6 April 2004: for immediate use
This Easter will see an historic weekend of action to say no to a new generation of nuclear weapons being developed in the UK. In 1958, the very first London to Aldermaston march, over four days, saw the birth of CND and the introduction of the famous CND symbol. People are marching again in 2004 to call on the British government to stop the upgrade of the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) in Aldermaston, Berkshire, and prevent any further and unlawful development of Britain’s Weapons of Mass Destruction.
A rally in Trafalgar Square on Good Friday at 11am will mark the beginning of the four day march to Aldermaston. The march will stop in Southall, Slough and Reading. It will arrive at AWE Aldermaston on Monday the 12th April at 1pm, where protesters will surround the base to draw attention to the planned developments. Aldermaston is at the heart of the UK’s nuclear weapons programme, and is where Britain’s nuclear warheads have been produced since the 1950s.
Kate Hudson, chair of CND said:
“We are marching this weekend to say ‘no new nukes’ and no to Britain’s Weapons of Mass Destruction. Planned developments at the Atomic Weapons Establishment at Aldermaston to research and test the next generation of nuclear weapons highlight Britain’s nuclear hypocrisy. To comply with the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and follow the 13 agreed steps to nuclear disarmament the government must stop plans for research and development work on a new generation of nuclear weapons at the Aldermaston Atomic Weapons Establishment and make an unequivocal statement that it will not replace the Trident nuclear weapons system when its current service life runs out.”
Aldermaston Women’s Peace Camp said:
“This march marks the beginning of sustained and visible opposition to any plans this government may have to develop a new generation of nuclear warheads. AWPC wants to see a full and transparent public debate on the whole UK WMD issue. This is about making choices: about where we choose to spend taxpayer’s money; and with whom we choose to form strategic political alliances and for what purpose. We need to develop a society based on real definitions of security – jobs, housing, healthcare – and to de-legitimise violence rather than developing weapons of mass destruction.”
Tony Benn said:
“CND was the first campaign against Weapons of Mass Destruction and Britain should now get rid of its own nuclear weapons, close the American bases and develop a special relationship with the United Nations.”
Aldermaston2004 is being jointly organised by the Aldermaston Women’s Peace Camp(aign), CND, and Slough4Peace
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Notes to Editor:
1. For further information please contact Ruth Tanner CND’s Press & Communications Officer on 0207 7002350 or 07968 420859
2. Aldermaston2004 is being jointly organised by CND, https://www.cnduk.org, the Aldermaston Women’s Peace Camp(aign) 07969 739812, and Slough4Peace:
3. For interviews with people who were on the first march and who are marching again, or for young people who have been inspired to march for the first time please contact Ruth Tanner on 07968 420859
4. For further information on the first Aldermaston March in 1958 please contact Ruth Tanner on 07968 420859
5. For footage from the original Aldermaston March please contact John Sealey, Chairman of the BECTU history project on 020 7336 0046 or email at john@vipfilms.co.uk.
6. If you wish to use the pictures of the original Aldermaston March please could you add that they are courtesy of the BECTU History Project .
7. The Rally – Trafalgar Square – 9th April The rally will begin at 11am on Friday 9th April and leaves Trafalgar Square at 1pm where they will march to Hyde Park and the official marchers will begin the march to Aldermaston
For interviews with speakers at the rally Tony Benn, Bruce Kent, Roger Lloyd Pack, (Trigger in Only Fools and Horses & one of the original Aldermaston Marchers), Kate Hudson, Chair of CND, Jeremy Corbyn MP and Pat Arrowsmith (organiser of the original Aldermaston mach in 1958) please contact Ruth Tanner CND’s Press & Communications Officer on 0207 7002350 or 07968 420859
There will be opportunities to interview marchers and organisers along the route and take pictures. Please note, the following times are subject to change as they will depend on the speed of the march. If you want to check times on the day call Ruth Tanner on 07968 420859
Southall – 9th April
Estimated arrival time 18.30 (please note, subject to change)
Location: Southall Park – (A4020 Uxbridge Road side)
Interviews with marchers and organisers
Contact: – Ruth Tanner 07968 420859
Uxbridge – 10th April
Time – 12.30pm
Location – outside UxbridgeTube Station (main concourse entrance)
Interviews with marchers, organisers and Bruce Kent Vice President CND
Bruce Kent will be speaking at this lunch stop for marchers.
Contact: – Ruth Tanner 07968 420859
Slough – 10th April
Estimated arrival time: 5pm (please note, subject to change)
Location – Town Square, Slough High St (in front of Queensmere Shopping Centre)
Interviews with marchers and organisers
Contact: – Ruth Tanner 07968 420859
Reading – 11th April
Arrival time: 17.15 approx (subject to change)
Location – Broad St (outside Marks and Spencer, opposite entrance to Oracle Shopping Centre)
Interviews with marchers and organisers
Contact: – Ruth Tanner 07968 420859
Aldermaston – 12th April
Arrival time – 12pm
Location- the stage area at the main gate
Contact – Sian on 07887 802879
10. Supporters include: Stop the War Coalition, Green Party, TGWU, FBU, RMT, CWU, Japan Federation of A & H-Bomb Survivors, Quaker Peace and Social Witness, Muslim Association of Britain, Pax Christi, Fellowship of Reconciliation, Christian CND, Ex-Services CND, Labour CND, Peace News, Red Pepper, Campaign to Free Vanunu and for a Nuclear-Free Middle East, Movement for the Abolition of War, Abolition 2000, Action for UN Renewal, Trident Ploughshares, Theatre of War, Women in Black, Grandmothers for Peace, WILPF, Nuclear Free Local Authorities and Musicians Against Nuclear Arms. Action des Citoyens pour le Désarmement Nucléaire (ACDN) – Saintes, France, GhandiServe – Berlin, Germany, Grandmothers for Peace International, Nuclear Disarmament Party of Australia (NDP) – Pearce, Australia, Research Foundation for Science, Technology and Ecology – New Delhi, India,
11. Aldermaston plans
Planned development at AWE, the UK’s nuclear weapons factory, include new state of the art facilities which will enable research into new weapons, and avoid the need for underground testing, banned under the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty to which the UK is a signatory. The recruitment of over 80 new scientists is also in progress.
For further information on developments at Aldermaston please contact Ruth Tanner CND’s Press & Communications Officer on 0207 7002350 or 07968 420859