AS the General Election in 2015 approaches, Salisbury CND members are stepping up their efforts to persuade the electorate that Trident should not be replaced at a cost of £100 billion in 2016.

Should the British Government decide to renew Trident, it will be breaking the condition of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty to reduce nuclear arsenals and work toward nuclear weapons eradication.

In April a talk was given by Andrew Day of Atomic Weapons Eradication to inform the group of sustained actions taking place to challenge Trident at Aldermaston and Burghfield, the joint nuclear weapon factories near Newbury. Lack of media coverage is the result of a new policy by police not to arrest protesters taking part in peaceful blockades of the gates.

On August 6, the anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima in 1945, 200 candles were launched on the River Avon. This magical way to remember victims was watched by many from Fisherton Bridge and on the riverbank.

On August 9, Nagasaki Day and the anniversary of the second atomic attack on Japan by the USA, Salisbury CND took a length of pink scarf to Aldermaston to join to thousands of others linking the two factories along a seven-mile stretch of road. This monumental knitted protest, called Wool Against Weapons, was tremendously inspiring. The pieces of scarf will now be recycled into blankets and sent to people in need.

On Monday, October 27, the film Countdown to Zero will be shown at 7.30pm at Studio Theatre, Ashley Road.