Following a weekend of training, workshops and discussions, Faslane Peace Camp, Scottish CND and friends carried out a successful blockade of the base on the 13th of November.
On a chilly, starry November morning a van containing a number of activists and two tripods, parked outside the North Gate of Faslane. Security were caught unaware as the van rear door opened and peacecampers & co leaped out carrying scaffolding bars. They then erected both tripods, with three men climbing to the top. Banners were draped which read "trident, how moral?", "Every day your job endangers your children" and "Faslane Peace Camp". More police arrived at the scene as long traffic queues began to form.
Meanwhile at the South Gate, 4 people - including a wheelchair user and a pregnant woman - "locked on" to each other and remained for a considerable time until police threatened to destroy the wheelchair.
Back at the North Gate police stood and waited to make their 3 arrests. Complacency can cause embarassment. How must those poor chaps have felt when one peace camper managed to slide down the tripod, run over the road and away up a hill... right under their noses. They gave a token chase but alas... s/he got away. Surely they couldn't have anticipated another climber staying on top of their tripod for 12 hours and the third for 26.
Altogether 10 arrests were made and people were charged with breach of the peace. Much was learned from this action and will, no doubt, be applied in future actions.
Ian