Activists have set up a blockade at the Faslane nuclear base on the Clyde by attaching themselves to plant pots.
The group placed three plant pots painted with the words “Safe”, “Green”, and “Future”, on the road this morning.
☮️ 🌸 PEACE LOTUS 🌸 ☮️
Solidarity with our global community
🌏 🕊 🌏 🕊 🌏 🕊 🌏 🕊Between the 1st and 30th April, activist groups around the world are highlighting the links between war & ecocide under a campaign called 'Peace Lotus'#SafeGreenFuture #WarIsEcocide pic.twitter.com/5eUJ6Oba8Y
— Extinction Rebellion Scotland (@ScotlandXr) April 30, 2021
Extinction Rebellion Scotland tweeted that the action was part of the Peace Lotus campaign which they describe as a “global day of anti-war resistance celebrating the anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War”.
A spokesperson for HMNB Clyde said:
“Well-established, fully co-ordinated procedures are in place to ensure the effective operation of HMNB Clyde is not compromised because of protest action.”
What is HMNB Clyde?
HMNB Clyde, also known as Faslane, is the second largest single-site employer in Scotland, after the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow.
Faslane is one of the Royal Navy’s three main operating bases, alongside HMNB Devonport and HMNB Portsmouth. It is best known as the home of the UK’s four Vanguard-class nuclear-armed submarines which carry Trident II D-5 ballistic missiles. It also includes Royal Naval Arms Depot Coulport, where the nuclear werapons are stored.
All Royal Navy submarines will soon be based on the Clyde at Faslane, seeing the number of people directly employed at the base rising to 8,200.
I always find it ironic how they preach green issues, yet they’re more than willing to travel all over the country protesting (doubtless in vehicles producing a significant amount of carbon emissions), while wearing synthetic clothing that has no doubt been shipped to this country, and actively destroying nature to protest against an establishment that seeks to protect their very right to protest.
This lot are about as green as a Russian Aircraft Carrier.
I think they might be more concerned about the redundant subs that have yet to be dealt with. As well as the traditional complaint about a nuclear holocaust…..a bit fussy of them I know. Whatever your views on the two issues….they do have a right to protest them. At least some young people are concerned about the future rather than obsessing about social media….that must be a good thing!
I fully support their right to protest, particularly over the piss-poor handling of the redundant hulks that are rotting away in Rosyth and Plymouth. I know I’m in protest about that one.
The issue with the subs is I assume the nuclear waste. Such nuclear waste could well be a sought after commodity in the not to distant future powering diamond batteries and the like which may well provide much needed solutions in medicine (amongst other things).
The young complain bitterly about how badly the ruling generation are running the country as the ruling generation complained bitterly when they were young. The reality is that each generation has it’s challenges. Perhaps someone in this group will be in trouble in 35 years time about the costs of decorating the Downing street flat😂
Agreed. 👍
Hopefully they will have better taste though…..that wallpaper 🤢
😂
so which is better aip or nuclear reactor.
Your point is a good one. The tech seems to be changing faster now than any point in history and new technology is emerging. Let’s put it this way – the next generation of submarines might well contain some surprises.
Every generation complains about the ones afterwards, I’m sure the war time generation had a few choice words about (in their perception) spoilt baby boomers.
Yes, how did it go…..’I fought the war for people like you’. I remember my Father saying that to my older brother. Of course he didn’t….he volunteered right at the start of the war to get away from my mother!
And every generation blames the one before…
Right to “Protest” is the right to deny Freedom to other?
ooof,
I have an XR neighbour who won’t fly on green issues, yet thinks it’s perfectly OK to plan a return trip to Spain in her elderly pollution-spewing Land-Rover.
It does pose the question as to how these protesters were able to unload planters, sleeping bags, brollies and all the rest of their paraphernalia without the MOD Police either noticing or reacting in time to stop it? Maybe their “Well-established, fully co-ordinated procedures” include instructions not to escalate?
Judging by a mate of mine who is ex modplod it’s more likely they were enjoying their kip or half hourly cuppa.
Were they trespassing or just making a nuisance of themselves outside in public space? If the latter then what can be done? Can’t exactly arrest someone for being a bother.
Will be interested to see if I’m in the minority here, but I’m OK with this. Everyone has the right to their own opinion, and nuclear weapons is certainly something that should be debated from both sides. They are (at least at the moment) not causing any harm or presenting a security risk, just some disruption to make a point. This should be allowed and protected by law, because one day the subject may be something that affects our civil liberties. If you start taking away people’s right to protest and cause a bit of a fuss, then they start… Read more »
People can complain, campaign and protest.
They cannot break the law. Blocking roads and roadways is illegal.
Well, of course, they can break the law, it’s just that there are penalties for doing so!
