Candlelit vigils at AWE

Christian Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament holding peaceful protests

THE CHRISTIAN Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) is holding several candlelit vigils outside the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) in Aldermaston over the next couple of weeks.

CND is holding weekly candle lit Advent vigils outside AWE, where nuclear weapons are researched and made, in a peaceful protest against the planned replacement of Trident nuclear missiles, for use on Royal Navy submarines.

“Advent is a time of waiting, prayer and reflection. We pray here for the choice before our country; to build newer, more powerful, more destructive nuclear weapons, at enormous cost, with the

increased environmental risk; or to use the skills of the Aldermaston workforce to decommission the ones we already have. We will watch and pray, “ said a CND spokeswoman, Caroline Gilbert.

The first vigil took place last Wednesday, November 30.

“Replacement (of Trident) will cost over £25 billion. That is the equivalent of 120,000 newly qualified nurses every year for the next 10 years, or 60,000 newly-qualified teachers every year for the next 20 years. Running it will cost an extra £1.5 to 2 billion every year on top. So the total bill will be in excess of £76 billion,” added Ms Gilbert.

Further vigils, to be attended by faith groups from Oxford, and clergy against nuclear arms, will take place between 1pm and 2pm on Wednesdays - 7, 14 and 21 December, outside the Tadley gate of AWE.