 A man sits atop the perimeter fence of Faslane Naval Base in Scotland, 4 July, 2005, as part of a non-violent blockage by activists. Thousands of demonstrators have gathered in Scotland ahead of the G8 leaders summit in Gleneagles later in the week, and the blockade of Scotland's largest military base is just one of a number of direct-action protests planned for the week. AFP photo by John D Mchugh. |
Like answering the call of nature.
"Does anybody know a discreet way of having a pee up here?" cried Barton, 33, to the boisterous crowd of fellow protesters below him at the Faslane naval base, after a couple of uncomfortable hours on his awkward perch.
More than 700 people virtually shut down the base -- home of the deep-sea subs that carry Britain's nuclear Trident missiles -- as part of a series of protests ahead of the Group of Eight rich nations' summit at Gleneagles.
Solutions for Barton's predicament, steeped in laughter, were quick to be heard, together with a lively debate on the legality of urinating onto the military side of the fence, or onto the civilian sidewalk outside.
Option two posed the distinct risk of giving a golden shower to the poker-faced police officers who stood between the chain-link fence and the 250-odd demonstrators at Faslane's oil depot.
Ingenuity finally prevailed, as Barton, from Aberdeen on Scotland's east coast, careful not to cut himself on the barbed wire atop the 10-foot (three-metre) fence, covered his modesty with a tartan wool jacket.
With a demonstrator adding extra privacy with a US flag defaced with the words "Make Imperialism History", Barton made best use of a couple of paper cups, then discreetly emptied the contents on the inside of the fence.
"This is street theatre at his best," he declared, to cheers all around.
In an impromptu interview with AFP as the protesters took a break from drumming and dancing, Barton -- sporting a three-day beard, jeans and maroon sweater -- spoke for many when he expressed his disgust at nuclear weapons.
"The reason I'm doing this is to raise awareness about the scandalous spending at this time every year on Trident nuclear weapons," he said, noting that Britain spends 1.5 billions pounds (2.6 billion dollars) a year on the sea-going missiles.
Such spending was ludicrous in the context of the G8 leaders discussing ways to deal with climate change and poverty in Africa at their three-day summit that begins Wednesday, he said.
"I'm not affiliated with any group or organisation," said Barton, who did however become a card-carrying member of the Scottish Green Party whilst literally sitting on the fence.
"I'm a British citizen. I'm one of many opposed to nuclear weapons. They cost too much. They're too dangerous. And they are illegal."
Barton spent the entire day on the fence, before descending -- to protesters' cries of "Let him go!" -- to be arrested for breaching the peace, a common-law offence in Scotland. He was later released, police said.
Over at Faslane's main north gate, a morning of almost non-stop drumming and freestyle dancing was interrupted at mid-day by the saying of mass by David Platt, a retired vicar and longtime Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament activist.
"We pray for those (Royal Navy sailors) on the other side of the fence... May God's light shine upon them and give them peace and understanding in their hearts," he said, before leading a solemn recital of "The Lord's Prayer".
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