The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament today announced its support for the Block the Builders non-violent action to take place on Monday 30 January at the Aldermaston Atomic Weapons Establishment. This demonstration has been called in response to the West Berkshire Council Planning Committee’s decision last night to approve plans for the £100 million ORION laser facility at AWE.

Kate Hudson, Chair of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, said, “The UK is now one step closer to building a new generation of nuclear weapons because of last night’s decision by the Planning Committee. We must do everything we can to show the government that the people of Britain do not support their plans to waste more taxpayers’ money on a dangerous and illegal nuclear weapons programme.”

CND believes that new building at Aldermaston, including the proposed ORION laser facility, may be being made to provide the infrastructure for new nuclear weapons development and a replacement for the existing Trident nuclear weapons system.

Ms Hudson added, “Britain must live up to its obligation to achieve nuclear disarmament. Particularly at a time when the international community is attempting to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons, it is an extreme double standard for Britain to continue expanding its own nuclear weapons programme.”

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Notes to Editor:

1. For further information and interviews please contact Rick Wayman, CND's Press & Communications Officer, on 0207 7002350 or 07968 420859
2. The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) is one of Europe’s biggest single-issue peace campaigns, with over 32,000 members in the UK. CND campaigns for the abolition of all nuclear weapons everywhere. www.cnduk.org
3. Further information about Monday’s Block the Builders action can be found at http://www.blockthebuilders.org.uk/action/index.php