News index 2002	
December
30th 	Fylingdales Activists Charged
30th December 2002 
Fylingdales Activists Charged	

This afternoon at 1:30pm, Ulla Roder (48) a Danish Trident Ploughshares pledger currently living in the UK and Graham Kaynes (31) from the UK appeared at Scarborough Magistrates Court facing charges of criminal damage and going equipped to commit criminal damage. 
On the evening of Saturday 28 Dec shortly after 7pm the two activists entered the RAF Fylingdales Ballistic Missile Early Warning station in Yorkshire and were arrested while attempting to reach the satellite communication dome. The pair had cut through two fences and were cutting through the razor wire when arrested.
Graham was released on Sunday after accepting bail conditions not to go within 500 metres of any MOD property in England and Wales. Ulla did not accept these bail conditions and was held overnight on Sunday.
Both plead not guilty at court today. Graham was released on bail to appear at Scarborough Crown Court on 10th Feb 2003 for trial by jury. Ulla is being held on remand until 6th Jan 2003 when she will appear again before Scarborough Magistrates Court.
Ulla is being held on remand at:
HMP Low Newton
Brasside
Durham DH1 5AD.
Part of a statement issued yesterday by Ulla and Graham read:
"The upgrading of RAF Fylingdales will trigger a new arms race on earth and in space. The use of RAF Fylingdales, in combination with other bases such as the US Spy Base at Menwith Hill as part of the control and command network for the Trident nuclear Weapons system, we see as a threat to all humanity especially with an impending war on Iraq."
Ulla and Graham’s full statement is available on request.
	
29th	Security Breached Again At RAF Fylingdales
29th December 2002 
Security Breached Again At RAF Fylingdales	

Last evening shortly after 7pm two activists entered the RAF Fylingdales Ballistic Missile Early Warning station in Yorkshire and were arrested while attempting to reach the satellite communication dome. The two were Ulla Roder (48) a Danish Trident Ploughshares pledger currently living in the UK and Graham Kaynes (31) from the UK. They are currently being held at Scarborough Police Station. 
STATEMENT
We Ulla Roder, Trident Ploughshares pledger and Graham Kayes have undertaken this action at RAF Fylingdales today in the name of Disarmament. We are opposed to the military exploration of space and the US Missile Defence Program especially as key components of this are located at RAF Fylingdales in the UK without the consent of either the government or the people. These facilities cost British taxpayers money to uphold and finance and they also make the UK a target for the so-called rogue states. On top of this the electromagnetic waves that are received and transmitted can disrupt and interfere with the health of both wildlife and people in the area.
The upgrading of RAF Fylingdales will trigger a new arms race on earth and in space. The use of RAF Fylingdales, in combination with other bases such as the US Spy Base at Menwith Hill as part of the control and command network for the Trident nuclear Weapons system, we see as a threat to all humanity especially with an impending war on Iraq.
We also believe that the Missile Defence program is only the beginning of a much larger program for bringing nuclear power and weapons into space. These plans we believe will put the freedom and lives of millions of people at stake. It will give the USA power and control globally and it will widen the gap between the poor and rich in the world. This will cause more angry acts of terrorism world-wide and trigger attacks and more wars. We hope that our action will make the decision-makers think of other alternatives to killing innocent people in their greed for oil and other interests.
After many years of conventional protest and lobbying politicians, we cannot see any other way now than to prevent this system from being used by dismantling it ourselves in a non-violent, peaceful, open and accountable way. We have no other intentions and we have taken every precaution to prevent harm to any living beings though our direct action.
	
23rd	One More Trident Fine as Campaigners Review a Year in the Courts
23rd December 2002 
One More Trident Fine as Campaigners Review a Year in the Courts	

The last courtroom trial for this year of a Trident Ploughshares activist took place yesterday and campaigners have been taking stock of an intense year of activity in the courts, resulting from direct action against Britain’s nuclear weapons. 
In Helensburgh District Court Karen Fallon, from Faslane Peace Camp, was found guilty of malicious damage and fined £150 for cutting the perimeter fence at the Trident warhead store at Coulport during the Trident Ploughshares camp in August this year. Karen said that her action had not been malicious. That word better used to describe Trident. Reminding Justice of the Peace Nicolson that we were on the very brink of war she said would go on taking action against Trident.
During the year the cases of Trident Ploughshares activists have come up in no less than 23 separate courts across the UK. As expected, the courts nearest to the Clyde Trident bases at Faslane and Coulport, namely Helensburgh District and Dumbarton Sheriff, had the greatest traffic, with Trident Ploughshares cases on the agenda on 114 separate court days. Fines totaling £18000 have been imposed.
Jane Tallents commented:
"What Karen said yesterday about carrying on the struggle against Trident is absolutely typical of the response I see week after week as people are punished for taking considered and peaceful action to prevent the atrocity of nuclear war. The court experience, daunting though it can be, makes the commitment and determination even stronger.
These court statistics show the willingness of so many people to swim right against the Trident tide. With a terrible war about to happen a war that could easily go nuclear we need more and more people ready to step out of line and make it abundantly clear that the aggression is not in their name."
On April 22nd next year anti-Trident activists from all over Europe and beyond will gather at Faslane for the Really Big Blockade, aiming to close the base down completely for a day.
	
20th	HMS Vanguard Damaged in Devonport Accident
20th December 2002 
HMS Vanguard Damaged in Devonport Accident	

This morning the news has been breaking of an accident to Trident submarine HMS Vanguard in the Devonport dockyard in Plymouth, prompting fresh worries about the competence of the contractors, DML and the safety of the citizens of Plymouth. 
DML Management Ltd. say that part of a structure designed to lift the radioactive fuel plates from the ship’s reactor struck the casing of the submarine. They also claim that the incident caused "no risk to safety".
Trident Ploughshares comment:
"The first thing to note is that both the MOD and DML operate the iceberg principle in regard to breaches of safety. In other words when the first press release is issued nine tenths of the story will still be hidden from public view. It is therefore likely that there is much more to emerge. The claim that there was no risk to safety is absurd, given that very heavy machinery was obviously for some time out of the handlers’ control. If the casing had been removed to allow access to the reactor then it is possible that the machinery could have fallen on the reactor itself.
It is only last month that two Trident Ploughshares activists exposed the shoddy security at the base when they got on board (and inside) the submarine. Also in November there was a leak of radioactive water into the dock from the submarine.
A recent National Audit Office report revealed that the whole refit programme has fallen so far behind schedule that any further delay could threaten the ability of the Navy to maintain the Trident patrols at the current level. We hope that the pressure caused by delay will not lead to cutting corners with safety. We want these plates to be removed with the utmost care and Vanguard decommissioned - along with the other Trident submarines.
We find ourselves on the terrifying brink of a war in which Britain, judging by recent government statements, might use its nuclear weapons - weapons designed to destroy whole cities. We are calling on everyone who shares our horror at what is being planned in our names to come to the blockade of Faslane on April 22nd and close down the submarine base there."
	
8th	Warm Welcome for CND Legal Challenge over Iraq War
8th December 2002 
Warm Welcome for CND Legal Challenge over Iraq War	

In a statement issued today the Trident Ploughshares campaign has given a warm welcome to British CND’s legal challenge to the UK stance over war against Iraq. 
The case, in the High Court, will proceed against Tony Blair, Jack Straw and Geoff Hoon tomorrow. CND will argue that the government will be acting illegally if it uses armed force against Iraq without a fresh Security Council Resolution.
The Trident Ploughshares statement reads: "CND’s legal challenge is absolutely pertinent, given the hypocrisy of a government which is so ready to use international law when attacking regimes it does not like but which strenuously resists any effort to apply the law to its own behaviour and its own weapons of mass destruction. In our disarmament actions against Trident and in the court cases which inevitably follow we regularly highlight the straightforward and unanswerable case against Trident that it is an actively deployed indiscriminate weapon designed to kill and maim millions, which the government constantly threatens to use. We have had good success in persuading juries of this but so far the only judge to take the arguments on board with integrity and an open mind was Sheriff Margaret Gimblett who acquitted the Trident three in October 1999 after they had disarmed the Trident research barge Maytime. The Gimblett judgment was criticised by the three Scottish High Court judges who, in doing so, notoriously upheld the discredited claim that the UK state is above the law in matters of defence. All eyes are on these three judges tomorrow with the hope that they will show true independence and accept that no-one and no institution is above the law."
CND Press Release: 
CNDS HISTORIC CASE AGAINST BLAIR STARTS MONDAY
CND will on 9 December challenge the legality of the UK Government s decision to go to war against Iraq. The case, in the High Court, as judicial review will proceed against Tony Blair, Jack Straw and Geoff Hoon. The case will be argued by Rabinder Singh QC and Charlotte Kilroy of Matrix and Michael Fordham of Blackstone Chambers. It will be heard by a three judge Divisional Court[1]. The judges will be Lord Justices Simon Brown, Maurice Kay and Richards.
CND’s case is that the government will be acting illegally if it uses armed force against Iraq without a fresh Security Council Resolution. It argues also that the present resolutions, including UN Security Council Resolution 1441 (adopted on 8 November 2002) do not impliedly or explicitly contain an authorisation of the use of force. More detail of CNDs argument can be obtained from an opinion of Rabinder Singh QC and Charlotte Kilroy of 15th November 2002 which is available at http://www.cnduk.org.
This case is historic for a number of reasons: 

  because no individual or group has ever (successfully) challenged a decision of its own government to declare war or use force; 
  because lawyers have always assumed that the declaration of war was entirely a political decision beyond the control of the judiciary. However, in this case, CND will argue that as the UK Government have said they will be bound by international law, because they have got the law wrong means that this is a matter for judicial intervention; 3, because if CND are right, in the future matters of foreign and defence policy will, in some circumstances, be capable of being scrutinised by the courts. 
The case has already made history by a decision of the Divisional Court on 5 December 2002 that, even if CND lose, its liability to pay the Government s costs should be limited to £25,000. There has never been such a pre-emptive costs order made before in the UK.
Phil Shiner of Public Interest Lawyers said today: There is no doubt that we are right in saying that international law does not permit the government to go to war unless there is a fresh Security Council Resolution. Even then there are strict limits on the use of that force in accordance with principles of necessity and proportionality. The question today is whether CND will be barred from arguing their case simply because of the political context.
Carol Naughton, the Chair of CND said today: This war is illegal, immoral and illogical and this deals with the first of those questions. It is vitally important that the government should be made to comply with international law rather than undermine the Security Council by acting unilateral. If the UK is forced to await a fresh Security Council Resolution it gives all concerned the continuing opportunity to obey the law which requires that all peaceful means be used to resolve this dispute over Iraq s weapons.
	
4th	New Year Artists Fined at Helensburgh
4th December 2002 
New Year Artists Fined at Helensburgh	

Two Trident Ploughshares activists were today fined at Helensburgh District Court for unsolicited decoration of the perimeter fence at Faslane naval base late on New Year’s eve last year. 
Sue Brackenbury (26), from Ayrshire, and Roz Bullen (31), from Edinburgh each received £100 fines from Justice of the Peace Fraser Gillies for painting on the fence at the south gate of the nuclear weapons base peace messages reading "We want a peaceful New Year" and "Trident threatens our future".
Roz said: "That base is a scar on the landscape and it is vital to remind workers and passers-by what its hideous purpose is. At New Year, with the war in Afghanistan going on, we felt there was an urgent need to highlight the importance of justice as against retaliation. We knew then that Iraq would be next and we were aware that the threat to use our nuclear weapons would be part of it."
Earlier the case against Jean Oliver (41), from Biggar in Lanarkshire and Maire-Colette Wilkie, (60), from Edinburgh, for a breach of the peace at the blockade of the base last October, collapsed when the Procurator Fiscal accepted their not guilty pleas following vague testimony from the first police witness.

	

	
November
29th 	York Jury Finds Fylingdales Disarmers Guilty
29th November 2002 
York Jury Finds Fylingdales Disarmers Guilty	

Today a jury at York Crown Court found Trident Ploughshares activists Sylvia Boyes and Olivia Agate guilty of intent to cause criminal damage at the Fylingdales Ballistic Missile Early Warning Station in Yorkshire in March this year. The women have been asked to pay court costs of £1210 each. Justice Taylor said that in view of the relatively heavy costs he would impose no additional penalty. They have been given a two-year conditional discharge. 
When the Judge ordered the confiscation of their tools Sylvia asked that they be sent to Tools for Self-Reliance, an organisation that make tools available in the developing world. The Prosecutor undertook to pass on this request.
Sylvia said: "I don’t usually pay court costs but on this occasion, because the trial was fair, I feel that maybe I should, especially since no compensation will be going to the Ministry of Defence." Olivia said she would not be paying.
In a joint statement Olivia and Sylvia said: "In spite of this decision we continue to believe that this country and all the nuclear weapon states are breaking the law and international treaties by ongoing deployment of their nuclear weapons and Trident in particular. We will continue to campaign by nonviolent direct and indirect action."
The costs they have been ordered to pay brings the total amount of fines, compensation orders and court costs imposed on Trident Ploughshares activists since the campaign began in 1998 to £53990. There have been 1790 arrests and 380 trials. 1680 days have been spent in prison (not counting time in police cells) - most recently the sentence served by Michael Pettersson in Greenock Prison, from which he was released this morning. More direct action is planned, including the Really Big Blockade of Faslane on April 22nd.

29th	Nuclear Dockyard Puts Us In The Target Zone
29th November 2002 
News Report
Nuclear Dockyard Puts Us In The Target Zone
Report from Western Morning News	

The security of Devonport dockyard is in question after peace protesters boarded a nuclear submarine, and radioactive material escaped from that same vessel. 
Year after year, the Ministry of Defence has been shovelling out reassurances that Devonport nuclear dockyard is perfectly secure and that public safety is the highest priority. In every debate over the siting and refit of nuclear submarines in a city of 270,000 people, it has insisted that the people of Plymouth and the south-west peninsula benefit hugely.
We now know that the first claim is fanciful to say the least. Billions of pounds of public money prop up Devonport dockyard and yet it cannot even stop two young idealistic peace protesters from boarding and doing a "reccie" of its flagship nuclear submarine HMS Vanguard. As a colleague at the Western Morning News quipped: "Were the keys in the ignition as well?"
Most coverage of the incident has focused on the spectacular security lapse. It’s as well indeed that these two people, from the campaign group Trident Ploughshares, were of benign intent. I live within a mile of the dockyard, so it’s fair to say that had the intruders been terrorists I would now be pondering this issue from some other, more unworldly place.
But the security issue should not be allowed to detract from the burning issues surrounding the dockyard itself. If incompetence then becomes an excuse for directing yet more vast resources into the dockyard, we have missed the point. We slip into a trap that suits those who profit most from the dockyard - most particularly its American owners Haliburton - and those MPs who act as its apologists.
For as long as the nuclear dockyard exists in Plymouth it will be a threat not only to the local population but also to those in the wider environs. Its very presence makes it a terrorist target, and places this part of the world at the epicentre of the debate over nuclear weapons, British foreign policy, and Britain’s role in the world.
It’s a debate that locates us who live here right at the heart of wider concerns and conflicts.
This, after all, along with Faslane, is the home of Britain’s "nuclear deterrent", the most formidable weapon in the Navy’s arsenal. And that, inescapably, taps into political questions that touch not only on our lives but the lives of people in faraway places we are unlikely to see.
It’s a clich??, I know, but war is business, and the business of war has turned this small island into the second biggest arms exporter in the world, second only to the USA. In any attack on Iraq, you can be sure that Britain’s nuclear fleet will be at the forefront or on standby. In any attack on any other country, the same applies. That is not even a political observation. If they were not to perform that role, then why do they exist?
We are, then, accommodating - and many, including local Labour MPs David Jamieson and Linda Gilroy, welcoming as a blessing - a weapons facility that, if used, could make what happened to Hiroshima and Nagasaki seem minuscule. Its existence at a time when Britain and the USA seem locked in their determination to re-map the world according to a liberal-imperial vision, and have signalled their willingness for a first-strike nuclear attack, brings that awesome prospect ever closer.
I see this neither as a moral nor a legal issue, as has been postulated by so many protesters. How can we speak of something so individualistic as morality when we are considering the possibility of international carnage enacted by political will? How can we talk of legalities when the United Nations might legally rubber-stamp a war of conquest of Iraq at the bullying behest of George Bush? It is fundamentally political.
It is unlikely but not beyond the bounds of possibility that a nuclear weapon from a Trident submarine refitted at Devonport will be fired on Iraq or some other country. None of us has a crystal ball to the future, but it’s clear that in the international political climate that this government has helped to foment, the chances of a "deterrent" weapon becoming an offensive option in times of war is very real. The best analysis supports the theory that a war with Iraq - as devastating as that will be - will be but a staging post to further military endeavours.
Look ahead. Whether you agree with the thinking or not, does anyone seriously suppose that this will be the limit of imperial ambitions? On this score at least, the Bush administration has been open about its more expansive agenda. Our own Prime Minister, Tony Blair, has boasted of his belief that Britain should be a standard-bearer for that vision. They have seduced us, post-September 11, into believing that terrorism is the greatest threat to the world. It’s a threat indeed because no government, no matter how shrewd, diplomatic or resolved to pursuing principles of international justice, can legislate for or second guess a lightning strike from maniacs who marry a medieval religious vision with 21st century technology.
But by the same token they have created the conditions that give succour to, or inflame, that fanaticism. In George Bush’s case they have done so out of naked corporate self-interest at the expense of the rest of the world.
At a time when we fret and cannot escape dark visions about what may be about to come, the chickens are roosting at home. The local becomes global. The detail of what is happening on our doorsteps, or a village, a town or city’s journey away, those everyday issues to which we have become habituated, or absorb as mundane news as if into our bloodstream, can no longer be overlooked.
You’re safe, you’re secure, and you come first has been the mantra of Devonport Management Ltd, the Navy and the MoD. It’s good for jobs and business, even when the figures have been shown to be questionable to say the least; when the contrary argument suggests it is a drain on the economy and the dockyard might better be turned over to civilian purposes, and when the cost of the nuclear refit contract mushroomed threefold to around £650 million.
Many people will now be asking whether they can believe anything else that the MoD has to say. Many others might start to make the connections with so many other questions, and wonder what the hell there is to defend about this sinister nuclear complex on our doorsteps.
	
28th	Fylingdales Judge Allows "Lawful Excuse" Defence
28th November 2002 
Fylingdales Judge Allows "Lawful Excuse" Defence	

The Judge in the York Crown Court trial of two Trident Ploughshares activists has allowed the jury to consider a defence of "lawful excuse" in reaching their verdict. 
Sylvia Boyes, 57, from Keighley in Yorkshire and Olivia Agate, 64, from Skipton were apprehended by MOD police on 28th March this year as they reached the perimeter fence of the Fylingdales Ballistic Missile Early Warning Station in Yorkshire and are charged with intent to cause criminal damage.
On the fourth day of the trial Justice Taylor, as he began his summing up, indicated in a printed handout that the jury should consider whether the defendants had a reasonable belief that if they did not disable the radar station there would be an imminent danger greater than if they achieved their aim. They also should consider whether the women had intended or could have intended to damage the station and whether a "sober" person of "reasonable firmness" and of the same sex and age would have responded to the situation by trying to disable Trident in the same way. If the answer to all three questions was yes, then they should acquit. He also ruled that they could not consider the question of any criminality in Trident or Fylingdales as a potential lawful excuse.
Earlier, in concluding her testimony, Sylvia outlined the dangers of the current situation the failure of the nuclear weapon states to take any significant steps towards disarmament, the presence of nuclear weapons in areas of high tension such as Israel and India/Pakistan and the threatening remarks by the British Defence Minister at a Select Committee earlier this year.
Prosecutor Helen Gamble, in a brief summing up, told the jury there was a right to free speech but people’s beliefs did not give them the right to commit criminal acts. For Olivia Solicitor Advocate Nick Carter said that it was up to the Crown to prove that she had no lawful excuse for her intended action. Olivia had been open and honest with them and the jury could not be sure that she had no lawful excuse. In summing up her own case Sylvia said: "I wish Trident was on trial, but it is we who are. I could not live with myself and be silent."
It is expected that the jury will retire to consider their verdict at 11.15 tomorrow (Friday).
	
27th	Swedish Faslane Blockader Jailed
27th November 2002 
Swedish Faslane Blockader Jailed	

On the day the UN Inspectors began their weapons inspection in Iraq, Helensburgh District Court sent Swedish activist Michael Pettersson to jail for seven days after he refused on principle pay a fine he incurred for his part in a blockade of Faslane naval base, home to Britain’s weapons of mass destruction. 
Michael (21) a teacher who studied at Glasgow University and lives in Stockholm, was arrested at the Big Blockade of Faslane in February 2001. He said: "I have refused to pay the fine because I have not committed any crime and I want to stand by my right to protest against these weapons. I came all the way to Scotland today to show that I am accountable for my actions."
Justice of The Peace Fraser Gillies took the view that he had no option but to sentence Michael to seven days in Greenock prison. Michael’s sentence means that the total number of days spent in jail (not counting time in police cells) by Trident Ploughshares activists since the campaign began four years ago will reach 1682.
Trident Ploughshares comment: "JP Gillies said he had no option but to jail Michael. That is nonsense. Michael has shown the court respect by traveling at considerable expense from Stockholm. Remitting the fine is a legal option and the JP could have shown Michael some respect by doing so."
Two more activists were fined today by the same court for direct action at Faslane. Lyn Bliss (50), from Luton, who was fined yesterday, met the same result today when she appeared on two charges of blockading in February, one of which was dropped. She was fined £190. In a continuation of her trial for two sit-downs in February Sue Brackenbury (26) from Ayrshire was fined a total of £240. Jane Tallents said: "This court is now so entrenched in its prejudices that the quality of our legal arguments is largely irrelevant but we need to keep reminding them of what this is about a weapon system that is against all morality and law."
Letters of support for Michael can be sent to HMP Greenock, 85 Old Inverkip Road, Greenock, PA16 9AH. 01475 787801.
	
27th	"Early Warning Base Part of Trident System" Say Fylingdales Defendants
27th November 2002 
"Early Warning Base Part of Trident System" Say Fylingdales Defendants	

On the third day of the York Crown Court trial of two women accused of intent to cause damage at US Fylingdales Ballistic Missile Early Warning Station in Yorkshire, the defendants have been explaining to the jury their commitment to take action against Trident and their choice of Fylingdales as a target for disarmament. Sylvia Boyes, 57, from Keighley in Yorkshire and Olivia Agate, 64, from Skipton were apprehended by MOD police on 28th March this year as they reached the perimeter fence of the base. 
Following the conclusion of the Crown case Olivia took the stand. Questioned by Solicitor Advocate Nick Carter she told the court how she had been a long-term supporter of CND but her commitment had been sparked afresh by taking part in a blockade of Faslane naval base in February 2001. She then got to know Sylvia and then went through the process of a two-day workshop to become a Trident Ploughshares pledger. She pointed out all that Trident Ploughshares does to engage the government in dialogue.
She had been aware of Fylingdales but had not realised its relevance to Trident until she saw the US Almanac documentation which revealed that the site would play a part in relaying the order to fire to the nuclear missile submarines, as well as acting as an early warning system. The final spur to act was the speech of Defence Minister Geoff Hoon in March threatening to use Trident on Iraq. As a Trident Ploughshares activist she held herself accountable and that was why she had been open about her intentions when apprehended.
Cross-examining, Prosecutor Helen Gamble asked her why Fylingdales was not highlighted as Trident-related in the Trident Ploughshares Handbook and Olivia explained that the information was recent. The prosecutor put it to her that she had wanted to be arrested to give her the chance to air her views in court. Olivia denied this: the chance to air her views was secondary to the main aim of disarmament.
Then Sylvia, who is representing herself, gave her testimony. The film The War Game, about the aftermath of a nuclear attack, had a huge effect on her and gradually she had discovered the true nature of nuclear weapons and how they had already blighted the lives of many across the globe through mining, testing and accidents. She had engaged in conventional political lobbying but had come to realise that nonviolent direct action, in the tradition of the Suffragettes and the US Civil Rights movement, was essential to social change. Fylingdales was essential to Trident and she would not wait until the four-minute warning was given to do something about it.
Sylvia continues her evidence tomorrow. The trial is now thought likely to last until Friday.
	
26th	Faslane Protesters Make Sure Trident is in the Dock
26th November 2002 
Faslane Protesters Make Sure Trident is in the Dock	

People on trial today for a breach of the peace at blockades of Faslane succeeded in making a powerful case against Britain’s nuclear arsenal in spite of a statement from the magistrate that the court’s task was to deal with public order offences, not the illegality of Trident. 
Lyn Bliss (48), a systems analyst from Luton, Katy Bothwell (20) and Shonagh Glen (21), both students at Edinburgh University, and Grace Nicol (34), a community outreach worker from Edinburgh were all found guilty and fined respectively, £100, £75, £75 and £150. Audrey Berger (20), a French national who is a student at Durham University, was found not guilty of a breach of the peace at the blockade of the base in February due to a discrepancy in the evidence about which gate she sat down at.
The confirmation of the gentle nature of the protest by the police witnesses was notable today, especially in the testimony of one officer in Katy’s trial who, without prompting from the Procurator Fiscal, said that the entire affair in February this year had been peaceful, that the atmosphere had not been hostile in any way and that the content of the placards and banners had not been directed against the police. When the Procurator Fiscal asked Shonagh about emergency vehicles being blocked by the sit-down she retorted that he knew very well that the Trident Ploughshares guidelines laid it down that the blockaders would move aside to let such vehicles past.
Grace reminded Justice of the Peace MacPhail that this was not a road protest but was about illegal weapons of mass destruction. All the accused had Trident at the heart of their case.
	
26th	Prosecution Claim "No Lawful Excuse" in Fylingdales Trial
26th November 2002 
Prosecution Claim "No Lawful Excuse" in Fylingdales Trial	

As the prosecution began its case today in the York Crown Court trial of two women accused of intent to cause damage at US Fylingdales Ballistic Missile Early Warning Station in Yorkshire, it claimed that the defendants had no lawful excuse for their intended actions. 
Sylvia Boyes, 57, from Keighley in Yorkshire and Olivia Agate, 64, from Skipton are charged with intent to cause criminal damage after being apprehended by MOD police on 28th March this year as they reached the perimeter fence of the base.
Prosecutor Helen Gamble said that no excuse existed since no crime was being committed at Fylingdales. All the major facts and the womens’ intentions had been admitted. There was no defence.
The second Crown witness, Sergeant Carr of the Ministry of Defence Police, duty station officer on the night in question, told the court how Sylvia had told him that their intention had been to cut through the fence and damage the radar arrays. She showed him a pair of bolt-croppers, a hammer, a banner and a statement. He recalled that the statement referred to the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Earlier, as the jury was selected Justice Taylor was at pains to let potential jurors know that they should rule themselves out if they had a connection to the base or to the Trident system.
The prosecution case continues and the trial is expected to last at least until Thursday

25th	Direct Action Against Trident The Only Option
25th November 2002 
Direct Action Against Trident The Only Option	

Defending herself today in Helensburgh District Court on a Faslane blockade charge 27 year-old Heather Blakey expressed what is the deepening conviction amongst anti-Trident campaigners that peaceful direct action is the only thing that will bring about change. 
Heather, an administrative worker in Bradford University’s Department of Peace Studies, was one of the 170 arrested at the blockade of the Trident submarine base last October.
After the Crown witnesses had been heard Heather put it to Justice of the Peace Viv Dance that there was no case to answer there had been no evidence of the alarm or serious disturbance necessary for a conviction for breach of the peace. After Procurator Fiscal Simpson argued that the court could infer alarm or serious disturbance without direct evidence the JP rejected Heather’s submission and the case proceeded.
Giving evidence, Heather said that she had not wanted to be arrested but had acted as she did because the issue of Britain’s weapons of mass destruction was not up for discussion anywhere in conventional politics. For her, as a mother and a citizen there was no more important issue. When PF Simpson put it to her that she had been blockading people who had jobs to do inside the base she told the court that these were not just ordinary jobs, they were all part of the illegal Trident system.
Summing up, Heather made the point that people who did nothing about Britain’s nuclear weapons were not being politically neutral. In England, where she lived, all the major political parties supported the UK’s unlawful nuclear arsenal and so there was no way to bring the issue to debate other than by civil resistance. She was found guilty and fined £150.
Trident Ploughshares comment: "Although Heather gave a strong legal defence against the charge, which would have been effective in any court that applied the current law, the message she brought to the court was that whatever the criminal justice system does or does not do about peaceful resistance to Trident it must and will go on."
	
25th	Trial of Fylingdales disarmers begins
25th November 2002 
Trial of Fylingdales disarmers begins	

The trial of two Trident Ploughshares members charged with intent to cause criminal damage at the US Fylingdales Ballistic Missile Early Warning Station in Yorkshire began today in York Crown Court with legal arguments about what testimony should be admissible. 
Sylvia Boyes, 57, from Keighley in Yorkshire and Olivia Agate, 64, from Skipton, were apprehended by MOD police on 28th March this year as they reached the perimeter fence of the base. They aimed to disable the satellite communications radar and were carrying bolt-cutters, hammers and paint mixed with iron filings.
Justice Taylor ruled that the defence would not be allowed to call two expert witnesses, Professor Paul Rogers of Bradford University and Dave Webb, who has specialist knowledge of the communications station. The Crown also argued that the defendants should not be permitted to include in their testimony questions of international law or information about the part Fylingdales plays in the Trident system.
This was strongly resisted by Solicitor Advocate Nick Carter, on behalf of Olivia, and by Sylvia, representing herself. Sylvia told the judge that if he accepted the Crown argument she might as well come into the witness box with a gag on her mouth. She could not be telling the whole truth if she had to leave out facts that were essential to the reason and motivation for her actions. The jury should be allowed to make up its own mind on the basis of all the relevant facts. Justice Taylor accepted that the defendants had a right to give evidence as to their state of mind. If he felt as the trial proceeded that there should be restriction on particular testimony he would deal with that at the time.
The trial is likely to continue until Thursday.
	
19th	"We’ll Go On Sounding Trident Alarm" Say Locals
19th November 2002 
Devonport Disarmament Camp
"We’ll Go On Sounding Trident Alarm" Say Locals
Message from Bishop Christopher Budd	

Today, as Trident Ploughshares takes down its disarmament camp at Devonport, locals who organised the weekend’s events vowed to continue the campaign for as long as Trident is on their doorstep. 
Claire Devereaux, a local Trident Ploughshares pledger, said "It has been tremendous fun highlighting a very serious issue. Local people have been supported by peace campaigners from all over Europe. However, I am very angry at local MP David Jamieson suggesting that our campaign will take away peoples’ jobs. If the millions being spent on Trident each day was invested locally it would greatly ease the poverty in Plymouth and create many more opportunities for employment."
Jamieson’s comments were in strong contrast to the positive support the campaigners met locally, on the streets of Plymouth, at the blockade yesterday and from Catholic Bishop Christopher Budd, whose message of support for Trident Ploughshares is copied below.
In the immediate future the campaign will focus on supporting those arrested at the weekend during their forthcoming court processes. In addition to ongoing affinity group actions there will be another disarmament camp at Devonport in 2003.
Message to the Trident Ploughshares Inter-faith Service
from Catholic Bishop Christopher Budd
8th November 2002
Trident Ploughshares Peace Campaign
Unfortunately I will not be able to join you for this prayer service. However, I wish to express my solidarity with you in your endeavour to get nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction banned from our planet.
May I ask two sensitivities of you:- please always pursue your objectives with peaceful means; and in whatever you do please keep in mind you are touching people’s means of employment, a most important matter.
I pray that nuclear and other weapons will be eventually removed from our world and that people’s employment will cease to be dependent on the production and management of such weapons. May I be bold and finish with a quote from the Catechism of the Catholic Church. 
’Every act of war directed to the indiscriminate destruction of whole cities or vast areas with their inhabitants is a crime against God and man, which merits firm and unequivocal condemnation. A danger of modern warfare is that it provides the opportunity to those who posses modern scientific weapons - especially atomic, biological or chemical weapons - to commit such crimes.’
All good wishes,
Bishop Christopher Budd
	
18th	"WE WERE INSIDE TRIDENT SUB" SAY ACTIVISTS
18th November 2002 
Devonport Disarmament Camp
"WE WERE INSIDE TRIDENT SUB" SAY ACTIVISTS	

The Trident Ploughshares activists who were released on bail today after being arrested for boarding HMS Vanguard on Friday night, have now revealed that they got inside the Trident nuclear weapons submarine and spent 30 minutes exploring it unhindered. 
Petter Joelson (22) from Sweden and Elisa Silvennoinen (19) from Finland appeared at Plymouth magistrates court this morning charged with criminal damage to a fence valued at £250. The fence in question was not the perimeter fence of the Devonport Royal Naval base but a small fence protecting HMS Vanguard in its dock. They were released on bail not to enter the city of Plymouth, including Devonport, until a pre-trial hearing on December 16th.
Petter said "I can’t see the logic of a situation where Tony Blair is threatening Iraq with war if they don’t grant access to weapons inspectors, when at the same we were arrested for a peaceful inspection of Britain’s illegal weapons of mass destruction."
David McKenzie of Trident Ploughshares said "After Friday’s astonishing security lapse people have been calling for "heads to roll". Lets make it clear - we do not want anyone in the base to be sacked. What we want is for the British government to take responsibility for its criminal nuclear weapons policy and its total disregard for people’s safety."
This morning from 6:30am around 50 peace campaigners, including local supporters, blockaded Camel’s Head gate and Albert gate at Devonport Royal Navy dockyard, disrupting work at the base. Seven women were arrested and charged with "obstruction of the highway". Five of them locked together by their wrists inside plastic tubing. The seven were Shirley Law, Helen McFie, Ann Kobayashi, Debbie Mace, Maureen Ukairo, Myra Garrett and Lynn Bliss. This brings the total number of arrests so far at this camp to nine. All seven have been released today on bail for later hearings.
Ivor Birnie of Trident Ploughshares said "It was great to be at today’s peaceful protest at Albert gate. The arrests won’t deter us and as long as Trident is here we will be too. I just hope that the government listens to sense soon and gets rid of these useless nuclear weapons."

