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Anti-nuclear campaigners say "non"!
On 23 September an estimated 1,000 people converged on France's nuclear weapons facility at Les Landes in the south-west of the country to carry out a European "citizens' inspection". The event was organised by a coalition of NGOs, including ATTAC, Re'seau Sortir du Nucle'aire, Mouvement de la Paix, Greenpeace and the Quakers.French antinuclear campaigners believe that France - with its submarine-based M51 programme - is on a similar weapons development trajectory to Britain, with particular fears about low-yield, "usable", warheads being developed. Activists from several European countries attended the event, with ten people from Trident Ploughshares making the journey across the Channel. It wasn't long before reports of their mischief-making floated back to Britain, as several entered the base's "forbidden" zone during the inspection.
The day ended with the creation of a massive human nuclear disarmament sign on the nearby beach. See http://www.nonaumissilem51.org. (PHOTO: CHRISTOPHE CUNNIET / NONAUMISSILEM51.ORG.)