Action AWE

Action AWE (Action Atomic Weapons Eradication) is a grassroots activist anti-nuclear weapons campaign/group launched in February 2013. Its aim is to increase and activate public opposition to the UK Trident nuclear weapons system, and depleted uranium warheads manufactured at AWE Burghfield (where AWE stands for Atomic Weapons Establishment), along with AWE Aldermaston.

The group has been involved in numerous non-violent "disarmament" direct actions, both under its own banner and in association with other groups.

The group has attracted media attention for mass civil disobedience and blockading at the gates of AWE Burghfield and Aldermaston as well as vigils, street theatre, choirs and protest both at the base and in the nearby towns of Reading, Newbury and Basingstoke.

Basis for Action
The foundation of Action AWE's various disarmament actions is the 1996 Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice, Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons, 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, activists also argue that since the British government is not actively negotiating nuclear disarmament and is actively considering upgrading the UK Trident programme, it is in violation of the Non-Proliferation Treaty of 1968.

There is dissent to the continuation of the Trident programme from within the government as well as from without.

In 1996, Britain along with 188 other countries signed the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty but as of 2013 this has not yet come into force. At AWE Burghfield some decommissioning and disarmament do take place, but the majority of the work relates to new nuclear armaments and AWE Aldermaston is involved with the design and testing of new proposed nuclear bombs.

Action AWE activists argue that since the British government is not honouring its signing of the treaty, citizens must take individual responsibility, be that by writing to MPs, blockading MOD AWE bases or highlighting the issues through creative or disruptive action.

Actions and Protests
The launch event in February 2012 was a public meeting and a banner hang, timed to coincide with a parliamentary meeting on defence spending.

From the 26th of August to the 2nd of September, 2013, Action AWE camped beside AWE Burghfield for solidarity, research, training, the sharing of information and to support activists blockading and researching in the area. Traffic was surveyed and monitored with data compiled for Nukewatch. On a Blockade Day on Monday the 2nd of September, there were 21 arrests and at various times throughout the day all four gates to the establishment were blockaded by activists.

On the 6th of September a more light-hearted "nearly nude" protest was well covered in the Reading Post. "While £100 billion are being spent on replacing Trident, a lot of people get their urgently needed benefits cut and are not able to afford decent clothing or food. To me, this is much more offensive than our naked bodies."

In August 2014, in association with Wool Against Weapons, Action AWE activists will lay 7 miles of pink scarf between AWE Burghfield and AWE Aldermasrston. This is currently being knitted by hundreds of people all over the country, sharing the anti-nuclear-weapons sentiment.

There is an ongoing, regular vigil on the first Tuesday of every month, at AWE Aldermaston.