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Background
[JULY
2002]
Following reports national newspapers about
the proposed new developments at AWE Aldermaston, Aldermaston Women's
Peace Camp (AWPC) is launching a new campaign - which we'd like
you to join. [VISIT THE ACTION
PAGE FOR DETAILS OF WHAT YOU CAN DO & CAMPAIGN RESOURCES]
What do we know?
According to press reports, the
project is likely to cost over £2 billion over the next ten
years. The new plant would be capable of designing, testing and
building a new generation of nuclear weapons. It will involve the
relocation of warhead assembly facilities - to AWE Aldermaston -
from AWE Burghfield, and the building of a hydrodynamics research
facility, a £15 million super-computer and a facility to produce
tritium.
Who says what?
The Government say that the new developments will enable them
to ensure that Trident is safe and reliable, and will avoid a return
to the physical testing of weapons.
But the 1998 Defence Review stated that Britain needed the capacity
to develop the next generation of Trident, and in March this year
Geoff Hoon stated - in the context of a possible chemical or biological
attack on British troops - that Iraq "can be absolutely confident
that in the right conditions we would be willing to use nuclear
weapons". This is a hugely significant and fundamental change
of policy.
A spokesperson for AWE ml (who run the site for the government)
told the Guardian that the new facilities would provide Aldermaston
with the capacity to design and produce mini-nukes, (probably for
delivery by sea launched cruise missiles).
Paul Rogers, Professor of Peace Studies at Bradford University:
"At the very least, they want to build the infrastructure to
create a new generation of weapons".
Local MPs Martin Salter and David Rendle have already asked the
government to go public on the development, but in his replies to
their questions in the House of Commons, Under Secretary of State
for Defence, Lewis Moonie, has denied everything [never a good idea].
Menzies Campell MP - Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesperson
has called for parliament to be consulted "before embarking
on expenditure of this size on an issue of such political controversy".
What can we do?
Much of the "news" is already been in the public domain,
including AWE ml's 2000 Annual Report, but within the next few days,
the Ministry of Offence (on behalf of AWE ml) will put forward a
Notice of Proposed Development to West Berkshire Council - which
give us our first chance to object to these proposals.
Notice of Proposed Development
This is like a planning application to the local council - except
that under a DoE circular (18/84) the planning committee cannot
reject the proposal (which is why it is a "notice" rather
than an "application"). All the local authority can do
- it seems - is to tell central government that they feel there
are reasonable objections to the plan and ask the Secretary of State
to hold a public inquiry.
Aldermaston Women's Peace Camp(aign) feel that there is a reasonable
possibility that if enough - and that means thousands - campaigners
and local people oppose the new developments through the planning
process, we have a chance of slowing down the process, raising awareness
of and opposition to the developments, and making the future [or
not] of Britain's nuclear weapons a real issue again.
While this is not a long-term strategy in itself, it seems like
a good starting point and something which a lot of people can get
involved in - locally, nationally and internationally.
What can you do?
Please oppose these planned developments. Write to West Berkshire
Council, write to your MP, take direct action at AWE Aldermaston.
Below you will find links to a range of materials which can be used
by anyone and everyone to make representations to West Berkshire
Council opposing the Notice of Proposed Development. This includes
online petitions, background information and downloadable leaflets,
model letters and petitions for you to print out and use. [Materials
will also be available by post]
Support the campaign!
We are working with Reading Peace Group (http://www.readingpeacegroup.org)
who are also planning to organize an "Aldermaston March"
and other events to raise opposition and awareness locally and nationally.
If your organization would also like to support this campaign, please
let us know, and we will add you to the list of supporters on our
petitions and other campaigning materials.
If you would like to join an e-group to keep in touch and share
information with others campaigning on this issue, email awpc@gmx.co.uk
and ask to be subscribed to the aldermaston_tng group
If you know people or groups who do not have e-mail or access to
the web, please let them know about this campaign.
Please help us
More information
Observer
article (Sunday 16 June 2002) (external link)
Guardian
article (Tuesday 18 June 2002) (external link)
Nonviolent
Action article (July 2002) (internal link)
Greenpeace briefing (June 2002) (external
link)
CND press release
(June 2002) (external link)
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