Anti-nuclear protests Anti-nuclear movement in the United Kingdom

bertrand russell (centre) alongside wife, edith, leading cnd anti-nuclear march in london, 18 february 1961



anti-nuclear weapons protest march, oxford 1980



demonstrators outside wire fences @ molesworth, 1980s



8 april 1985 cnd placards against raf molesworth fence



police dismantling blockade of protestors @ south gate of faslane naval base.



anti-nuclear march london geneva, 2008

the first aldermaston march organised campaign nuclear disarmament took place @ easter 1958, when several thousand people marched 4 days trafalgar square, london, atomic weapons research establishment close aldermaston in berkshire, england, demonstrate opposition nuclear weapons. aldermaston marches continued late 1960s when tens of thousands of people took part in four-day marches.

one significant anti-nuclear mobilisation in 1980s greenham common women s peace camp. began in september 1981 after welsh group called women life on earth arrived @ greenham protest against decision of government allow cruise missiles based there. women s peace camp attracted significant media attention , prompted creation of other peace camps @ more dozen sites in britain , elsewhere in europe . in december 1982 30,000 women various peace camps , other peace organisations held major protest against nuclear weapons on greenham common.

on 1 april 1983, 70,000 people linked arms form human chain between 3 nuclear weapons centres in berkshire. anti-nuclear demonstration stretched 14 miles along kennet valley.

in london, in october 1983, more 300,000 people assembled in hyde park. largest protest against nuclear weapons in british history , according new york times.

molesworth peace camp set outside raf molesworth, focus of large protests @ easter 1985 , february 1986, during 1 of bruce kent, 1 of leaders of campaign nuclear disarmament, attempted cut through fence in full view of police. protest presence remained outside station 1990s recording movement of cruise missiles.

faslane naval base has nuclear capable missiles , part of hm naval base clyde in scotland. faslane has attracted demonstrations campaign nuclear disarmament , trident ploughshares. faslane peace camp permanent peace camp outside base gates, , there frequent demonstrations @ base gates. scottish national party, scottish socialist party , scottish green party oppose deployment of nuclear weapons, , not unusual members of these parties present @ rallies outside faslane. such events aim keep base closed long possible preventing staff arriving work, , involve large numbers of protesters being arrested non-violent civil disobedience.

other peace camps set @ same time @ naphill, daws hill, upper heyford, , lakenheath though none lasted more few years.

in 2005 in britain, there many protests government s proposal replace ageing trident weapons system newer model. largest protest had 100,000 participants and, according polls, 59 percent of public opposed move.

in october 2008 in united kingdom, more 30 people arrested during 1 of largest anti-nuclear protests @ atomic weapons establishment @ aldermaston 10 years. demonstration marked start of un world disarmament week , involved 400 people.

in october 2011, more 200 protesters blockaded hinkley point c nuclear power station site. members of several anti-nuclear groups part of stop new nuclear alliance barred access site in protest @ edf energy s plans renew site 2 new reactors.

in january 2012, 3 hundred anti-nuclear protestors marched against plans build new nuclear power station @ wylfa. march organised pobl atal wylfa b, greenpeace , cymdeithas yr iaith, supporting farmer in dispute horizon.

in february 2012, protesters set camp in abandoned farm on site of proposed hinkley point c nuclear power station. angry west somerset council has given edf energy go-ahead preparatory work before planning permission has been granted . group of 7 protesters claim nature reserve @ risk proposals.

on 10 march 2012, first anniversary of fukushima nuclear disaster, hundreds of anti-nuclear campaigners formed symbolic chain around hinkley point express determined opposition new nuclear power plants, , call on coalition government abandon plan 7 other new nuclear plants across uk. similar protests took place against new nuclear plants @ wylfa in north wales , heysham in lancashire.

in april 2013, thousands of scottish campaigners, msps, , union leaders, rallied against nuclear weapons. scrap trident coalition wants see end nuclear weapons, , says saved monies should used health, education , welfare initiatives. there blockade of faslane naval base, trident missiles stored.