodation arranged for me for the evening of 4th July YES NO

Your Name:-

Your email:-

Tel/mobile:-

Indicate what you want to be known as for this event (writer, poet, performer, actor, editor, actor, journalist or whatever) :-

We need your ideas as well as your participation, so please indicate any other questions, comments or suggestions and return to poweroftheword@faslane365.org