Issue: 2480-81

December 2006 - January 2007

Archives

Articles

By The Editors

On 4 December the government published a White Paper outlining its preferred option for the continuation of Britain's nuclear weapons programme, committing the country to a new fleet of nuclear submarines and to a service life extension fo

By Adam Conway

Five of the 17 Prestwick weapons inspectors were acquitted on 1 December after the Crown failed to prove that they did not have permission from the US Air Force to be on their plane!

By Emma Sangster

Nearly a year after Maya Evans became the first person to be criminalised under Section 132 of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 for demonstrating without authorisation the “designated area” around Parliament, she and three o

By Jonathan Stevenson

One of the outcomes from last month's anti-occupation strategy gathering in London, hosted by Iraq Occupation Focus, was the need for an Early Day Motion to enable MPs to demonstrate their support for withdrawal.

By Anna-Linnea Rundberg

As the government outlines a timetable to replace Trident, resistance at Faslane, where the world's "biggest penis enlargement" is deployed, continues. Despite traditional Scottish west coast weather, a great number of people have been singing, dancing, blockading, drinking tea, camping, playing, running around and, of course, sitting down at the gates of Faslane. Our special correspondent, Anna-Linnea Rundberg, reports from nearby Helensburgh.

On 2 December, hundreds of people from across the peace and anti-war movements descended on RAF Brize Norton.

By Nik Gorecki

Campaigners in more than 50 cities across Europe have taken part in a month-long action protesting against the nuclear capacity of NATO member states.

By Jenny Gaiawyn

Whilst the world turned its attention to Lebanon over the summer, the Israeli military were as busy as ever in Gaza; more than 400 Palestinians were killed, with 1000s injured; 150 buildings were completely destroyed, including homes - leaving many hundreds homeless - and essential infrastructure including a main power station, roads and bridges targeted. Individuals, groups and coalitions around the world have taken action in protest over the last month. Jenny Gaiawyn reports.

By Kat Barton

Activists throughout France and Germany staged a series of actions over a two-week period in November, in protest at the transportation of 12 containers of highly radioactive nuclear waste across their borders.

By Ian Taylor

A new nation-wide survey of the anti-war movement reveals the municipal character of locally based anti-war groups. Researcher Ian Taylor explains the report's findings.

By Andreas Speck

On 3 November, the National Audit Office released its report on "Recruitment and Retention in the Armed Forces". While most of the mainstream media focused on the "Two-thirds of teenagers too fat to be soldiers" story, peace activists should read this report very critically. It gives us an idea of what lengths the armed forces will go to in the future to fill their ranks - and what we need to respond to. Andreas Speck reports.

By Jason Torrance

Fifteen years on from the start of the modern environmental direct action movement, awareness about the state of our planet is higher than ever before. However, those who have grown up as a part of the movement tell a different story about corporate and government action and the pace of change.

By Rebecca Lush

Rebecca Lush reflects on the rebirth of the anti-roads movement as the Labour government continues to backtrack on promises to cut carbon emissions and pushes ahead with a significant number of new roadbuilding schemes across the country.

By Leo Murray

"The ignorant people of the past, the unfortunates of the future, and the disenfranchised people of developing nations, are all powerless to affect the out-come of our terrible gamble with the world's climate. There is nobody else. We - that's you and I - need to take action, and fast." Leo Murray, from direct action group Plane Stupid, explains why he joined the group that shut down an airport.

By Jeff Cloves

White poppies