Women's Gate Blockade

THE BIG BLOCKADE: ALDERMASTON 15 FEBRUARY 2010

The Women’s Gate

It’s only a month away! The plan is to impede work on the UK’s planned 
new warhead for the Trident nuclear missile system by closing down all 
seven gates of the Atomic Weapons Establishment Aldermaston 
simultaneously. This is an invitation to come to Aldermaston, in rural 
Berkshire, to share in a women’s action as part of the Big Blockade.

Who’s organizing? The Big Blockade is being organized by Trident 
Ploughshares and supported by CND, Aldermaston Women’s Peace Camp and 
other groups. The women’s gate blockade is being organised by Women from 
AWPC, Women in Black against War, the Women’s International League for 
Peace and Freedom, Women against NATO and the London Feminist Network. 
We, among other groups, are already mobilizing members. We hope that 
over the next few weeks many more groups and individual women will 
commit themselves to join the blockade.

What’s the aim? As women, our plan is to close, for as long as we can, 
one of the gates of AWE. Known as the ‘Home Office Gate’, it is one of 
two entrances used by 50% of Aldermaston’s workers. Other gates will be 
blockaded by groups of men and women from Scotland, Wales, England and 
other countries; by students, cyclists and ‘faith’ groups.

Why Aldermaston? Aldermaston houses the facilities that produce 
Britain’s nuclear warhead. The UK government plan to spend a billion 
pounds each year for the next three years on modernizing its dangerous, 
illegal weapon of mass destruction. Greenpeace have estimated a 
£97-billion pound price tag for the renewal plan for the Trident 
submarine-borne nuclear weapons system to the year 2050. But although 
massive building work on facilities to test, design and build new 
warheads is already well under way at Aldermaston, the final decision 
about whether to go ahead with the new warheads has not yet been taken 
by Parliament. Trident renewal is current policy, but it is not 
irreversible.

Why now? The blockade is timed to take place three months before the 
international Non-Proliferation Treaty review conference. The new US 
administration is a touch more committed to international cooperation to 
reduce nuclear arsenals than the one it replaced. Here in Britain, with 
the present financial crisis dictating cuts in public expenditure, and a 
general election coming up, this is a critical moment when we have just 
a chance of persuading politicians to think again. We aim to help 
convince the parties that spending scarce resources on Trident while 
cutting needed services won’t win votes.

What do I have to do? That’s entirely up to you. There is a role for 
everyone to play. The blockade will start at 7 am promptly on the 
morning of Monday 15 February.We want to start the blockade with as 
many women as possible sitting in front of the gate, to clearly show 
women’s opposition to Britain plans to build new nuclear weapons. You 
can sit for a long or a short time as you want (if you want to sit for a 
long time, then visit 
http://www.activistslegalproject.org.uk/daresources.html for some 
ideas). We also need women to stand around the blockade holding banners 
and placards to get our message across. You do not have to risk arrest: 
the police will typically give warning before they arrest anyone, which 
will give women who do not wish to be arrested ample time to join 
supporters at the side of the blockade.

We hope that the blockade will be effective, non-violent and safe. There 
will be coordinated support at each gate, with legal observers and legal 
support, transport from police station for those arrested, police 
liaison, care, first aid and media work etc. Please contact us if you 
are interested in helping with any of these roles.

Thinking through the message. We decided that Women’s Gate messages will 
express our feminist critique of nuclear weapons and the militaries that 
deploy them, of the UK government’s irrational notion of ‘security’, and 
of NATO with its ever-growing, nuclear-tipped ambitions. We want to 
contrast this with the lack of government support for women suffering 
violence – whether it’s cuts in funding for rape crisis centres, or the 
lack of funds for women’s refuges, or the ever declining conviction rate 
for rape. We want to let the government know what we mean by security. 
As women we’ll refuse violence in every aspect of our lives, from home 
to street, from nation to the international arena. Let’s say no to 
violence - whether from fists, boots and knives, or from guns and 
fighter jets – and a resounding NO to nuclear weapons.

Bringing our message to Aldermaston. We hope all of you will bring your 
own placards and fence decorations with powerful messages, make 
colourful banners, bring musical instruments and songs (and any other 
magic to close down 'our' gate).

HOW TO JOIN IN… If you’d like to join the Women’s Gate blockade, it 
would be helpful (though not essential) if you could to let us know in 
advance, by contacting Andrée:
<andreeduguy@yahoo.com> or Tel. 020 8248 0763.
We shall hold a planning meeting for our women’s action at a nearby 
location from 5 pm on the evening of Sunday 14 Febrary. 

Accomodation. You will also be able to stay the night 
(floorpsace only - bring a bed-roll and sleeping bag). There will be a hot meal available, 
bring food to share. Please contact Andrée (as above) to book a space, and for access and other details.

Otherwise, just turn up a little before 7 am on Monday morning at the 
gate, dressed in warm and waterproof clothes, prepared for darkness, and 
for bitter or rainy weather.

Getting information. 
The Women's Gate is at "Home Office Gate" on the A340 on the west 
side of Aldermaston, see map at www.aldermaston.net/action/265
You will find other maps, routes and addresses, where to 
leave cars, advice concerning safety and risk, legal considerations and 
a mass of other useful information at 
http://www.tridentploughshares.org/article1577#intro on the Trident Ploughshares 
website. For information about AWE Aldermaston and resources for action 
visit the website of the Aldermaston Women’s Peace Camp(aign) 
<www.aldermaston.net>

So come along and bring your friends. There is a role for everyone in
this diverse, creative, and important protest. Numbers matter.

Every woman counts.

12 January 2010