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ALDERMASTON 2004 PRESS ROUND-UP From the Wimbledon News to Al Jazeera they were talking about the march to AldermastonThe build up… A new generation taking a stand against a new generation of nuclear weapons 'Peace Campaigners return to Aldermaston’ 'Why I'm back to ban the bomb' We even managed to get a plug for the rally into the Guardian’s Letters Page. Pat Arrowsmith, one of the original 1958 march organisers and Neela Dolezalova, a 19 year old peace activist who was speaking at the Rally made a fantastic double act for many of these stories and deserve a word of thanks for the brilliant job they did. ‘Peace march against nuclear weapons’ ‘Welsh protestors in nuclear protest’ The rally … Richard Norton Taylor outlined the reasons for us marching in the same paper. The media turned up in great numbers for the rally and start of the march, keen to interview the many speakers, the odd celebrity, and the 100s of people queuing up to register for the 52 mile journey. The TV put the rally at the top of its agenda. Al Jazeera was there to cover us whilst Sky News had live coverage throughout the day and the BBC’s 10 o’clock news included the march in its headlines. In London both the BBC and ITV covered the story with London Tonight making it its top story for the evening news. The radio stations following the events of the day included Radio 4, the World Service, 5 Live, Xfm, LBC, Capital, BBC Asian Network, BBC Wales, Carlton Radio and many more local stations. Let us know if you heard the story anywhere else. The national and international newspapers were also there. The Guardian, Independent, Financial Times, Morning Star and Scotsman all had something to say. The Scotsman Fri 9 Apr 2004 On the road to Aldermaston…
Trek against nuclear arms Peace trekkers set off for British nuclear arms facility We made it! Joy as nuclear marchers hit base New Generation march for peace Nuclear arms protest in Britain The Guardian clearly couldn't make up its mind what it thought of our march... Although Laura Barton was rather negative in her appraisal... Many people disagreed... http://www.guardian.co.uk/letters/story/0,3604,1192002,00.html And Joan Bakewell saw the relevance ….. How was it for you? ‘I was on the march to Aldermaston’ Small, but perfectly formed Marchers tell their stories Aldermaston WMDs are 50 miles from my house. My mates challenged me to
a fitness test: a four-day protest march to the nuclear base. Kids living
closer can expect higher cancer levels: at least I’m still fit enough
to walk. £2 billion of taxes should buy real security, like health
and education. Children shouldn’t live under a nuclear shadow. Strangely,
when I photographed a policeman protecting the base he asked me to shoot
his better side, and posed. Think you can hold it up for 50 miles? Show
your ‘better side’ and get fit! I challenge you: march next
year. As a 15 year old, in 1988 my Mum took me and my brother on the London
to Aldermaston march against nuclear weapons. I was no stranger to political
demonstrations but had never been on one so strenuous or that lasted so
many days. It was fantastic! My brother and I made the front page of the
Morning Star and coming from Nottingham I was very impressed with the
‘sophisticated’ young people I met from London. My experience
in ’88 left me with a sense of optimism and eagerness to participate
in many more political activities including this weekends march. Clearly
we have not yet succeeded in removing the nuclear threat, but there are
plenty of us ready to keep on pressing for this and after this weekend
a whole new generation of young people have been inspired to continue
this task Blisters, sun stroke, samba drums playing and queuing up for food with
hundreds of people in a field by the side of an A road, by day three,
somewhere between Slough and Reading, all this had become routine. What
a strange, wonderful way to spend your Easter weekend. | |||||||||||||||