Fair point, but they can do so if they notify beforehand- and I’m not sure that they’re technically blocking a road where they are. They’re certainly blocking one of (probably) a number of entrances to the base, but that’s just annoying- not hampering operations or security in any way. Ultimately, there are a lot of restrictions on protest already, I don’t think there sould be more. Even if they are breaking laws surrounding obstruction of legal roads etc. then I think that’s (at the edge of) acceptable protest, from the perspective of them not being violent or damagin other people’s… Read more »
Yeah, I completely agree with you. If they were a legitimate problem, they’d have been moved on sharpish, so clearly the MoD are confident enough in their protocols to be quite relaxed about it.
They’ve got every right to protest, and let’s face it – sticking to the letter of the law rarely makes for an effective protest. Sitting in front of a gate isn’t hugely disruptive in the grand scheme of things anyway.
Joe16, Exactly this point. Who cares if they’re protesting as long as they aren’t actually effecting operations. The right to protest is enshrined in law, I do have a problem with people advocating the MOD police use violence because as soon as that line is crossed the only means to protest is with extreme violence, then we end up with groups just slaughtering each other to make a point.
No I agree with you.
I will always defend the right to free speech even if at times I hate what is being said. Moving on though I would say that E.R. are a pain in the A… when you consider the trouble they cause at times.
Free speech is not the same as taking other people freedom of movement. In fact you can consider that the blockage they make are against other people freedom of speech.
I think that is the point I was making.
The deterrent is sadly needed and nuclear power (I know it’s not the subject for the protest but I suspect they’re against it) will likely be required to provide the world’s energy needs and to combat human induced climate change. However, I understand these protestors fears and frustrations and support their right to safely, lawfully and peacefully protest. Whether being so close together in midst of a pandemic while blocking roads they are actually following that criteria is another matter; perhaps their justification is that the short term dangers/inconvenience is outweighed by the (perceived) existential threat the base and what… Read more »
well seems a bit stupid to block a nuclear base if ur not against it. so i would say that’s their main motive.
well if u don’t want nukes all countries should get rid of it all at once. not just one country. otherwise that would be very stupid. 🙂 (well for a world like ours where military strength is as important a breathing air we haven’t been knocked out yet cuz we have strong ties with the us and a decent military).
Nuclear submarines dont produce any CO2 econumpties.
Interesting the Police don’t deal with XR with quite the same zeal they deal with a womens vigil on Clapham Common…
Wasn’t that Greenham Common Grant. Clapham Common doesn’t arouse much in the way of controversy….unless you like to meet ‘strangers’!😮
Hahahaha I meant the way the police ‘enthusiastically’ surpressed the Sarah Everard Vigil…. interesting they went in hard there but let XR set up camp outside one of the most sensitive installations in the country…
Ha Cottaging is not for me!
Yeah sorry, I did know what you meant. I think the Met dealt really badly with what was a vigil, not a protest. On the other hand, trying to police Covid restrictions was a real poisoned chalice!
I remember having to spend a Christmas and new year under canvas at Greenham Common and they tried getting through the fence on new years eve. I think they should go sit outside the Russian or Chinese Embassies, see how much notice they take of them.
My then girlfriend was there….you’d have liked her, most blokes did!
Peaceniks never do protest outside the baddies embassies, etc, which would be logical!
They prefer to play silly games, like being ‘Putin’s useful idiot’!
Let’s hope the protest has Not effected operations, and the peaceniks just make fools of themselves!
Always a trigger for many is a protest. Remember it’s just that. It is still a right to protest. And many of us spent a big chunk of our adult lives defending the right to live the way we do. So we have to accept we might not agree, but still, defend the other persons rights. The present regime seems to want protest to disappear because it highlights differences of opinion. For me? They are hardly Jihadis waving AK’s. Just some folk who disagree with present policy. Leave them until they are required to move. It’s hardly the Falls Road,… Read more »
✔
A sensible and measured summary of the situation.
Thank you.
What’s that old saying, Karl? “I might not agree with your opinions but I’ll fight for your right to have them” or something? Seems like it’d fit in well here.
Voltaire, clever man for a Frenchie.
Sounds more like Monty Python to me: Symbolic of their struggle against reality 😂
They’re free to protest. No issue with that. But the hypocrisy is hilarious. Always without fail its the western democracies first who must disarm. Wonder if they attend Glastonbury? The place is awash with rubbish after. Go and try in Russia, China, and parts of the Middle East then thank your lucky stars you live here and can stage these protests. I remember attending a live fire demo in SPTA at Larkhill and these types were demonstrating at the Amesbury roundabout. They’d be the first pleading for the military or police to save them if it came to it and… Read more »
You sound like my Dad Daniele 😊
My wife tells me I sound like mine, and my Father in Law. 😁
Good! I’m proud of that as it will take some going to ever live up to that generation.
Let’s hope that we never have to….for everyone’s sake!
Larkhill day, been involved in a few of them back in the mid 70’s mostly putting up marquee tents on fatigue party, but the fire power demos were something else as the guns tried to demolish the smartie line (line of old armour painted different colours and used as targets) every now and again you got something special and I remember a Harrier coming into the range over the stands and dropped a 1000lb bomb, the shock wave that came off it was something I wasn’t expecting.
