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Reporting from Berkshire, Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire www.oxford.anglican.org
March 2010 No. 211
Bishop joins arms factory blockade By Jo Duckles
THE Bishop of Reading joined hundreds of peace activists at a Berkshire nuclear weapons factory for what was described as the biggest blockade of the site’s gates in years. The Rt Revd Stephen Cottrell joined faith groups for a service, outside the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) in Aldermaston. He met Christian peace protesters who had taken part in an all-night vigil, praying every hour, on the hour. The blockade was held in protest at the replacement of the Trident submarine missile system. Nuclear weapons for the system are manufactured at AWE. Bishop Stephen arrived at 7am to meet members of the Christian Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament and other faith groups, on Monday 15 February. Later a service was led by Bishop of Bristol, the Rt Revd Mike Hill. Bishop Mike is a former Archdeacon of Berkshire. He said there were a number of reasons Christians should be concerned about Trident. He said: “There are no circumstances where something with the indiscriminate power to kill and destroy should be used. I realise not all Christians agree with the unilateralist position I take, but even if you take a multilateral position, Trident doesn’t make sense. “Trident is costing billions of pounds at a time when the
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Cheers to Valentine’s community event in a newly restored church PAGE 5
Feature An English woman’s home: head to Broughton Castle for our latest prayer walk PAGE 9 In protest: police and peace campaigners at AWE. Inset: Bishop Stephen.
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Sarah Gaunt/Basingstoke Gazette.
military are stretched. How about buying decent body armour and more helicopters for our forces? “Then there’s a security question. Are the needs of security in the modern world met by nuclear weapons? They are no good against a terrorist with a bomb in his rucksack getting on the tube. There is an economic question. Billions of pounds could be spent on farms, schools and houses rather than weapons. “Finally we are trying to dissuade countries like Iran
from getting nuclear weapons. How can we go to a debating table and say ‘you mustn’t have nuclear weapons’ when we are busy renewing our own? Trident is in danger of increasing the proliferation of nuclear weapons.” Bishop Stephen added: “I’ve been involved in a number of marches and protests and they have a carnival atmosphere. When I go to Aldermaston, things are a bit more on edge, but the police were wonderful. They have a very difficult job to do.” In February 2007 General
Synod debated the issue of Trident. A motion was carried which called on Christians to make informed contributions to the issues raised by Trident in the light of Christian teaching about just war. It suggested that upgrading Trident was contrary to the spirit of the UK’s obligations under international law.
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