June 2016 - a month of protest against Trident at AWE Burghfield nuclear weapons factory!

NONVIOLENCE , TRAINING AND AFFINITY GROUPS

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Nonviolence Guidelines

 

  • Everyone taking part in Trident Ploughshares organised actions is asked to respect and follow these guidelines.

  • Our attitude will be one of sincerity and respect towards the people we encounter

  • We will not engage in physical violence or verbal abuse toward any individual

  • We will not carry any weapons

  • We will not bring or use alcohol or drugs other than for medical purposes

  • We will clear blockades to allow emergency vehicles (not police) in or out of the site and resume the blockades afterwards

 

We recommend that everyone attending any of the action days in June in whatever role (whether risking arrest or supporting or monitoring the event) is in an affinity group of between 6 to 16 people.  If  you have no affinity group then we can help find you one if you attend one of our training sessions.

Affinity Groups

Affinity groups help provide vital support during the day and ensure that everyone is looked after. Supporters in an affinity group can provide food, drinks, weather protection and help look after the group’s property. They can also provide legal observers to liaise with the days overall legal support team. The more self-sufficient each affinity group is the more it strengthens the activities of the whole day and builds the power of the month. They can do their own local media work, take pictures and record all the events, and let their friends know what they are doing while they do it! With their small scale decision making and flexibility they can be very mobile and adaptable.

Training

Trident Ploughshares are providing nonviolence workshops for those wanting to prepare for the month of action. The trainings are also suitable for those wishing to become active members of Trident Ploughshares. You will be able to explore your hopes and fears, find out how to be effective while keeping it peaceful, how to remain aware of individual and collective needs and learn some practical disarmament skills. The trainings are from 10a.m. to 5 p.m., and are being held in the following cities:-  Leeds – 12th March; Glasgow – 26th March; Cardiff – 3rd April; London 9th April; Bristol – 16th April.

For more details contact training@tridentploughshares.org

You can also contact us if you have a group wanting a training but are not near any of these cities. Some of the scheduled groups taking on a day of action at Burghfield in June will be organising their own nonviolence trainings. And some will be organising briefing sessions the evening before their days.

Those risking arrest are advised to give their details to a legal support team if/when they are arrested. Each day is being organised by a different group so it is likely that each day will have a different legal team but the legal briefings and bust cards will be similar  and can have the legal support team filled in by hand. The information asked for by the legal teams enables useful support during and after participant’s arrest – for instance enabling speedy pick-ups from police stations. The information also enables the situation to be monitored and to pass on  accurate information to the press.

 

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