A good spirited event, despite the bad weather and scheduling of the Stop The War Demo in London on the same day. St George's square hosted a range of good stalls providing information, even if some of the speeches lacked much bite.

Here's some Supporting links and more info about the day...

Stop The War events page:
http://www.stopwar.org.uk/new/events/index.htm

Scotland For Peace - Bin The Bomb Raodshow info:
http://www.scotland4peace.org/whats_onroadshow.htm

Metro Article: 1,000 join Bin the Bomb protest:
http://www.metro.co.uk/news/article.html?in_article_id=38728&in_page...

Guardian Article: Hundreds in March Against Trident:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uklatest/story/0,,-6437718,00.html

Blog Entry: The Prophet Speaks: Thousands March against Trident in Glasgow
http://prophetrage.blogspot.com/2007/02/thousands-march-against-trident-...

There seems to be some dispute over the number of attendees (as usual). One of the Police stewards I spoke to on the day said he estimated the gathering at around 2500 people.

There has been good progress on many issues in Scotland in recent months, we MUST carry this momentum forward. If the Scottish people, as they seem to be, are of a such a large majority calling for the abolition of Trident, for the return of British troops from Iraq, for the reduction of Nuclear power in Scotland and for the opposition of any war with Iran, we must make sure their voices are heard this time.

Peace is all we crave...

There is also Faslane Peace Camp, open all year to visitors. Phone 01436 820901 for more information.

Some related Beeb articles...

Peace rallies held in two cities:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6392095.stm

Protesters make Bin the Bomb plea:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/6391663.stm

Unlikely allies united on Trident:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/6393113.stm
"Anarcho-syndicalists. Communists. Scottish Nationalists. Anti-racism campaigners. Trades unionists. It was an eclectic mix which wound its merry way from Cowcaddens to Glasgow's George Square..."

The police estimated that 2000 people attended the march in Glasgow. The organisers could claim double that, the best guess is probably somewhere in between. However many people attended the demonstration, it took place without event. People met, marched, listened to people talk then all went home, in all good tradition.

Despite the site of the UK's nuclear weapons being little more than 20 miles away, no direct action took place to actually target our existing stockpile of nuclear weapons. The focus of the rally appeared to be on the up coming Scottish elections and the importance of voting for a non-nuclear party, naturally for a platform dominated by politicians. The speakers were made up of 2 religious figures, 6 politicians, a unionist, someone from stop the war and one person from CND. Faslane 365 and its year long struggle to shut down Faslane Naval base was hardly mentioned.

The Scottish elections could be important in changing the political atmosphere surrounding the renewal decision but there is slightly more to the issue of the UK's nuclear deterrent than what is said in the speeches of politicians running for re-election. There is little room in the union settlement for Scotland to reject trident. Furthermore the UK is under huge pressure from the US to buy a new weapons system which of course the UK is not permitted to use unless authorised by the US president. Indeed the fact that the UK is breaking International law under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation treaty suggests Westminster would be little worried about the might of Holyrood, besides the MoD is reserved is it not? The whispers of Holyrood are not so loud to the ears of US imperialism and without sufficient civil resistance and direct action we have no hope of ridding Scotland and the rest of the UK of these atrocious weapons.

A well policed ritualistic march around Glasgow is unfortunately not sufficient in creating the type of pressure needed, as history has proven. Indeed it could even be detrimental as people feel that demonstrating their dissent by walking around waving placards is actually doing enough.

The demo in Glasgow was a success only in the narrow sense of getting a little mainstream coverage and showing the shoppers of Glasgow that people are marching against nuclear weapons. Its function of movement building is necessary but minimal. This is not simply a critique of one particular demo but demo-culture in general, they can be good ways into the movement but for many they are the way straight back out. To everyone who has ever demostrated, dont lose hope when politicians ignore you, take direct action and make them listen, dont just expect them to do it becuase you demonstrated.

Ask yourself is it the intention of my actions which gives them meaning or is it the consequences?

The important guide of success is the question of whether we are any closer to ridding the world of nuclear weapons? Is our current response sufficient to stop the next generation of nuclear weapons?
There are certainly those willing to take action instead of waiting for politicians to decide our fate.

Roll on Faslane365 and Block the Builders... :)

This post is pretty much the same (tho not quite as eloquent) as above, but i've been trying to add it for some time - silly blue numbers and letters had disappeared...

The event was good spirited but we really have to start questioning the effectiveness of marching around in a circle (through some of the least populated areas of glasgow), followed by hours of speeches. When politicians get up on the podium and tell you how long they've been 'doing this' for, no matter how impassioned their speeches are, you've got to wonder if it isn't time to change tactics. marches and rallies sap peoples' energy and, especially if its raining, end with everyone wanting to get home as fast as possible. blair and his trident-ites must be laughing at us.

surely there are more effective ways of bringing about lasting change - if two million people in London couldn’t stop the war, how can 2000 in Glasgow stop trident? Either we need to up the ante with these marches (eg choosing our own route instead of having it dictated to us would be a good start), or change focus.

if 2000 people had descended on Faslane on Saturday, or taken some other form of direct action the story might be different. its blatantly clear that our so called democracy is nothing of the sort and that we will not be listened to. so, lets disarm britain's nuclear weapons ourselves by blockading faslane, blocking the builders at aldermaston and stopping nuclear convoys

Put down the placard, put down the newspaper, u know it's wrong.
SO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT
COME TO FASLANE.
BLOCKADE, BREAK THE FENCE.

Or show face at parliment, let them know, we don't want it. Not now, not ever.

I totally agree with what these protesters are doing! I am 12 years old and with my school I went to Scottish Parliament. When we got there we saw protesters outside waving about a sign reading "Bin The Bomb!" My teacher said it was a lot of nonsense and to ignore them, but I was fascinated. When we got into the building I asked our tour guide what she thought and she said that it was horrible and that the Parliament are going to do something about it. Make a stop to it. I said that the Protesters were right, we should get rid of Trident. She just laughed.

March & Rally: People and Parliment Against Trident, 3rd November assemble 11.30 at the Scottish Parliment, march off 12 noon. There will be music from Karine Polwart , David Ferrard & Protest In Harmony Commotion, speakers from civic and political Scotland. A bus will run from Byres Road and George Square leaving 10.15 am £4 return £2 concession, please call 01414231222 to book a seat