This one was late 90s. Chinooks delivering LGs close in front, then AS90s joined and both targeted the live fire area further north. Afterwards an attack of Tanks supported by a section of Warriors went In, that was far away from our position in the grandstand. Or was it just a grass berm? Don’t recall.
Highlight was that same area being plastered by Jaguars with rockets.
Don’t think they do any public ones like that any more?
The annual firepower demonstration at LWC at Battlesbury Bowl must be amazing.
To be fair to them, if they tried it on with the Russians/Chinese/Saudis or whatnot, they’d probably find themselves with some of that rapid-onset lead poisoning… On a more serious note, though, they protest in Western Democracies because a) you can hardly call those democracies, so it wouldn’t make a damn bit of difference; b) they live in the West so of course they’d protest there. I wouldn’t go all the bloody way to China to complain about them having nukes either; and c) they’d probably get shot if they tried that. The Libyans shot at a load of protesters… Read more »
I find this a bit irritating actual. Global warming and environmental destruction are literally an existentialist threat to our existence ( latest likely modelling is looking at a 4degree rise by next century, last time I looked at the risk assessments that was described as having a catastrophic level of impacting on food/water/heat Security for a good slice of the world’s Population that would not/could not be mitigated by international efforts, leaving large areas effectively not inhabitable by significant populations. AKA risk manager speak for don’t go there. As a cheerful aside I’ve read a fair bit of modelling that… Read more »
Agreed!
Peaceful protest aye but when it impinges on other peoples lives and blocks roads and access no sir Tear gas and water cannon should then be the order of the day and a nice chat with the PSU like our good friends in the EU always deal with protesters , wonderful club that it is , magnificent infact gentile respectful and tolerant to the last. 👍🏻
🏴🇬🇧
Bit of an unfortunate typo in the last sentence! 😮
It’s called sarcasm sonny , now get yersel over to faslane 👍🏻
🏴🇬🇧
By the way, didn’t Boris buy some ex-German water canons to play with when he was Mayor of London!
Yes he did however the po po up here don’t like water … or tear gas ….or rubber bullets for that matter 🙁but I like your thinking
👍🏻 Now consider this as I know you were active in the socialist uni scene back in the 60’s😃
Hard times create strong men
Strong men create good times
Good times create weak men
Weak men create hard times…..
🏴🇬🇧
Hardly, I’m not that bloody old….I was still at school in 1970. You might add:
Bigoted men create tyrannies….
When I worked at Faslane, every Wednesday the protesters would turn up at the gate. The average age was 60+, but they never really caused any bother. Free democracys mean we have to put up with things we don’t always agree with. And that’s a good thing.
Nice to see that America isn’t the only country with wackos. lol
You should know.
😁
Goddamn hippies…. 😡 I’ve no problem with the ‘old skool’ ones, many a matelot has had a night or two pissing up in the peace camp, its often the matelots that pick them up and drive them into the Burg too. I’ve little tolerance for the more self absorbed attention seeking ones though. All this achieves is shutting the base down and that’s only really a problem if its a Friday and you’re desperate to get weekenders. While never having been on a march for anything in my life, I love that we can if we’re so inclined, when it… Read more »
They have the right to protest, we are a democracy after all. I do think as others have stated, our disposal policy and approach is not ideal and frankly dangerous.
I guess the issue with nuclear power is the stated TCO doesn’t count disposal and storage and eventual redundancy costs. i.e. thousands of years storage and safe disposal for a half life.
Arthur Dent lay in the mud in his dressing gown, of course, he got to travel the Universe before it got cold or rained, whilst this lot have rollmats, sleeping bags, pillows and umbrellas. I suppose as the old saying goes, any fool can be uncomfortable!
Interestingly the world did actually end in Arthur’s case…
Yet more evidence that what started as an environmental campaign group has been taken over by the far-left in an attempt to hijack public support.
It’s hardly evidence of a ‘far left’ conspiracy! You are in Daily Telegraph territory!
I guess that’s what a Gruniard reader would thing 🤷♂️
Don’t read Guardian….I used to read the Telegraph because all the tech jobs were advertised in it. In fact, I got my first engineering post through an advert in the Torygraph. The paper has always had an odd reputation:
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=yes+prime+minister+who+reads+newspapers&view=detail&mid=0BAC32315783397804F70BAC32315783397804F7&FORM=VIRE
Never read it so wouldn’t know – my permanent tech-roles all came via head-hunters or agencies when contracting. Bizarre that they were advertised there 🤷♂️
That was 1974 Sean!
Well this topic brings out the lunatics that’s for sure, all topped off with a classic well reasoned comment !
Moltex energy has a nuclear design that uses waste as fuel. So worry on the waste score may not last too much longer.
As for Faslane, I take it that XR can supply replacement jobs?