18th	Another Faslane Protester Jailed
18th November 2002 
Another Faslane Protester Jailed	

Today Helensburgh District Court sent another anti-Trident protester to jail after he refused to pay a fine the court had imposed for a blockade of Faslane naval base last October. 
George McNeilage, from Pollock in Glasgow, was given the £250 fine by the court in September. He told Justice of the Peace John Macphail that he still had no intention of paying the fine. The magistrate then said that he had no option but to impose a fourteen day prison sentence. George will serve the sentence in Greenock prison.
Letters of support (to arrive before Friday) can be sent to HMP Greenock, 85 Old Inverkip Road, Gateside, Greenock, PA16 9AH.
	
18th	Activists Board Trident Submarine Undetected
Activists Board Trident Submarine Undetected	

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Press Briefings:
4th Nov 2002 Get Down To Devonport - Block The Dock!!
12th Nov 2002 Bishop Backs Peace Campaign
15th Nov 2002 Peace Campaigners Gather In Plymouth
16th Nov 2002 PEACE CAMPAIGNERS BOARD TRIDENT NUCLEAR SUBMARINE UNDETECTED AND RING SHIPS BELL
17th Nov 2002 Activists Remain In Custody As Peace Campaigners Demonstrate Outside Police Station
18th Nov 2002 "WE WERE INSIDE TRIDENT SUB" SAY ACTIVISTS
19th Nov 2002 "We’ll Go On Sounding Trident Alarm" Say Locals
http://uk.indymedia.org/
18 Nov 2002: Petter’s Inspection of Trident Submarine

Elisa and I decided to inspect the facilities for weapons of mass destruction in the Devonport Dockyard.
On Friday evening at 9.30 we went from the Trident Ploughshares campsite to the Dockyard. After some time of walking through itching bushes outside the fence, we found a good spot to climb it. We put some thick plastic that we found on top of the sharp edges of the fence, and then managed to get over. It was a walk of about 300 metres to the Trident dock, and we passed a tennis court, some houses and docks for other ships. No guards or police were in sight and the few people, walking or in cars, that we passed didn’t seem to take any notice of us.
My mouth was dry and my legs soft like spaghetti when we reached the final fence, just outside "Vanguard". There it was, the submarine that can wipe out whole cities with a single strike. It was covered with construction works and white plastic and it was huge. We made a small door in the fence with boltcutters we had brought, and went on towards the submarine. There were still no guards visible so we went on-board.
At this stage we were not really sure about what to do. After we had been inside the submarine, and seen the holes on the outside were they fire the missiles, we decided to press an alarm button. The first alarm button we found didn’t work, so we went to the other side of the submarine and found two fire alarm buttons. We pressed the first one at 11.30pm according to the police, and we had probably been on and inside of the sub for 20 minutes. Nothing happened in a couple of minutes, so we pressed the other alarm too. Then lots of workers, maybe 10 to 20 came up from the lower parts of the submarine, just where we were standing.
We explained to them that we were from Trident Ploughshares and that the submarine is illegal, but they seemed to be more keen on having a break than to discuss legal matters with us! So they went to a nearby building. After another couple of minutes security staff turned up and showed us the way to the office just next to the sub. The walls in there were covered with electrical diagrams of the missile system and other things I didn’t understand. The staff offered us tea and coffee and we were chatting for a while until the police turned up and arrested us at 11.55.
No one saw us getting in, but the police confiscated out two pairs of boltcutters and "Nuclear Weapons for Beginners" - a guide written by "For Mother Earth" in Belgium, as evidence.

14 Nov 2002: The Devonport Peace Camp was established today when Pledgers began a squat in what was a part of the old Raglan Barracks at Raglan Road today Thursday 14th November 2002. A Trident Ploughshares banner was hung from the building, which some over enthusiastic police officers removed without permission from Trident Ploughshares activists who were occupying the building at the time. Following valiant representation by Maraget Jones banner was returned to us by said police.
Visitors to the camp are welcome, which is opposite the army recruitment centre on Cumberland Road - come along to the brown gates round the side.
17 Nov 2002: Following the successful action by Trident Ploughshares activists where two activists boarded a Trident submarine, the security at Devonport was stepped up. Helicopters were spying on the activities at the Raglan Road (Cumberland) Peace Camp with police following activists who were pleased that the security had been thoroughly wound up.
	
17th	Activists Remain In Custody As Peace Campaigners Demonstrate Outside Police Station
17th November 2002 
Devonport Disarmament Camp
Activists Remain In Custody As Peace Campaigners Demonstrate Outside Police Station	

Petter Joelson (Sweden) and Elisa Silvennoinen (Finland) who were arrested on HMS Vanguard in dock 9 of Devonport late on Friday evening remain in custody at Charles Cross police station. They refused to surrender their passports and accept bail conditions and will be appearing at Plymouth Magistrates’ court on Monday morning at 10am. 
This morning from around 11am Trident Ploughshares campaigners held a demonstration outside Charles Cross police station holding banners saying.. 
"TRIDENT IS THE REAL CRIME - ARREST IT"
Petter, who was allowed a call last night said "In the same week that the British government is hypocritically demanding inspections of Iraq without any proof that they have weapons of mass destruction, Elisa and I successfully inspected Britain’s own illegal and immoral nuclear arsenal." Petter confirmed that they found nobody on or around the submarine and after a 15 minute inspection they sounded the fire alarm bell.
Andrew Gray from Trident Ploughshares said "This demonstrates the dangers of having a nuclear submarine in a city centre. If a group that was not so committed to our values of peace and safety had managed to get to the submarine, the consequences for the citizens of The West Country would have been catastrophic. Trident can never be made safe from accidents or terrorist activity."
The MOD are completely missing the point when they state that the public were never at risk - the public are always at risk as long as we keep Trident.
In February this year HMS Vanguard, the first of four Trident submarines, arrived in Devonport for its scheduled refit. It is expected that refitting the four submarines will take a total of eight years. This poses appalling hazards from radioactive emissions and horrifying danger from an accident or a terrorist attack to everybody who lives within at least a 30 mile radius of Plymouth, adding to the existing grave risk posed by the 12 nuclear powered submarines already sited at Devonport. And all in the middle of a major and densely populated city.
Bishop Christopher Budd, the Catholic Bishop of Plymouth supports Trident Ploughshares and has prepared a message of support to be used at the multi-faith service on Sunday at HMS Drake.
Trident Ploughshares was established in 1998 to challenge the UK’s illegal and immoral possession and threatened use of nuclear weapons. Trident Ploughshares activists pledge to dismantle the UK’s nuclear arsenal in a peaceful, non-violent, open and accountable manner. So far in the campaign there have been 1,792 arrests, 366 trials, 1,675 days spent in prison and £49,945 of fines and compensation orders.
	
16th	PEACE CAMPAIGNERS BOARD TRIDENT NUCLEAR SUBMARINE UNDETECTED AND RING SHIPS BELL
16th November 2002 
Devonport Disarmament Camp
PEACE CAMPAIGNERS BOARD TRIDENT NUCLEAR SUBMARINE UNDETECTED AND RING SHIPS BELL	

Last night at around 11:30pm two Trident Ploughshares peace campaigners entered Devonport naval base, made their way to dock 9 undetected, boarded HMS Vanguard and rang the ships bell, much to the surprise of MOD staff and dockyard workers. 
Petter Joelson from Sweden and Elisa Silvennoinen from Finland were arrested carrying out both a practical act of disarmament preventing normal operation of the base and a symbolic protest against Britain’s illegal nuclear policies.
Once again Trident Ploughshares activists have shown MOD security to be woefully inadequate at a time when the possibility of a terrorist attack is at its highest. At the time of writing Petter and Elisa are being interviewed by the MOD at Charles Cross police station and should be released later today. They will be available for interview at the main indoor camp venue. This is at the former MOD building opposite the army recruitment centre on Madden Road off Cumberland Road. (Through the big brown double gates to the right immediately as you turn into Madden Road). We invite anyone who is happy to abide by our non-violence guidelines to join the camp.
In February this year HMS Vanguard, the first of four Trident submarines, arrived in Devonport for its scheduled refit. It is expected that refitting the four submarines will take a total of eight years. This poses appalling hazards from radioactive emissions and horrifying danger from an accident or a terrorist attack to everybody who lives within at least a 30 mile radius of Plymouth, adding to the existing grave risk posed by the 12 nuclear powered submarines already sited at Devonport. And all in the middle of a major and densely populated city.
Bishop Christopher Budd, the Catholic Bishop of Plymouth supports Trident Ploughshares and has prepared a message of support to be used at the multi-faith service on Sunday at HMS Drake.
Trident Ploughshares was established in 1998 to challenge the UK’s illegal and immoral possession and threatened use of nuclear weapons. Trident Ploughshares activists pledge to dismantle the UK’s nuclear arsenal in a peaceful, non-violent, open and accountable manner. So far in the campaign there have been 1,790 arrests, 366 trials, 1,675 days spent in prison and £49,945 of fines and compensation orders.
	
15th	Peace Campaigners Gather In Plymouth
15th November 2002 
Devonport Disarmament Camp
Peace Campaigners Gather In Plymouth	

Yesterday, as Trident Ploughshares campaigners arrived from many countries to set-up the international disarmament camp at Devonport, local interest in the camp and the weekend’s events grew. 
The main indoor camp venue is the former MOD building opposite the army recruitment centre on Madden Road off Cumberland Road. (Through the big brown double gates to the right immediately as you turn into Madden Road). We invite anyone who is happy to abide by our non-violence guidelines to join the camp. Campaigners are available at the camp for interview.
Recent disclosures by the Ministry of Defence signal a new and dangerous shift in this nuclear era. Geoff Hoon stated that the UK is prepared to use nuclear weapons against "rogue" states such as Iraq. Thus the UK’s nuclear weapons are no longer merely for deterrence but for war-fighting as well. This clearly contradicts the UK’s previous "no first strike" policy and the principle of proportional response.
Only last week Mr Blair said "With its natural resources, Iraq should be a prosperous country and standards of living should be a lot higher. Those standards of living would be better if money was not being spent on weapons of mass destruction."
It is this kind of blatant and cynical hypocrisy that we are here to challenge.
In February this year HMS Vanguard, the first of four Trident submarines, arrived in Devonport for its scheduled refit. It is expected that refitting the four submarines will take a total of eight years. This poses appalling hazards from radioactive emissions and horrifying danger from an accident or a terrorist attack to everybody who lives within at least a 30 mile radius of Plymouth, adding to the existing grave risk posed by the 12 nuclear powered submarines already sited at Devonport. And all in the middle of a major and densely populated city.
Bishop Christopher Budd, the Catholic Bishop of Plymouth supports Trident Ploughshares and has prepared a message of support to be used at the multi-faith service on Sunday at HMS Drake.
	
13th	Helensburgh Court Not Interested In Trident Or The Law
13th November 2002 
Helensburgh Court Not Interested In Trident Or The Law	

Brian Brown, 68, a retired teacher from Kilwinning, who was acquitted of a Breach of the Peace at Dumbarton Sheriff Court in August this year for protesting at Faslane, today discovered that the Helensburgh District Court has a different interpretation of justice. In spite of very similar evidence and putting forward the same arguments as he did last time he was found guilty and fined £100. 
Barbara MacGregor, 34, from Glasgow, appearing on a Breach of the Peace charge for a blockade of the Clyde submarine base at Faslane last October showed the court pictures of children affected by radiation. She apologised for them being so graphic but wanted the Justice John MacPhail to know what the results of using the nuclear weapons at Faslane would be.
She concluded her defence by saying
’If we are to look at the concept of peace and when it is breached we have to go beyond the free flow of traffic and look at the trafficking of weapons of terror such as Trident. I am horrified that the town of Helensburgh can just turn its back on the consequences of using the weapons just up the road you are sleep walking into disaster.’
JP MacPhail found her guilty and fined her £100.
A Trident spokesperson said:
’It is clear that the Helensburgh District Court does not want to hear about Trident but in view of their repeated dismissal of sound legal arguments which are taken account of in other courts it seems that our local magistrates are not even interested in the law anymore.’
	
12th	Bishop Backs Peace Campaign
12th November 2002 
Devonport Disarmament Camp
Bishop Backs Peace Campaign	

Bishop Christopher Budd, the Catholic Bishop of Plymouth has given his support to Trident Ploughshares for its forthcoming disarmament camp at Devonport. 
Bishop Budd, whose diocese covers much of the West Country stretching from the Scilly Isles in Cornwall to Bournemouth in Dorset is preparing a message of support to be used at the multi-faith service on Sunday at HMS Drake (2.30-3pm). He has also arranged one of the venues being used for accommodation by the campaigners during the camp. Richard Byrne, a member of Plymouth Trident Ploughshares who met with Bishop Budd earlier this month said, "We are delighted to have Bishop Christopher’s support and we hope he may be able to join us at some point during the camp. People of all faiths and none can see that Trident is an unethical, illegal and immoral weapon, which there can be no place for in a civilised society."
In February this year HMS Vanguard, the first of four Trident submarines, arrived in Devonport for its scheduled refit. It is expected that refitting the four submarines will take a total of eight years. This poses appalling hazards from radioactive emissions and horrifying danger from an accident or a terrorist attack to everybody who lives within at least a 30 mile radius of Plymouth, adding to the existing grave risk posed by the 12 nuclear powered submarines already sited at Devonport. And all in the middle of a major and densely populated city.
Trident Ploughshares was established in 1998 to challenge the UK’s illegal and immoral possession and threatened use of nuclear weapons. Trident Ploughshares activists pledge to dismantle the UK’s nuclear arsenal in a peaceful, non-violent, open and accountable manner. So far in the campaign there have been 1,790 arrests, 366 trials, 1,675 days spent in prison and £49,945 of fines and compensation orders.
	
12th	Aamer Anwar Criticises Crown for Prosecuting Peaceful Protester
12th November 2002 
Aamer Anwar Criticises Crown for Prosecuting Peaceful Protester	

Glasgow lawyer, Aamer Anwar, appearing for the defence in Helensburgh District Court today, said that it was ironic that at a time when International Law was being used to propagate war his client should be prosecuted for a Breach of the Peace for protesting against war. 
Mark Porciani, 26, from Dumbarton was arrested at a blockade of the Faslane Trident submarine base on Oct 22nd last year. The two police witnesses agreed that the demonstration had been peaceful and that Marks behaviour had been friendly and non-threatening and in fact the Tony Blair mask he was wearing at the time had lead to some good humoured banter. Mr Anwar lodged a copy of the Helensburgh Advertiser of last October which quoted the Strathclyde police spokesperson and the base spokesperson saying that there had been no disruption to the normal operation of the base. He argued that in line with the Smith v Donnelly judgement and the upholding of Tommy Sheridan’s acquittal there had been no evidence of any behaviour that amounted to a Breach of the Peace.
He concluded the defence by saying: ’In Scotland demonstrations take place on a daily basis. There is disruption to the traffic and the public, and my understanding is that in a democratic society that does not constitute a crime as yet! As this country prepares goes to go to war against another country for alleged possession of weapons of mass destruction it seems quite reasonable for Mark Porciani to have taken part in a peaceful protest against such weapons.’
JP Fraser Gillies found Mark guilty and fined him £120.
Earlier Charles Booth 30, from Edinburgh was found not guilty when the second police witness identified someone else in the court as the person he had arrested.
	
11th	Protester Acquitted After "Possession but no deployment" Claim
11th November 2002 
Protester Acquitted After "Possession but no deployment" Claim	

A protester accused of breaching the peace at Faslane naval base was found not guilty today after explaining that she had been arrested at a demonstration as she prepared to sit down in the roadway. 
Janet Fenton (55), a voluntary worker from Edinburgh, partly based her defence in Helensburgh on the fact that the Scottish High Court, in reviewing the acquittal of the Trident Three, had given their view that Trident would only be illegal if it was used: mere possession was not enough. By the same token the bottoms of sit-down protesters could not be held to be illegal until they were actively deployed in a blockade. In her case the police had jumped the gun.
It is not known whether Justice of the Peace Nicholson was swayed by this "a posteriore" argument but he did say that he was not convinced beyond reasonable doubt that she had breached the peace.
Not so lucky was Aihoa Polanco (22), a Basque woman living in Glasgow, who was found guilty of breaching the peace at blockade of the base last October and fined £75. The same fine was given to Jan Sutch Pickard (58), Warden of the Iona Community, for taking part in the blockade of Faslane in February.
Trident Ploughshares comment: "The court is colluding shamefully with the Crown by failing to face up to the implications of the Smith and Donnelly appeal and the Tommy Sheridan case."
	
4th	Get Down To Devonport - Block The Dock!!
4th November 2002 
Devonport Disarmament Camp
Get Down To Devonport - Block The Dock!!	

Trident Ploughshares International Disarmament Camp
Nov 15th-18th at Devonport Royal Navy Dockyard - Plymouth
In February this year HMS Vanguard, the first of four Trident submarines, arrived in Devonport for its scheduled refit. It is expected that refitting the four submarines will take a total of eight years. This poses appalling hazards from radioactive emissions and horrifying danger from an accident or a terrorist attack to everybody who lives within at least a 30 mile radius of Plymouth, adding to the existing grave risk posed by the 12 nuclear powered submarines already sited at Devonport. And all in the middle of a major and densely populated city.
Trident Ploughshares was established in 1998 to challenge the UK’s illegal and immoral possession and threatened use of nuclear weapons. Trident Ploughshares activists pledge to dismantle the UK’s nuclear arsenal in a peaceful, non-violent, open and accountable manner. So far in the campaign there have been 1,790 arrests, 366 trials, 1,675 days spent in prison and £49,945 of fines and compensation orders.
Programme Of Events
Thursday - arrive and set-up 
Friday - familiarisation/tours/local leafleting
Saturday - leafleting/stalls/banner walk/street theatre in Plymouth centre - 10am-1pm gathering/picnic in peace garden 1pm - 2pm
Sunday - multi-faith service at HMS Drake - 2:30-3pm followed by candlelit vigil
Monday - blockade at 6:30am at Camels Head gate
Tuesday - take down camp
Individual affinity group actions and non-violence training will take place throughout the camp.
Britains four Trident nuclear submarines are normally berthed at Faslane, Scotland. Their deadly arsenal is over 1,000 times more powerful (1) than the Hiroshima bomb which killed at least 200,000 people in 1945. We invite anyone who is happy to abide by our non-violence guidelines to join us as responsible global citizens in condemning this nuclear madness and celebrating life and hope. Activists from many countries will be joining this international disarmament camp.
Peace activist Matt Bury said "It is the duty of all citizens to prevent crimes against humanity, even if it means contradicting orders."
Come and uphold international law and take the next step towards a more peaceful world...
(1) Hansard 28 July 1998, George Robertson, former British "Defence Minister", now NATO Secretary General.

	

	

	

	

	

	

	
October
29th 	Protester Accuses Court of Making a Mockery of the Law
29th October 2002 
Protester Accuses Court of Making a Mockery of the Law	

Dr Margaret Jones today blasted the Helensburgh District Court for yet again misinterpreting the latest ruling from the High Court on Breach of the Peace. Having already sat through two other similar trials for blockades of the Faslane Trident base which resulted in convictions she expressed her concern that the Smith v Donnelly opinion and the upholding of Tommy Sheridans acquittal were not being followed. 
Giving evidence about her part in the blockade of the South gate on 12 February this year Dr Jones (53), from Bristol, said that the issue was not whether she locked herself to someone’s wheelchair, lay in the road and obstructed traffic but whether that behaviour caused anyone to be in fear or alarm or was genuinely disturbing to the community. The Fiscal, Mr Boyd, said that her behaviour would have been extremely annoying to base workers who couldn’t get to work. Dr Jones replied that this was an absurd and illogical argument as the High Court made it quite clear that annoyance was not enough to be a Breach of the Peace and that if she was convicted on this basis then it would be a distortion of the law. Justice of the Peace Grace McLeod found her guilty and fined her £120 at which Dr Jones said that given the mockery of the court she would under no circumstances pay.
Earlier CND Chairperson Carol Naughton (48) from Birmingham was found guilty of Breach of the Peace for blockading Faslane on February 11th this year. In evidence she said that her actions were entirely peaceful and posed no threat whatsoever in contrast to those of Minister for Defence Geoff Hoon who alarmed everyone greatly with his threats to use Trident on Iraq. She added that base workers may be annoyed at being unable to get to work but as Chair of CND and as a responsible citizen her job was to try and disrupt Trident. She was found guilty and fined £75
David Turner (78) from Edinburgh charged with Breach of the Peace for his part in the Faslane blockade on 22 October last year submitted that there was no case to answer as there was not a shred of evidence that he had done anything which matched the criteria required in the Smith v Donnelly opinion. The Procurator Fiscal countered that the blockade was calculated to cause extreme annoyance and the Justice accepted that there was a case to answer. Even when in evidence David pointed out that the person to whom he had been attached was acquitted by the Sheriff Court the Justice went on to convict him. In mitigation David said that the last time he had appeared in court was 60 years ago as a Conscientious Objector and it was his conscience which had motivated him to work for Peace and Justice ever since. As a former probation officer he respected the law but had a moral compulsion to follow in the honourable tradition of direct action against nuclear weapons. He was fined £100, which he told the court he wouldn’t pay.
	
29th	"Don’t Fire Trident At Iraq"
29th October 2002 
"Don’t Fire Trident At Iraq"	

Today Tiina Sarkinen from Helsinki in Finland and Joss Garman, a student from Hereford Sixth Form College were both found ’Not Guilty’ of committing Vandalism. This follows charges from 5th August at Trident Ploughshares International Disarmament Camp after allegedly painting on a bridge near Faslane nuclear base on the Clyde. 
The case follows the painting of slogans including, "NO MORE HIROSHIMAS" and "DON’T FIRE TRIDENT AT IRAQ" on the side of a bridge that most base workers pass each day on their way to do their so-called work.
Garman, 17, one of the accused, explained, "Isn’t it ironic that we get charged with vandalism which is described as ’deliberate destruction of property’ when that is the very thing that we spend our whole lives trying to stop. Trident is vandalism. Trident is murder."
Sarkinen, 21, expressed her feelings about the Trident nuclear system’s threatened use against the people of Iraq. She said, "The UK government has consistently threatened the use of nuclear weapons against the people of Iraq. The Iraqi people have suffered enough, from over ten years of comprehensive sanctions and bombings several times a year by US/UK war criminals. The threat of Trident against Iraq is highly illegal and totally immoral."
The pair shall continue to challenge the war in Iraq and the proposed use of nuclear weapons against other peoples through non violent, open and accountable direct action.
	
28th	More Appeals as Helensburgh Continues to Ignore High Court
28th October 2002 
More Appeals as Helensburgh Continues to Ignore High Court	

More appeals will be added to an already long list arising from Helensburgh District Court following the conviction today of two more protesters for breach of the peace, in spite of the recent rejection by the High Court of a Crown appeal against MSP Tommy Sheridan for a similar protest. 
Heather Stewart (18) and Adam Conway (23) had been part of a small protest in August 2001 at the Coulport nuclear weapons depot. They argued that their action had been peaceful and had caused less disruption than the action for which the High Court recently upheld Tommy Sheridan’s acquittal and, like his, did not amount to the "genuine alarm and serious disturbance" required for a breach of the peace. Despite this, Justice of the Peace Fraser Gillies, who had last week acquitted another protester in almost identical circumstances, fined them £120 and £175 respectively. Both are appealing the verdict.
Adam said "Fraser Gillies clearly doesn’t understand either Smith v. Donnelly or the significance of the High Court upholding Tommy Sheridan’s acquittal. To say that 400 people sitting in the road is legal but four people doing the same thing isn’t is nonsensical."
Trident Ploughshares comment: "Although it is risking one’s sanity to attempt to follow a thread of logic through the rambling judgments of this weird court, the best guess is that the court clerks, under who knows what pressure, have now decided to advise the magistrates to go for convictions on the basis that all these cases are really different when everyone knows that the essentials are the same. If so, they are just heaping up trouble for themselves in terms of a flood of appeals, more knock-backs and criticisms in the High Court and the end of our sorely tried patience with a shameful system that has not been loyal either to the law or human values, but only to a state willing to carry out mass murder."
	
22nd	Further Confusion Over Faslane Court Cases
22nd October 2002 
Further Confusion Over Faslane Court Cases	

Today a local magistrate added further confusion to the question of alleged breaches of the peace at Faslane protests by finding one protester guilty and another not guilty, basing her decisions on an apparent misunderstanding of the High Court’s judgment in rejecting the Crown’s appeal against the acquittal of Tommy Sheridan. 
Felicity Garvie,(47), who is the MSP’s office manager, was found guilty by Justice of the Peace Viv Dance of breaching the peace at a blockade of Faslane. As is standard, the police witnesses testified that the protest had been friendly and peaceful. Indeed one police officer said she was the most pleasant person he had ever had to deal with. Like Tommy, Felicity accepted that she had sat down in the roadway at the base but argued that the Crown had not brought any evidence of the alarm or serious disturbance necessary to prove the charge. Felicity, who was fined £150, will appeal the verdict. She said: "This is an utter travesty. Today’s nonsense just makes me more than ever determined to continue the struggle against Trident."
However, JP Dance then found the Rev. John Webster (68), from Kings Cross in Arran not guilty, giving as justification that each case had its individual nuances. She said that in the Sheridan case there was no evidence of a warning having been given by police or that traffic had been held up and she was not convinced that these elements were present in John Webster’s case.
Jane Tallents said: "JP Dance has misunderstood what happened at the High Court two weeks ago. That Court upheld JP Tony Stirling’s acquittal of Tommy Sheridan on the grounds that the Justice had applied the law as it stood, i.e., the clarification of the breach of the peace charge as given in Smith v Donnelly which makes it clear that evidence of or the likelihood of alarm or serious disturbance is required. It is nothing to do with traffic being held up whether or police warnings were given. These Faslane blockades are so amiable and gentle that no one there is within a million miles of breaching the peace. The continuing mess does raise questions about the quality of information and advice being given to these lay magistrates and their own readiness to take the trouble to find out the legal facts for themselves."
In the same court Martha Andrews, who is a student of religion and anthropology, was found guilty of malicious mischief for cutting the perimeter fence at the Coulport nuclear armaments depot and was fined £80. No compensation order was made. Martha argued that there had been no malice in what she had done. She had acted out of compassion whereas Trident was an act of ultimate malice.
	
15th	Faslane Acquittal First Dividend of Sheridan Appeal
15th October 2002 
Faslane Acquittal First Dividend of Sheridan Appeal	

The impact of last week’s rejection of the Crown appeal against the acquittal of MSP Tommy Sheridan for a Faslane protest was seen today in Helensburgh District Court when Mark Leech (35), from Edinburgh, was found not guilty of a breach of the peace at the blockade of the Trident base last October. 
Justice of the Peace Fraser Gillies told Mark that he was not convinced beyond reasonable doubt that he had committed the offence. Since there was no dispute or contradictory evidence about the basic facts of the case this could only mean that the magistrate was not sure that lying in the roadway at Faslane was a breach of the peace, a decision that reflected the view of the High Court last week.
Mark’s defence was based on the peaceful and relaxed nature of the protest and the consequent lack of evidence of alarm or serious disturbance. His own testimony was backed up by that of his partner Roz Bullen, and when Mark asked her what he had been like at the blockade she said with a smile: "Very quiet". Procurator Fiscal Simpson argued that Mark’s conduct had been "flagrant" due to the scale of the protest and the fact that he had not left the roadway when asked to by the police. When discussing the question of scale PF Simpson said that one person lying in the roadway probably did not amount to a breach of the peace.
Mark said: "I am delighted! I appeared today expecting the usual automatic verdict. This is a significant change."
Earlier Morag Balfour (35), the prospective Scottish Socialist candidate for Central Fife in next year’s Scottish Parliament elections, had her not guilty plea accepted by the Crown after it was discovered that the police witnesses in her case had been sent away in error. The case against Pat Halcro (57), from Newcastle, for a breach of the peace at Faslane in February, also collapsed due to Crown confusion about whether the alleged offence took place at the North Gate of the base or at the South Gate.
David Mackenzie said: "It is disappointing that the Crown is still trying to make these cases stick in spite of the Sheridan judgment. This has left them clutching at straws and, frankly, lacking conviction in their arguments. It’s time for them to throw in the towel."
	
9th	Tommy Sheridan Acquittal Valid Say Law Lords
9th October 2002 
Tommy Sheridan Acquittal Valid Say Law Lords	

The Scottish High Court has rejected the appeal by the Crown against the acquittal of Tommy Sheridan for his part in a protest at Faslane, stating that Justice of the Peace Tony Stirling had indeed applied the law at the October 2001 trial. 
When the case came up today in Edinburgh the Advocate Depute asked for it to be adjourned so that it could be considered along with a number of other breach of the peace appeals before a panel of five judges in order to further clarify the law in regard to the offence, a move initiated by the Lord Justice General. Tommy argued that it should go ahead since a year had already gone by and there were plenty other breach of the peace appeals that would serve the purpose of a review. Today’s bench, Lord Cameron (presiding), with Lord Hamilton and Lord McEwan, agreed.
The Advocate Depute made a second attempt to secure an adjournment, claiming that it would take the Crown at least an hour to present its case and that this would hold the MSP back from the urgent business he had in the afternoon. Tommy again said that he wished the case to go ahead and again their Lordships agreed. When the case proper began it became clear that the Crown did not have a substantial case to make and the Advocate Depute conceded that JP Stirling had applied the law as it stood, particularly in reference to the clarification of breach of the peace in the Smith v Donnelly appeal. At this stage Lord Cameron pointed out that an appeal by the Crown could not be argued when the law had been applied at the original trial. The entire Crown case had taken less than ten minutes.
Tommy told the court he was perplexed by the Crown’s approach. He had expected the Advocate depute to present substantial arguments. On the contrary the JP’s very clear Stated Case had not been challenged. The evidence at the trial, from the Crown witnesses, had established that no one had been alarmed, or was likely to have been, at the blockade of Faslane. It had been an entirely peaceful and reasonable protest on an issue which affected the whole world and Scotland in particular it was all wrong that over 1000 people had been criminalised by being arrested at Faslane in the last two years.
Trident Ploughshares comment: "This puts the cat among the pigeons. In terms of the facts Tommy’s case is practically identical with hundreds of others. There is first of all the question of the wrong done to so many people who have been convicted on the basis of similar facts, even when the Smith v Donnelly Opinion was known to the courts. Then there are still over 80 trials pending from Faslane blockades. If the Crown witnesses do not perjure themselves there will be no evidence of alarm or serious disturbance and acquittals in every case is the only logical outcome. More intriguing still are the implications for the police. How can they rationally conduct mass arrests in the future at Faslane now that the appeal court has "cawed the feet" from them?"
	
