300 people assembled at the nuclear submarine base at Faslane in Scotland and gave Trident "Notice to Quit". Participants came from a large number of countries including Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, England, Estonia, France, Germany, Hungary, Macedonia, Netherlands, Poland, Rumania, Russia, Scotland, Spain, Ukraine, USA and Wales. Many had come from an international Ecotopia gathering taking place elsewhere in Scotland. Banners were put around the gate to the base including one in Polish saying "Trident nei, Peace Camp tak" (Trident no, Peace Camp yes).
Brian Quail, Joint Secretary of the Scottish Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament opened the rally speaking in English and Russian. Alan Wilkie of the World Court Project explained how the event was to highlight the illegality of Trident following the decision a year ago by the International Court of Justice. He told those assembled of all the other sites around the world where demonstrations were being held.
People were sworn in as "Honorary Marshals of the International Court of Justice" and given a marshal's badge. Hundreds of notices were then attached to the fence around the base saying:
"NOTICE TO QUIT
Whereas on 8th July 1996 the International Court of Justice in the Hague affirmed that the threat or use of nuclear weapons would
generally be contrary to the rules of international law applicable in armed conflict;
And whereas the Nuremberg Charter of 1945 affirms that it is the duty of all citizens to uphold international law,
I ............................................... hereby give notice that all nuclear weapons must be removed forthwith from the Clyde Naval Base Faslane and the Royal Naval Armaments Depot Coulport.
signed ........................................................... 9th August 1997"
The protest took place at the North Gate of the base which is the main entrance to the Trident area. This gate was closed for the entire afternoon, although another gate remained open.
A minibus with signs saying "war crimes inspection team" drove to the nuclear weapons store at Coulport. 15 people walked across military land outside the perimetre fence and put up "notice to quit" signs. Due to the mist they were unable to see the nuclear bunkers. They were escorted by Ministry of Defence Police but not arrested.
A chartered boat was used to take people on a cruise to see Faslane from the water. There were two trips and on each one the boat stopped close to the base and paper boats with the message "evict Trident" were put in the water. Over 200 paper boats floated towards the base. A Police boat (below) was sent to intercept the paper boats, but most of them floated past it.
One person was arrested twice - once for canoeing towards the Trident area at Faslane, and the second time for swimming towards the Trident jetty at Coulport. Both actions were carried out to inspect for nuclear weapons.
The demonstration gave a boost to the residents at Faslane Peace Camp who are facing up to eviction from the local authority, Argyll and Bute Council. They were told to leave the site by 28th July, but are still there. They have built tunnels, a tree house and lock-on points ready to withstand a forced eviction.
Brian Quail of Scottish CND said:
"It is an irony of our times that the law is being used to evict peace campers. Yet today the Faslane base, an immediate threat to human life and direct source of nuclear proliferation, is being protected by hundreds of police officers."
There was TV coverage of the event on BBC Scotland.