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Trident protesters reach Holyrood Trident protesters reach Holyrood
(about 1 hour later)
Anti-nuclear arms campaigners have arrived in Edinburgh at the completion of their 85-mile trek from the Navy's Faslane submarine base on the Clyde.Anti-nuclear arms campaigners have arrived in Edinburgh at the completion of their 85-mile trek from the Navy's Faslane submarine base on the Clyde.
The marchers, including leading churchmen, are calling on the Scottish Parliament and Westminster to scrap Trident missiles. The marchers, including leading churchmen, have called on the Scottish Parliament and Westminster to scrap Trident missiles and any replacement.
They left Faslane, the home of the UK's fleet of submarines armed with nuclear warheads, five days ago, to head east.They left Faslane, the home of the UK's fleet of submarines armed with nuclear warheads, five days ago, to head east.
A rally will be held calling for Trident to be scrapped. A rally is being held, calling for an end the UK nuclear deterrent.
The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, the Right Reverend Alan McDonald, started out with the marchers.The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, the Right Reverend Alan McDonald, started out with the marchers.
He will re-join them along with Roman Catholic Cardinal Keith O'Brien and the Episcopal Bishop of Edinburgh, the Right Reverend Brian Smith. He is rejoining them in the capital, along with Roman Catholic Cardinal Keith O'Brien and the Episcopal Bishop of Edinburgh, the Right Reverend Brian Smith.
Since 1981 the Church of Scotland has said, time and again, that nuclear weapons and weapons of mass destruction are morally and theologically wrong The Right Reverend Alan McDonaldSince 1981 the Church of Scotland has said, time and again, that nuclear weapons and weapons of mass destruction are morally and theologically wrong The Right Reverend Alan McDonald
Before reaching the parliament, there will be a symbolic foot washing outside St John's Episcopal Church, Princes Street, Edinburgh.Before reaching the parliament, there will be a symbolic foot washing outside St John's Episcopal Church, Princes Street, Edinburgh.
Bishop Smith, Cardinal O'Brien and the Moderator will be washing the feet of some of the people who have been taking part in the "Long Walk". Bishop Smith, Cardinal O'Brien and the moderator will be washing the feet of some of the people who have been taking part in the "Long Walk".
During the foot washing an inter-faith service of reflection, led by lay people, will take place inside St John's church.During the foot washing an inter-faith service of reflection, led by lay people, will take place inside St John's church.
The UK Government will decide before the end of 2006 whether Britain will continue to have nuclear weapons and whether to build new submarines to replace Trident.The UK Government will decide before the end of 2006 whether Britain will continue to have nuclear weapons and whether to build new submarines to replace Trident.
'Irrational and absurd''Irrational and absurd'
Speaking before the marchers reached the parliament, Cardinal O'Brien, said: "We are convinced that if it is immoral to use these weapons, it is also immoral to threaten their use. Cardinal O'Brien told protesters: "I hope by our presence here today and by the walk you have completed, we give voice to hope and remind all who will listen that if nuclear war is illogical, immoral and inconceivable, then investing billions of pounds in more nuclear weapons is iniquitous, irrational and absurd."
"We urge the government of the UK not to invest in a replacement for the Trident System and to begin the process of decommissioning these weapons with the intention of diverting the sums spent on nuclear weaponry to programmes of aid and development. Green MSP Chris Ballance said: "Greens, along with the majority of Scots, oppose Trident, oppose the renewal of Trident, and deplore the indiscriminate violence and carnage that nuclear weapons are designed to create.
"We remind all who will listen that if nuclear war is illogical, immoral and inconceivable, then investing billions of pounds in more nuclear weapons is iniquitous, irrational and absurd." "Nuclear weapons make us a terrorist target, create nuclear waste, are illegal and give this country a key role in maintaining one of the most immoral and brutal features of 21st Century politics."
Mr McDonald said that the "Long Walk" showed that the people of Scotland were rightly contributing to the "open debate" that Prime Minister Tony Blair had asked for.
He added: "How can it be right to spend £25bn on a weapon of unimaginable destruction and horror when so many of the six billion inhabitants of earth still exist on less than a dollar a day?
"Since 1981 the Church of Scotland has said, time and again, that nuclear weapons and weapons of mass destruction are morally and theologically wrong.
"I am very proud to have the chance to reiterate this position today."