8th	Woman Fined for Stopping Nuke Convoy in Glen Fruin
8th October 2002 
Woman Fined for Stopping Nuke Convoy in Glen Fruin
SSP Disarmament Spokesman Fined for Faslane Blockade	

Glasgow postal worker Janet Cameron (59) was fined £100 today by a Helensburgh magistrate for stopping a nuclear weapons convoy on the A817 Loch Lomond to Coulport Road. 
Janet told Justice of the Peace Duncan that there had to be a better definition of peace than "just doing what the police happen to tell you." It had so far proved impossible to get the illegality of Trident raised in either Westminster or Holyrood so ordinary people had to take action. The JP did Janet the courtesy of explaining his verdict. He had found her behaviour "flagrant"*. Later Janet said: "Why are the back roads to Bonnie Banks of Loch Lomond polluted by these weapons of mass destruction when we condemn Saddam Hussein for what we have been doing for years.?"
Earlier the Peace and Disarmament spokesman of the Scottish Socialist Party, Les Robertson (54), from Renton, was given a fine of £150 after being found guilty of a breach of the peace at the blockade of Faslane last October. He told the court that Trident was an obscenity; the only recourse people have is to put their bodies in front of that gate. The claim was made that our nuclear weapons were there to defend our freedom but it was a strange freedom that meant you were taken to court for a peaceful protest. Again, JP Duncan found Les guilty on the basis that his behaviour had been "flagrant". Les said he would not pay the fine and would be at every blockade of the base until Trident was got rid of.
After the trial Les said: "Tony Blair’s eagerness to join the US in illegal aggression against Iraq only demonstrates more clearly what our armed forces are for, with the terror of Trident at their back. This is not about fighting for freedom, this is about getting your way by blatant and murderous force. I hope everyone who possibly can will get to the demo in Glasgow on the 19th and show their utter intolerance of what Blair and Bush are up to."
*Note: "Flagrant", classically defined as "scandalous or outrageous", is used as one of the tests of a breach of the peace in the clarification of the offence in the High Court Opinion in the Smith v Donnelly appeal. Judging by its use in Helensburgh and Dumbarton courts it now refers to the determination of peace protesters to take an action they have decided upon and their refusal to stop when told to by a police officer.
	
2nd	Peace Activist Challenges Faslane to Produce its Nuclear Licence
2nd October 2002 
Peace Activist Challenges Faslane to Produce its Nuclear Licence	

Today Irish peace activist Eoin Dubsky, on trial for an alleged breach of the peace at Faslane naval base, told Helensburgh District Court that it was up to the base to show that it had the necessary licence to possess nuclear weapons. 
Eoin (22), a student from Cork took part in the blockade of the base in February. He told Justice of the Peace Viv Dance that the Opinion of the Scottish High Court in the Lord Advocate’s Reference on the Trident Three trial did not give "carte blanche" to the state for all eternity. The arguments for Trident’s illegality could still be put.
He referred to the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act of 2001, under which anyone "possessing or producing" a nuclear weapon is "guilty of an offence," and "liable on conviction to life imprisonment" - unless, under Section 48 of the Act, such possession or production has been authorised by the Secretary of State. Making no reference to these arguments JP Dance found him guilty but in view of his means deferred sentence for six months to be of good behaviour. She told him: "When you appear before me again I recommend that you produce evidence of your community work to prove that you are a man of peace."
Rowan Burrough (32), also charged with a breach of the peace at the February blockade, was treated differently, in spite of his assertion that he had been acting in good faith, and fined £130. Janet Fenton (57), a voluntary worker from Edinburgh, was fined £100 for cutting the perimeter fence at Faslane in April 2001. JP Dance advised her that if she did not pay the fine she would be given a Supervised Attendance Order of 20 hours.
Trident Ploughshares comment: "Eoin us right. If they think the argument against Trident is over they have another think coming. The rest of the world is talking about international law and weapons of mass destruction. It’s time the magistrates in Helensburgh to wake up and face the facts."
Meanwhile the cases of three others who blockaded the base in February wrapped up in a giant green dragon were dealt with at Dumbarton Sheriff Court. David Heller (26), and Wesley De Noyette (25), both voluntary workers with the Gent based For Mother Earth Campaign pled guilty and were fined £50 by Sheriff Fraser, while Ben Mackay (58), a retired headteacher from Portsmouth, had his not guilty plea accepted because a prosecution witness was unavailable.
	
1st	Kirk Minister Acquitted on Faslane Charge
1st October 2002 
Kirk Minister Acquitted on Faslane Charge	

Church of Scotland minister Colin Morton (69), from Edinburgh was today acquitted at Helensburgh District Court of breaching the peace at the blockade of Faslane naval base this February. 
In his skilful cross-examination of the police witnesses Colin was able to show that there was no evidence that his behaviour was liable to cause serious disturbance or alarm, or was malicious or flagrant. He then submitted that there was no case to answer. He had been taking part in an entirely lawful and peaceful protest. He then quoted Scottish High Court judge Lord Prosser who had said, in the Lord Advocate’s Reference of the Trident Three trial, that civil disobedience had a long and proud history in this country.
Justice of the Peace Grace McLeod accepted that essential elements of the evidence required were missing and agreed that he had no case to answer.
The case against Michael Smith (38), a care manager from Glasgow, facing a similar charge relating to the blockade last October, also collapsed. Again, police testimony brought up no evidence of alarm or disturbance. One officer said that he had only arrested Michael because he had been instructed to do so by a senior officer.
Trident Ploughshares comment: "We have had further proof today that the outcome of our cases in this court depends mainly on who happens to be on the bench. It’s a complete shambles. With the Crown appeal against Tommy Sheridan’s acquittal coming up on 9th October we are looking for the law lords to make it clear that peacefully blocking the gates of Faslane, home of Britain’s weapons of mass destruction, is no breach of the peace."

	

	

	
September
25th 	AWE Aldermaston Fails To Produce Bomb Making Licence
25th September 2002 
AWE Aldermaston Fails To Produce Bomb Making Licence
Nuke Factory May Violate Terrorism Act	

The trial of Councillor Ray Davies and Dr. Margaret Jones, charged with criminal damage at the Atomic Weapons Establishment at Aldermaston, was yesterday postponed in confusion, after the prosecution failed to produce evidence that the nuclear bomb factory near Reading in Berkshire has ever been licensed to produce nuclear weapons. 
At the prosecution’s request, Reading Magistrates’ court ruled there will be no trial next Tuesday, as originally scheduled. Instead, another pre-trial hearing will take place, on October 22.
Defending the two anti-nuclear protesters, who cut through the perimeter fences at AWE Aldermaston on June 6 this year, barrister Hugo Charlton developed the argument that, under the Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Act of 2001, anyone "possessing or producing" a nuclear weapon is "guilty of an offence," and "liable on conviction to life imprisonment" - unless, under Section 48 of the Act, such possession or production has been authorised by the Secretary of State.
The relevant authorisation is yet to be produced. Charlton, an expert in the area of anti-terrorism legislation, objected to the prosecution request to adjourn. He pointed out that the Crown Prosecution Service and the Ministry of Defence have already had weeks to produce the authorisation. Charlton believes the prosecution are merely "playing for time," having failed to deliver something that does not exist.
The defendants, both members of the non-violent direct action group Trident Ploughshares, are concerned with the illegality and danger of nuclear weapons on the current international scene, but also with the local dangers of radioactive pollution to citizens of Berkshire. According to nuclear pollution expert Dr. Chris Busby, Reading, downwind of AWE Aldermaston, shows an incidence of childhood cancers three times the national average.
	
23rd	Activist Fined for Stopping Royal Minibus
23rd September 2002 
Activist Fined for Stopping Royal Minibus	

Today in Helensburgh District Court a peace activist was fined for stopping a minibus carrying naval officers, including a member of the Royal family, during a blockade of a nuclear weapons base. 
Dave Rolstone, 55, a boat builder from Wales stopped and then crawled underneath the minibus during a blockade of Faslane nuclear submarine base on 13 February this year. It took some time for police to remove him and the naval officers including Captain Timothy Lawrence, husband of the Princess Royal were obliged to get out and go into the base on foot.
Explaining reasons for his action, Dave told the court that ’we are past the point where silence is passive consent, silence is active complicity’. He had been in Iraq three times and more recently in Palestine and had seen for himself the Western abuse of power backed up by nuclear threats. Justice of the Peace Grace MacLeod said that although she acknowledged Dave’s firmly held beliefs she found him guilty as charged and fined him £120. Dave made clear he had no intention of paying the fine but was given 28 days to pay.
	
13th	Legal Challenge To Protest Law
13th September 2002 
News Report
Legal Challenge To Protest Law
Report from Glasgow Evening Times	

LAW LORDS are poised to hold a landmark court hearing that could change the face of mass protests across Scotland. Next month judges will hear a Crown Office appeal against a not guilty verdict passed on Socialist MSP Tommy Sheridan in February after an anti-nuclear demonstration at Faslane. 
The verdict seemed to rule that protesters were not in breach of the peace if all they did was to sit quietly in the road, even if this stopped traffic.
The Crown Office appealed against the verdict.
The October 9 hearing could change the way breach of the peace law is interpreted.
JP Anthony Stirling found the MSP and Glasgow councillor not guilty after Mr Sheridan argued he was not causing "fear and alarm", necessary for a breach of the peace to be committed.
Mr Stirling said: "The key issue appears to me to be how far people can protest peacefully in a democratic society."
The JP also pointed to European human rights laws guaranteeing the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, which could apply to demonstrations.
	
11th	A Better Court Day for Anti-Trident Campaigners
11th September 2002 
A Better Court Day for Anti-Trident Campaigners	

Today in Helensburgh, where most cases against those who protest against Trident at Faslane and Coulport come to court, accused campaigners had a much better day than usual as Justice of the Peace Viv Dance found one not guilty, admonished another and issued only modest fines to two more. 
Fiachra O’Luain (26), a student from Donegal charged with a breach of the peace at the blockade of Faslane last year, called his mother as a witness to give evidence as to his state of mind at the time of the blockade. He had been brought up to believe that nuclear weapons were the real breach of the peace, not sitting in the road. A supporter in court said: "It was as if all the whole court just faded into the background as Fiachra and his mum carried on this personal dialogue about what had motivated him and how much she supported what he was doing. The Procurator Fiscal seemed completely bemused and did not object." JP Dance found Fiachra not guilty on the grounds that the Crown had not shown that he had refused to desist from sitting in the road when asked but supporters in court also felt that must she had been affected by Fiachra’s obvious integrity.
JP Dance today admonished Nina Moeller, in her twenties, a student at Lancaster University, who was appearing for deferred sentence after a conviction for a breach of the peace at the Big Blockade last year. Ian Thomson from Douglas Water and Jim Bone from Helensburgh were fined £75, well below the usual tariff, for respectively cutting and kicking the Faslane perimeter fence last April.
Martha Scott was due to be tried for her part in the Big Blockade but a police witness did not show up. The Procurator Fiscal sought an adjournment but the JP refused it and also refused his subsequent request for a part trial. She made it clear that she was not happy with the situation and gave him no option but to accept Martha’s not guilty plea.
Trident Ploughshares comment: "Last week we complained to the District Court when a police witness did not show, leading to the adjournment of Joy Mitchell’s trial, and JP Gillies treated it as just one of these things. Perhaps JP Dance has taken our concerns on board."
	
10th	Hereford Protester Found ’Not Guilty’
10th September 2002 
Hereford Protester Found ’Not Guilty’	

Argyll and Bute District Court in Helensburgh near Glasgow heard yesterday how anti-nuclear protester, Joss Garman (17), a student at Hereford Sixth Form College, had attended a mass demonstration against nuclear weapons at H.M. Naval Base on the Clyde last February. There he was accused of blocking traffic trying to enter the base and was charged with a ’Breach of the Peace’. 
In court, Garman, representing himself, argued under the United Nations Convention on the rights of a child. This states in article 15, paragraph 1, that the child has the right to "freedom of peaceful assembly."
The JP found the accused ’Not Guilty’ of the charge. Garman, who is a member of the non-violent direct-action group, Trident Ploughshares, said, "I am happy with the outcome of this trial. However, I think that it is immediately necessary that this court starts to realize that Trident is the crime, and that my colleagues and I are upholding International law as global citizens trying to prevent the plotting of mass genocide."
The protester, who has been arrested several times in relation to environmental and peace issues, will appear again before the same court on 29th October charged with a separate alleged offense. This time relating to the painting of anti-war slogans on the side of a bridge near the entrance to the military base during the Trident Ploughshares International Disarmament Camp in August.
	
6th	Symbolic disarmament spray-painting U.S. warplane in Ireland
6th September 2002 
Symbolic disarmament spray-painting U.S. warplane in Ireland	

Report from RTE, Ireland, September 4, 2002
Man in Shannon US airplane protest bailed
(20:32) A 22-year-old man has appeared at a special court in Galway charged with damaging a US military plane at Shannon airport early this morning.
Eoin Dubsky has been released on his own bail but ordered to stay away from Shannon Airport.
The man, from Gorey, County Wexford, was detained and questioned at Shannon Garda Station all day after being arrested by airport police at around 5am.
He was charged at the District Court in Gort, County Galway, with causing criminal damage to a US Hercules military aircraft.
Gardai opposed the granting of bail because they feared he would re-offend if released.
Judge Joseph Mangan remanded the accused on his own bail of ¤200, but attached strict conditions.
Mr Dubsky is not allowed to go within five miles of Shannon Airport or its perimeter fence or he will be re-arrested.
He was remanded to appear at Shannon District Court on 17 October.
A second 27-year-old man from Limerick city has been released and a file is being sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
The leader of the Green Party, Trevor Sargent, had earlier called for the immediate release of the two.
He suggested the Taoiseach should be arrested as he was flouting the Constitution by allowing foreign military aircraft to use Irish airports.
Aer Rianta is still carrying out an investigation into how security was breached at Shannon.
From http://www.rte.ie/news/2002/0904/Sh....
This is from the Refueling Peace homepage: "As global citizens we will endeavour to monitor and stop US military refueling in Ireland. We will expose details of US military planes stopping-over here. We will openly, accountably, safely and peacefully disrupt these operations, which are mostly at Shannon airport." 
The action was part of the ’Refueling Peace’ project: a direct action campaign to monitor and stop US military flights in Ireland (see http://refuelingpeace.org/). Tim Hourigan, who was also arrested yesterday, has been doing most of the meticulous monitoring -- many of the planes are chartered civilian jets and come in at night for example.
I’d like to thank especially everyone from Trident Ploughshares and people who have taken part in other ploughshares actions -- you have inspired me to work on this campaign and do the action on Tuesday.
For almost a year I have been campaigning against the so-called ’war on terrorism’, and Ireland’s participation therein in every way that I could think of. Following months of preparation, and with the prospect of a huge war on Iraq immanent, I entered the airport and painted the US military plane as a small symbolic act of disarmament.
What I painted: I had terrible trouble with the flourescent red spray-paint... most of it came out it blobs. :-O) Still I did get to write "NO WAR" and draw two large peace (CND) symbols on the US Air Force "Hercules" KC-130, which is a mid-air refueling plane which can be used though for troop/cargo transport or dropping "daisy-cutter" bombs even. I sprayed paint on one of the windscreens too (pilot can’t take off until that is removed). Finally -- just before I reviewed my work and called airport security -- I affixed the prefix "DIS" in red paint to the stencil-writing beside the door that read "ARMAMENT:".
The painting/arrest part of this has gone brilliantly with loads of support and great media. My solicitor is very supportive too and will help me continue my witness in court as I had intended. I hope to take the opportunity when I am on trial for "criminal damage to a USAF aircraft at Shannon Airport" to use the "necessity defence" that you may have heard of from some ploughshares actions. I hope to show that the immanent war against Iraq, and planning for it, is a crime against peace. Hopefully we can also show that the so-called ’war on terrorism’ generally (from the bombing of Afghanistan to Camp X-Ray in Cuba) is illegal too. And of course this would mean that the Irish state is involved in a criminal conspiracy...

4th	Protesters Fined for Halting Transport of Weapons of Mass Destruction
4th September 2002 
Protesters Fined for Halting Transport of Weapons of Mass Destruction	

A Glasgow couple who were in court today for stopping a nuclear weapons convoy on a public road in Scotland have drawn attention to the ironies of being punished for protesting against weapons of mass destruction a day after UK Prime Minister Blair gave his view that "inaction was not an option" over Iraq’s arsenal. 
In November 2000 Barbara McGregor (33), an artist and warehouse worker, and veteran anti-Trident campaigner Brian Quail (64) were part of a group of activists who stopped the Trident warhead convoy* in the village of Balloch, beside Loch Lomond. They were charged with a breach of the peace and appeared today in Clydebank District Court where they were fined respectively £60 and £80, Brian’s higher penalty reflecting his long string of honourable convictions. It was noted that the fines were much lower than those given in Argyll and Bute court.
Brian drew the court’s attention to reports in the papers about Blair’s speech on Iraq and speculated that if a group of Iraqi citizens had interfered with a transport of weapons of mass destruction in Baghdad, we would be applauding them, but people doing the same thing in the UK were punished by the courts.
Brian also quoted a passage from Martin Luther King, in which he distinguishes between just and unjust laws and which ends: "I submit that an individual who breaks a law that his conscience tells him is unjust and who willingly accepts the penalty of imprisonment in order to arouse the conscience of the community over its injustice is in reality expressing the highest respect for the law."
Brian has already been in prison a number of times for refusing to pay fines imposed for peaceful protest.
*Convoys of large vehicles travel on UK roads about every six weeks, carrying Trident warheads from the assembly plant in Burghfield to Coulport on Loch Long, where they are stored in bunkers and loaded onto the Trident submarines. Although not armed for detonation the warheads contain plutonium and high explosive.
	
3rd	Hefty Fine for Faslane Blockader
3rd September 2002 
Hefty Fine for Faslane Blockader	

Today in Helensburgh District Court a hefty fine was handed out to a Glasgow man for taking part in a peaceful blockade at Faslane naval base as the local courts strengthened their reputation for erratic outcomes to cases involving peace protesters. 
George McNeilage (38), the Secretary of North Pollock Community Centre, had lain down in the road along with MSP Tommy Sheridan and others at the blockade of Faslane last October. George said he had been willing to risk arrest since he had the freedom others did not have to spend a night in a police cell. Unlike Tommy, who was acquitted on an same charge on 25th June, George was found guilty and fined £250 by Justice of the Peace Fraser Gilles who is currently the subject of a complaint by campaigners following his failure last week to censure a police witness who failed to appear as a witness without reasonable excuse.
Jo Crawford (30), who works for Shelter and also comes from Glasgow, was acquitted when the Crown produced no evidence that he was warned by police before being arrested at the same blockade.
Yesterday, in Dumbarton Sheriff Court, 19 year-old Beatrice Leal, a student from London, was fined £50 for breach of the peace, also at the October blockade last year. A second charge against her, of resisting arrest violently, was dismissed by "the Sheriff when a candid police witness said that Beatrice had not been struggling, "just wriggling a bit".
Beatrice said: It was good to be at Faslane protesting against the Trident threat. I hope that thousands will come from Scotland to the London rally on 28th September to show their disgust at the plans to attack Iraq."

2nd	Trident Activists Arrested In Bid For "Maximum Disarmament Of Nuke Sub In Plymouth"
2nd September 2002 
Trident Activists Arrested In Bid For "Maximum Disarmament Of Nuke Sub In Plymouth"	

In the early hours of this morning, Councillor Ray Davies from Bedwas in South Wales, and Dr. Margaret Jones, a resident of Bristol, rowed up the River Tamar in a small dinghy, and entered Devonport dockyard in Plymouth. They intended to use hammers and bolt cutters to damage sensitive equipment aboard the nuclear powered submarine Tireless. Tireless forms part of the support system for Britain’s Trident nuclear weapons. Davies and Jones hoped to do sufficient damage to delay the submarine’s return to active service for some time. 
After carrying out the disarmament, the two intended to give themselves up for arrest, in accordance with their pledge to act openly and accountably as members of the "Telesubbies" affinity group of the disarmament campaign, Trident Ploughshares. Unluckily for the disarmers, however, they were stopped and arrested before they could carry out their action.
"Trident represents a threat to us, as much as to the rest of the world," say Davies and Jones. "We undertook to disable part of the support system for this terrible weapon, because our government refuses to disarm it for us. There exists a real fear that our government could use nuclear weapons to attack Iraq. They are the terrorists." The pair carried with them a banner that read, END TERRORIST NUCLEAR WEAPONS .
Trident Ploughshares is an organisation dedicated to safely, non-violently and accountably disarming Britain’s nuclear weapons, in accordance with international law.
The United States provides the weaponry for Trident submarines, and now wants Britain to start up a new bomb factory near the existing one at Aldermaston, for the production of "small" nuclear weapons. (As if making nuclear weapons smaller somehow makes them safer!)
Davies and Jones will appear before Plymouth magistrates tomorrow.

	

	

	
August
27th 	Fresh Accusations of District Court Ineptitude and Bias
27th August 2002 
Fresh Accusations of District Court Ineptitude and Bias	

Trident Ploughshares campaigners will again submit a formal complaint about the conduct of Helensburgh District Court after another diet involving anti-Trident campaigners led to accusations of muddle, procedural gaffes and an unmistakable bias towards the Crown. 
The accusations concern: 

  The fact that the trial of Joy Mitchell for a Faslane demonstration was today adjourned because a Crown witness "was on his day off". While it is seen as appalling in itself that Strathclyde Police can treat the court and the accused in such a cavalier way, the presiding magistrate, Justice of the Peace Fraser Gillies, made no move to censure the missing witness or to issue a warrant, but simply brushed it off as an unfortunate circumstance. Joy had traveled from Berwick on Tweed for the trial and asked that her disgust be noted. 
  The fact that JP Gillies again accepted an informal estimate from the MoD in regard to damage to a fence at Coulport allegedly cut by Ulla Roder without allowing proper scrutiny by the defence, a procedural error already criticised in the High Court in connection with an anti-Trident case. Ulla was fined £300 for breaching the perimeter fence at Coulport in August 2000 (£100 on each of three charges, malicious mischief, being inside a prohibited area and failing to leave a prohibited area) and was ordered to pay compensation of £73 plus VAT. Court officials rescued JP Gillies from yet another gaffe when he began to give the sentence before seeking a plea in mitigation. 
Ulla continues on remand in Cornton Vale prison until 11th September and faces another two trials.
Also on trial today was James Dockery who was fined £120 for taking part in the blockade of Faslane naval base last October.
Trident Ploughshares comment: "We have complained before to the Justices Committee about JP Gillies but it appears no-one there cares that the local court is so incompetent and prejudiced. We will take this issue further and will in particular ask Strathclyde Police whether they think it in order for one of their officers to fail to appear when cited just because he has decided to have a day off. To any ordinary person that will seem incredible but unfortunately it is entirely in line with the sloppy and complacent attitude to criminal justice in this area. It’s hard enough tackling Trident itself without this nonsense."
	
26th	Trident is Genocide, Claims Faslane Blockader
26th August 2002 
Trident is Genocide, Claims Faslane Blockader
Fine and Compensation Order for Ulla Roder	

Today a peace activist on trial for taking part in a blockade of Faslane naval base, home to the UK’s nuclear weapon submarines, told Helensburgh District Court that Trident was capable of wiping out an entire nation. 
Daniel Werges (28), from Germany, but currently working as a disability rights worker in Bradford, was charged with breaching the peace at the blockade of Faslane last October. After thoroughly cross-examing the police witnesses Daniel himself took the stand. The court granted his request to be excused from raising his hand when giving the oath, as it reminded him of the Nazi salute. In his summing up he said that his grandparents’ generation had been guilty of genocide but Trident also was a genocidal weapon and in maintaining it and threatening to use it the UK government was guilty of a flagrant illegality.
Justice of the Peace Fraser Gillies, the Helensburgh magistrate least popular with anti-Trident campaigners on account of his perceived bias and complacency, found him guilty and gave him the relatively high fine of £180.
Meanwhile, in the same court, Danish activist Ulla Roder, presently remanded to Cornton Vale prison, had yet another trial, this time on a charge of malicious mischief for cutting two fences at the football pitches inside Faslane in November 2000. Ulla was perfectly upfront about her intentions. She had been on her way to the Trident berths to carry out disarmament work on one of the submarines. Trident was a war crime and she was justified in what she had done. She was found guilty and in addition to a fine of £180 she was ordered to pay compensation amounting to £543 (plus VAT) for the damage to the fence.
Ulla will appeal the compensation order. On a number of occasions now, following appeal, the Scottish High Court has reduced the fines imposed by JP Gillies and on one occasion over-ruled a compensation order.
	
25th	Disarmer refused to pay to hide weapons of mass destruction still at liberty
25th August 2002 
Disarmer refused to pay to hide weapons of mass destruction still at liberty	

Chris Gwyntopher (60), a member of the Muriel Lester affinity group of Trident Ploughshares non-violent nuclear disarmament campaign, refused to pay £140 compensation to the Ministry of Defence for assisting in the cutting down of three panels of fence at Atomic Weapons Establishment, Aldermaston. 
Appearing at Stratford Magistrates Court on 22nd August he explained that he was not able in conscience to pay to hide and prevent the disarmament of weapons of mass destruction made at Aldermaston or the research to develop new nuclear weapons of mass destruction. He pointed out that if the UK extend war with Iraq those weapons might be used against the people of Iraq. He drew the Magistrates attention to the fact that the possession and threatened use of the Trident nuclear missile system was contrary to the ruling of the International Court of Justice on the illegality of nuclear weapons and the UK’s obligations under the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty. "We were seeking to uphold the law not to undermine it" he said.
The 2 magistrates retired for nearly half an hour to consider what to do. When they returned, instead of jailing him, they imposed an attachment of earnings order to be completed in 8 weeks. The chair of the magistrates then thanked Chris for his conduct at the court.
A spontaneous demonstration using copies of Chris’s "Disarmer will not pay to hide war plans" notice of the hearing as an instant leaflet; and tabards saying "No nuclear terrorism" took place in the High Street before and during the hearing. The response from passers by was mostly positive, with drivers hooting their horns in support.
	
23rd	Statement on the AWE Site Development Strategy Plan
23rd August 2002 
Statement on the AWE Site Development Strategy Plan	

In these days when even disreputable multi-nationals proclaim themselves to be engaged in Corporate Social Responsibility it is perhaps not surprising that an organisation like AWE, whose main corporate mission is war crime, presents itself as committed to the safety of the community a thought that those with queasy stomachs should not contemplate for too long. There are two huge concerns about the recently published Site Development Strategy Plan. The facilities envisaged will give AWE the capability to develop a successor to Trident. That is nuclear proliferation and exactly contradictory to the UK’s commitment under the NPT treaty. Further, the plan is to combine the manufacture and assembly of nuclear warheads on one site, which takes the criminal irresponsibility of the complex to new heights. We note that AWE does not yet have the local planning permission it requires. While we hope that the local council will have the guts and the energy to subject the plan to real scrutiny and reject it, it should be obvious to everyone that this is not a local matter, the issues and the implications are national and international. There has to be a Public Enquiry.	
22nd	Ulla Roder Deportation Threat Evaporates
22nd August 2002 
Ulla Roder Deportation Threat Evaporates	

Today, at the High Court in Edinburgh, Scotland’s senior judge has accepted that the question of courts recommending the deportation of Danish peace activist Ulla Roder is academic after the Home Office confirmed yesterday that they have no intention of expelling her. 
The Lord Justice General, Lord Cullen, was hearing Ulla’s appeal against the recommendation to deport her issued by Sheriff Fitzsimmons in Dumbarton last year when he sentenced her to three months in Cornton Vale for a number of anti-Trident actions. Appearing for Ulla was Advocate John Mayer, who also successfully defended her at Greenock over the Maytime action in 1999. He said that the court had a copy of the letter from the Home Office to MSP Dennis Canavan in February which indicated that no action would be taken, after representations from the Danish Embassy. The Home Office had confirmed that this was still the position so he submitted that the question of Sheriff Fitzsimmons recommendation was purely academic. The advocate’s submission was accepted by Lord Cullen.
Trident Ploughshares comment: "We are delighted that the Appeal Court has taken this common sense approach and has accepted that there is no political will to deport peaceful protesters like Ulla. It also means that in future magistrates and Sheriffs who are minded to exercise their prejudice against peaceful protesters from overseas in this way can be reminded of Lord Cullen’s decision and realise that to make such a futile recommendation will only earn them embarrassment.
We have just had our annual disarmament camp at Coulport at which there were activists from no less than eleven countries. The non-UK activists, like Ulla, with their understanding of how Britain’s weapons of mass destruction are a critical threat to the whole world, make a splendid contribution to the campaign. We are pleased this is no longer under threat. It is also worth pointing out again that in contrast to the negative response of the Procurator Fiscal service and the courts, the popular, civil and political support in Scotland for the campaign is strong."
Ulla continues to be on remand in Cornton Vale until September the 11th and faces four further trials in Helensburgh District Court for her disarmament actions.
	
21st	Ulla Roder Acquitted on Malicious Mischief Charge
21st August 2002 
Ulla Roder Acquitted on Malicious Mischief Charge
Faslane Blockaders Make Their Point	

In her second appearance in two days at Helensburgh District Court, Ulla Roder was acquitted of a charge of malicious mischief, while two people who took part in blockades of Faslane were fined. 
The Crown alleged that Ulla (46), who is from Odense in Denmark and is remanded to Cornton Vale prison until 11th September, cut the perimeter fence at Faslane naval base in December 2000, but when it became obvious from the testimony of the first police witness that there was no evidence the case against her was abandoned. She was found guilty of failing to appear at an earlier date for trial on this charge and admonished by Justice of the Peace Nicolson since she is already in prison.
Molly Harvey (62), a project co-ordinator with the Braendam Link, a charity which supports families suffering from poverty and social exclusion, faced breach of the peace charges for taking part in blockades of Faslane in October last year and February this year. Molly pointed out that nuclear weapons could destroy the northern hemisphere in about ten minutes. "It’s a crazy old world we live in," she said "when our time has to be wasted in such lengthy processes as this in order to make what seems to be a fairly obvious point. If the law has indeed to be broken to make the point, then so be it." She was fined £100 on each charge. Molly has already served time in Cornton Vale for refusing to pay a fine for a Faslane protest.
Laura (Rae) McKinley (44), a mother of three from Glasgow was alleged to have breached the peace at the blockade last October. She told the court that it was not criminal to break the law for peace; her conscience could not accept Trident. When asked by Procurator Fiscal McRae whether she had sat in the road she said she had, because she believed that everyone, including him, was entitled to be protected from Trident.
A supporter in court said: "Today these women reminded us very powerfully that the common sense, the care for humanity and the planet, the moral and legal logic is all on the side of getting rid of Trident. I just wish more people could have heard it all - maybe then the road to disarmament would be a short one."
	
20th	Ulla Roder and February Blockaders on Trial Today
20th August 2002 
Ulla Roder and February Blockaders on Trial Today	

Jailed Danish Campaigner Ulla Roder was one of three facing trial today in Helensburgh District Court for anti-Trident actions. 
Ulla (46), who is from Odense in Denmark and is remanded to Cornton Vale prison until 11th September, was appearing on two charges. In August 2000 she had been swimming close to the Explosives Handling Jetty in the Coulport armaments depot and it was alleged that she had thereby breached bye-laws. She also was charged with failure to appear at another trial. In regard to the latter charge Ulla pointed out that she had been in communication with the court to point out that she would not appear due to difficulties over legal aid. Justice of the Peace Gillies found her guilty on both counts but admonished her since she was already in prison.
For Brett Harper (20), a social work student from Aberdeen, charged with a breach of the peace at the blockade of Faslane in February this year, the link between Trident, poverty and injustice was unmistakable. He had taken part in a peaceful and good-natured protest and he looked forward to the day when the people on trial would be those involved in Trident and those in positions of authority who defended it. He was fined £100. Neil Lumsden (61), a retired countryside ranger from Edinburgh facing the same charge, spoke of his concern about the proliferation of nuclear weapons and the unthinkable outcomes of an accidental detonation. In taking part in the protest he had been acting responsibly and sensibly. He was fined £120.
	
