Trident Ploughshares

Trident Ploughshares originally named Trident Ploughshares 2000 is an anti-nuclear-weapons group, founded in 1998 with the aim of "beating swords into ploughshares" (taken from the Book of Isaiah). This is specifically by attempting to disarm the UK Trident nuclear weapons system, in a non-violent manner. The original group consisted of six core activists, including Angie Zelter, founder of the non-violent Snowball Campaign.

The group has attracted media attention for both its high profile "disarmament" actions, and mass civil disobedience at the gates of Royal Navy establishments with connections to the UK's Trident weapons systems.

the Trident nuclear missile system and international law

The foundation of Trident Ploughshare's various disarmament actions is the 1996 Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice, "Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons", [For the full text of the Advisory Opinion, see [http://www.icj-cij.org/icjwww/idecisions/isummaries/iunanaummary960708.htm] ] in which it found that 'the threat or use of nuclear weapons would generally be contrary to the rules of international law applicable in armed conflict'.

In addition to this, Trident Ploughshares also argues that, since the United Kingdom Government is not actively negotiating nuclear disarmament - and since the UK Government is actively considering upgrading the Trident nuclear missile system - it is in violation of the Non-Proliferation Treaty, 1968.

Trident Ploughshares activists argue that since the UK Government has not responded to their various communications regarding the legal status of the Trident nuclear missile system, they must take individual responsibility for disarmament.

Disarmament actions

One example of a high profile "disarmament" action is an action on 27 April 2001 when three women members of the campaign boarded the research vessel "Maytime" in Loch Goil and destroyed scientific equipment. They were acquitted at the subsequent trial in Greenock [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/481385.stm BBC News | Scotland | Sheriff dubs nuclear programme illegal ] ] , which was later appealed to the Scottish High Court with the Lord Advocate's Reference 2001. Although under Scottish Law the High Court did not have the power to overturn the acquittals, their judgement was that the basis of the defence case should not have been admissible. [ [http://www.scotcourts.gov.uk/opinions/11_00.html LORD ADVOCATE'S REFERENCE NO. 1 of 2000 BY HER MAJESTY'S ADVOCATE REFERRING FOR THE OPINION OF THE HIGH COURT ON POINTS OF LAW (TRIDENT) v. ANGELA ZELTER+BODIL ULLA RODER+ELLEN MOXLEY, 30 March 2001, Lord Prosser+Lord Penrose+Lord Kirkwood ] ]

Much of the mass civil disobedience has taken place at HM Naval Base Clyde (Faslane) where the UK Trident submarines are based. Other actions have happened at nearby RNAD Coulport and Loch Goil, Downing Street, the Scottish Parliament, Rolls Royce in Derby, and the Atomic Weapons Establishments at Aldermaston and Burghfield.

Trident Ploughshares co-founder Angie Zelter was a recipient in 2001 of the Right Livelihood award.

In May 2005 the group occupied Drake's Island in Plymouth Sound declaring it a "nuclear free state" in protest against the refitting of British nuclear submarines and the servicing of Trident missiles in Devonport Dockyard.

Members of Trident Ploughshares sign a pledge for their conduct, and are often referred to as "pledgers".

ee also

*Pitstop Ploughshares

References

External links

* [http://www.tridentploughshares.org Main Trident Ploughshares website]
* [http://www.faslane365.org Faslane 365]
* [http://www.mkbuddhism.org.uk/peace_pagoda.htm Nippon Myohoji: friends of Trident Ploughshares]
* [http://rightlivelihood.org/ The official site of the Right Livelihood Awards]
* [http://www.lochlongmonster.com The Loch Long Monster] Documentary film on Trident Ploughshares
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/devon/7576219.stm Anti-nuclear protest at dockyard]