Trident Ploughshares Press Release

20 November 2009 - For immediate release

Anti-nuclear activists held a banner which read "Disarm the Seas" on the Rhu Spit as the first nuclear-powered Astute Class submarine sailed through the Rhu narrows on the west coast of Scotland at 10:45am this morning (20 November, 2009). Rainbow peace flags and a colourful CND banner fluttered in a brisk wind to greet the crew of HMS Astute, who stood at attention on the deck of the brand new hunter-killer submarine as it sailed into Faslane Naval Base for the first time. The demonstration was organized by Helensburgh CND and Trident Ploughshares.  

 Jane Tallents of Helensburgh CND and Trident Ploughshares said:

“We are here to let it be known that HMS Astute is not welcomed by everyone in this community. This submarine plays an integral role in the Trident [nuclear missile] system, escorting the nuclear-armed submarines as they enter and leave Faslane, and is armed with Tomahawk cruise missiles with a range of 1,400 miles. With its technical capability to sail anywhere on the planet without detection, Astute is clearly not just for defence of UK territorial waters. It is more heavily armed than previous hunter-killer submarines. Moreover, the nuclear reactor on board Astute poses a risk to the people living in the west of Scotland in the event of any major accident. Even the routine operation of the Trafalgar Class and Vanguard Class (Trident) nuclear-armed submarines has led to ongoing leaks of radiation. Astute will produce a new radioactive waste stream at a time when there is still no adequate storage and disposal plan for the current submarines.

“The arrival of the submarine [HMS Astute] comes at a time when Alan Reid MP has voiced opposition to the news that the Ministry of Defence (MoD) is considering one or more possible sites in Argyle and Bute for storage of waste from old submarines. If Alan Reid sincerely wants to protect the people of Argyle & Bute from the risk of exposure to radioactivity, he should be even more concerned about the MoD’s placing of a whole new generation of nuclear reactors [submarines] at Faslane.

“The Scottish government has a clear policy of opposition to building nuclear power plants on Scottish soil. We want to know why it is not speaking out in opposition to these new nuclear power stations sailing up the Clyde."

ENDS

Notes:

1. Trident Ploughshares is a campaign initiated in 1998 to disarm Britain’s Trident nuclear weapons system in a nonviolent, open, peaceful and fully accountable manner. It opposes all nuclear weapons and rejects violence as a means of resolving conflict.
For more information, see: http://www.tridentploughshares.org

2. HMS Astute is the first of a new fleet of hunter-killer submarines ordered by the Ministry of Defence. Built by BAE Systems at Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, HMS Astute cost £1.2bn more than was originally budgeted and was completed four years late.