19th	International Disarmament Camp at Coulport, Scotland
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18th	Campaigners Take Stock and Look Ahead
18th August 2002 
Campaigners Take Stock and Look Ahead	

As they take down their Coulport camp after two weeks of action at the Clyde nuclear weapon bases Trident Ploughshares members have been taking stock and looking forward to the next steps in the campaign. 
During the camp activists swam onto and painted a Trident submarine, cut their way into the Coulport base, blockaded the gates of both bases and took part in a number of vigils and commemoration events. All of the 55 arrested have been released from custody, though many have either standard bail conditions or more oppressive ones, such as an injunction to stay at least 2 miles away from the base they were arrested at. Activists have acquired a growing familiarity with the inside of police cells in Clydebank, Dumbarton and Greenock.
The camp has had a strong international flavour with representatives from all over the UK, from Ireland, Italy, France, Belgium, Finland, Germany, Columbia, the US and Japan.
Ulla Roder, who is on remand in the controversial womens’ prison, HMP Cornton Vale, until 11th September for anti-Trident actions, and has followed the events at the camp through the media and by phone, yesterday expressed her delight at the way it had gone: "It’s great when you are banged up here to know that all this good work is going on!"
Camp first-timer Lance Goodey, from Glasgow said: "For me this has been the chance not just to act for peace but to be part of a peaceful community which, however imperfectly, is putting the ideals into action through mutual support and co-operation."
As well as the 11 disarmament actions that took place during the camp a great deal of planning was done for future actions, from smaller actions to be undertaken by affinity groups to bigger events, such as THE REALLY BIG BLOCKADE of Faslane on 22nd April next year.
Gillian Sloan, who spray-painted HMS Vigilant last week, said: "We are packing up the camp now but that is far from being the end of our active opposition to Trident. We may no longer be living directly alongside the base but each of us takes the spirit of opposition and resistance into our own communities where we continue the work of disarmament. The camp has given us inspiration and energy to go in the face of the very real threats of nuclear war being issued by our government."
	
18th	Coulport Camp Updates

18th August 2002 
Coulport Camp Updates	

Press Briefings:
1st Aug 2002 - "The hippies are back!" Coulport caught out early! The hippies are back! Coulport caught out early!
5th Aug 2002 - Trident Ploughshares Blockade Faslane Trident Ploughshares Blockade Faslane
6th Aug 2002 - Trident Ploughshares and Voices In The Wilderness Shut Faslane Main Gate Trident Ploughshares and Voices In The Wilderness Shut Faslane Main Gate
6th Aug 2002 - "Don’t Fire Trident at Iraq!" "Don’t Fire Trident at Iraq!"
8th Aug 2002 - Faslane security breached again as protesters paint on Trident Faslane security breached again as protesters paint on Trident
8th Aug 2002 - Released Trident Swimmer Tells of Sub-Painting Exploit. Activist Rings Ship’s Bell on HMS Vigilant Released Trident Swimmer Tells of Sub-Painting Exploit
12th Aug 2002 - More Arrests at Faslane as Campaigners Slam UK Government Hypocrisy More Arrests at Faslane as Campaigners Slam UK Government Hypocrisy
14th Aug 2002 - "Protecting the Species" Action Day "Protecting the Species" Action Day
15th Aug 2002 - Public Gallery Cleared as Activists Appear in Court Public Gallery Cleared as Activists Appear in Court
18th Aug 2002 - Campaigners Take Stock and Look Ahead Campaigners Take Stock and Look Ahead
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15th	Public Gallery Cleared as Activists Appear in Court
15th August 2002 
Public Gallery Cleared as Activists Appear in Court	

Justice of the Peace John MacPhail today cleared the public gallery as spontaneous applause broke out when five activists appeared from custody. 
The five were held overnight after being arrested for actions against RNAD Coulport yesterday. They appeared at Helensburgh District Court this afternoon on a variety of charges. Roger Franklin (75) from Gloucestershire said he could not plead to the charge as he considered that he was decommissioning the base not committing a crime. As supporters who had come from the Trident Ploughshares camp applauded JP MacPhail demanded silence in court. Roger was given a trial date in December. As he was lead away the supporters clapped David Mackenzie’s appearance and the order was given for the court to be cleared. Reluctantly people left to wait outside. David Mackenzie pled not guilty and received a trial date in December.
Next up was David Heller (26), a volunteer with For Mother Earth in Belgium, who plead guilty to a charge of Malicious mischief, explaining the only reason for his plea was that the Crown were opposing bail and he had no faith in the court not to remand him in custody. He was fined a sum of 100 pounds.
Tiina Sarkinen (21) from Finland pled guilty for similar reasons but her sentence was deferred until the trial of her co-accused Karen Fallon from Faslane Peace Camp which will be in December.
Spokesperson Ian Roberts said: "The local courts may try to label our actions against the Trident bases as minor crimes but we have a lot of support for our citizens disarmament and we will continue until the Government recognises that Trident is the real crime"
	
14th	"Protecting the Species" Action Day
14th August 2002 
"Protecting the Species" Action Day	

At 2pm today activists at the Trident Ploughshares peace camp being held at Peaton Wood, near Coulport had a day of action in protest against the Ministry of Defence on the decision to provide a nesting box for Ospreys. 
Part of today’s action included 3 activists dressing up as birds, 1 as a cockroach, and there was also "Willis" a dog. Their aim was to expose the hypocrisy of the Ministry of Defences policy on conservation.
Activist Heather Stewart said today that a nesting box for ospreys has been kindly erected at RNAD Coulport base where trident missiles are loaded onto submarines.
It was pointed out that nuclear weapons made all life on the planet (with the possible exception of cockroaches) in danger of extinction. The ospreys have so far declined to take up residence, obviously they are aware of the dangers within the base.
Also taking part in the continuing protest against nuclear weapons were Trident Ploughshares activists, Roger Franklin(75),David Heller(26),David McKenzie(57),Claes Pettersson(24), Elisa Silvennoinen(19),Heather Stewart(17) and Jane Tallents(44) who were all arrested for offences of malicious mischief and breaching bye-laws at the base.
This brings the number of arrests during the summer 2002 Trident Ploughshare camp to 53 to date.
Ivor Birnie from Trident Ploughshares today said ’The amount of arrests during the action, from such a broad range of nationalities show that there is such an international outrage against the use of nuclear weapons."

	
13th	Devonport Seven Denied Justice
13th August 2002 
Devonport Seven Denied Justice	

In a predictable outcome, seven activists were today found guilty in Plymouth Magistrates Court of obstructing the highway and were ordered to pay fines and costs averaging around £200 for each defendant. The charge arose from an anti-nuclear protest on the day of the arrival of the Trident submarine HMS Vanguard for its refit in Plymouth. 
The defendants, six Trident Ploughshares activists, Susan Brackenbury, Richard Holt, Liz Jones, Margaret Jones, Erica Wilson and Angie Zelter, and one Plymouth resident, Gill Woods of CANSAR (Campaign against Nuclear Storage and Radiation), were angered by the refusal of District Judge Evans not to allow them to call expert witnesses, or to hear any arguments about the defendants’ motives. Veteran peace campaigner Angie Zelter chose to be absent from the trial because she said that the justice offered by the court "could as well be dispensed by a computer."
One defendant, Margaret Jones, refused to pay her fine, preferring to face prison rather than support the nuclear state.
Despite the court ban on mentioning nuclear issues, the defendants repeatedly referred to the dangers to Plymouth residents of radiation pollution and possible nuclear accidents from the dozen nuclear submarines now assembled in Devonport dockyard. They also expressed the belief that the Trident weapons system, and the current nuclear threat to Iraq from the US and the UK, make the world a more dangerous place than at any time since the Cuban missile crisis.
Lizzie Jones, a member of Trident Ploughshares, called for individuals to take responsibility for actively resisting nuclear weapons.
Supporting the Trident Seven, Sandra Leslie, a spokesperson for Plymouth Nuclear-Free Coalition (Devonport), said "We shall continue to build the campaign here in Plymouth against this crime in our back yard."
The defendants are considering appealing the court’s decision.

13th	"Breaching the War" at Coulport and in Court
13th August 2002 
"Breaching the War" at Coulport and in Court	

Today Trident Ploughshares campaigners continued their challenge to Trident in the courts and by their actions. 
Four activists were arrested this morning at the Coulport Armaments Depot on the shores of Loch Long in Scotland, where Trident warheads are stored and loaded on to the nuclear weapon submarines. During a vigil at the main gate of the depot Joy Mitchell (67), from Berwick, Joan Meredith (73), from Malpas in Cheshire, Eric Benner (21), from London and Andrew Kieran from Faslane Peace Camp sat down in the roadway, blocking the entrance to the base. All have now been released after being charged with a breach of the peace.
The demonstration was part of the disarmament camp currently being held at Coulport. In the first week of the camp there have been 46 arrests of people who have blockaded the gates to the nuclear bases at Coulport and Faslane, cut perimeter fences and, most notably, painted the word "Vile" on both flanks of a Trident submarine inside its high security berth at Faslane.
Meanwhile activists involved in a previous protest at the Faslane base were on trial today in the local court. Francesco Iannuzzelli (35), a software engineer from London and a representative of the Italian disarmament network Peacelink and Sue Brackenbury (26), a full time disarmer from Ayrshire, were found guilty in Helensburgh District Court of a breach of the peace for taking part in the October blockade of Faslane and fined £150. Francesco made the point that his protest had been peaceful. Indeed, as a newcomer to the campaign he had gone to considerable lengths to check out the nonviolent credentials of Trident Ploughshares and had been impressed with the care taken through training and preparation to ensure that the gentle ethos of the protests was maintained. His action was not a breach of the peace, it was a "breach of war".
David Mackenzie said: "This week’s court experience has shown again that the outcome of cases involving protesters in the courts that are local to the Clyde Trident bases is a lottery, given yesterday’s acquittal of Brain Brown by Sheriff Fitzsimmons and today’s return to the usual fare from Justice of the Peace Viv Dance. The pathetic failure of the British courts to take account of the violence of the state as the context for our actions must and will be challenged."
	
12th	More Arrests at Faslane as Campaigners Slam UK Government Hypocrisy
12th August 2002 
More Arrests at Faslane as Campaigners Slam UK Government Hypocrisy	

Three more Trident Ploughshares activists were arrested at Faslane last night as campaigners slammed UK government hypocrisy over weapons of mass destruction. 
Morag Balfour (29), from Glenrothes, Sue Brackenbury (26), from Catrine in Ayrshire and David Heller from Sheffield were apprehended while cutting the perimeter fence at the nuclear weapon submarine base. All were charged with malicious mischief. David and Morag have been released from custody while Sue has been held to appear in court today, since this is her second arrest at the 14 day disarmament camp at the Clyde bases, which runs until next Monday, 19th August. There have been 42 arrests since the camp began last week.
Campaigners have been taken aback by what they see as the new levels of hypocrisy reached by the UK Government in its coda to the Strategic Defence review, the "New Chapter", published in July, which includes the following:
"Those at every level responsible for any breach of international law relating to the use of weapons of mass destruction will be held personally to account."
Trident Ploughshares comment: "The New Chapter effectively confirms Britain’s utterly cynical stance on weapons of mass destruction and the law. We will apparently pursue all other lawbreakers with full rigour but it is OK for us to possess and regularly use as a threat our indiscriminate weapon of mass destruction, Trident. There is also the implicit recognition in the phrase "at all levels" that the Nuremberg Principles do apply. If these principles were honestly applied to our situation we would realise that all those involved in the Trident project, as well as civilian police forces and courts of law which protect it, are potentially implicated in war crime."
	
12th	Dumbarton Sheriff Says Faslane Blockader Did Not Breach Peace
13th August 2002 
Devonport Seven Denied Justice	

In a predictable outcome, seven activists were today found guilty in Plymouth Magistrates Court of obstructing the highway and were ordered to pay fines and costs averaging around £200 for each defendant. The charge arose from an anti-nuclear protest on the day of the arrival of the Trident submarine HMS Vanguard for its refit in Plymouth. 
The defendants, six Trident Ploughshares activists, Susan Brackenbury, Richard Holt, Liz Jones, Margaret Jones, Erica Wilson and Angie Zelter, and one Plymouth resident, Gill Woods of CANSAR (Campaign against Nuclear Storage and Radiation), were angered by the refusal of District Judge Evans not to allow them to call expert witnesses, or to hear any arguments about the defendants’ motives. Veteran peace campaigner Angie Zelter chose to be absent from the trial because she said that the justice offered by the court "could as well be dispensed by a computer."
One defendant, Margaret Jones, refused to pay her fine, preferring to face prison rather than support the nuclear state.
Despite the court ban on mentioning nuclear issues, the defendants repeatedly referred to the dangers to Plymouth residents of radiation pollution and possible nuclear accidents from the dozen nuclear submarines now assembled in Devonport dockyard. They also expressed the belief that the Trident weapons system, and the current nuclear threat to Iraq from the US and the UK, make the world a more dangerous place than at any time since the Cuban missile crisis.
Lizzie Jones, a member of Trident Ploughshares, called for individuals to take responsibility for actively resisting nuclear weapons.
Supporting the Trident Seven, Sandra Leslie, a spokesperson for Plymouth Nuclear-Free Coalition (Devonport), said "We shall continue to build the campaign here in Plymouth against this crime in our back yard."
The defendants are considering appealing the court’s decision
	
9th	Peace and Hope festival to follow week of commemoration
9th August 2002 
Peace and Hope festival to follow week of commemoration	

Plymouth locals will join members of Plymouth Trident Ploughshares this Saturday 10 August for a colourful festival for peace and hope from 12-2 pm in Plymouth Hoe Peace Garden, followed by a march through the city centre to Albert gate, Devonport Dockyard. 
The festival, which will feature face painting, African drumming, balloon modelling and spontaneous music was called to follow a week in which people all over the world remembered the atrocities at Hiroshima and Nagasaki, when atom bombs dropped by the US killed over 200,000 Japanese civilians, while Japan was seeking surrender and an end to World War 2. [Note 1]
Trident Ploughshares spokesperson Richard Byrne, a veterinary surgeon, said, "It’s important after remembering with regret atrocities like those at Hiroshima and Nagasaki that as well as looking back we look forward to a brighter future, informed by the mistakes of the past. We look forward to a future in which the British Government uses the opportunity presented by the Devonport refit to decommission the 4 Trident submarines. While the subs are at Devonport, with their fuel plates removed and their nuclear weapons removed they are in a position where they can be safely put beyond use, so that the terrible mistakes of 1945 can never be repeated by a British Government."
In November Trident Ploughshares members from all over Europe will come to Devonport for a nuclear disarmament camp. Next Wednesday 14th August Trident Ploughshares will hold a public consultation meeting at the Welcome Hall in Devonport from 7-9pm to explain what the camp is about and to hear concerns about the camp from Devonport residents. The next day there will be an open surgery at the Welcome Hall from 12-4pm for residents to discuss concerns on a one to one level
Earlier this week Trident Ploughshares activists commemorated Hiroshima Day by hanging a "Scrap Trident" banner over dockyard staff entering the Camel’s Head Gate.
Call 01503 250215/250135, 07810 623893. Photos available. For photos Trident Ploughshares actions call 07971 664847
Note 1: General Eisenhower, commander of Allied Forces in Europe, WW2, "Japan was at the very moment seeking some way to surrender... It wasn’t necessary to hit them with that awful thing."
	
8th	Faslane security breached again as protesters paint on Trident
8th August 2002 
Faslane security breached again as protesters paint on Trident	

At 3am this morning, two Trident Ploughshares activists breached the security at Faslane naval base on the Clyde. Veteran Peace Campaigner, Dave Rolstone (55) and Gillian Sloan (40) were arrested when they swam into the nuclear base and painted on the side of a Trident submarine. 
The fact that they have been charged with Malicious Mischief and from information received directly from within the base means that Trident Ploughshares can confirm that the pair did paint on the side of the berthed submarine.
Dave Rolstone, a boat builder from West Wales, has recently returned from carrying out peace work in Palestine as well as having visited Iraq three times. Gillian Sloan is a Social Worker from Edinburgh.
In a statement from the activists, they explained, "We have chosen to paint the word ’vile’ because it is an anagram of ’evil’ as well as being in line with naval policy to give the submarines names beginning with the letter ’v’."
Joss Garman of Trident Ploughshares said, "The security at Faslane has been breached several times by our activists now. Today’s action proves that the security measures at the base are still inadequate despite the increased threat from terrorists since September 11th."
This action has been the most successful attempt at disarming Trident so far during the International Trident Ploughshares Disarmament Camp. Of the 32 previously arrested, all have now been released from police custody.
Statement from Dave Rolstone and Gillian Sloan This is the statement of Dave Rolstone and Gillian Sloan made on 7th August 2002 immediately prior to an attempt to enter the high security zone of Faslane Naval Base in order to spray paint on the Trident submarine berthed therein. We have chosen to paint the word ’vile’ because it is an anagram of ’evil’ as well as being in line with naval policy to give the submarines names beginning with the letter ’v’.
The reason we are doing this action is to highlight the deteriorating world situation in what seems to be the run up to a major war with Iraq and the high probability of a nuclear exchange. British Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon has issued nuclear threats against Iraq three times in recent months.
On 20 March 2002, Geoff Hoon told the House of Commons Select Committee on Defence that states like Iraq "can be absolutely confident that in the right conditions we would be willing to use our nuclear weapons".
Then, on 24 March, Geoff Hoon appeared on ITV’s Jonathan Dimbleby show and insisted that the government "reserved the right" to use nuclear weapons if Britain or British troops were threatened by chemical or biological weapons.
Then, Hoon was asked about his threats in the House of Commons in a debate on 29 April. Hoon said, "ultimately and in conditions of extreme self-defence, nuclear weapons would have to be used".
In the House of Commons debate, Diane Abbott MP pressed the Defence Secretary for an explanation of what these ’conditions of extreme self-defence’ might be. Hoon refused to be specific. The Defence Secretary confined himself to saying that it was "important to point out that the Government has nuclear weapons available to them and that in certain specified conditions to which I have referred we would be prepared to use them".
These quotes, together with the implicit threat to use nuclear weapons in the latest MOD defence policy (SDR A New Chapter) leave no doubt that they will be used.
Having recently returned from Palestine, Dave has seen first hand the destructive nature of the British arms trade. This, together with his three visits to Iraq, has convinced him that the British government has no hesitation in recklessly breaking international and humanitarian law and is not concerned by civilian casualties.
Dave Rolstone and Gillian Sloan
"Non-co-operation with evil is as much a duty as co-operation with good" - Gandhi
	
8th	Released Trident Swimmer Tells of Sub-Painting Exploit
8th August 2002 
Released Trident Swimmer Tells of Sub-Painting Exploit
Activist Rings Ship’s Bell on HMS Vigilant	

On her release from custody this afternoon Trident Ploughshares activist Gillian Sloan has been giving details of how she and Dave Rolstone spray-painted Trident submarine HMS Vigilant. 
Gillian (40) a social worker from Edinburgh, was arrested last night inside the high security area of the base along with Dave Rolstone (55), a boat builder from Wales. Tonight she told how the pair swam into the Trident berths at 3 a.m. and spray-painted "Vile" on both flanks of the submarine, continuing with their work even after being shouted at to desist by the guards. Dave then climbed on to the boat and rang the ship’s bell. Gillian’s account completely undermines attempts by the Ministry of Defence to play down the incident.
Gillian was released after giving an undertaking that she would attend court tomorrow along with Dave who was held in custody because he had been already arrested this week. It is understood that they are charged with malicious mischief and breaching bye-laws.
Meanwhile an international group of four activists was arrested at the Coulport armaments depot, where Trident warheads are stored. Nina Rodriguez (23), from Bagneux in France, Eoin Dubski (22), from Ireland, Stream (15), from England and Danny Prior (34), from Livingston in Scotland were held after cutting the perimeter fence there. They were charged with malicious mischief.
Eoin said: "I have taken a pledge to prevent nuclear crime and that’s what I came here to do."
	
6th	"Don’t Fire Trident at Iraq!"
6th August 2002 
Coulport Camp Day 2
"Don’t Fire Trident at Iraq!"	

Two anti-nuclear protestors were arrested last night after a successful action to paint anti-Trident slogans beside the main road overlooking Faslane Naval Base. The pair arrested were Joss Garman, 17, from near Llandrindod Wells in Powys and Tiina Sarkinen from Helsinki in Finland. 
Workers travelling to the base will now be unable to avoid the messages "Don’t fire Trident at Iraq" and "No more Hiroshimas" clearly painted on both sides of the road, just 200 metres from the base.
Tiina Sarkinen said "At the moment there is a real chance the UK could use nuclear weapons against Iraq. This action was to raise people’s awareness of this, especially as today marks the anniversary of the Hiroshima bombing. Trident warheads are seven times more powerful than the bomb dropped there, even the suggestion of a repeat of this horror is completely unacceptable."
Later, at 8.30 a "die-in" was held at Faslane North Gate, called to mark twelve years since the UN imposed comprehensive sanctions on Iraq, as well as in memory of the victims of Hiroshima. The campaigners lay down in the gateway to represent Iraqi victims of sanctions and war. 22 were arrested when they refused to move.
Both of today’s actions are part of the two-week Trident Ploughshares disarmament camp which kicked off on Monday and promises more non-violent actions against the Trident system.
	
6th	Hiroshima Day commemorated at Devonport
6th August 2002 
Hiroshima Day commemorated at Devonport	

Hiroshima Day, the anniversary of the atom bombing of Hiroshima was commemorated today in Plymouth as activists from Trident Ploughsares hung a banner reading "Scrap Trident" inside Devonport dockyard. Matt Bury and Sandra Leslie from Plymouth Trident Ploughshares hung the 22 foot banner from the so called "shaky bridge" over Camel’s Head Gate at Devonport. THE BANNER WILL BE THERE UNTIL AT LEAST 10am. 
Matt said, "57 years ago today the US Government committed an atrocity which killed 140,000 people and destroyed the health of many more. Today our Government stands ready to deliver death and destruction on a far greater scale with the Trident missiles carried by submarines like HMS Vanguard."
"Each submarine carries 14 missiles, each missile carries 4 to 6 warheads. Each warhead has eight times the explosive power of the bomb which caused the atrocity we commemorate today. The International Court of Justice (The World Court) concluded in 1996 that the threat of use or use of nuclear weapons is generally contrary to international humanitarian law, illegal in other words. They also advised that the Nuremberg principles, established after the horrors of the Nazis applied to nuclear weapons. The Nuremberg principles say that it is the duty of all citizens to prevent crimes against humanity, even if it means contradicting orders. In other words all British people should feel obliged under the Nuremberg Principles to do all they can to stop our Government from threatening the world with nuclear missiles, as they are doing now with Iraq." (1)
The Plymouth Trident Ploughshares Group formed shortly after the start of the Trident refit program at Devonport. The group plans several events in the next 2 weeks, including a festival of Hope and Resistance on Saturday 10th August , Plymouth Hoe Peace Garden 12pm.
In November Trident Ploughshares members from all over Europe will come to Devonport for a nuclear disarmament camp.
Call 01503 250215/ 250030
Photos available
Note 1: Defence Minister Geoof Hoon has made 3 nuclear threats against Iraq in the past few months -
  On 20 March 2002, he told the House of Commons Select Committee on Defence that states like Iraq ’can be absolutely confident that in the right conditions we would be willing to use our nuclear weapons.’ 
  On 24 March, Geoff Hoon appeared on ITV’s Jonathan Dimbleby show and ’insisted that the government "reserved the right" to use nuclear weapons if Britain or British troops were threatened by chemical or biological weapons.’ (Richard Norton-Taylor, ’Bush’s nuke bandwagon’, Guardian, 27 Mar. 2002) 
  On 29 April Hoon was asked about his threats in the House of Commons in a debate. Hoon said, ’ultimately and in conditions of extreme self-defence, nuclear weapons would have to be used.’
	
6th	Trident Ploughshares and Voices In The Wilderness Shut Faslane Main Gate
6th August 2002 
Coulport Camp Day 2
Trident Ploughshares and Voices In The Wilderness Shut Faslane Main Gate	

This morning the Faslane North Gate was shut for about an hour from 8.30am while activists staged a peaceful die-in. August 6th was the day Hiroshima was bombed and the UN imposed comprehensive sanctions on Iraq. Around 70 demonstrators solemnly processed from Faslane Peace Camp to the North Gate entrance, accompanied by a lone drum beat. Of those who participated in the die-in 22 were arrested. 
View Photos
Activists chalked around the "dead" to symbolise the shadows left by the victims of the Hiroshima bomb. Flowers were placed on the "dead", remaining with the chalkings after the activists had gone.
The demonstration was called to highlight links between the current situation in Iraq and Trident. Gabe Huck, a member of Voices in the Wilderness USA, spoke to those assembled of the horrific implications of the 12 year sanctions on Iraq after David Mackenzie, of Trident Ploughshares, had given a personal account of his trip to Hiroshima.
Tigger MacGregor, a student at Cambridge University, spoke of the ongoing threat of nuclear weapons and the ongoing struggle to get rid of them "Our courage and conviction means we will stay until there is no more human suffering from war, there can be no more Hiroshimas, and there can be no more Nagasakis."
This action was part of the ongoing demonstrations taking place during the two-week Trident Ploughshares Disarmament Camp. So far during the disarmament camp there have been a total of 32 arrests for non-violent action taken against Trident.
	
5th	Trident Ploughshares Blockade Faslane
5th August 2002 
Coulport Camp Day 1
Trident Ploughshares Blockade Faslane	

Activists from Trident Ploughshares have used non-violent direct action to blockade the entrances to the Faslane naval base on the Clyde, home to the UK government’s nuclear weapons of mass destruction. This included six arrests and begins the two week long annual international disarmament camp at the nuclear bases near Glasgow. 
View Photos
At 6.40am today, the South gate at Faslane was closed by peace protesters and within twenty minutes the North gate was closed as well.
One of the protesters, Joss Garman, explained why people were blocking the base entrance, “We are trying to cause the maximum disruption to the base where mass murder on an unimaginable scale is being planned. Trident is illegal under International law, it is immoral and it is a complete waste of resources. Today at this moment, thousands of innocent people are starving to death from Famine in Southern Africa as our government spends £1.5 billion per year on this weapons system.”
The protest ended at about 10.30am. By this time Ivor Birnie, Robert Gibbs, Sylvia Boyes, Barbara Sutherland, Kirsty McNab and Lesley Anderson, had been arrested for allegedly breaching the peace.
Tomorrow, on the anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima and on the anniversary of the day that the UN imposed comprehensive sanctions on Iraq, Trident Ploughshares will be joining ‘Voices in the Wilderness’ to send a clear message to the government. DO NOT FIRE TRIDENT AT IRAQ.
	
2nd	Renowned Peace Activist Jailed
2nd August 2002 
Renowned Peace Activist Jailed	

Today, at Argyll and Bute District Court in Helensburgh, renowned Danish peace activist, Ulla Roder, was sent to Cornton Vale prison in Stirling after taking part in non-violent practical acts of people’s disarmament with Trident Ploughshares. 
Just as Trident Ploughshares begin their two week long international disarmament camp at the bases home to Britain’s nuclear weapons of mass destruction on the Clyde, Ulla Roder who was famously acquitted at Greenock after the disarmament of a Trident related floating laboratory and who is renowned for swimming on to a Trident and painting ’USELESS’ on the side of it last April, is jailed. This time, she has been placed on remand in relation to a number of charges including cutting the base fences on separate occasions and attempting to swim out to the submarines again.
A spokesman for Trident Ploughshares explained, "Ulla has been jailed for simply exercising her right as an International citizen to uphold International law by attempting to take peaceful steps in trying to disarm Trident. I find it particularly upsetting that as thousands starve in Southern Africa from Famine, we continue to spend £1.5 billion on an illegal and totally immoral nuclear weapons system."
Yesterday, a further three peace activists were arrested for cutting the fence at the Royal Naval Armaments Depot at Coulport. Joss Garman from Mid Wales joined Karen Fallon and Stan Robinson of Faslane Peace Camp in another peaceful protest against these weapons.
	
1st	The hippies are back! Coulport caught out early!
1st August 2002 
The hippies are back! Coulport caught out early!	

we walked for miles,
got a little lost and confused.
slightly frustrated and.....
very very wet!
but in the end we made it and the fence was in sight !!!
joss ran first with the bolt cutters, stan with the spray paint and myself with the rucksack. the cameras had spotted us by then but it was too late!
we took turns cutting the fence, stan painted "the hippies are back" and "no nukes" also a cnd sign! the mod plod were on the inside of the fence !! with a scaffolding tower, and were telling us to hurry up and get in so they could arrest us!!!
they didn’t send anyone on the outside for ages and ages but eventually a plod and a dog handler walked up to us! we were then arrested for malicious mischief and taken to the main place to be processed and given nice paper suits.
as the first tp action for the camp it went very well and the surprise of the mod was cool, but the nicest thing was the peace cranes sitting in the portacabin process center!
love and peace
karen
The MSP, who will attend the blockade, said: "It is now less than 12 months to the elections for the Scottish parliament and you can be sure those of us who are opposed to the siting of Trident on the Clyde will do our damnedest to ensure that the removal of weapons of mass destruction from Faslane is seriously discussed as part of the election campaign."
Meanwhile four protesters faced charges of breach of the peace in Helensburgh District Court. Sixth form student Heather Stewart (17), from London and university student Rachel Hand (18) were jointly charged after lying down in the gateway at Faslane on 11th February this year. Heather told the court that her study of history, in particular such movements as the suffragettes and the Chartists, had convinced her that civil disobedience was essential to social progress and she was quite ready to do what she had done again. Supporters in court were greatly impressed by the poise, skill and assurance with which these young women conducted their own defence. They were each fined £90.
Christine Cranston (38), a mother from Edinburgh who also took part in the February blockade, told Justice of the Peace Nicholson that it was "over the top" to accuse her of breaching the peace. She had not come to Faslane to give anyone any hassle, she simply wanted to make her protest. When asked by Procurator Fiscal McRae what had been the effect of her sitting in the road she replied: "My bottom got wet." She was also fined £90 as was young actress Itxaso Moreno for an alleged breach of the peace at the blockade of Faslane in October last year.

	

	

	

	

	

	

	

	
	
July
31st 	More Fines For Faslane Objectors as MSP Backs Blockade on Monday
31st July 2002 
More Fines For Faslane Objectors as MSP Backs Blockade on Monday	

Scottish Parliament member Bruce Crawford today gave his support to Monday’s blockade of Faslane naval base as more Trident protesters were fined in the local court. 
The MSP, who will attend the blockade, said: "It is now less than 12 months to the elections for the Scottish parliament and you can be sure those of us who are opposed to the siting of Trident on the Clyde will do our damnedest to ensure that the removal of weapons of mass destruction from Faslane is seriously discussed as part of the election campaign."
Meanwhile four protesters faced charges of breach of the peace in Helensburgh District Court. Sixth form student Heather Stewart (17), from London and university student Rachel Hand (18) were jointly charged after lying down in the gateway at Faslane on 11th February this year. Heather told the court that her study of history, in particular such movements as the suffragettes and the Chartists, had convinced her that civil disobedience was essential to social progress and she was quite ready to do what she had done again. Supporters in court were greatly impressed by the poise, skill and assurance with which these young women conducted their own defence. They were each fined £90.
Christine Cranston (38), a mother from Edinburgh who also took part in the February blockade, told Justice of the Peace Nicholson that it was "over the top" to accuse her of breaching the peace. She had not come to Faslane to give anyone any hassle, she simply wanted to make her protest. When asked by Procurator Fiscal McRae what had been the effect of her sitting in the road she replied: "My bottom got wet." She was also fined £90 as was young actress Itxaso Moreno for an alleged breach of the peace at the blockade of Faslane in October last year.
	
30th	More protesters in court as anti-Trident campaigners gear up for two weeks of action
30th July 2002 
More protesters in court as anti-Trident campaigners gear up for two weeks of action	

As the Trident Ploughshares campaign prepares for 14 days of disarmament action at the Clyde nuclear bases more people involved in resisting Trident were in Helensburgh District Court today. 
Coral Hallums, a mature housewife from Gillingham in Kent, was accused of causing a breach of the peace at the mass blockade of Faslane on 11th February this year. Summing up in her own defence Coral said that Trident was not only in direct contradiction to Britain’s stated commitment under the Non-Proliferation treaty to eliminate its nuclear arsenal, but it meant that nuclear warheads traveled our roads, that dangerous levels of tritium were discharged into the Tamar in Devonport and that a vast amount of money that would be better spent on the basics of human life were being squandered on a monstrous system of mass destruction. She referred to the recent statement by Geoff Hoon that Britain would use Trident “in the right conditions” coupled with the admission by junior Defence Minister Lewis Mooney that nuclear weapons were weapons of mass destruction. She quoted Martin Luther King: “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about the things that matter.”
After consideration Justice of the Peace Duncan acquitted her on the grounds that there was reasonable doubt that she had committed an offence. He made it clear that his verdict was based on the quality of evidence in the prosecution case and not on Coral’s arguments about the illegality and immorality of Trident.
Gillian Laurence, 46, a community education worker from Edinburgh, also took part in the February blockade. She pointed out that the Fringe Parade, soon to take place in Edinburgh, would disrupt the free flow of traffic in the city, yet there would be no prosecutions. She said: "Some things are more important than the free flow of traffic. Peace is a process which requires active citizenship." JP Duncan’s opinion was that her behaviour was "flagrant". He found her guilty and fined her £100.
The camp is scheduled from 4th to 19th August and will begin with a blockade of Faslane naval base on Monday 5th August (from 7 a.m.) followed by a "Die-in" at the same place the next day (Hiroshima Day, at 8 a.m.) to protest against US/UK plans for a war against Iraq which have involved the threat to use nuclear weapons. At the same camp last year activists caused considerable disruption to the work of the bases and on two occasions were able to swim into the Trident "high security" area at Faslane.
	
