Clergymen join Faslane peace protest

By Gillian Provan • Published 8 Apr 2010 10:37 0 Comments

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Protesters gather outside the Faslane gate.

CHURCH ministers from across Scotland joined protesters at the Easter Saturday blockade of Faslane Naval Base.

Over 100 protesters from as far as Birmingham and Aberdeen walked from the peace camp to the North Gate as part of the European Day of Action.

The Scottish Clergy Against Nuclear Arms (SCANA) held a communion service in the middle of the symbolic blockade.

Brian Larkin of Trident Ploughshares said: "Although Trident Ploughshares are not particularly religious, trident nuclear weapons are illegal and immoral.

"They are crimes againsts humanity and participation from SCANA only strengthens the message, especially on Easter weekend.

"Although ministers from Helensburgh and Lomond were invited to attend, only retired minister Fred Booth did, and this shows our ministers are quite unambigious in their opposition, the argument that it keeps jobs in the community does not hold up."

After the communion service, protesters enjoyed tea and a picnic.

Guitarists created a festival spirit encouraging a singalong of Scottish music for nuclear disarmament.

Ministers from Edinburgh, Arran and Glasgow attended the blockade.

Brian continued: "We were very happy with the turnout because it was the Bank Holiday weekend.

"In Belgium thousands of people were protesting, but we just wanted to have a presence and were calling with our comrades and friends across Europe for solidarity to disarm now, not to wait."

The European Day of Action to ban nuclear weapons, follows the publication of a letter signed by leaders of Scotland's major churches demanding that the billions of pounds spent on nuclear weapons be used instead to help the nation's most vulnerable citizens.

Rev David McLachlan, minister of Langside Church of Scotland, Glasgow, explained his participation in the blockade. He said: "The churches in Scotland have been absolutely clear that nuclear weapons are immoral.

"As Christians and clergy we are called to take a stand against them.

"It is unacceptable for the UK and NATO to threaten to use nuclear weapons because they are indiscriminate.

"If Trident is ever used it will mean the death of millions of innocent people.

"That's what deterrence means."

In the run up to the Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference in New York, peace movements in countries including Netherlands, France and Germany sent the message for nuclear disarmament.

Brian explained: "European peace movements are calling on the governments meeting at the NPT Review Conference at the UN in May to commit to negotiations leading to the abolition of nuclear weapons and on NATO to renounce the policy of reliance on nuclear weapons for security."

Protesters have maintained a continuous protest against nuclear weapons for 27 years.

Jane Tallents of Helensburgh said: "A year ago US President Obama put nuclear disarmament on the international political agenda with his speech in Prague.

"Under the new START agreement announced this week the US and Russia have agreed to cut deployed strategic nuclear weapons.

"But 20 years after the end of the Cold War, British, French and US nuclear weapons remain in Europe while the US and Russia will retain stockpiles of more than 20,000 nuclear weapons.

"And they are modernizating their nuclear arsenals as are Britain and France.

"Forty years ago under the terms of the NPT the nuclear powers promised to disarm in exchange for other countries not obtaining nuclear weapons, but they have not done it.

"Since then several more countries have acquired nuclear weapons.

"If the countries which rely on their nuclear weapons for security do not disarm more and more countries will want them too.

"The only way to stop the proliferation of nuclear weapons is for countries that have the bomb, including Britain, to disarm and to abolish nuclear weapons globally."

MORE PICTURES FROM SATURDAY'S BLOCKADE IN THIS WEEK'S ADVERTISER

This article appeared in Helensburgh Advertiser 08 Apr 10

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