Aldermaston Marches: Difference between revisions
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In 1958, protesters marched from Trafalgar Square, London, to the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment in Aldermaston (Berkshire); it took them about four days to cover the fifty-mile distance. In the following years, the direction was reversed. The peace symbol that was to become the logo of the [[CND]] was designed by Gerald Holtom for the first Aldermaston March. | In 1958, protesters marched from Trafalgar Square, London, to the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment in Aldermaston (Berkshire); it took them about four days to cover the fifty-mile distance. In the following years, the direction was reversed. The peace symbol that was to become the logo of the [[CND]] was designed by Gerald Holtom for the first Aldermaston March. | ||
'''Aldermaston''' | |||
Aldermaston in Berkshire is the only place where nuclear weapons are manufactured. Aldermaston is the headquarters of the UK´s Atomic Weapons Establishment. The AWE is responsible for the design and manufacture of the of the Trident submarine-launched intercontinental ballistic missile system. The AWE employs 4,000 people and is also involved in dismantling decommissioned and redundant nuclear weapons. (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/696046.stm) | Aldermaston in Berkshire is the only place where nuclear weapons are manufactured. Aldermaston is the headquarters of the UK´s Atomic Weapons Establishment. The AWE is responsible for the design and manufacture of the of the Trident submarine-launched intercontinental ballistic missile system. The AWE employs 4,000 people and is also involved in dismantling decommissioned and redundant nuclear weapons. (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/696046.stm) | ||
'''CND''' | |||
In the 50s one of the most influential members of the Labour party Nye Bevan argued, “Britain´s bomb could give the UK a decisive voice in international affairs”. “He believed the bomb could give Britain “the opportunity of interposing” between the US and Russia” (Childs, p.91) | In the 50s one of the most influential members of the Labour party Nye Bevan argued, “Britain´s bomb could give the UK a decisive voice in international affairs”. “He believed the bomb could give Britain “the opportunity of interposing” between the US and Russia” (Childs, p.91) | ||
It caused difficulties for the Labour Party on the political stage. Most delegates and political activists from the other parties, who used to support Bevan, voted other way. Some of these delegates were already involved in in a new mass movement, which later became the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament. First of all it was a small group of MPs under the chairmanship of Fenner Brockway formed the Hydrogen Bomb National Campaign Committee with prominent members, such as Tony Benn and Anthony Greenwood. And CND was just a much larger, much non-politic movement, supported by the citizens. (Childs, p.90 - 91) | It caused difficulties for the Labour Party on the political stage. Most delegates and political activists from the other parties, who used to support Bevan, voted other way. Some of these delegates were already involved in in a new mass movement, which later became the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament. First of all it was a small group of MPs under the chairmanship of Fenner Brockway formed the Hydrogen Bomb National Campaign Committee with prominent members, such as Tony Benn and Anthony Greenwood. And CND was just a much larger, much non-politic movement, supported by the citizens. (Childs, p.90 - 91) | ||
Revision as of 05:07, 9 July 2012
Series of demonstrations against nuclear weapons in the 1950s and 60s.
In 1958, protesters marched from Trafalgar Square, London, to the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment in Aldermaston (Berkshire); it took them about four days to cover the fifty-mile distance. In the following years, the direction was reversed. The peace symbol that was to become the logo of the CND was designed by Gerald Holtom for the first Aldermaston March.
Aldermaston
Aldermaston in Berkshire is the only place where nuclear weapons are manufactured. Aldermaston is the headquarters of the UK´s Atomic Weapons Establishment. The AWE is responsible for the design and manufacture of the of the Trident submarine-launched intercontinental ballistic missile system. The AWE employs 4,000 people and is also involved in dismantling decommissioned and redundant nuclear weapons. (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/696046.stm)
CND
In the 50s one of the most influential members of the Labour party Nye Bevan argued, “Britain´s bomb could give the UK a decisive voice in international affairs”. “He believed the bomb could give Britain “the opportunity of interposing” between the US and Russia” (Childs, p.91)
It caused difficulties for the Labour Party on the political stage. Most delegates and political activists from the other parties, who used to support Bevan, voted other way. Some of these delegates were already involved in in a new mass movement, which later became the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament. First of all it was a small group of MPs under the chairmanship of Fenner Brockway formed the Hydrogen Bomb National Campaign Committee with prominent members, such as Tony Benn and Anthony Greenwood. And CND was just a much larger, much non-politic movement, supported by the citizens. (Childs, p.90 - 91)
The CND organized annual marches. One of the most popular and important of them was the Aldermaston march of the 1958: it was a protest march from London to Aldermaston, which covered 50 miles between the 4th and the 7th of April.(Childs, p.91)
The spokesmen of the CND were called by the press “angry young men”. One of the most significant was John Osbourne who became famous over night with his play “Look back in Anger” (Childs, p. 92)
Childs, David. Britain Since 1945. London and New York: Routledge, 1997 (p.90-92)