23rd	Two Weeks of Disarmament Action at Faslane and Coulport in August
23rd July 2002 
Two Weeks of Disarmament Action at Faslane and Coulport in August	

The Trident Ploughshares campaign against the UK’s nuclear weapons bases on the Clyde will intensify in the first two weeks of August as activists gather for a two - week international disarmament camp at Coulport, close to the Trident warhead storage depot on Loch Long. 
The camp is scheduled from 4th to 19th August and will begin with a blockade of Faslane naval base on Monday 5th August (from 7 a.m.) followed by a "Die-in" at the same place the next day (Hiroshima Day, at 8 a.m.) to protest against US/UK plans for a war against Iraq which have involved the threat to use nuclear weapons. At the same camp last year activists caused considerable disruption to the work of the bases and on two occasions were able to swim into the Trident "high security" area at Faslane.
A Trident Ploughshares spokesperson said: "Defence Minister Geoff Hoon has said that the UK is prepared to use its nuclear weapons. This is an overt admission that we as a nation are prepared to commit the most grievous war crime imaginable. It is time for us all to waken up to the horrors being prepared at Faslane and Coulport and do what we can to stop it."
Yesterday at Helensburgh District Court two more people accused of breaching the peace at Faslane blockades were found guilty and fined £100. John McKay, 51, a librarian at the Glasgow School of Art, was arrested at the blockade of Faslane this February and Gawain Little, 21, from Oxford, a member of the National Committee of Youth and Student CND took part in the blockade of the base in October last year. There was disappointment, but hardly surprise, that Justice of the Peace John MacPhail who last month acquitted Tommy Sheridan MSP on a similar charge and an almost identical case for the defence has again illustrated the chronic inconsistency of the court.
	
7th	Granny Jailed For Hiroshima Day Protest
7th July 2002 
Granny Jailed For Hiroshima Day Protest	

Today a 72 year-old grandmother was given a seven day sentence in Helensburgh District Court for refusing to pay a fine of £150 for her part in a blockade of a nuclear weapons depot on Hiroshima Day, 6th August, last year. 
Joan Meredith, from Malpas in Cheshire, is a retired teacher of deaf children, who has never been to jail before. But today she explained to JP Dance that "I feel that paying this fine would be an admission that my action in trying to prevent these terrible weapons of mass destruction was a crime".
Her fine was imposed for breach of the peace for sitting down in the gateway of the Coulport Armaments Depot on the shores of Loch Long in Scotland, where nuclear warheads are loaded on to Britain’s Trident submarines.
When offered time to think over her decision, Joan Meredith quietly told the judge "There is no point - I will not pay, whatever you decide".
In a case immediately following, an environmental engineer, Warren Canham, was found guilty of obstruction of the highway for his part in last October’s blockade of Faslane Naval Base, when over 170 people were arrested.
Despite referring to the case of MSP Tommy Sherridan, who was arrested at the same demonstration but found not guilty, Warren Canham was found guitly and fined £120. Despite having seen Joan Meredith removed from court to prison, he informed the court that he would also refuse to pay. The judge gave him one month to consider.

	
	
June
25th 	Tommy Sheridan Faslane Acquittal is Step Forward, Claim Activists
25th June 2002 
Tommy Sheridan Faslane Acquittal is Step Forward, Claim Activists	

Anti-Trident campaigners hailed MSP Tommy Sheridan’s acquittal today on a charge of breaching the peace at a Faslane blockade as a significant step forward which will cast further doubt on the police policy of mass arrests at demonstrations at the nuclear weapons base. 
Tommy was one of the 170 people arrested at the blockade of the base last October and was on trial today in Helensburgh District Court before Justice of the Peace John Macphail. Both police witnesses acknowledged that the demonstration was good-natured and friendly, though one did admit that he found the act of arresting the MSP nerve-wracking!
Tommy then submitted that there was no evidence of the alarm, distress or serious disturbance necessary to prove a charge of breach of the peace. While JP Macphail might not approve of his aims he should acknowledge that there was a right to take part in peaceful demonstrations that was the cost of living in a democratic society. Tommy then quoted from a letter he had had from Defence Minister Lewis Mooney in response to his own query about the effect of the demonstration on the work of the base. The Minister said that the operations of the base had not been affected, although there was some inconvenience.
After a long adjournment the JP returned to say that he was not persuaded that there was a sufficiency of evidence and upheld Tommy’s submission that there was no case to answer.
Trident Ploughshares campaigners were delighted with the outcome. Jane Tallents said: "The result today is highly significant. The basic facts of the case were not in dispute so when the JP says there was not "sufficiency of evidence" we can take that to mean that there was not sufficient evidence of alarm, distress or serious disturbance. In other words he has accepted that these elements need to be proved. This basic argument about breach of the peace has been made time and again by peaceful protesters in this court in recent months and it is great that at last the penny has dropped, at least for Mr. Macphail. This gives us hope that one day the courts will recognise that Trident that is the crime - not the peaceful action we take against it."
As a result of the Tommy Sheridan outcome the case of Mark Rietma, 27, a social worker from Glasgow (who was facing the same charge in the afternoon) was anticipated as a test of whether the JP would maintain his new perception of the law. In the event, the case was deserted by the Crown when a police witness failed to identify Mark.
A mass blockade of the Faslane base is planned for 22nd April 2003.
Update 26th June: Today Lyn Bliss from Luton was given 7 days for refusing to pay a fine for blockading Faslane in Feb 2000. The £100 fine imposed in Dec 2000 had been transferred to Luton, and bailiffs have been failing to collect it for some time!
Lyn will be in Holloway prison until Friday. The address is HMP Holloway, Parkhurst Road, Holloway, London N7 ONU.
	
24th	"We put our bodies where our hearts are" says Faslane Blockader
24th June 2002 
"We put our bodies where our hearts are" says Faslane Blockader	

Today a Scottish Court fined a retired lecturer for her part in a mass blockade of Faslane naval base and was told by another activist that he had no intention of attending the court for trial. 
61 year-old Pat Sanchez from Littleborough in Lancashire was one of 170 people arrested for a breach of the peace at the mass blockade of the base last October. Pat told Justice of the Peace Gillies in Helensburgh District Court that on October 22nd the demonstrators had been "putting their bodies where their hearts are". For years she had lit candles to float on the water in commemoration of Hiroshima day but the time had come to do more than that.
A supporter in court said: "In spite of Pat’s excellent defence, including a good summary of the case against Trident under international law and clear evidence that she had not caused any alarm to anyone, JP Gillies could not bring himself to apply law or logic."
Dave Rolstone, 55, a boat builder from Wales, rafted into the protected waters at Faslane along with Gillian Sloan and Ulla Roder in July last year. The raft they propelled through the water carried a banner stating "There are no hugs with nuclear arms", a model Trident missile and bright yellow CND balloons. Charged with breaching the bye-laws that define the security limits of the base, Dave turned up to trial today but was told that the case could not proceed without his co-accused, Ulla Roder, who was not present. A fresh date was set for the trial but Dave told the JP that he had already turned up five times for this trial and would not be coming for the sixth.
Meanwhile at Dumbarton Sheriff Court Trident Ploughshares activist Jenny Gaiawyn, a student from Bangor in Wales, was acquitted on a trumped-up charge of assaulting an MOD policeman from the Clyde marine unit. Last January when she was canoeing in the Gare Loch near the Faslane base when she was approached by a patrol boat and an officer was hit by one of her paddles. The police evidence was contradictory and Jenny explained her background in and commitment to nonviolence.
Sheriff Fraser accepted that the officer had been hit accidentally but he did find Jenny guilty of a breach of the peace on the grounds that she was canoeing with no lights and he fined her £100.
	
18th	"We’ll Be Back!" Promise Activists As Aldermaston Camp Ends
18th June 2002 
"We’ll Be Back!" Promise Activists As Aldermaston Camp Ends	

As the Trident Ploughshare’s international disarmament camp at atomic weapons establishment (AWE) Aldermaston ended today, activists promised to return to continue the struggle against the British government’s nuclear insanity. 
Yesterday morning two activists, David Heller (UK) and Koen Roggen (Belgium) gained entry to the base and remained undetected for an hour as they searched rooms and offices for information. Later in the day two more activists, Fr Martin Newell (UK) and Chris Gwyntopher (UK) entered the base as part of a citizens inspection of an illegal nuclear facility. The total number of arrests this camp stands at 9, and all activists have now been released from police custody.
David Heller said: "Our message is clear, we will not allow the British government to act illegally and immorally by threatening to kill millions of innocent people and ruining the environment with weapons of mass destruction. Only the truly deluded could think that this is any way to make peace."
With the disclosure of the governments plans for a new illegal weapons factory at AWE Aldermaston there is a more urgent need than ever for responsible citizens to engage in active resistance to the Trident programme.
The campaign continues...
Our campaign of direct action continues this summer with an August camp at Coulport in Scotland, near Faslane where the Trident nuclear submarines are berthed and at Devonport naval dockyard in Plymouth, where Trident submarine HMS Vanguard is being refitted. Please check the website for dates/details.
	
18th	Scottish Parliament Demonstrator Admonished
18th June 2002 
Scottish Parliament Demonstrator Admonished	

Peace Campaigner Jane Tallents was today admonished at Edinburgh Sheriff Court for a charge of breaching the peace, leaving the Crown’s prosecution of a group of Scottish Parliament demonstrators in almost complete disarray. 
Last August, Jane (44), from Helensburgh, was found guilty of a breach of the peace after taking part in a demonstration in the Scottish Parliament, when twelve activists interrupted First Minister’s Questions by dropping banners from the balcony and shouting out "The people of Scotland don’t want Trident!" Sentence was deferred until September, when, after considering a social enquiry report, Sheriff Mackinnon deferred sentence for a further nine months "to be of good behaviour".
Jane has been given leave to appeal her conviction to the High Court. Today Sheriff Mackinnon was initially inclined to defer his decision on sentence until the appeal is heard, which is unlikely to be until next year, but Jane argued that it was unfair that his decision on sentence should be further delayed. She asked him to deal with it and admonish her. After checking that the report on her behaviour was favourable he complied.
Part of Jane’s argument for admonishment was the fact that apart from her case and one still to be heard, all the demonstrators had either been acquitted or had their cases abandoned by the Crown. As Jane told the Sheriff: "The gist of the case against me was that I annoyed Presiding Officer David Steel, which I regard as the low end of breach of the peace so low in fact that all my colleagues got off."
Later Jane said: "I was pleased to be admonished today but I consider that for a citizen of Scotland "being of good behaviour" means actively confronting these weapons of mass destruction."
	
17th	Activists Enter Aldermaston As News Breaks Of New Bomb Factory
17th June 2002 
Activists Enter Aldermaston As News Breaks Of New Bomb Factory	

Today, on the last day of the Aldermaston international disarmament camp, protestors vowed to do all they could to prevent the building of a new illegal nuclear weapons factory on the site. As news was breaking that the British government are covertly developing the next generation of these illegal weapons of mass destruction in direct contravention of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), the Geneva Convention and international law, Trident Ploughshares activists camped at the Berkshire site entered AWE Aldermaston. 
Last night Delyn Harris and Janet Kilburn gained entry to the base through the perimeter fence before being arrested in what was both a practical act of disarmament and a symbolic protest against Britain’s nuclear policies. This action also highlighted ongoing lax security and prevented normal operation of the base. This morning from 6am around 40 people blockaded both entrances to the west gate, disrupting work at the base. By 7:30am 4 more people had been arrested for ’obstruction of the highway’ bringing the total number of arrests so far to 7. The four arrested were Katri Silvonen from Finland, and Paul Milling, Rachel Milling and Sylvia Boyes from the UK.
At dusk on Sunday evening Juliet McBride interrupted a police briefing by scaling three fences and entering the MOD offices by the main front door completely undetected. She managed to duck under the arm of a guard and join the meeting, before a policeman wrapped her in a jacket and carried her out in front of the obviously shocked officers. She said "The base is porous for both toxins to get out and people to easily get in. There is no way to make Aldermaston safe. I just wish the police would arrest the real criminals at AWE who are making weapons of mass destruction and breaking international law."
Protestor Gwyneth Evans said: "We already had an idea about plans to close Burghfield and are not surprised that plans are afoot to replace Trident. But this is open confirmation that the British government intends to continue posing a threat to the world and its inhabitants through nuclear weapons. Since they seem unable to listen to reason there is an urgent need for responsible citizens to engage in active resistance to the Trident programme and whatever diabolical developments will follow it."

16th	Blair Hijacks World Peace Process With Plans For New Illegal Nuclear Bomb Factory
16th June 2002 
Blair Hijacks World Peace Process With Plans For New Illegal Nuclear Bomb Factory	

Heralding a new era of government lies and hypocrisy, the Blair regime plans to build a new illegal nuclear bomb factory at atomic weapons establishment (AWE) Aldermaston near Reading in Berkshire, while telling all other non-nuclear states that they cannot have these weapons themselves. In direct contravention of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) to which we are signatories, and the Geneva Convention, the government is trying to stealthily usher in a new age of nuclear weapons production. 
These recently revealed plans which the government tried to keep secret represent a moral and environmental disaster costing the taxpayer billions of pounds. They also betray any hope of the Labour government working towards a true and stable peace based on something other than "might is right" and the threat of mutual annihilation.
Labour MP Martin Salter of Reading West, a constituency downwind of Aldermaston - said: ’I am appalled that plans have been drawn up to extend the nuclear weapons plant at Aldermaston without reference to local communities, or indeed Parliament.’
Trident Ploughshares and Aldermaston Women’s Peace Camp(aign) both condemn these plans as immoral and illegal. Now, more than ever, there is an urgent need for responsible citizens to engage in active resistance to the Trident programme. We invite anyone who is happy to abide by our non-violence guidelines to join us in denouncing this nuclear madness and celebrating life and hope.
The Trident Ploughshares international disarmament camp at AWE Aldermaston continues today and tomorrow, ending on Tuesday 18th.
	
14th	Local Support Grows For Anti-Nuclear Campaign
14th June 2002 
Local Support Grows For Anti-Nuclear Campaign	

Yesterday, as Trident Ploughshares activists set-up the international disarmament camp at atomic weapons establishment (AWE) Aldermaston, local people visited the camp offering support and encouragement. 
Farmers in the area who helped a protestor whose car had broken down said that they were very concerned about pollution from the bomb factory and the effect the base has on the value of property and farmland. Another resident who was asked directions to the camp knew little about what went on inside the gates of Aldermaston. She was clearly shocked to discover that it was a nuclear weapons factory, areas of which are highly contaminated.
Recent disclosures by the Ministry of Defence signal a new and dangerous shift in this nuclear era. Geoff Hoon stated that the UK is prepared to use nuclear weapons against "rogue" states such as Iraq. Thus the UK’s nuclear weapons are no longer merely for deterrence but for war-fighting as well. This clearly contradicts the UK’s "no first strike" policy and the principle of proportional response. Ploughshares activist Jenny Gaiawyn said "Britain’s illegal and immoral message is "you punch us and we’ll nuke you". How can this help any peace process?".
PROGRAMME OF EVENTS
Fri 14th : Leafleting of local residents and non-violence training.
Sat 15th : Carnival and march from Reading station to the town centre starting at 11am.
Sun 16th : Multi-faith service outside main gate of AWE Aldermaston on the A340 beyond Tadley Village at 2:30pm. Mon 17th : Lunchtime Picnic and guided tour of AWE Burghfield from 12 o’clock.
Tue 18th : Take down camp.
Individual affinity group actions will take place against the bases throughout the camp. Please contact Marcus (details below) if you would like to cover an affinity group action during the camp.
Trident Ploughshares was established in 1998 to challenge the UK’s illegal and immoral possession and threatened use of nuclear weapons. Trident Ploughshares activists pledge to dismantle the UK’s nuclear arsenal in a peaceful, non-violent, open and accountable manner. So far in the campaign there have been 1,715 arrests, 277 trials, 1,615 days spent in prison and £41,016.70 of fines and compensation orders. We invite anyone who is happy to abide by our non-violence guidelines to join us as responsible global citizens in condemning this nuclear madness and celebrating life and hope.
	
13th	Political Messages Of Support Continue To Flood In For Anti-Nuclear Campaigners
13th June 2002 
Political Messages Of Support Continue To Flood In For Anti-Nuclear Campaigners	

Strong messages of support from politicians for the Trident Ploughshares international disarmament camp at the Aldermaston atomic weapons establishment continue to flood in as the camp begins: 
From Simon Thomas MP: " ...I am writing to wish you well in your attempts to disarm the British Trident system and fully support your campaign of non-violent direct action against such weapons of mass destruction."
From Robin Harper MSP: "Dear all at Aldermaston, Congratulations and best wishes for keeping the issue in the public eye and focusing people’s attention on the fact that we still make and research nuclear weapons in the heart of the English countryside. I remember joining the 1959 Aldermaston March, 43 years is not a long time in the great scheme of things - we must win eventually!"
From Cynog Dafis AM: "Unfortunately it will not be possible for me to be at the Aldermaston action, but I would like to register my absolute support, including my admiration for your persistence and resolve. Nuclear weapons are still a threat, and the capacity for destruction is terrible. We must oppose any mention of their use in any context and that is why the words of Geoff Hoon are so terrible."
From Michael Russell MSP: "Can I congratulate all those who continue to stand up and remind the world of the madness of nuclear weapons and the need to oppose them and the immorality they represent. Recent tensions between India and Pakistan have highlighted how humanity has brought into the world a potential destroyer of nations and people. But humanity can also banish this spectre if it chooses and my thoughts are with those who are at the disarmament camp in the coming week. They are showing a wisdom that the world needs to follow."
	
12th	20th Birthday of Faslane Peace Camp: Activists Enter Base
12th June 2002 
20th Birthday of Faslane Peace Camp: Activists Enter Base	

Today, on the 20th birthday of Faslane Peace Camp, ten activists were arrested inside the fence of Faslane. Five members were of the Ceilidh Creatures affinity group of Trident Ploughshares, and along with six others are currently staying at the Peace Camp. The activists, including a Finnish woman and an Australian man, cut their way into the base at the oil fuel depot. It was six-and-a-half hours before the final activists was arrested. One person was not arrested. 
Barbara Maver from Edinburgh spray painted a peace symbol on the side of a building before being arrested for malicious mischief and breach of bye-laws. Gillian Sloan, also from Edinburgh, spray painted a peace symbol on the sea wall as a future reminder to the patrol boats that protesters had been there.
In her remarks to the arresting officers, Gillian said, "there are billions of pounds being spent inside this base while people in our inner cities and elsewhere are living in poverty and suffering from the effects of crime and addiction. This is a scandalous situation".
	
11th	Grandmother Jailed for Faslane Protest
11th June 2002 
Grandmother Jailed for Faslane Protest	

Grandmother Olivia Agate was today sent to Cornton Vale prison in Scotland after refusing to pay a fine imposed on her for taking part in the Big Blockade of Faslane naval base, home to the UK’s nuclear weapon submarine fleet, in February last year. 
Olivia, 61, a grandmother of four and a former health visitor from Skipton in Yorkshire, appeared this morning in Helensburgh District Court to explain why she had not paid the fine of £150 she was given at her March trial. She told Justice of the peace Viv Dance, who presided at her trial in March: "My conduct was not disorderly and I did not commit a breach of the peace. I will not compensate this court for its misguided interpretation of the law."
She also criticised the JP for not taking into account in her sentence the fact that after Olivia’s arrest last February she had been subjected, along with nine other women, to a completely unnecessary strip-search and other processes designed to humiliate her in Kilmarnock Police Station. She went on: "I got up at 5 a.m. to come to Scotland to take responsibility for my actions. I am asking you to take responsibility and deal with this matter now. I have already had experience of the bailiffs and that is just like an extended prison sentence in one’s own home."
JP Dance said that she recalled her reasons for finding Olivia guilty at the trial. She acknowledged that she had no intention of paying the fine and sentenced her to seven days.
Also in court was Dr. Margaret Jones, 53, a freelance writer from Bristol. She was found guilty of breach of the peace at the mass blockade of Faslane on October 22 last year. Margaret explained that she had come to Faslane after it had dawned on her that Trident was capable of destroying one third of the planet. She had not come to cause a ruck - peace campaigners were not hooligans. If anyone was causing alarm and distress it was the UK government. Supporters in court were impressed with how well she mounted a good legal defence to a breach of the peace charge but showed that the real problem is Trident itself.
JP Dance was less impressed and found her guilty, fining her £150. As she left the court a warrant for her arrest was served relating to another charge and she was taken into custody and will appear again in court tomorrow.
Ian Shimmin, 31, from Faslane Peace Camp was next. At the blockade of the base this February he had climbed onto the top of the North gate and it was over three hours before the police got him down by building special scaffolding. When it became clear that he had not been warned to desist by the police JP Dance accepted a plea of no case to answer on the breach of the peace charge, but he was found guilty of malicious damage to the razor wire and fined £100.
Maureen Ukairo, a pensioner and retired home care worker from London was fined £150. She said: "I represent a large number of sympathisers who can’t protest in this way."
	
11th	Scottish High Court Finds Helensburgh Court All at Sea Again
11th June 2002 
Scottish High Court Finds Helensburgh Court All at Sea Again
Compensation order of £1495.13 Wiped Out	

Today the Scottish Court overturned a hefty compensation order imposed by Helensburgh District Court on two peace campaigners who breached the perimeter fence at the Faslane Trident submarine base. 
Jean Oliver (41), a youth worker with the YMCA from Biggar in Lanarkshire, and Douglas Shaw (51), a librarian, also from Biggar, were found guilty last in December of last year of breaching the bye-laws which apply to the base and with causing malicious damage. They cut their way into the oil-depot to the north of the base in November 2000.
Lords McLean and Macfadyen decided that the sentencing procedure had been flawed. At the original trial no evidence had been led about the cost of repairs to the fence and the issue of compensation was not even mentioned until after the verdict.
When the Procurator Fiscal claimed that it would cost £1495.13 to repair the damage, Jean and Douglas attempted to challenge this but JP Dance, hearing that the estimate had been given by the MOD facilities manager, was satisfied that it was "robust" and ordered them each to pay half that sum. Their Lordships said that they thought the figure seemed excessive but as the accused had represented themselves and could not have been expected to be aware of the proper procedure they quashed the compensation order altogether.
Jean said: "We are delighted at the outcome. The order was totally unfair. It is bad enough that they prosecute us for protesting against nuclear weapons. Their incompetence and injustice just adds insult to injury."
	
10th	District Court Rejects Lloyd Quinan’s Human Rights Submission in Faslane Case
10th June 2002 
District Court Rejects Lloyd Quinan’s Human Rights Submission in Faslane Case	

Today Helensburgh District Court rejected a submission from MSP Lloyd Quinan that it should refer to the Scottish High Court the question of whether his human rights had been breached by being prosecuted for breach of the peace at two blockades of Faslane. 
Lloyd was arrested at the mass blockades of the nuclear weapons base in February and October last year. Appearing for Lloyd, solicitor advocate John Scott (chair of the Scottish Human Right Centre) argued that the High Court should be asked to give the lower court its advice on the applicability to the case of Sections 10 and 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights which deal with the right of expression and of peaceful assembly. In his view the core of the issue was defining where the boundaries of the right to protest lay in a democratic society and whether this prosecution was going too far.
This issue had not been dealt with by the High Court in the Smith v Donnelly appeal or in the Lord Advocate’s Reference on the Trident Three trial, although it had been referred to in both.
In John Scott’s view the High Court were practically inviting someone to raise the matter. His submission was neither trivial nor a ploy to avoid trial but was a genuine attempt to get the High Court’s advice on a crucial issue on which the law had not been defined. Furthermore, a Spanish case raised under the Convention had shown that an elected representative had an enhanced right of freedom of expression, as relevant to his or her public duty.
Procurator Fiscal Boyd referred to the clauses within Sections 10 and 11 of the EHCR which made it clear that the rights in question were not absolute. Citizens may exercise their rights must still stay within the criminal law and that would be a matter for the trial. John Scott countered by quoting Lord Hope to the effect that these matters were proper for the High Court to consider. Further, this was the only point in the process at which they could be raised.
Justice of the Peace John MacPhail rejected the submission after a short adjournment and then went on to refuse leave to appeal against his decision. Trial was set for 9th September. Lloyd Quinan said: "I was disappointed with the outcome. This should be dealt with by the High Court, not by one in which the magistrate has to borrow the relevant law book from the defence lawyer!"
Jane Tallents said: "Whether people are being found guilty of Breach of the Peace for protesting about Trident does not just depend on the facts of the case but also on the courts interpretation of the law. Breach of the Peace is being applied so inconsistently in the Helensburgh and Dumbarton courts that it really should be sent to the High Court for clarification before we all completely lose our faith in the justice system."
On trial today in the same court was Anna Coldham (22), from Faslane Peace Camp, who was charged with a breach of the peace at the Big Blockade of Faslane last February when she locked herself to an MOD cherry-picker which was on its way to remove protesters from a protesters’ tripod which was blocking the road to the base’s south gate. She was found guilty and fined £60.
	
Protesters Act to Halt Nuclear Crime at AWE Aldermaston
	
At about midday on Thursday June 6 two anti-nuclear activists cut down swathes of fencing of the nuclear bomb factory at Aldermaston in Berkshire, sixty miles from Bristol, in a bid to prevent what their campaign organisation, Trident Ploughshares, terms "nuclear crime." 

Ray Davies, County Councillor for Caerphilly, is also former Mayor of Bedwas and Machen, and well-known in Wales for his history of direct action against nuclear weapons. Freelance writer and activist Dr. Margaret Jones is an environmental and peace campaigner who has lived in Bristol for the past ten years. Both protesters are members of the "Telesubbies" affinity group of Trident Ploughshares, who were on hand to support the action. Davies and Jones cut the fences in order to force the bomb factory to suspend its operations while the fencing is repaired. This action is a prelude to the Trident Ploughshares Disarmament Camp at AWE Aldermaston from 13 to 18 June.
Margaret Jones says: "We acted to uphold international law, and to disarm a criminal weapons system that threatens the only planet we have. AWE Aldermaston is an evil death factory. The sooner it’s closed down the better"
Councillor Davies says: "My motivation for trespassing on the facility is the horror of nuclear war looming towards us from the Indian subcontinent. It is our planes, our tanks, our missiles and nuclear technology which make this madness possible, and it all emanates from the Atomic Weapons establishment. Our arms industry is responsible for the deaths of millions of people, in Iraq, Palestine and Afghanistan. Whilst we create and sell this evil technology, our bus and rail services crumble, hospital waiting lists get longer and our education system is cash starved. The cost of this nuclear madness is millions of pounds annually."
They were released on bail later on Thursday afternoon and bailed to appear before Reading Magistrates on Thursday 20 June. They intend to plead Not Guilty on the defence of Lawful Excuse and will seek a jury trial.

	

	

	
	
May
31st 	Faslane Blockader Committed No Crime, Says Sheriff
31st May 2002 
Faslane Blockader Committed No Crime, Says Sheriff	

In a significant break with the regular response of the local courts to protests at the nuclear weapons bases in the Clyde estuary a Dumbarton sheriff today dismissed the case against a Faslane protester and said that the charge of "breach of the peace" had been completely re-shaped since the Smith versus Donnelly appeal. 
On trial for a breach of the peace was 70 year-old retired company director Alan Wilkie from Edinburgh, who took part in the Big Blockade of Faslane on 12th February 2001. Alan represented himself and in his cross-examination of the police witnesses was able to show that the North gate of the base where the protest took place had been closed and that the police had diverted all vehicular traffic away from the base to avoid any risk to pedestrians taking part in the protest. The Crown witnesses also confirmed that Alan’s action had not been flagrant and had not caused the degree of alarm or disturbance necessary to prove the complaint, in the now famous clarification given by the High Court in Smith V Donnelly.
At the conclusion of the Crown case Alan submitted that there was no case to answer. He was accused of interrupting the free flow of traffic, but that in fact had been done by the police diversion and by the base closing its gate. His actions had not met any of the criteria for a breach of the peace.
Sheriff James Scott agreed that the accusation of halting the traffic could not stand. Noting that Alan had accurately structured his cross examination around the terms of the High Court Opinion in Smith v Donnelly he said that Procurator Fiscal Donnelly must rue the day he brought Pamela Smith to Helensburgh District Court since her appeal that re-shaped the structure of the breach of the peace offence, at least "in this part of the world where we have the demonstrations." He accepted Alan’s submission and dismissed the case.
A delighted Alan Wilkie said: "That was a fair trial and the Sheriff showed good sense and understanding. What a pity we have to go to such lengths to show that we are not committing a crime when we protest against Trident."
	
22nd	Protester Wins Rare Appeal Court Hearing
22nd May 2002 
Protester Wins Rare Appeal Court Hearing	

An anti-nuclear protester from Newcastle yesterday won his hearing at Edinburgh’s Appeal Court, after just 15 minutes of legal argument. The hearing, at the Appeal Court (High Court of Justiciary) in the old Parliament buildings, Parliament Square, Edinburgh, was on a petition to the "Nobile Officium" of the court. 
This kind of petition hearing is rarely used and even more rarely successful.(1) Recent instances of its use include an attempt by the BBC to allow full television recording of proceedings in the Lockerbie trial in The Netherlands - but on that occasion the BBC’s senior advocates failed to be granted their petition.
Andrew Gray, aged 34, a librarian from Newcastle, represented himself yesterday morning. He argued that, because he had not received a letter from the High Court, he should be entitled to continue with his appeal despite missing a legal deadline, in the interests of justice and equity.(2)
After a few questions from three judges and a submission from the Advocate Depute (lawyer representing the Crown), the chair of the judges (Lord Kirkwood) stated, "justice will be done if we grant the prayer of the petition", and enabled the appeal to continue.
The unusual hearing arose from a protest at Faslane naval base in February 2001, on Andrew’s 33rd birthday, when he was arrested and charged with "breach of the peace". He was later convicted at Helensburgh District Court in September 2001, but has appealed on the grounds that the nature of his protest, given the immorality of the weapons system that he and others were trying to disrupt, did not pass the "flagrancy" test required for conviction.
Despite yesterday’s success, there is no certainty that his appeal will be heard or successful, but it will at least be considered by the High Court.
Speaking on Tuesday evening, Andrew said: "I suggested to the court this morning that they could avoid future hearings like this one very easily, by using ’Recorded Delivery’ to send out their letters. I don’t think they accepted that argument, but then I always knew that reforming the practice of the High Court would be difficult - perhaps even harder than reforming Britain’s nuclear weapons policy. But they recognised basic standards of justice when they saw them: we’re hoping that they’ll eventually take a similar attitude to our arguments about international law and the morality of Britain’s weapons of mass destruction."
NOTES
(1) The ’nobile officium’ powers of the Scottish Appeal Court are a form of ’equity’ jurisdiction, enabling it to correct miscarriages of justice where no other procedures are allowed by law. The powers are invoked by a petition to the appeal court judges.
(2) Specifically, Andrew was arguing that he should be allowed to appeal against refusal of leave to appeal. Because he had not received the notice or ’intimation’ of refusal of leave to appeal, he had not been able to submit an appeal against refusal within the 14 days required by law. The intimation was sent from the High Court on 18th December but apparently lost in last year’s Christmas post.
	
17th	Bailiffs Again for Cromer Peace Activist
17th May 2002 
Bailiffs Again for Cromer Peace Activist	

Cromer magistrates decided today to ask bailiffs to recover unpaid fines incurred for anti-Trident actions from Cromer peace activist Rupert Eris. 
Rupert, 38, a conservation warden and special education assistant, was fined £50 and £100 on two separate occasions by Helensburgh District Court for the peculiarly Scottish (and ironic) offence of "breach of the peace" after taking part in blockades of Faslane naval base in the Clyde estuary, home to Britain’s four Trident nuclear weapon submarines. Rupert has on principle refused to pay these fines, which were transferred to his local court. Bailiffs had been already instructed but failed to make any progress.
The interest of the Cromer magistrates today was simply to extract payment. They did not send Rupert to prison but decided instead to instruct bailiffs again since the court now uses new firm of bailiffs believed to be more "effective". Rupert did suggest that they could "remit" the fine, i.e., decide that he did not have to pay, but the court were under the impression that they only could do this after assessing the defendant’s means and agreeing on that basis that he could not pay. Since Rupert has made it plain that his means are irrelevant to the question they said could not take that route.
Rupert said: "I am not trying to be awkward, but if I pay up I feel that would be admitting that it was right for me to be convicted of these alleged offences. I did no wrong, I was trying to preserve the peace, not breach it. I was upholding the law, not breaking it. It is Trident, an indiscriminate weapon of mass destruction, which breaches the peace and breaks the law."
Rupert is a member of the Trident Ploughshares campaign, committed to nonviolent direct action against Trident. Since the campaign began 4 years ago, there have been 1715 arrests, 1619 days have been spent in jail (not counting police cells) and fines and compensations orders to the value of over £41,000 have been imposed.

