UK: Greenham Common Women's Peace CampPeace Camps first came about in the 1920s as 24-hour protests outside of military bases by members of the peace movement. They became topical in the 1980s due to the worldwide publicity generated by the Greenham Common Women's Peace Camp.
Greenham Common Women's Peace Camp was established to protest against US nuclear weapons being stored at RAF Greenham Common in Berkshire, England. A Welsh group called 'Women for Life on Earth" started the camp in September 1981. Tens of thousands of people came together in April 1983 to form a human chain around the 23km base. 200 members of the women's peace camp scaled the fence to the base in a stronger demonstration of protest.
The last nuclear missiles left the camp in 1991 but the camp remained in place until 2000, finally disbanding when protestors won the right to house a memorial on the site.
Other peace camps born of a similar vein include the Aldermaston Women's Peace Camp, Faslane 365 and Menwith Hill in Yorkshire. |