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Protesters stage bid to get at naked truth
Katie Davies
A CHEEKY protest against the Trident nuclear programme is being led by a Hampstead Garden Suburb man.
Jesse Schust from Ossulton Way joined a group of people protesting against the nuclear system at Faslane naval base in Scotland this week.
The group wants to spark debate about the government's decision to renew £25billion of submarine weaponry - and expose a few naked facts.
The 35-year-old IT worker said: "We went as a group of cyclists intending to block the gates to the base, however, it ended up with only seven of us, so we had to think of something more dramatic.
"A number of us had taken part in the World Naked Bike Ride in London so we decided to take our clothes off and stand outside with signs.
"We knew this was the only way we were going to have an impact. Any other group who goes there should do it - we were very happy with the effect it had."
Unfortunately, the group's attempts were not appreciated by the police who locked them up for the night as punishment.
Mr Schust said: "We only had 30 seconds before the police came and arrested us. They took it very well and we put our clothes back on.
"We were held overnight in the cells, which seemed rather extreme considering we were allowed to leave with no charge."
The demonstration is part of a year of protests outside the base, due to end next month.
Groups from all over the country have taken part, but Mr Schust and his friends are the first to do it naked.
They are urging the government to back down on its decision to renew the four submarines, which each carry 12 warheads.
Mr Schust explained: "I think Trident is really hypocritical and the decision to renew it is against international law.
"There is an agreement to stop non-nuclear powers acquiring weapons, but part of that deal is that current nuclear powers reduce their arsenal.
"We say countries suspected of acquiring nuclear capability, like Iran, are wrong but then we do this ourselves. We are not fulfilling the agreement at all.
"Not one of us would consider using weapons of this nature. They would cause massive scale nuclear destruction to the earth."
katie.davies@hamhigh.co.uk
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