17th	Crown fails to notice the war at Devonport Trident case
17th May 2002 
Crown fails to notice the war at Devonport Trident case	

The judicial process ground on, startlingly oblivious to the real world, today at the pre-trial hearing in Plymouth of seven people who were arrested for obstruction at February’s national demonstration against the refitting of a nuclear weapons submarine at Devonport 
The seven, Susan Brackenbury, Richard Holt, Liz Jones, Margaret Jones, Erica Wilson, Jill Wood and Angie Zelter, were charged with willful obstruction of the highway after they sat down in the roadway and blocked the dockyard’s Drake Gate on 3rd February. The demonstration was timed to coincide with the arrival in Devonport for refit of HMS Vanguard, the first of the four British Trident submarines to be commissioned.
During today’s hearing the Crown Prosecution Service asserted that "there can be no question that we are in a time of peace" as the Plymouth Evening Herald was reporting Marines based at Devonport engaging in gun battles with alleged Taliban fighters in Afghanistan.
The District Judge, drafted in from London apparently because members of the Plymouth judicial staff had been spotted on the video participating in the aforementioned anti Trident demonstration, decided that international law which states that Trident is illegal was not relevant to a case about a demonstration against it’s possession and deployment, refusing to allow expert witnesses to testify about the illegality of Trident.
Defence lawyer Nick Grief, a Professor of Law at Bournemouth University said, "I’m very disappointed at the Court’s refusal to allow any discussion of the incompatibility of Trident with Britain’s obligations under international humanitarian law, as enshrined in instruments like the Geneva Convention of 1949 and the Additional Protocols of 1977. Trident is such a large weapon, by no stretch of the imagination can it distinguish between civilians and the military, as required by the Geneva Convention."
Angie Zelter has refused "as a matter of principles" to take any further part in the proceedings which she dismissed as a "mockery of justice". She said, "By refusing to look at the serious reasons for our actions at Devonport the magistrate is refusing to be a human being and we might as well be tried by a computer."
The date for the trial was set as Monday August 12th-16th.
	
14th	Former Magistrate Fined For Faslane Blockade
14th May 2002 
Former Magistrate Fined For Faslane Blockade
Scottish High Court Trident Ruling "Invalid"	

Among those fined today by a Scottish court for taking part in the blockade of Faslane last October was a former magistrate from Birmingham who drew to the court’s attention the radical criticism by a noted international lawyer of the Scottish High Court Opinion on the Trident Three trial. 
All five on trial today submitted that there was no case to answer on the charge of breach of the peace partly on the grounds of inconsistencies in police evidence but mainly because there was no evidence of the alarm, distress or disruption that is in law required to prove the charge. Justice of the Peace Nicholson rejected all these submissions.
Former Magistrate Paul Milling, 58, was jointly charged with his wife Rachael Milling, 55, a volunteer co-ordinator, (both from Birmingham) for blocking one of the entrances to the fuel depot to the north of the base. As well as questioning the police evidence and showing that there was no evidence of a breach of the peace, Paul argued that their actions were justified on the grounds of necessity, in the light of the increased level of the threat of the use of Trident as illustrated in the recent statements of Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon. The Scottish High Court, in reviewing the acquittal of the Trident Three, had said that the defence of necessity was invalid, but that Opinion had been subject to considerable legal criticism, notably by US International law expert Charles Moxley.*
JP Nicholson’s guilty verdict surprised the ex-magistrate who was convinced that his defence was well founded in law. He and Rachel were fined £100 and £120, the difference being due to the lack of evidence that Paul was joined to other blockaders by a lock-on tube.
Myra Garrett 68, a community worker from London, Debbie Mace, 41, voluntary sector finance worker from London and Aneta Bradley, 27, a youth worker from Stocktonon-Tees, were all fined £100. Aneta gave an inspired account of the human case against Trident and in finishing said "The only fear and distress that I saw at Faslane last October was that caused by Trident. The only breach of the peace is that threatened by Trident."
*See the current edition of the Scottish Juridical Review.
	
13th	Kirk Minister Says No to Faslane Fine
13th May 2002 
Kirk Minister Says No to Faslane Fine	

The minister of Elderslie Church of Scotland in Renfrewshire has told a Scottish Court that he will not pay a fine of £150 he incurred today for his part in the protest at Faslane on 12th February last year. 
Rev. David McLachlan, 45, one of the 385 arrested at the Big Blockade of the nuclear weapons base, was answering a charge of breach of the peace at Helensburgh District Court. He pointed out that his actions had been peaceful and orderly and no traffic had been held up, since it had already been diverted by the police. He had not made up his mind to join the blockade but the sight of a group of old-age pensioners sitting down in the gateway had put him to shame and he joined them. He told Justice of the Peace Viv Dance "Trident is an affront to Jesus Christ."
Also fined today were Jessica Edwards, 22, a student from Manchester, for taking part in the blockade of the base last October and Pamela Smith for breaching the military bye-laws. In August 2001, during the Trident Ploughshares disarmament camp, she had been inside the fuel depot to the north of the base and had been arrested. Her claim that the bye-laws did not cover the depot was rejected by JP Dance, who was content to accept the word of a police witness to the contrary.
Scottish CND campaigns worker Phill Jones, 39, from Milton of Buchanan, had a diet of debate about the validity of a bye-law charge against him relating to a boat action near the Coulport base in August 2000. JP Dance rejected his submission that the Secretary of State had no powers in Scots law to impose the bye-law and decided that the case should go to trial.
	
10th	Peaceful Protests Continue at Faslane Naval Base
10th May 2002 
Peaceful Protests Continue at Faslane Naval Base	

This morning at 9am four protestors peacefully sat down and blockaded the north gate of the Trident nuclear submarine base at Faslane, Scotland. The main gates were closed for one hour until 10am when all four were arrested and charged with Breach of the Peace. They were all released at 2pm. 
The four arrested were:
Joy Mitchell (68), from Berwick
Morag Balfour (28), from Glenrothes
Jane Tallents (43), from Helensburgh
David Mackenzie (57), from Tillicoultry
Faslane houses Britain?s four Trident submarines, whose deadly arsenal is over a thousand times more powerful than the Hiroshima bomb which killed at least 140,000 people in 1945.
Once again the simple but powerful and symbolic act of placing their bodies in the way to disrupt operations at this base gives the clear message that ordinary citizens will not allow the British government to continue this ongoing crime which is linked to so much of the terror and oppression in the world today.
On his release, David MacKenzie said "As UK citizens we are appalled that our government is actively threatening to use our Trident nuclear weapons. The least we can do is to put ourselves in the way of a terrible war crime."
Note: Faslane nuclear submarine base has also recently been the scene of protests by base workers opposing the government’s privatisation plans for the running of the base. Workers say that safety will be compromised and jobs lost.
	
8th	Granny Fined For Hiroshima Day Protest
8th May 2002 
Granny Fined For Hiroshima Day Protest	

Today a 72 year-old grandmother was fined £150 in Helensburgh District Court for taking part in a blockade of a nuclear weapons depot on Hiroshima Day, 6th August, last year. 
Joan Meredith, from Malpas in Cheshire, was charged with a breach of the peace for sitting down in the gateway of the Coulport Armaments Depot on the shores of Loch Long in Scotland, where nuclear warheads are loaded on to Britain’s Trident submarines.
Prosecuting, Procurator Fiscal Alastair Simpson put it to her that she could have protested just as effectively by remaining on the pavement and waving a flag. Joan replied "The time for standing on pavements and waving flags is over, as far as I’m concerned. Time is running out for me."
Later Joan explained: "Four years ago I signed the Trident Ploughshares pledge which committed me to taking direct action against this terrible weapon system. There is no way I am going back to my old ways of campaigning. The situation is much too urgent for that."
Earlier Jonathan Kennedy, 22, a health care assistant from Bristol, was fined £100 by the magistrate, Justice of the Peace John MacPhail, for an alleged breach of the peace at the Big Blockade of Faslane naval base in February 2001, when he was one of 385 arrested. He told the court that he had not gone into the legal arguments in any depth but common sense made it plain that weapons like Trident breached international law. Since Trident could only be used with murderous intent, it had to be illegal.
	
7th	Bingley Magistrates Jail Peace Activist
7th May 2002 
Bingley Magistrates Jail Peace Activist	

Today Bingley Magistrates sent veteran peace campaigner Sylvia Boyes to jail for seven days after she refused, on grounds of conscience, to pay two fines imposed on her for sit-down protests. 
Sylvia (57), from Keighley in Yorkshire, was fined £150 on two occasions by Helensburgh District Court for the peculiarly Scottish offence of "breach of the peace" after taking part in blockades of the nuclear weapons bases at Faslane and Couport in the Clyde estuary. The fines were transferred to her local court and today she appeared to explain why they had not been paid.
Brushing aside as irrelevant questions from the bench about her financial circumstances, Sylvia told the court that she was refusing to pay on grounds of conscience. The British government was ready to point out the illegality of the nuclear arsenals of other states but was unable to admit that its own Trident system breached international humanitarian law and had failed to act on its treaty agreements to eliminate its nuclear weapons. A government could not function without the support of a great number of civil agencies, including the police and the judicial system.
She could not accept a fine from a judicial system which supported the Government even when it behaved illegally. She had acted peacefully to uphold humanitarian law, which had much more serious implications for us than some catch-all charge of breach of the peace.
The response of the magistrates was unimaginative. Their job was simply to make sure the fines were paid and as far as they were concerned the case itself had been dealt with by the courts and was at an end. "Not for me it isn’t!" said Sylvia. She was sentenced to seven days in prison and is likely at least to begin her sentence in Newhall prison near Wakefield.
In January 2001 Sylvia, along with fellow campaigner River, was acquitted of conspiracy to cause criminal damage by a jury in Manchester Crown Court after attempting to damage Trident submarine HMS Vengeance in November 1999.
	
1st	Overwhelmed by the taste of porridge
1st May 2002 
News Report
Overwhelmed by the taste of porridge
by the Glasgow Herald	

As a minister’s wife Molly Harvey was an unlikely prison inmate, but she tells RON FERGUSON about her three days in the notorious Cornton Vale Prison. 
Molly Harvey, a 62-year-old minister’s wife from Glasgow, has often visited Cornton Vale prison for women. Her most recent visit was different. This time the mother of four and grandmother of five was in the notorious jail to serve a sentence for non-payment of a fine.
Along with fellow members of the Iona Community, Molly Harvey was arrested after taking part in a communion service and sitting in the road outside Faslane military base.
She refused to pay the £150 fine, and was summoned before the Means Enquiry Court in Glasgow. These are excerpts from her diary:
Friday, 9.15am - in court and very nervous "The non-payment of my fine is a continuation of my protest against the British government’s possession of weapons of mass destruction."
"You realise I have no alternative but to send you to prison?"
"Yes, and I’m prepared to accept the consequences of my action."
"Seven days in Cornton Vale." Officer who took me out: "What did you go and do that for? I’m sorry I’m going to have to lock you in."
10.30am "We’re going to transfer you to Turnbull Street. Are you going to give me any grief?"
"No."
"Then I’ll not put you in handcuffs. Are you a teacher or something?"
At Turnbull Street, searched, and all property gone through by lovely wee woman officer. "I’ll just get you a wee cup of tea."
Then almost immediately to sheriff court, handcuffed. Over the river and into Gorbals. Not easy to get out of the van with handcuffs on. Into the cages below the sheriff court - one to myself, about the size of our bathroom. A lot of coming and going. Men’s cages down to right - couldn’t see them, but could hear constant stream of Glasgow patter, effing and blinding, yelling, drunken roaring.
Hey, Turren Key, you’ve got a great pair of legs."
"Turren Key, I need a s****, now."
"I’ve got an audience with the Pope at three o’clock."
"F*** the Strathclyde Polis."
4.30pm Taken to Corton Vale. Scariest bit of all was being driven in a police van, four of us handcuffed to one another, at what seemed to be a very high speed. Reception, registration, taken by officer to cubicle. Issued with towel and bathrobe. Strip-searched, then shower - on own - and back to cubicle where wee pile of clean clothes was waiting: T-shirt (green), sweatshirt (grey), trousers (black), new knickers (three pairs, white, flowery), and socks (two pairs, white).
Seen by nurse and by officer (male) in a wee cubicle. He questions me as to any concerns I might have, and whether I might commit suicide. Taken over to the Younger Unit, which feels tatty and run-down. Given a pint of milk and a packet of teabags and shown to my cell: bunk beds down one side, counter-top down the other, on which sat a telly, a kettle, and two blue plastic mugs and spoons. Clean bedding and "welcome" pack with toothbrush and paste, shampoo, comb, and soap.
Told I’ll be having someone else in with me. Wonder how I’ll cope if it’s a gallous young lassie out of her mind with drugs. Very pleased when C arrives, middle-aged woman. Chat a bit. She’d been arrested in her house at 1am and has spent the day in police cell. She is worried, and a bit tearful, about her family. Taken to get a supply of hospital potties, for using as loo during night. Normal practice appears to be to use the sink.
Saturday and Sunday
Very much the same, except that on Sunday we’re asked if anybody wants to go to church. I’m in toast queue which is fairly important, so I don’t - a few do. Medication queue. Offered hepatitis B jag - might as well take whatever’s going. Has to be followed up by own GP in a month. (Imagine the question: "Where did you get the first jag?")
Meal and medication queues are point of contact with rest of unit (about 20-30 altogether, some on floor above us), and people tend to drop in and out of each other’s cells. Several people ask what I’m in for. They’re familiar with nuclear protestors - screw tells me we’re known as "tree huggers".
About 85% of the women in Cornton Vale are in for drugs-related offences, and many of them are mothers.
Attractive young girl says she has 25 drugs-related charges, desperate to get off, and has been out and in. "I didn’t think you were a druggie. My dad says that’s what I should be in here for - protesting - not what I am in for."
Lunch: hamburger, chips, and beans one day, baked potato and coleslaw and salad the next.
"Dubbed" (locked up) for an hour or so after lunch. Doze off and am wakened with beautiful flowers sent from Stirling CND - lovely! "Ya spoi-elt bitch!" says my cellmate.
We’re both in tears when I leave on Monday morning. Was it worth it? I’m aware that to choose to spend three nights in Cornton Vale is not in any way comparable to the position of people in jail without choice or for a longer period of time. Spending three nights in jail must not be seen as overly dramatic or brave. It is a small cog in the wheel of the overall witness of Scottish CND and Trident Ploughshares and of countless people over many years.
Overwhelming feeling of sadness at the waste of all these, mainly young, lives - and many of the girls had children. What will become of them?
Maybe I could get involved in befriending after I retire - but then probably not, because of my criminal record.
	
1st	21 days for Veteran Peace Campaigner
1st May 2002 
21 days for Veteran Peace Campaigner
75 year-old sent to Gloucester prison	

Veteran peace campaigner Roger Franklin was today sent to prison for 21 days after refusing to pay fines and compensation orders incurred for direct actions against the UK’s Trident nuclear weapons system. 
Prior to today’s hearing, Roger, 75, from Horsley, Gloucestershire, had advised Stroud Magistrates Court that on principle he had no intention of paying up. In an open statement to the court he said: "When terrorists commit an atrocity and kill innocent people, it is not that action itself that then coerces those in power into making changes, it is the threat of more attacks. The threat is the essence of terrorism. Therefore it seems to me that Trident, which threatens to massacre millions, is, by its very existence, a weapon of terror. I refuse to make any willing concession to the terrorism of the British State."
Roger has been active in the nuclear disarmament movement for 50 years and has a long history of civil resistance. He has had two previous spells in prison and in recent years has had to deal with harassment by bailiffs. His actions in recent years as a Trident Ploughshares member have included perimeter fence cutting at the Coulport warhead store in Scotland and at the Aldermaston bomb factory in Berkshire, and taking part in the mass blockades of Faslane naval base.
Trident Ploughshares comment: "Roger is right. Our country is actively engaged in terrorism and this week in the House of Commons Geoff Hoon has again re-iterated the threat to use our nuclear weapons. Roger inspires us all to continue the job of resisting Trident."
HMP Gloucester, 50 Barrack Square, Gloucester GL1 2JN. Tel: 01452 529551.

	

	

	

	
April
23rd 	Newcastle Activists Fined for Cutting Fence at Nuclear Warhead Depot
23rd April 2002 
Newcastle Activists Fined for Cutting Fence at Nuclear Warhead Depot	

Today a Scottish Court fined two men from Newcastle who last August cut the perimeter fence at the Coulport armaments depot where warheads for Britain’s Trident nuclear warheads are stored. 
Andrew Gray (32), a librarian and Matthew Holborow (27), a farmer, were on trial today in Helensburgh District Court for malicious damage to the fence on 6th August last year. In their testimonies they told the court that their action had in effect begun in July last year at the Durham miners gala when they had set up a stall openly publicising their intention to go to the base and cut the fence. The police there had paid no attention but they had attracted a great deal of public support which had encouraged them to carry out their plans.
In their summing up they claimed that that under Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights the right to protest could only be taken away if all three conditions for doing so could be satisfied. The action in question had to be proscribed by law; the protesters’ aim must be shown not to be legitimate; taking away the right was necessary for democracy.
They argued that the Crown must show a pressing need for taking away the right. In this case that would entail arguing that society had a pressing need for Trident nuclear missiles, weapons which if used would result in incalculable breaches to international humanitarian law. It was impossible to argue that position.
After a short adjournment JP John MacPhail found them guilty and fined them each £200.
Later Kala Lightville (35), from Lancaster was fined £50 for her part in the Big Blockade of Faslane in February last year. She told the court "I have been at Chernobyl and I have seen the horrifying effect of radiation. Weapons as powerful as Trident scare me. I genuinely believe that people protesting at Faslane are doing the right thing."
	
22nd	Key High Court Appellant Fined for Faslane Protest
22nd April 2002 
Key High Court Appellant Fined for Faslane Protest	

A peace protester whose case was the subject of a noted High Court appeal was today found guilty of a breach of the peace for a protest at Faslane naval base in February 2000. 
When faced with a breach of the peace charge for a previous blockade, peace protester Pamela Smith argued that the offence was insufficiently defined to comply with the European Convention on Human Rights. When Justice of the Peace JP McPhail held that this was not demonstrated she appealed his decision. Last year the High Court refused her appeal (known as Smith v Donnelly) but in doing so provided useful clarification of the law in regard to the offence.
They said that to establish the charge it was necessary to show that serious disturbance and alarm had taken place or was likely. On 8th October last year MSP Tommy Sheridan was acquitted on a charge of breach of the peace at the "Big Blockade" of Faslane the previous February, on a defence which was based on the Opinion in Smith v Donnelly as well as on article 10 of the EHCR.
At today’s trial in Helensburgh District Court solicitor Ross Dow, for Pamela, argued that there was no evidence from police testimony that serious disturbance had been caused by her protest. The event had been publicised in advance and there had been liaison between the protesters and the police. Local people were inconvenienced but there was no evidence that they had been alarmed. He also said that Crown and defence witnesses had agreed that Pamela’s conduct had been peaceful and nonviolent.
Justice of the Peace Gillies, who generally gives his verdict on the spot and who has never previously explained his decisions, adjourned for ten minutes. He then told Pamela that he was finding her guilty on the basis that her behaviour had been "flagrant", a term used in the Smith v Donnelly Opinion to signal the seriousness of the conduct involved. He fined her £100, well below his usual tariff.
Pamela said: "Justice has not been done. After hearing our very strong case the JP has scraped around in the High Court Opinion to find something to justify his decision. He has latched on to "flagrant" and taken it completely out of context. I shall be appealing the verdict."
	
17th	Two More Faslane Protesters Fined
17th April 2002 
Two More Faslane Protesters Fined	

Today two more people found guilty of "breaching the peace" at blockades of Faslane naval base were fined, one of them heavily. 
Andrea Hill was charged with the offence after taking part in the Big Blockade last February. She told Justice of the Peace Viv Dance in Helensburgh District Court that she had been bringing peace. As President of the International Court of Justice had put it: "Atomic weapons and international humanitarian law are mutually exclusive." Geoff Hoon had intensified the threat from Britain when he said that in the right circumstances we would be willing to use nuclear weapons. Andrea questioned this "Who is the ’we’ he mentions? It’s not democratic decision and lots of people don’t support it." She was fined £150.
Barbara Maver from Edinburgh was arrested at the blockade of the base in October last year. Her solicitor Claire Ryan argued that there was a right under the European Convention to peaceful protest. Barbara had only sat in the roadway for a short time and there was no evidence of anyone being alarmed by what she had done. Even the Scottish law lords who criticised the acquittal of the Trident Three had agreed that "Demonstration and protest and civil disobedience have a long and indeed proud history." JP Dance was unmoved. Taking into account the fact that Barbara had broken bail to take part in the protest and her previous convictions for anti-Trident actions she fined her a hefty £250.
Trident Ploughshares comment: "We could not but be aware that this morning a well-off motorist, with three previous convictions for speeding, was given the same fine as Barbara Maver by the same magistrate in the same court after being found guilty of exceeding the speed limit by 31 mph. It does raise a question about the values JP Dance is operating from when she equates the potentially lethal behaviour of the motorist with Barbara’s peaceful and harmless protest against a weapon system that is so offensive to conscience and law. Judges who defend Trident are turning justice upside down."
	
10th	Helen Pays Her "Sub"
10th April 2002 
Helen Pays Her "Sub"
Alloa District Court Takes Unusual Payment in its Stride	

A peace campaigner, fined by a Scottish court for taking part in a blockade of Faslane last year, paid up in an unusual way at Alloa District Court today, 10th April. 
Helen was one of the 385 people arrested at the "Big Blockade" of the nuclear weapon submarine base last year and on October 5th was fined £200 at Helensburgh District Court for an alleged breach of the peace. The fine was transferred to her local court.
The ’cheque’ presented by Helen Steven, 58, from Dollar, was written on a cardboard model of a Trident submarine which Helen and her friends paraded through Alloa town centre and into the District Court. When she was called to explain why her fine had not been paid she brought the model into the courtroom and told Justice of the Peace William Whyte that she had now decided to pay, with considerable reluctance. She had not breached the peace, it was Trident which was doing so. JP Whyte was unfazed by the appearance of the 10 - foot long submarine in his courtroom and said he was pleased that Helen was paying up since he did not want her to have a "criminal classification".
Helen, a veteran peace activist and a member of the Trident Ploughshares campaign, is Co-ordinator of the Scottish Centre for Nonviolence in Dunblane. She is the partner of Ellen Moxley, one of the Trident Three famously acquitted in 1999 at Greenock Sheriff Court after damaging a Trident-related research barge in Loch Goil in June that year.
	
8th	Warrants Issued After Big Blockaders Snub Scottish Court	
8th April 2002 
Warrants Issued After Big Blockaders Snub Scottish Court	

A Scottish court has issued warrants for the arrest of two peace activists who refused to attend today for trial for alleged offences at Faslane naval base. 
Sylvia Boyes, 57, from Keighley in Yorkshire and Peter Lanyon, 68, from Leiston in Suffolk both wrote to Helensburgh District Court saying that they would not be coming. Both have indicated that they regard it as a waste of their valuable time to travel long distances for trials in Helensburgh. Sylvia said: "When the world is so full of oppression, murder and threats I do not feel that it is a good use of my time to travel to a court which has heard from me on countless occasions the case against Britain’s weapons of mass destruction and has paid no heed whatsoever. Frankly, there are more important things to do."
Their refusal is one more indication of the growing impatience with the courts among people who have taken direct action against Trident.
In the same court today Eleanor Cook, 21, a student from Edinburgh, was admonished after being found guilty of a breach of the peace at the Big Blockade of Faslane last February. Louise Robertson, a Women’s Aid worker from Renton, appeared after failing to pay a fine of £150 imposed for her part in the Big Blockade. Today she told the court again that she had no intention of paying. Justice of the Peace Duncan gave her a 30-hour Supervised Attendance Order, which in theory should provide opportunities to challenge her "offending" behaviour and is likely to have an element of community service.
Trident Ploughshares comment: "Presumably JP Duncan felt he had few options in dealing with Louise. At least he had sense enough not to send her pointlessly to the already overcrowded Cornton Vale. The choice of a Supervised Attendance Order is only marginally less daft. It would have been obvious to him that the order would not reduce Louise’s commitment and her diary is already full of community service and activism. We can wonder whether the third option was considered, that of remitting the fine on the basis that there was nothing criminal in her behaviour."

	
	
March
28th 	Caroline Pays Her ’Sub’
28th March 2002 
Caroline Pays Her ’Sub’	

A veteran peace campaigner, fined £100 by a Scottish court for taking part in a blockade of the Trident submarine base at Faslane on the Clyde, will pay up on Wednesday 27 March at 3.00pm at the office of the Clerk to the Justices, Tanners House, 20 Gilesgate, Hexham. 
But the ’cheque’ to be presented by Caroline Westgate, of Quatre Bras, Hexham, will be written on a 7-foot-long model of a Trident submarine. The ’cheque’ is legal and will be honoured by the Bank.
Caroline Westgate was arrested with 171 others on 22 October last year after sitting in the road in front of the main gates at Faslane, and charged with a breach of the peace. She pleaded ’Guilty’ and the Helensburgh Magistrate ordered her to pay the fine at her local court.
Said the 61-year-old grandmother, "It is nuclear weapons which really breach the peace . My ’cheque’ is a reminder that Britain’s nuclear weapons are still there, and that our protest against them continues."
In her statement to the court Caroline Westgate said, "Nuclear weapons threaten indiscriminate violence on an unimaginable scale and, by their very existence, frustrate our search for ways of living together in harmony in our fragile and endangered world."
>What happened next
An official at the Clerk to the Justices’ office refused to accept the submarine, saying that the Lord Chancellor had ruled that only ’cheques, cash or postal orders’ could be accepted in payment for fines. 
I pointed out that the submarine was a cheque. The official withdrew saying he was going to speak to the Clerk by phone. He came back with confirmation that he could not accept the submarine. I asked to speak to the Clerk myself but this was refused.
Sensing an impasse, I offered to take the ’cheque’ to the bank and cash it for him. This I did, accompanied through the town by a small group of supporters. The bank manager met us in person with impeccable courtesy and happily handed over £100 in tenners without batting an eyelid. (I had the previous week, on the manager’s advice, signed a form authorising the bank to withdraw that sum from my account.) We crossed town again and handed over the cash at the office of the Clerk to the Justices, obtaining a receipt. As a parting shot I said, ’I think that proves you don’t want Trident either.’ The official grinned broadly and disappeared into the back of the office.
One of the local journalists who took up the press release managed to speak to the Clerk to the Justices and asked about this ruling from the Lord Chancellor. It appears that Lord Irvine has not actually ruled in the matter, rather the Magistrates’ Clerks themselves had made a policy decision that they were no longer prepared to waste staff time dealing with novelty cheques. I commented that it is a pity their concern for saving public money doesn’t extend to objecting to the £1.5 billion a year which Trident costs.
Caroline Westgate
Court torpedoed for not wanting Trident
By The Journal A veteran peace campaigner’s plan to give magistrates a rocket was torpedoed yesterday. Caroline Westgate, 61, from Hexham, was recently fined £100 by a Scottish court for blocking a road at the Faslane nuclear submarine base last October.
She had to pay what she owed at her local magistrates’ court office, but - determined to continue the protest - she used a seven-foot- long papier maché model of a Trident submarine as the cheque.
But the staff at the magistrates’ office in Gilesgate, Hexham, sunk the protest without trace, saying she had to pay with cash, a postal order or a conventional cheque.
Despite having previously agreed with her bank manager not to bounce the cheque, Mrs Westgate, of Quatre Bras, Hexham, eventually paid in cash.
She said: "At least the magistrates’ court staff were on my side. Neither of us want Trident."
After the fine was paid, Mrs Westgate, a mother of three grown-up children and with three grandchildren, said: "What has made me do this is the change in direction of American and UK foreign policy to a much more aggressive stance.
"Bush is talking about researching new weapons and he is rattling nuclear sabres against Iraq.
"These nuclear weapons are still there and somebody’s finger is still on the button. I find that very alarming."
Mrs Westgate, a self-employed potter, is a member of Northumbrians For Peace and is also involved in Trident Ploughshares, which regularly pickets the Faslane base in the West of Scotland.
She has been campaigning against nuclear weapons for 40 years, since she was a student.
She said: "I call this CND Lite, making a serious point in a light hearted way. I definitely have a stake in the future. All my children have been involved in the anti-nuclear movement. They have the same hopes and fears as me."
David Pryer, clerk to the justices for Tynedale, said he was not prepared to accept Mrs Westgate’s cheque as dealing with it would be costly for the public purse.
The justices changed their rules on such cheques after a concrete fence post and a tyre were both used as payment for fines in the past. A Bank of England spokesman said there was no law against such cheques but they could be rejected by the recipient.
	
28th	Ulla Roder Admonished and Freed
28th March 2002 
Ulla Roder Admonished and Freed	

Peace campaigner Ulla Roder walked free from Helensburgh District Court today after being admonished on a charge of breach of the peace at the blockade of Faslane in February. 
After her arrest on 13th February Ulla, 46, from Odense in Denmark, was brought to court and offered bail on the very special condition that she stay outside the Argyll and Bute Council area. Ulla refused to accept or reject this condition, claiming that it was a breach of her human rights, and so was held on remand until this week’s trial.
The defence case was that although Ulla had sat in the roadway at the main entrance to the nuclear weapons base, she had not intended to obstruct the traffic but had been engaged in a peaceful protest. There was in fact no evidence that any traffic was obstructed and any traffic seeking entry would not have been impeded by her action. Representing Ulla, solicitor Raymond McIlwham argued that only Ulla could give evidence of what her intentions were in sitting in the road. That evidence she had given under oath and a witness of her obvious integrity and conviction should be believed.
Justice of the Peace Nicholson found Ulla guilty but was content to admonish her, taking into account the time she had already served in prison.
Another Trident Ploughshares activist was admonished today. Marjan Willemsen, 24, from faslane Peace Camp was found guilty in Dumbarton Sheriff Court on a number of anti-Trident charges, including cutting the perimeter fence at Faslane. Sheriff Thomas Scott enquired whether she had paid any of the fines that she had incurred. When she told him she hadn’t he admonished her.
	
27th	Second £200 Fine Within a Month For Faslane Protester
27th March 2002 
Second £200 Fine Within a Month For Faslane Protester
"Inaction not an Option" for Responsible Citizens	

A peace protester was today fined £200 in a Scottish court for the second time within a month for his part in blockades at Faslane naval base. 
Brian Quail, 64, a retired teacher from Glasgow and a veteran of the anti-Trident campaign, conducted his own defence in Helensburgh District Court on a charge of breach of the peace at the blockade of Faslane last February.
One of the police witnesses agreed under cross-examination that no reasonable person would have been alarmed by Brian’s behaviour and when the Crown case was complete Brian submitted that there was no case to answer. Justice of the Peace Fraser Gillies rejected his motion and the trial proceeded.
Brian then gave his testimony. In its Opinion on the Trident Three trial the Scottish High Court had made the bizarre statement that the legality of Trident could only be assessed in time of war. Even if that were conceded there could be no doubt that we were now at war and that weapons of mass destruction like Trident were illegal. According to George Bush inaction was not an option in the "War against terrorism". Nor was it an option for responsible citizens faced with the threat of Trident, a threat made ever more clear now that Defence Minister Geoff Hoon had said the UK was prepared to use its nuclear weapons against countries like Iraq.
JP Gillies fined Brian £200 and warned him that failure to pay within 28 days would mean an automatic prison sentence. Brian was fined the same amount on 27th February for his part in the blockade of Faslane last October.
Trident Ploughshares comment: "JP Fraser’s threat will have no effect on Brian who has shown already that he is prepared to go to prison rather than give up his resistance to Trident. The court itself continues to be beneath contempt for its sycophantic and unqualified support for war crime."
	
25th	Angie Zelter Will Pay Fine "When UK Acts on Disarmament Promise"
25th March 2002 
Angie Zelter Will Pay Fine "When UK Acts on Disarmament Promise"
Ulla Roder Back to Prison Because of Incomplete Trial	

Peace campaigner Angie Zelter told a Scottish magistrate today that she will pay the fine she incurred today for an anti-Trident action when the UK acts on its promise to disarm, while fellow Trident three member Ulla Roder had to return to prison since her trial in the same court was not completed. 
Angie, 45, from Cromer in Norfolk, was facing a charge of malicious mischief in Helensburgh District Court after cutting the perimeter fence at Faslane naval base on 7th April last year, shortly after the Scottish High court had delivered its infamous Opinion on Sheriff Gimblett’s 1999 acquittal of the Trident Three. Angie told Justice of the Peace Nicholson that she saw herself bound by a social contract to obey the law if the government showed itself willing to do the same. The High Court Opinion on the Greenock acquittal had been a "dishonest travesty of justice".
The JP fined her £100. Angie said: "On principle I will not pay this fine." There was general laughter in the court when she added, "However, I do promise to pay up when the UK government carries out the commitment it made at the Non-Proliferation Conference in May 2000 to eliminate its nuclear arsenal."
Earlier the court debated an Abuse of Process motion Angie had raised after being charged with a breach of the peace at the mass blockade of Faslane in February. Angie argued that it was ridiculous to charge peaceful people with breaching the peace, when they were acting solely to uphold the law. The JP accepted the Procurator Fiscal’s case that the charge was a competent one and should come to trial.
Today’s trial of Ulla Roder, 46, from Odense in Denmark, did not finish as a witness was not available. It will resume on Thursday and meanwhile Ulla returns to Cornton Vale prison, where she has already spent over five weeks on remand.
	
18th	Mass Destruction Weapon Convoy Stopped in Scotland
18th March 2002 
Mass Destruction Weapon Convoy Stopped in Scotland
Police Accused of Rough and Unprofessional Behaviour	

This afternoon protesters halted a Trident nuclear weapon truck convoy for 30 minutes amid allegations of rough and unprofessional behaviour on the part of Strathclyde Police. 
Protesters stopped the convoy in the village of Balloch on the banks of Loch Lomond by getting in front of, underneath, and on top of the vehicles carrying the warheads. 13 activists were arrested and are currently in custody. The twenty odd protesters were joined by sympathetic onlookers from the village.
The convoy left the Atomic Weapons Establishment at Burghfield near Reading on Saturday, stopping overnight near Peterborough and then at Abermarle Barracks near Newcastle. It traveled to Scotland today on the M74 and the M80, passing through Stirling and then heading west for nuclear weapons store at Coulport on Loch Long.
Nukewatch Comment: "It is absolutely vital that we draw public attention to this criminally dangerous road traffic. The protest reflects growing public concern about the hypocritical stance of the United Kingdom as it joins with the US in raising alarm about weapons of mass destruction in the hands of Iraq and other pariah states at the same time as maintaining its own terror weapons as an active threat."
Officers of the Strathclyde mobile ’V’ Division, which travels with the convoys through the Strathclyde and Central police areas, were seen to handle the protesters roughly, dragging some of them along the ground unnecessarily.
Nukewatch comment: "The behaviour of ’V’ Division today was quite out of order. Unlike their colleagues who police demonstrations at Faslane they have a macho ethos and haven’t a clue about handling peaceful protest. It is time the senior management of the force got them under control again otherwise the suspicion will spread that the good police behaviour at Faslane is at least partly motivated by the fact that Faslane events are in the public spotlight."
	
11th	New Faslane Trial Date Set For George Galloway
11th March 2002 
New Faslane Trial Date Set For George Galloway
Problematic Magistrate Still Fining Heavily	

As controversial Justice of the Peace Fraser Gillies fined still more Faslane blockaders today in Helensburgh District Court, MP George Galloway was given a new date for his trial, for an alleged breach of the peace at the Big Blockade of Faslane in February 2001. 
Anti-trident campaigners are delighted that the MP continues to take his stand in court beside so many of the 385 arrested with him on that day. His trial had been originally set for 25th March and he sought an adjournment since he will then be addressing the French Parliamentary Assembly on Iraq. His trial, at which he will represent himself, has been set for 10th July.
Today Robin Naumann, 26, a mental health employment worker from Edinburgh, was found guilty of a breach of the peace at the Big Blockade and fined £175 by JP Gillies. Human resources officer and mother, Chris Cranston, 38, also from Edinburgh, was fined £100 on the same charge.
The JP was in the habit of giving out fines of £250 for blockading Faslane until some of these were reduced on appeal by the High Court. The Trident Ploughshares campaign formally complained in November last year about him to the Argyll and Bute Justices’ Committee on the grounds that he was "punitive to excess, prejudiced and incompetent." Apart from the heavy fining, people on trial and supporters in court have been angered by his unwillingness to pay any real attention to defence arguments. A response to the complaint has been promised.
JP Gillies showed more understanding in deferring sentence for six months on Nina Moeller, 24, a student at Lancaster University, to give her time to show that she could be of good behaviour, acknowledging that he was being "uncharacteristically lenient." The case against Edinburgh woman Jennifer Leiper collapsed when a police witness failed to identify her.
	
6th	70 Year Old Faslane Blockader Defies Scottish Court
6th March 2002 
70 Year Old Faslane Blockader Defies Scottish Court	

Today a veteran peace campaigner charged a Scottish court with complicity in Britain’s plans to commit mass murder and refused to pay the fine imposed on her for a blockade of Faslane naval base last year. 
Marlene Yeo, 70, from Burton on the Wolds near Leicester, was on trial in Helensburgh District Court for an alleged breach of the peace at the Big Blockade in February 2002, when she was one of 385 people arrested for a sit-down protest at the Trident nuclear submarine base.
After the Crown presented its case Marlene formally submitted that there was "no case to answer" on the grounds that the evidence presented was not sufficient to establish the charge. The High Court judgment in the Smith v Donnelly appeal had made it clear that there had to be evidence of an action or actions severe enough to cause serious disturbance. Marlene questioned whether a 70 year old woman, who had taken a pledge of non-violence, could possibly match these criteria by simply sitting in the roadway. Justice of the Peace John Macphail rejected her submission.
Continuing her testimony Marlene told the court that what she had done at Faslane had been an action against terrorism. Tony Blair himself had admitted that weapons of mass destruction were a threat to the whole world and must be got rid of. During the Second World War her mother had broken the law of the land, Nazi Germany, by giving food to prisoners of war. Would the Helensburgh Court criticise her for her action?
Concluding her evidence she pointed out that the Nuremberg trials had held German courts accountable for their support for the Nazi regime. She said: "I hope you do not wait for the verdict of history to make you complicit in the crime of mass murder."
In summing up for the Crown Procurator Fiscal Jonathan Kemp said he found it insulting that Scottish courts were being compared to those in Nazi Germany and JP Macphail endorsed his remarks. The JP went on to say that was "really quite tired" of being asked to discuss the legality of Trident. He fined Marlene £100 with 28 days to pay. She told him she was quite able to pay the fine but would not.
Trident Ploughshares comment: "Both the JP and the PF completely missed the point of Marlene’s reference to Nazi Germany. She was not saying that the situations were identical: She was making the simple connection that in both cases the end-game is mass murder and that in both contexts everyone, including the courts, have to decide whether they will support the state’s criminal plans and actions or challenge them. As far as nuclear weapons are concerned its too late to declare yourself a conscientious objector once the war has started. The decision has to be taken now."
	
4th	Trident Swimmer Jailed for 34 Days
4th March 2002 
Trident Swimmer Jailed for 34 Days
Campaigner Undeterred by Consecutive Sentencing	

Today a lay magistrate in Helensburgh District Court sent peace campaigner Marcus Armstrong to Greenock prison for 34 days for non-payment of three fines imposed for anti-Trident actions. 
Marcus, 40, a peace and community worker from Milton Keynes, had refused on grounds of conscience to pay the fines, one of which was given for swimming to a Trident submarine in its "high security" berth at Faslane in August last year, when he and Rachel Remnant had begun to paint "USELESS" on the hull when they were arrested.
Unusually, Justice of the Peace John MacPhail decided that Marcus’ three sentences, two of fourteen days and one of seven, should run consecutively. When Marcus asked him why he was told that it lay within the JP’s powers and that Marcus had clearly no intention of paying the fines or of stopping taking action against Trident. While he was being led away to prison Marcus told a supporter in the public benches: "If he thinks this will stop me he has another think coming!"
JP MacPhail sent Marcus to Greenock prison* last May, also for non-payment of fines. As well as Marcus two other Trident Ploughshares campaigners are in British jails. Margaret Jones is in Drake Open prison in Staffordshire and Ulla Roder is in Cornton Vale prison in Stirling.
Trident Ploughshares member Eric Wallace said: "Prison does work where we are concerned, but it works for the campaign. People get locked up, have time to reflect, and come out still more determined to continue the resistance to nuclear insanity. If Mr.McPhail really wants Marcus to obey the law he and fellow judges have to do something about Trident."
[*HMP Greenock 85 Old Inverkip Road Greenock PA16 9AH Telephone 01475 787801]

	

	

	
February
27th 	Faslane Protester "Eloquent but Guilty"
27th February 2002 
Faslane Protester "Eloquent but Guilty"	

Yesterday Helensburgh District Court banned a retired teacher, who was accused of a breach of the peace at Faslane naval base, from reading out his witness statement because it was in the form of a poem. 
Roger Oldfield (55), from Stafford, was one of the 385 people arrested at the Big Blockade of Faslane last year. Although his testimony was a 16 stanza poem, rhyming on alternate lines and shot through with rich imagery and reference, it was also a straightforward, moving and relevant account of the facts of the case, of the context for his action and of his motivation. A friend handed out copies to court officials but Justice of the Peace Duncan would not allow Roger to read it out, saying that he would study the document before giving his verdict.
The poem is called "Cranes over the Sow" in reference to the Hiroshima girl Sadako who died from radiation sickness at the age of 12 and whose paper cranes have become a symbol of peace worldwide, and to Roger’s home town, Stafford, through which the river Sow runs. One stanza describes the blockade: 
We sang in the road in our peace rings 
But then came our friends the police
Arrested us right there and charged us
"Disorderly, breach of the peace"
The officers had the law muddled
Imagining we were the hawks
And so the true culprits flew cageless
And we were now viewed like Guy Fawkes
While the recurrent chorus is a call to peace:
But cranes are in flight over Sowside
To warn of the hawks high above
And call us to open our dovecotes
And turn the sky white with our doves 
Unlike the Venetian magistrates when faced with Portia’s blank verse, JP Duncan was unmoved, although he admitted that Roger’s statement was eloquent. He fined him £100. Roger said he would not pay.
Also found guilty for their part in the Big Blockade were Edward Pope and Gawain Little from Oxford (both fined £75) and Tor Justad from Strathpeffer (Fined £100).
Brian Quail from Glasgow was found guilty of a breach of the peace at the blockade of Faslane last October. Brian who is 63 and became a father again at the weekend, was fined £200 because of his many convictions. When asked by Procurator Fiscal McCrae why he had lain down in the roadway he said: "The question is not why was I lying down on the road at the gates to Faslane but why weren’t you lying there with me?
	
25th	Faslane Protester Quotes Tony Blair in Court
25th February 2002 
Faslane Protester Quotes Tony Blair in Court	

A Scottish librarian, one of those facing trial today for their part in the Big Blockade of Faslane naval base over a year ago, brought in as evidence in his defence a statement by Tony Blair on the important part peaceful demonstration plays in a democracy. 
Douglas Shaw (51), a librarian from Biggar in Lanarkshire, answered the charge of breach of the peace in Helensburgh District Court with the argument that his protest at the nuclear weapons base was peaceful and legitimate.
Witnesses for the defence, Maire-Colette Wilkie, Alan Wilkie and Jean Oliver all testified that he was a peaceful and orderly person. Tony Blair himself had said, in the context of the Genoa protests, "Britain and its people are not just tolerant of peaceful protest but see it rightly as a vital part of our democratic process. Peaceful protest is an essential part of a democracy." Douglas explained that he was a member of the Iona Community and Trident was utterly incompatible with the teaching of Jesus.
Defence witness Alan Wilkie also engaged in a lively exchange with Procurator Fiscal Donnelly on the subject of Trident’s legality. The PF had asserted that the International Court of Justice, in its 1996 judgment, had not excluded the possibility that nuclear weapons might be lawfully used if the survival of the state was threatened. Alan countered that the ICJ judges had insisted that even in such circumstances the use of any weapon had to comply with the basic principles of international humanitarian law. There was no way that an indiscriminate weapon of mass destruction like Trident could comply. Justice of the Peace Nicholson found Douglas guilty and fined him £100.
Earlier Eoin McCarthy, in his early twenties, from Edinburgh, was fined £125 for cutting the perimeter fence at the Coulport armaments depot, where Trident warheads are stored, last August. The PF had attempted to extract compensation of over £1000 for the damage to the fence but the JP dismissed this claim since no evidence was forthcoming to back up the Crown estimate. The not guilty plea of Louise McLeary (23), from Fife, was accepted due the unavailability of a Crown witness.
The blockade of Faslane two weeks ago was supported by people from all over Europe. A number of these people were arrested and, without complete understanding of the options available, signed a paper, as a condition of their release, that they would appear in court today. When they failed to appear warrants were issued for their arrest.
	
22nd	TP Pledger Margaret Jones gets 40 days
22nd February 2002 
TP Pledger Margaret Jones gets 40 days	

Peace activist and Trident Ploughshares Pledger Dr. Margaret Jones was sentenced to 40 days at Eastwood Park Prison on Tuesday 19 February for non-payment of fines relating to her peace activities. Dr Jones was one of those arrested at the Plymouth demonstration in early February (Red Pepper March 2002, p.7). 
Fines totalling around £1500 had been levied from 3 ’offences’: ’sitting in a puddle at a Faslane Blockade’; cutting a hole in the fence at Aldermaston; and painting the walls of the Foreign Office with slogans such as ’What have the Iraqis ever done to us?’.
Dr Jones was in the Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday for a means-testing enquiry to set repayment levels on the fines. She refused repayment on the grounds that she felt she had not committed any crime but had been acting to prevent far greater crimes against humanity and the planet (a copy of the statement she read out in court is given below).
HMP Eastwood Park, Falfield, Wotton Under Edge, Gloucestershire, GL12 8DB
Statement from Dr. Margaret Jones to Bristol Magistrates’ Court
Trident is a war crime. Bombing and sanctions on Iraq are war crimes. The question of my income is irrelevant. I have taken direct action to protest our involvement in crime.
Our present government’s slavishness to the Unites States is leading us deeper and deeper into complicity with US acts of genocide. We should be speaking out against American sponsored massacres - taking a stand. Instead, we are squandering the funds that could be used for our schools and hospitals on carrying out killings, and preparing for further killings. Over the past ten years we have helped to kill half a million children in Iraq. We have bombed Afghanistan to help the US build an oil pipeline there. We have used taxpayers’ money to maintain a weapon that can wipe out one third of the planet - that endangers us more than it threatens anyone else.
In a few week, or months, the United States will again launch all-out war against Iraq - against a society that has been knocked to its knees, and whose people are only slowly rebuilding normal lives in spite of us and the United States. No doubt the British government will be dragged along to play its part in justifying the slaughter. The puppet governments set up in Europe after Nazi occupation had more honour than this.
When will we all stand up and say, ’Enough! Not in our name. This terrorism has got to stop!’?
	
18th	Bail Conditions Relaxed for Devonport Protesters
18th February 2002 
Bail Conditions Relaxed for Devonport Protesters	

Six people who were arrested on 3rd February at Devonport naval dockyard while protesting against the refitting of Trident submarine HMS Vanguard there, had their bail conditions relaxed when they appeared at Plymouth Magistrates Court yesterday. 
The six are: Sue Brackenbury, from Faslane Peace Camp in Scotland, Angie Zelter from Norfolk, Richard Holt from Winchester, Liz Jones from the Newforest, Jill Wood from Plymouth and Erica Wilson from Willenhall in the West Midlands. All except Jill, who is with the CANSAR campaign, are Trident Ploughshares activists.
They had originally been bailed to stay outside a perimeter line which would have prevented rail travel to Cornwall and the use of a local commuter ferry. Both these restrictions were removed from the conditions yesterday by District Judge Mellanbey as all the activists pled not guilty to a charge of willful obstruction. Margaret Jones, from Bristol, who was arrested with them, made an earlier appearance at the court when she also pled not guilty. A further pre-trial hearing is set for 8th March. It has been agreed that they will be jointly tried.
Around 30 people held a demonstration outside the court, carrying buckets labeled "Cobalt 60" and Tritium", two of the elements in the deadly mix of toxic and radioactive materials that HMS Vengeance has brought to the heavily populated area.
Angie Zelter said: "It was disturbing that the prosecutor yesterday spoke of the need to "prevent demonstrations". He is apparently oblivious to the guarantees under the European Convention on Human Rights to gather and peacefully demonstrate. This court will not stifle our legitimate dissent from the criminal conspiracy to refit Trident with callous disregard for the safety and future of local people."
	
15th	Ulla Roder Remanded For 5 Weeks
15th February 2002 
Ulla Roder Remanded For 5 Weeks	

Danish anti-Trident campaigner Ulla Roder has been sent to Cornton Vale women’s prison on remand for five weeks after being presented with two options in regard to bail, both of which would breach her human rights. 
Ulla (46), from Odense in Denmark, but currently living and campaigning in Scotland, was arrested at the blockade of Faslane on Wednesday. She was held overnight for court on Thursday. When the court failed to provide an interpreter the hearing was postponed until today and she had to spend another night in a police cell.
Ulla, who was not represented, asked for bail. Procurator Fiscal Jonathan Kemp sought a special addition to the standard bail conditions: that Ulla should stay out of the Argyll and Bute local authority area. Ulla refused to accept or reject the condition. She told Justice of the Peace Viv Dance that what the procurator was asking for was a breach of her human rights. She would not be able to participate in the public court hearings in Helensburgh, to take part in most of the campaign’s meetings since they were held in the area, or to exercise her basic human right to gather at the Trident bases and engage in peaceful and nonviolent protest. If she rejected the condition, she faced being held on remand for up to 40 days. Either answer would undermine her human rights and she was putting the matter in the hands of the magistrate.
JP Dance asked the procurator for justification of his request. PF Kemp claimed that Ulla had breached bail on a number of occasions. Ulla retorted that appeals had been lodged against most of the convictions for doing so. JP Dance indicated that she accepted the Procurator’s reasoning and remanded Ulla until her trial on 25th March. As she was led away supporters in the court shouted out: "Take care, Ulla!"
This is Ulla’s third extended term in Cornton Vale. In 1999 she spent 4 months there while awaiting trial, and eventual acquittal, for disarming the Trident related barge Maytime. Last year she was given three months for a number of alleged anti-Trident offences.
Jane Tallents, who was in court today, said: "Ulla does not compromise one inch on her basic right as a citizen to protest peacefully against the lunacy of Trident. Her courage inspires us all."
Letters of support can be sent to:
HMP Cornton Vale
Cornton Road
STIRLING
FK9 5NY
	
14th	Faslane Blockader Accuses Court of Abuse of Process
14th February 2002 
Faslane Blockader Accuses Court of Abuse of Process	

When she appeared in Helensburgh Court today on a charge of breaching the peace at Faslane naval base yesterday Trident Ploughshares campaigner Angie Zelter told the magistrate that bringing charges of "disorderly conduct" against peaceful citizens was an abuse of process. 
Angie (46), from Cromer in Norfolk, was held in custody overnight on the grounds that she was a "persistent offender". When asked to plead guilty or not guilty by Justice of the Peace Viv Dance she said that she did not understand the charge. The courts had consistently failed to take seriously the campaigners’ grave complaints about the crime being committed at Faslane. Respectable citizens were being accused of disorderly conduct and of breaching the peace while the British state was continually engaged in bombing and institutionalised terrorism. She made a formal submission of abuse of process, and the case will not proceed further until the submission is debated on 11th March.
Only one of the seven protesters held overnight after yesterday’s protest at Faslane faces a second night in a cell. The court was unable to provide an interpreter for Danish activist Ulla Roder and JP Dance decided that she would be held on remand till tomorrow, the Crown having promised that one will be available then.
Sue Brackenbury, Stephen Allcroft, Janet Fenton and Roz Bullen were all released from the Helensburgh court on bail. Roz is a wheelchair user and since the refurbished courtroom in Helensburgh does not have wheelchair access the hearings were hastily convened in a local community education centre. Catriona Shackleton was released from Stirling Sheriff Court where she appeared on an outstanding warrant related to a nuclear convoy action near the town last June.
	
13th	8 week old baby and mother arrested at Faslane
13th February 2002 
8 week old baby and mother arrested at Faslane	

This, the third of 3 days of non-violent direct action, saw around 100 activists descend upon the Trident nuclear submarine base at Faslane, Scotland, to peacefully oppose the British Governments nuclear insanity by blocking access to the base. 
Nora Barnes and her 8 week old baby son Murray were arrested shortly before midday. Nora was charged with Breach of the Peace inside a police van by the gates and immediately released, as the Police had no facilities to take baby Murray into custody. Nora said, "I didn’t intend to get arrested today, but I just felt I had to do something as I stood there with Murray in my arms and thought of all the babies who would be murdered if Trident were ever used."
Faslane is the base for Britain’s four Trident submarines, whose deadly arsenal is over a thousand times more powerful (1) than the Hiroshima bomb, which killed at least 140,000 people in 1945.
By 2pm today there had been 29 further arrests bringing the total to 186 over three days including activists from 12 countries. A van load of senior Navy officials was stopped at the main gate when protestors locked themselves underneath and in front of it.
The Adomnan of Iona affinity group held a moving Ash Wednesday service at 10am in memory of all victims of war and terror. Following the service, protesters, including 2 in wheelchairs, burned small paper Trident submarines and used the ash to make crosses on their foreheads, before sitting in front of the main gate to prevent access to the base. Police appeared visibly moved by the events at the gate with people singing hymns and songs.
9 activists were due in court in Helensburgh today on various charges. One woman protester was acquitted after police failed to identify her.
	
13th	"We’ll be back!" say Faslane Blockaders
13th February 2002 
"We’ll be back!" say Faslane Blockaders	

The anti-Trident campaigners who took part in the blockade of Faslane naval base in Scotland which ended this afternoon vowed to continue the non-violent campaign, their conviction and determination increased. 
Marcus Armstrong said, "While we achieved a lot of what we set out to do this week, by disrupting the operation of the base on every one of the three days, the most thrilling outcome has been the tremendous spirit that has been in evidence. People have been willing to come from all over Europe and risk their liberty, members of the Scottish Parliament have stood with us at the gates and Scottish clergy and Buddhists nuns have prayed alongside us. It has strengthened my hope that as a race we have the love and potential in our hearts to ensure that everyone’s basic needs are met, that conflict can be resolved without killing, and we can all work together in peace for the common good."
There were nearly 200 arrests at the blockades, mostly for breach of the peace, adding to the large number of protesters the local courts are already struggling to cope with. On the first of June the Scottish CND peace carnival "Love the Planet" will be held in George Square, Glasgow and Trident Ploughshares campaigners gather for their two-week disarmament camp at Coulport on 5th August.
	
12th	Peaceful protest continues at Faslane nuclear base
12th February 2002 
Peaceful protest continues at Faslane nuclear base
150 protestors, 7 arrests so far - more expected tomorrow	

This morning, on the second day of 3 days of non-violent direct action (February 11-13) protestors have once again peacefully blockaded the Trident nuclear submarine base at Faslane, Scotland. Bruce Crawford MSP (SNP) took part. Both main gates have been closed since 8am and so far there have been 7 arrests for minor public order offences. 
Faslane houses Britain’s four Trident submarines, whose deadly arsenal is over a thousand times more powerful than the Hiroshima bomb which killed at least 140,000 people. Yesterday morning everyone present was deeply moved by a minutes silence and a communion service led by church ministers and Scottish clergy held in remembrance of all victims of war and terror.
Five ministers were among the 114 protestors from around the world arrested yesterday, which also included Tommy Sheridan MSP (SSP), Lloyd Quinan MSP (SNP), Billy Wolfe (SNP).
Protestor Andrew Gray, an archivist and Green Party general election candidate in 2001 is celebrating his 34th birthday today by getting arrested. He said "How could any sane person ever believe it is right to plan the murder of innocent civilians, and as US General and President Eisenhower correctly said ’Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired, signifies in a final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, from those who are cold and are not clothed.’"
We invite anyone who is happy to abide by our non-violence guidelines to join us tomorrow in condemning this nuclear madness and celebrating life and hope.
A poll conducted by pollsters NFO System Three found that the majority of Scottish people supported the activists arrested at the February 2001 blockade. Many more activists are expected to blockade Faslane tomorrow on the last day of the 3 day Block ’n’ Roll. This represents an unprecedented escalation in the peaceful disruption of a weapons system terrorising innocent people all over the world.
	
12th	Main Gate to Faslane nuclear base still closed
12th February 2002 
Main Gate to Faslane nuclear base still closed
144 arrests over two days - more expected tomorrow	

In an inspiring second day of peaceful protest at the Trident nuclear submarine base at Faslane, Scotland, activists yet again blockaded and closed the main gates from 6.30am. 
Some were dressed as characters from The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party while others sealed themselves inside a giant Dragon marking the Chinese New Year. One protester climbed onto the main North gate and as we write is dismantling the razor wire and keeping the gate closed.
This, the second day of 3 days of non-violent direct action (February 11-13), saw around 150 activists descend on the base resulting in 30 more arrests bringing the total to 144 over two days.
Bruce Crawford MSP (SNP) was there, giving his support. Former Magistrate Paul Milling, 57, was arrested after he and three others locked themselves onto a model of a Trident Submarine. He said "Successive rulings by the international courts as well as recent decisions by Scottish courts mean no one should be prosecuted for taking part in these actions."
Five ministers were among the 114 protesters from around the world arrested yesterday, including Tommy Sheridan MSP (SSP), Lloyd Quinan MSP (SNP), Billy Wolfe (SNP).
Peace activist David Heller, 26, who was arrested today, said "Despite the existence of tens of thousands of nuclear weapons and more conventional arms than ever before in history there is no security or real peace in the world and we won’t get it by threatening to murder innocent civilians."
We invite anyone who is happy to abide by our non-violence guidelines to join us tomorrow in condemning this nuclear madness and celebrating life and hope.
	
11th	Three day Faslane blockade off to a flying start
11th February 2002 
Three day Faslane blockade off to a flying start	

500 determined and non-violent nuclear disarmament activists are successfully blockading the Trident nuclear submarine base at Faslane, Scotland. The blockade, which began at 7am, is the start of 3 days of non-violent direct action (February 11-13) to close down the base. 
Police have begun arresting people for peacefully blocking the gates, all of which are closed. Over 70 activists have been arrested so far (10am). Calm heads and calm weather have characterised a safe protest which is expected to last well into the afternoon.
The base is home to Britain’s four Trident submarines, whose deadly arsenal is over a thousand times more powerful (1) than the Hiroshima bomb which killed at least 140,000 people. A minutes silence and a communion service led by church ministers and Scottish clergy were held in remembrance of all victims of war and terror.
John Swinney (MSP MP), Scottish National Party leader, watched as police carried one of his MSPs Lloyd Quinan and former party chairman Billy Wolfe to a police van bound for a Glasgow police cell. Tommy Sheridan MSP(SSP) was arrested with clergy and activists from England, Scotland, Wales, Sweden, Belgium, Ireland, Finland, India and Scottish authors AL Kennedy and Alistair Gray in opposing these illegal and murderous weapons of mass destruction.
Joy Mitchell, a retired head teacher, 68, from Berwick, also arrested, said "Our continued presence here is a clear message to the British Government that ordinary citizens will not tolerate them possessing and threatening to use a weapon which can only be used to kill innocent people. Trident doesn’t and can’t discriminate between mothers and marines, toddlers and commandos, the elderly and the military elites."
A poll conducted by pollsters NFO System Three found that the majority of Scottish people supported the activists arrested at the February 2001 blockade. (2)
Hundreds more activists are expected to blockade Faslane in the next two days of the 3 day Block ’n’ Roll. This represents an unprecedented escalation in the peaceful disruption of a weapons system terrorising innocent people all over the world.
Notes: (1) Hansard 28 July 1998, George Robertson, former British "Defence" Minister, now NATO Secretary General.
(2) 4 March NFO System Three
	
11th	500 protestors, 113 arrests
11th February 2002 
Faslane nuclear base is closed for over 3 hours
500 protestors, 113 arrests
Hundreds more expected Tuesday and Wednesday	

Today, in what police are describing as a "good-natured demonstration" around 500 protestors peacefully and non-violently closed the Trident nuclear submarine base at Faslane, Scotland for over 3 hours. There were 113 arrests for minor public order offences at the calm protest. This is just the start of 3 days of non-violent direct action (February 11-13) to close down the base. 
Faslane houses Britain’s four Trident submarines, whose deadly arsenal is over a thousand times more powerful (1) than the Hiroshima bomb which killed at least 140,000 people. During the morning everyone present was deeply moved by a minutes silence and a communion service led by church ministers and Scottish clergy held in remembrance of all victims of war and terror.
One protestor said "In view of the atrocities of September 11, in Afghanistan and elsewhere in the world, it is beyond belief that the British government is still planning the mass murder of innocent civilians on an even greater scale with nuclear weapons. What are the morals, if any, of a society who chooses weapons of mass destruction over care for the needy and is prepared to use them in callous self-interest?"
Among those arrested were Tommy Sheridan MSP (SSP), Lloyd Quinan MSP (SNP), Billy Wolfe (SNP) and the Reverends Richard Baxter, Ainslie Walton, John Webster, Colin Morton and Flora Munro together with other activists from around the world.
Police are rushing to empty their cells in anticipation of the next two days of protest. We invite anyone who is happy to abide by our non-violence guidelines to join us over the next two days in condemning this nuclear madness and celebrating life and hope.
A poll conducted by pollsters NFO System Three found that the majority of Scottish people supported the activists arrested at the February 2001 blockade. (2). Hundreds more activists are expected to blockade Faslane in the next two days of the 3 day Block ’n’ Roll. This represents an unprecedented escalation in the peaceful disruption of a weapons system terrorising innocent people all over the world.
Notes:
(1) Hansard 28 July 1998, George Robertson, former British "Defence" Minister, now NATO Secretary General.
(2) 4 March NFO System Three
	
11th	Block ’n’ Roll 2002
11th February 2002 
Block ’n’ Roll 2002
11th Feb - 13th Feb 2002	

(JPEG, 19.4 kb)	

11 Feb 2002 Blockade off to a flying start. Over 110 arrests as all gates into the base are closed for three hours.
Three day Faslane blockade off to a flying start
500 protestors, 113 arrests
Politicians held in Trident protest

(JPEG, 30.9 kb)	

12 Feb 2002 Day Two of Block ’n’ Roll Gates remain closed, and over thirty more peaceful arrests during a colourful day.
Peaceful protest continues at Faslane nuclear base
Main Gate to Faslane nuclear base still closed

(JPEG, 24.4 kb)	

13 Feb 2002 Day Three of Block ’n’ Roll More blockades and more peaceful arrests, including a mother with eight week old baby.
8 week old baby and mother arrested at Faslane
"We’ll be back!" say Faslane Blockaders
Faslane Blockader Accuses Court of Abuse of Process
	
11th	Politicians held in Trident protest
11th February 2002 
News Report
Politicians held in Trident protest
Report from BBC Online	

More than 100 people, including two members of the Scottish Parliament, have been arrested during an anti-nuclear protest at a submarine base in Scotland.
Politicians and clergy joined the start of a three-day demonstration against the Trident fleet, which is based at Faslane.
Scottish Socialist Party leader Tommy Sheridan MSP and Lloyd Quinan MSP, of the Scottish National Party, were among the first to be arrested.
By Monday evening, Strathclyde Police had arrested 111 people and two were detained by Ministrty of Defence officers.
Organisers of the protest said they expect hundreds of people to attend from across Europe over the next few days.
Mr Sheridan was jailed for a short time last year after refusing to pay a fine imposed for his part in an earlier protest.
As he was being detained on Monday, he was told he was being charged with breach of the peace.
He responded: "I came to Faslane today to protest against the illegality and immorality of nuclear weapons.
"I’ve not, in any way, caused alarm to any other citizen. I therefore object that I have caused a breach of the peace."
The demonstration has been organised by Scottish CND and Trident Ploughshares.
One activist, Joy Mitchell, 68, from Berwick-upon-Tweed, said: "Our continued presence here is a clear message to the British Government that ordinary citizens will not tolerate them possessing and threatening to use a weapon which can only be used to kill innocent people.
"Trident doesn’t and can’t discriminate between mothers and marines, toddlers and commandos, the elderly and the military."
’Morally wrong’
About 30 ministers and priests are said to be taking part in the action.
The Reverend Alan Macdonald, convenor of the Church and Nation Committee of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, said: "These weapons of mass destruction are morally and theologically wrong.
"In fact it is blasphemy to have weapons of this kind which have no good purpose at all."
Blockade spokesman David Mackenzie said: "The real achievement has been to get Trident back on the political agenda where it has recently been discussed by the Scottish Parliament.
"We believe our efforts have helped rebuild the anti-nuclear movement, certainly in Scotland, and the challenge is to do the same in England."
At the beginning of February, seven anti-Trident activists were arrested at the Devonport naval dockyard in Plymouth during a protest against the refitting of the nuclear weapons submarine, HMS Vanguard.
The submarines’ usual base is at Faslane, but it was transported to the south coast for the essential work.
Persistent campaign
Anti-nuclear weapons campaigners have been protesting at Faslane during the month of February for more than three years.
Last year, 379 people were arrested, including 15 churchmen, Labour MP George Galloway, Mr Sheridan and Green Party MEP Caroline Lucas.
It was the biggest anti-nuclear demo seen in Scotland since the early 1960s.
Faslane is home to the four-strong Trident submarine fleet.
Each vessel has 16 missile tubes and the weapons are said be accurate to within 100 yards.

Tommy Sheridan MSP being arrested by police today (Photo: PA)
	
6th	Crown Admits Defeat on Scottish Parliament Demo Cases
6th February 2002 
Crown Admits Defeat on Scottish Parliament Demo Cases
Boost for Campaigners on Eve of Faslane Blockade	

The Edinburgh Procurator Fiscal has decided to drop the outstanding cases arising from the Trident Ploughshares protest in the Scottish Parliament last April due to the large proportion of acquittals in the cases which have already come to court. 
This morning Barbara McGregor (33), an artist and warehouse worker from Glasgow, arrived at Edinburgh Sheriff court to face trial on a charge of breach of the peace. Barbara was one of eleven protesters who interrupted First Minister’s questions on 5th April 2001 with a demand that the Parliament debate Trident. She was met at the entrance to the court today by the Procurator Fiscal. He told her that he was accepting her plea of not guilty since so many of the other protesters had already been acquitted on the same charges, adding that her actions were not in his view a breach of the peace.
Of the eleven people charged last April only one has been found guilty. Four trials ended with the court accepting a plea of "no case to answer". There was also one not guilty verdict and one "not proven". Three cases were still to come to trial and will presumably now be deserted. The acquittals have been based mainly on the failure of the Crown to show that the demonstrator’s actions had caused, or potentially would cause the level of distress and alarm sufficient to establish the breach of the peace charge. There has also been recognition of the right to protest. In finding the case against Ulla Roder "not proven" on 18th October last year Sheriff Craik said: "A certain latitude of behaviour must be allowed in bona fide political protest."
Jane Tallents, the sole demonstrator found guilty, said: "We have said all along that it was wrong to criminalise our actions and overall the court has agreed with us. We have also been suspicious that there was political leverage behind the prosecutions." Jane has been given leave to appeal her verdict. Although dismayed at the verdict she is looking forward to arguing her case in the High Court and highlighting the flaws in that Court’s controversial Opinion in the Lord Advocate’s Reference on the legality of Trident.
The Procurator Fiscal’s decision to drop the cases is a big encouragement to campaigners as they look forward to the mass blockade of Faslane on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday next week. There have also been significant acquittals related to the Faslane protests and one magistrate, Justice of the Peace Tony Stirling, publicly challenged the mass arrest policy when he acquitted Iona Gorringe and MSP Tommy Sheridan. A letter has gone from Trident Ploughshares to Stratchclyde Chief Constable William Rae, urging him not to have his officers arrest peaceful activists.
Notes for Journalists:
1. Hundreds of activists from all over Europe are expected at Faslane on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of next week for a blockade of the base, home to the UK’s Trident nuclear missile submarine fleet. At similar events last year a total of over 500 arrests were made. Among MSPs who will be present are John McAllion, Linda Fabiani, Dorothy-Grace Elder, Bruce Crawford, Lloyd Quinan and Tommy Sheridan. Tommy and Lloyd have indicated that they are willing to risk arrest. Scottish author AL Kennedy will also be there. A group of Scottish clergy will also be present on Monday and many of them are prepared to risk arrest.
2. The letter to William Rae includes: "We do appreciate the difficult position the Strathclyde Police force is put in by the existence of the Faslane and Coulport facilities on the one hand and by the widespread public opposition to Trident in Scotland on the other. We can all wish that our elected leaders would honestly face the challenge of that situation. We have also appreciated the skill, humanity and good humour with which the work of policing the blockades has been carried out. When active at other facilities in the UK we always hold up the "Strathies" as a model of how it should be done. At the same time we believe that the arrest policy leads to a farcical position in which the valuable time of the police, ordinary citizens and the courts is wasted. " 
From David Mackenzie for Trident Ploughshares
3. Outcome of Parliament Protest Cases
Jane Tallents - Guilty, given leave to appeal to High Court
Elinor Mackenzie - No case to answer
Ulla Roder - Not proven
Leesa French - No case to answer
Marjan Willemsen - Not guilty
Morag Balfour - No case to answer
Joy Mitchell - No case to answer
Barbara McGregor - Dropped
Brian Quail - Presumed deserted
Maire-Colette Wilkie - Presumed deserted
Angie Zelter - Presumed lost in court system
	
3rd	Clergy Court Prison Over Nuclear Base
3rd February 2002 
News Report
Clergy Court Prison Over Nuclear Base
by Stephen Fraser, Scotland on Sunday	

Clergymen are planning to force sheriffs to send them to jail as part of a new wave of direct action against the Faslane nuclear base on the Clyde. 
Ministers and priests, many of whom have convictions or charges pending from previous demonstrations at the base, have told Scotland on Sunday they will seek arrest by blocking entry roads to the base.
They hope their actions, due to begin in eight days, will force sheriffs to impose custodial sentences, helping to mobilise public opinion against the government.
Their move will also clog up Scottish courts, which are still processing more than 100 cases from a similar campaign last February.
Organisers behind the three-day campaign to blockade the base say they expect a record turnout, with protesters attending from across the UK.
They have been touring Scotland since Hogmanay to round up recruits and give instructions on non-violent protest techniques ahead of the protest.
The Rev David McLachlan, a parish minister from Elderslie, is planning to participate in the knowledge he still has charges pending for an arrest last year.
He is contesting a charge of alleged breach of the peace for blocking the road and says he is preparing himself to go to jail. He said: "I was offered a deal where if I paid a £50 fine, the case would be dropped and I would not have a criminal record but I was not prepared to accept I had been guilty of a breach of the peace. I did not pay that fine - as I felt it would have been accepting a guilt I did not feel - and I am not prepared to pay a fine in future."
McLachlan admitted his friends and family had urged him to pay up and stay out of trouble this year, but he said he felt he could not stay away from the event.
He said: "I don’t fancy going to prison but ultimately, if that is what it takes to highlight the evil of nuclear weapons, then that is what it takes.
"As human beings, we have a duty to oppose things that are evil. To threaten other people with annihilation is a nonsense and is not something Jesus Christ would have condoned."
He admitted his decision is a ploy to mobilise public opinion and force the British government to change its policy on nuclear weapons.
"The politicians are showing no sign of acting on this evil so we are forced to find ways of drawing people’s attention to what is going on here on Scottish soil," he said.
McLachlan’s Kirk colleague, the Rev Norman Shanks, who works for the Iona community, is facing arrest for the third time in three years of attending the event.
He is adamant he will not pay any fine and is reconciled to the prospect of jail. "There is a well-established tradition of Christian protest that states there is a higher authority to whom one owes obedience than the law of the land, whatever that law might state."
The clergy are part of a 20-strong core group of ministers and priests who have protested at the blockades ever since the annual event, normally held in the second week of February, was launched in 1999.
The 20 are regarded as the most committed among a wider group of about 200 clerics who have attended the event.
Scottish Socialist MSP Tommy Sheridan and Lloyd Quinan, the Scottish Nationalist MSP, have confirmed they will participate in the blockade even though both have charges pending over a protest at the base in October last year.
The event, held over three days for the first time, is expected to attract record numbers. Last February it was attended by around 800, and resulted in 385 arrests.
Numbers are expected to be swollen by anti-war activists and opponents of globalisation.
David Mackenzie, a protest organiser, said: "We have always linked our action to the whole problem of global oppression and the excessive power held by the West over the rest of the world. The other thing that concerns us is the way in which the US does not appear to care about international law when it suits them, as in their treatment of prisoners from the Afghan conflict."
He said non-violent protest workshops have been held in Edinburgh and Glasgow to preserve the demonstration’s peaceful reputation. He added: "We are trying hard to ensure everyone who attends this event has respect for the other people there and does not cause trouble."
The Crown Office and Strathclyde Police said ministers and priests would be treated just as any other protesters. A police spokesman said: "If demonstrators block the gates, whoever they are, then we will arrest them."
A Crown Office spokesman said anyone behaving unlawfully would be arrested and prosecuted.
sfraser@scotlandonsunday.com
	
3rd	Seven Arrested in Devonport Anti-Trident Protest
3rd February 2002 
Seven Arrested in Devonport Anti-Trident Protest	

Seven anti-Trident activists were arrested today at the Devonport naval dockyard in Plymouth during a protest against the refitting of nuclear weapon submarine HMS Vanguard there.
The seven, Angie Zelter, Erica Wilson, Margaret Jones, Jill Wood, Liz Wilson, Richard Holt and Sue Brackenbury, sat down in the roadway and blocked the dockyard’s Drake Gate. They were removed and charged with obstructing the highway. They are likely to be released from police custody later this evening.
HMS Vanguard was the first of the four British Trident submarines to be commissioned and has left its usual berth at Faslane in Scotland to undergo the refit, which is to include the removal and replacement of the fuel rods which power its nuclear reactor.

The arrests come just a week before three days of direct action, from 11th to 13th February, by Trident Ploughshares and CND at the Faslane base on the Clyde, 30 miles from Glasgow. Hundreds of activists, from all over the UK and from Ireland, Belgium and Sweden are expected to take part, supported by members of the Scottish Parliament, including John McAllion (Labour), Lloyd Quinan (Scottish National Party) and Tommy Sheridan (Scottish Socialist Party).
A Trident Ploughshares statement said: "HMS Vengeance should not be refitted but should be taken out of service along with the three other Trident boats, disarmed, de-commissioned and scrapped. The government’s decision to perpetuate the Trident system is a great opportunity missed, a complete failure to imagine anything more positive than hatred, terror and the threat of mass murder. It is now more clear than ever that the only real steps towards disarmament will come from ordinary people."
[Photos: Tristan Tripp] 

Protesters march on naval base as nuclear submarine sails in for refit
By Julie Wheldon The Independent 
04 February 2002
More than 300 activists pro-tested yesterday as the nuclear submarine HMS Vanguard arrived at Devonport naval base in Plymouth for a refit. After an hour-long rally at Devonport Park, protesters marched to the dockyard under heavy police escort. About 300 police officers were on duty and a spokesman for the Devon and Cornwall Constabulary said there had been no trouble.
Vanguard is the first Trident-carrying class submarine to come in for the overhaul.
The march organiser Ian Avent, of the local campaigning group Cansar, said people had travelled from as far as Scotland and Southampton to attend the protest. He told the rally his concern was for the effect of radioactive discharges into the environment.
He said: "I have two lovely daughters of child-bearing age and I am concerned for them and for future generations. What is happening here today is wrong and dumping stuff into the environment is wrong."
The Cansar rally and march were supported by organisations including CND, the Socialist Alliance and Friends of the Earth.
Eighty-year-old Raymonde Hainton, who travelled from Exeter to join the protests, said: "I am here today because I am totally opposed to the whole Trident system.
"I think it is highly dangerous, useless, expensive, immoral and illegal under international law. They should not be refitting HMS Vanguard, they should be scrapping it."
The 490ft submarine first appeared off Plymouth breakwater at about 8am. Helicopters circled overhead as Vanguard, flying a long white decommissioning pennant, was towed up the Tamar estuary.
During her journey she was surrounded by a flotilla of boats carrying Royal Marines and Ministry of Defence Police.
Britain’s nuclear deterrent is made up of four submarines carrying Trident missiles. Each vessel normally has 16 warheads on board. All of Vanguard’s nuclear weapons were removed before her arrival in Plymouth. The Government awarded the contract to refit the giant submarines to Devonport Management Ltd (DML) nine years ago. It secured the deal ahead of the Rosyth yard in Scotland. The yards waged a fierce battle to try to secure the lucrative contract, each fearing that if it lost, thousands of jobs would have to be shed.
Vanguard’s refit will be done inside a specially reinforced dock capable of withstanding an earthquake. But she will not enter the dock immediately because trials still need to be run before the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate will grant permission for active commissioning.
Commodore Ric Cheadle, commander of Devonport naval base, said yesterday was "a great day for Plymouth". He reassured the public: "DML and the naval base have an outstanding nuclear safety record, built up over the last 30 years." He said Vanguard’s arrival also served to remind people of the important role the submarines played in ensuring Britain’s strategic deterrent.
Security is tight as Trident sub enters dry dock
By Simon De Bruxelles The Times 
HEAVY security surrounded the arrival of one of the Royal Navy’s largest submarines at Devonport, near Plymouth, yesterday, where she is to undergo a major refit.
Helicopters hovered, roads were blocked off and the Tamar ferries halted for the arrival of the 480ft HMS Vanguard, the first Trident missile submarine to be refitted in a purpose-built dry dock.
A small group of protesters, who reflected controversy over the decision to award the contract to Devonport, were outnumbered by hundreds of sightseers.
Police cordoned off the dockyard to prevent demonstrators getting near, as well as protecting the vast black submarine from any terrorist threat, as she was towed by tug up Plymouth Sound. The Faslane-based boat’s 16 nuclear missles are being stored in the United States during the two-year refit. Ian Martin, Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament supporter from Exeter was one of a dozen protesters to see HMS Vanguard arrive on the high tide. Mr Martin admitted: "She is a magnificent sight. There were only a few protesters and quite a lot of Royal Navy freaks.
"But she is a relic from the Cold War. After September 11 any threat is not from a nuclear missile."
Later around 150 protesters marched to the dockyard. Seven were arrested for wilful obstruction, police said.
The refit is particularly controversial because of the Environment Agency has accepted a 500 per cent increase in the approved levels of radioactive contamination in the River Tamarto allow for the work.

	

	

	

	

	

January
30th 	Sheriff Says Sit-Down At Faslane Not A Crime
30th January 2002 
Sheriff Says Sit-Down At Faslane Not A Crime	

A peace activist charged with a breach of the peace at the Big Blockade of Faslane last February has been acquitted on the grounds that her action in blockading the base did not and was not likely to cause the "distress and alarm" necessary to establish the charge. 
Rachel Bignell (22), a student at Durham University, had lain in the road at one of the gates to the base and had joined hands with another activist inside a plastic tube. Appearing for her in Dumbarton Sheriff Court, solicitor Clare Ryan pointed out the inconsistencies in police testimony and the fact that there was no evidence that traffic had been held up by Rachel’s actions. Referring to the High Court’s clarification of the breach of the peace charge in the Smith v Donnelly appeal, the solicitor’s main argument was that the Crown had not brought any evidence to show that serious distress and alarm had been caused or was likely to be caused by Rachel. Sheriff O’Brien accepted the defence argument and found Rachel not guilty.
Rachel was "Surprised and delighted" with the outcome. Tommy Sheridan MSP and peace activist Iona Gorringe were acquitted of the same charge on the same grounds at Helensburgh District Court last October by Justice of the Peace Tony Stirling. The Crown have appealed that decision. There have also been acquittals on the same grounds in Edinburgh Sheriff Court for some of the activists arrested At the Trident protest in the Scottish Parliament on 5th April last year.
David Mackenzie said: "The local courts and Procurator’s office must be dreading the outcome of the three day blockade of Faslane which begins on Monday week. There is already such a huge backlog of cases and the breach of the peace charge used against us is looking increasingly fragile. The farce could be simply ended if the police allow us to continue our peaceful blockades without arrest."
	
30th	Pensioner Sent Down For Peace Action
30th January 2002 
Pensioner Sent Down For Peace Action	

Today an Alloa magistrate sent a Dollar woman to Cornton Vale prison in Stirling for 14 days after she refused to pay a fine imposed on her for her part in an anti-Trident protest last year. 
Ellen Moxley (67), from Dollar in Clackmannanshire, was one of 385 people arrested at the Big Blockade of Faslane naval base last February when over 1000 people gathered to protest against Britain’s deployment of Trident nuclear weapons. Tried and found guilty at Helensburgh District Court last August she was fined £250 by Justice of the Peace Fraser Gillies. The fine was "transferred" to her local court and this morning the JP, Mrs.Cruikshank handed out the two-week sentence after being told by Ellen that she was determined not to pay.
Ellen said: "Even if our present weapons are NEVER used, they are killing our world and our morality by their very presence, by their domination of so many of our resources, people, money and land."
Ellen is no stranger to prison. In 1999 she spent four months on remand in Cornton Vale after disarming, along with Angie Zelter and Ulla Roder, the Trident-related research barge "Maytime" in Loch Goil. The women, who became known as the "Trident Three", were acquitted of all charges by Sheriff Margaret Gimblett at Greenock Sheriff Court in October that year.
David Mackenzie said: "Fines and the threat of prison have not deterred us from doing what we can to stop Trident. On the 11th February we will be back at Faslane for a three-day blockade of the base. People are coming from Sweden, from Ireland and from all over the UK. Among those willing to risk arrest at the protest are MSPs Lloyd Quinan and Tommy Sheridan, and Scottish author AL Kennedy."
	
28th	Artist for Peace Fined
28th January 2002 
Artist for Peace Fined	

A Scottish magistrate today put a negative value on the work of an artist for peace when he fined her £100 today for malicious damage to a Ministry of Defence property sign. 
On 13th August 2000 Georgina Smith, from Ardnamurchan in Argyll, painted a CND symbol on the sign outside the perimeter fence at Coulport Armaments Depot where Trident warheads are stored. Georgina explained to Helensburgh District Court that the symbol was number 9 in a series of paintings she had completed on MOD signs. She said: "Morality, like art, knows where to draw the line and 40 years ago I decided that I would draw the line against nuclear weapons." She had noted that the symbol was still on the sign and this suggested that no-one was offended by it. "If the public is disturbed by graffiti it will ask for it to be removed but people accept the CND symbol and take heart when they see this ’writing on the wall’. I do not see how you can call my work malicious."
Justice of the Peace Duncan made a legal rather than artistic judgment and fined her £100. He ignored Georgina’s repeated assertion that she would not pay and gave her 28 days in which to do so.
In the same court Nuala Young (57), a tourist guide and teacher from Oxford and Ruth Jones (20) a student from Lincolnshire were due to be tried on charges of breach of the peace at the Big Blockade of Faslane last February. Their not guilty pleas were accepted since the Crown witnesses scheduled for their trials were not available and the Procurator Fiscal acknowledged that they had travelled a considerable distance to answer the charge.
	
23rd	Scottish Magistrate Waives Fine Imposed on anti-Trident Activist
23rd January 2002 
Scottish Magistrate Waives Fine Imposed on anti-Trident Activist	

Today a Scottish Magistrate decided to drop a fine imposed on a Trident Ploughshares activist rather than send her to prison. 
Joy Mitchell (68), a retired headteacher from Berwick, had refused on grounds of conscience to pay a fine she had been given in November last year after being found guilty of a breach of the peace at the Big Blockade of Faslane last February. Justice of the Peace Nicholson said that his options were limited since it was clear that she would not pay and he "remitted" the fine.
Joy said: "As far as I am aware this is the first time that a Scottish magistrate has remitted a fine in one of our cases and the JP ought to be commended for his realism. He could obviously see that there was no point in sending me to jail - that was not going to change my behaviour! Again it underlines how the courts do not know how to deal with us. We hope that JP Nicholson’s example spreads to other magistrates and judges. The tactic of using the police and the courts to try to stifle our legitimate resistance to the evil of Trident is failing completely. It has not stopped us -we will be back to confront the Faslane base at the February blockade.*
Found guilty later of a breach of the peace at the Big Blockade were Louise Robertson (52), a Women’s Aid worker from Renton in Dumbartonshire, and Helen Dawe (22) a cleaner and library assistant from Newcastle. Both were fined £125. Louise told the court that as a socialist, a feminist and an anti-capitalist she could not tolerate a state which condoned violence, especially the extreme violence of Trident, at the same time as it under-funded basic services and condemned people to lives of poverty.
* Block ’n’ Roll blockade of Faslane 11th, 12th and 13th February 2002
	
22nd	Big Blockade Case Against Buddhist Monk Dropped for Lack of Interpreter
22nd January 2002 
Big Blockade Case Against Buddhist Monk Dropped for Lack of Interpreter	

The not guilty plea of a Buddhist monk charged with a breach of the peace at the Big Blockade at Faslane last February was accepted today by Helensburgh District Court after the court failed to provide a Japanese interpreter. 
The Rev. Shiro Nagase is a monk from the London Peace Pagoda, home to the Buddhist Nipponzan Myohoji order, which is devoted to working for world peace. The Procurator Fiscal agreed to accept his plea in view of the long journey he had made to attend for trial. Not so lucky was the Rev. David MacLachlan whose case was adjourned to May because two police witnesses were not available.
Three Big Blockade trials did proceed. Anna Kenny (22), from Breakish in the Isle of Skye, was fined £150 by Justice of the Peace Viv Dance. Anna told the court that it was "very important to rid our land of nuclear weapons because of their huge potential for mass destruction." Duncan Couchman (32), a Green Party activist and shopworker from Gateshead was fined £100.
Australian Ciaron O’Reilly, of the Catholic Worker Movement, was found guilty and fined £150. He told the court that we had to break down the denial that surrounded nuclear weapons and resist the spiritual death that comes from having them. There was amusement among supporters in court when it was announced that Ciaron has no previous convictions within the Scottish criminal justice system. He has already served major prison sentences for peace actions - 13th Months in the US for damaging a B52 bomber and 5 months in Australia for damaging equipment for mining uranium, a key component in the manufacture of nuclear weapons.
The campaign against Trident takes another step up in the week beginning 11th February with the Block ’n’ Roll three days of blockading at the Faslane base. People are coming from all over the UK, from the continent and from Ireland to protest against Britain’s continuing deployment of weapons mass destruction.

20th	River In Deep Water Again
20th January 2002 
River In Deep Water Again	

A Manchester peace activist who was last year acquitted of conspiracy charges is to face civil action after withholding tax payments for reasons of conscience. 
River, an Open University law student, was acquitted, along with Sylvia Boyes, on 15th January last year by a Manchester jury of conspiracy charges relating to their plans to disarm one of Britain’s nuclear submarines. A year and a week later, River is back in court - this time in the County Court which shares the same building as the Crown Court.
River explained: "From the time I first became involved in Trident Ploughshares, it seemed nonsensical to me to be trying to disable Trident in my spare time while continuing to finance its construction through my taxes. Like many people most of my income is taxed through PAYE, but I usually have a small additional contribution to make once I hand in my tax return, which I have been withholding since 1998. HM collector of taxes is now suing me for £3 owing from 1997/8 and about £200 from more recent tax years. Ideally of course I’d love to get a promise that my tax monies would not be spent on Britain’s preparations for nuclear warfare, but I have in fact tried to be more conciliatory than that. All I am asking the Revenue is that when they account for my tax to the Treasury, they include a note of the total income tax paid by me as having been paid under ’burden of conscience that it should not be spent on nuclear weapons’. Apparently even this reasonable request is too political for the Inland Revenue as an organisation."
River will be representing himself once again, and is pleased to be called back to the same court where he enjoyed representing himself and had the right verdict last time. The pre-trial review is on 28th January at 2:15pm, in the County Court, Crown Square, Manchester. This hearing is expected to last about 15mins, and is expected to set the date and venue of the main hearing.
Update: On Monday River had his hearing in the County Court about witholding tax payments. This turned out not to be a direction hearing but ended with a judgment against him that he must pay. All his legal arguments, which he had submitted beforehand, were blocked on the basis that such issues were outside the judge’s jurisdiction so he did not even get the chance to make his case. He is disappointed but is going to appeal.
	
15th	No Deportation For Ulla Roder
15th January 2002 
No Deportation For Ulla Roder	

Today Danish Trident Ploughshares campaigner Ulla Roder learned that the Home Office will not deport her from the UK. 
Ulla (47), from Odense in Denmark, but currently living and campaigning in Scotland, was recommended for deportation in October by Sheriff Fitzsimmons in Dumbarton Sheriff Court after being found guilty on six counts for anti-Trident actions. The Sheriff sent her to prison for three months and said: "I see every likelihood of you continuing to defy the law of this country and I therefore recommend that you be deported at the end of your sentence."
News of the Home Office decision came in a letter to John McFall MP, in response to a letter from his constituent, Jim Taggart, of Cove in Dumbartonshire. The letter, dated 11th January and from Jeff Rooker, Minister of State at the Home Office, says, in reference to Ulla: "I can confirm that no deportation action will be taken against her." No reason is given and there is no evidence today that the Home Office have attempted to communicate the decision directly to Ulla.
Trident Ploughshares campaigners saw the Sheriff’s recommendation as completely disproportionate and politically motivated and have welcomed the Home Office decision, especially in the light of concerns that new anti-terrorism legislation might be used against peaceful campaigners like Ulla, who have been upholding international law.
Ulla herself is delighted. She said: "This is a great relief and I can now start working again to disarm Britain’s weapons of mass destruction."
Ulla is one of the Trident Three, famously acquitted after disarming a Trident-related research barge in Loch Goil in 1999. In April last year she swam to Trident submarine HMS Vengeance in its "high security" berth in Faslane and spray-painted "USELESS" on its hull. In October/November she served a month in Cornton Vale Prison for anti-Trident actions before going to the Swedish Parliament in Stockholm to receive, on behalf of the Trident Ploughshares campaign, the Right Livelihood Award.
	
14th	Another Big Blockader Fined
14th January 2002 
Another Big Blockader Fined
Courts Still Struggling With Big Blockade as Next One Looms	

With only a month to go to the three-day blockade of the Faslane Trident submarine base the local courts are still struggling to respond to the 385 arrests made by police last February. Today another activist was fined £150 for her part in that protest. 
Emily Apple, in her early twenties, from London, was found guilty of a breach of the peace by Justice of the Peace Viv Dance in Helensburgh District Court this afternoon. She spent the weekend in custody after being held on two outstanding warrants.
Emily told JP Dance that the case against Trident had already been heard hundreds of times in the court and there was nothing she could usefully add. " It is absurd," she said "that the charge is breach of the peace. If the state’s notion of peace includes Trident and bombing civilians in Afghanistan, it is a peace I can have nothing to do with. I am willing to breach it again and again."
On February 11th, 12th and 13th activists from all over the UK, from Ireland and from Sweden will aim to cause as much disruption as possible to the naval base. Almost a year on, the courts have only dealt with roughly a half of the 204 people they have called to court in connection with the Big Blockade, and the Procurator Fiscal has only now begun to send out fixed penalty notices for the blockade in October last year. If Strathclyde Police continue with their controversial mass arrest policy, the tailback in cases will be close to gridlock.
*The Channel 4 documentary on the Big Blockade, "Nuke UK" will be broadcast this Saturday morning at 2 a.m.
Meanwhile Trident Ploughshares pledger Peter Lanyon (68), from Leiston in Suffolk appeared today before his local magistrates court at Lowestoft for failure to pay a fine and compensation order of £192.50 imposed by Newbury magistrates for an action at Aldermaston last November. The court has passed the fine to the bailiffs to be collected.
	
11th	Newbury Magistrates Court Update
11th January 2002 
Newbury Magistrates Court Update	

On Wednesday 9th January three Trident Ploughshares activists appeared in Newbury Magistrates Court on charges of cutting down three panels of fence at the Atomic Weapons Establishment Aldermaston. This happened during actions at the Trident Ploughshares disarmament camp in May 2001. 
Olivia Agate (from Skipton) was represented by Barrister Matthew Walsh. Debbie Mace and Christopher Gwyntofer (both from London) represented themselves.
Despite not being allowed to give evidence as to the horrendous effects of Trident nuclear bombs, which are classed as weapons of mass destruction, a strong case was made of the ongoing, ever-present hazards to health and property which are caused by the work at the Atomic Weapons Establishment.
Dr. Chris Busby of the Low Level Radiation Campaign presented expert evidence. His research had shown that there were high incidences of childhood leukemia around Aldermaston and concentrations of plutonium in the soil. Other factors were the atmospheric nuclear tests in the 1960’s and the radiation from the Chernobyl explosion in 1986.
His evidence affected the magistrates who asked Dr. Busby pointed questions. Evidence was also given about the growing doubts within the scientific community over the validity of current risk assessment methods; in particular the risk is being underestimated. This has caused the government to set up a committee to look at the risks of radiation and to assess whether the current methods are valid. [CERRIE Committee - "The Consultative Exercise on Radiation Risk from Internal Emitters"]
The magistrates listened, the crown prosecution tried to belittle Dr. Busby’s professionalism but at the end a verdict of guilty was given to the charge of criminal damage. However, a sentence of 18 months conditional discharge was made with the defendants each ordered to pay £270 compensation and costs.
Judith Pritchard has fines transferred from Newbury to her local court in Malvern for an Aldermaston fence snip in May. On Tuesday Judith told the Malvern magistrates she would not pay so they decided to engage the bailiffs. Judith is back in Newbury today for an obstruction charge from the May camp.
Yesterday Barbara McGregor was in Helenburgh District Court for a means hearing - she had refused to pay a fine for an anti-Trident action. Police came to her door with a warrant and she handed herself in on Wednesday night. She was held in police custody overnight and appeared before JP Viv Dance yesterday.
Rather than jail her JP Viv Dance decided to find out whether Babs’ local Social Work services can provide a Supervised Attendance Order. Two dates were suggested for Babs’ return to court. The first one was not on because Babs in in Edinburgh Sheriff Court that day for an intermediate for the parliament action and Babs suggested the second one (February 13th) was not on because she was due to give birth about then.
	
10th	Ulla Roder Fined For Stirling Convoy Action
10th January 2002 
Ulla Roder Fined For Stirling Convoy Action	

Peace activist Ulla Roder was found guilty today of a breach of the peace at Stirling Sheriff Court and was fined £150 for her part in a protest against a nuclear weapons convoy near the town last year. 
Ulla was one of eleven activists arrested at the protest last June on the Stirling to Buchlyvie road. The protest, organised by NUKEWATCH, aimed to draw attention to the grave risks these road convoys, with their combination of high explosive and plutonium, bring to the communities they pass through.
Ulla had been arrested in the roadway in front of the convoy and police witnesses for the Crown, Constables Sneddon and McDonald, said that she had refused to move when asked and had had to be carried off the roadway. This was contradicted by Ulla herself and by defence witness Roz Bullen (31) from Edinburgh. There were also a number of discrepancies in the testimony of the two officers. Ulla’s solicitor, Gerry McClure, highlighted these inconsistencies and argued that the Crown’s case had not satisfied the requirements for a conviction of breach of the peace in the terms of the recent High Court Opinion in the Smith v Donnelly appeal.
Sheriff Wylie Robertson, finding Ulla guilty, said that while her actions might not in isolation have been enough to warrant a conviction, they were sufficient when taken in the context of what was happening, which, if continued, could have caused a serious disturbance in the community. He gave her three months to pay the fine.
Ulla (46), from Odense in Demark, is one of the Trident Three, famously acquitted after disarming a Trident-related research barge in Loch Goil in 1999. In April this year she swam to Trident submarine HMS Vengeance in its "high security" berth in Faslane and spray-painted "USELESS" on its hull. In October/November she served a month in Cornton Vale Prison for anti-Trident actions before going to the Swedish Parliament in Stockholm to receive, on behalf of the Trident Ploughshares campaign, the Right Livelihood Award.
David Mackenzie said: "It was bizarre to hear these police officers claiming to be alarmed by Ulla’s gentle protest while just ten feet behind them in the leading truck, there was enough high explosive to obliterate everyone within 600 metres and enough plutonium to make Central Scotland uninhabitable."