How to Disarm a Nuclear Submarine examines the concept of sabotage for peace—a form of direct, non-violent action designed to disrupt the military-industrial complex. The project centres on the ‘Trident Three’ case — Angie Zelter, Ulla Roder, and Ellen Moxley—and their 1999 disarmament of the Trident research laboratory in Loch Goil, Scotland. The women caused £100,000 worth of damage to Trident research equipment as part of their broader mission to challenge the UK’s nuclear weapons program. The project explores the following legal battles, focusing on their defence that they acted to "prevent grave breaches of national and international law."

The inclusion of legal proceedings is crucial to this exploration. The legal documents illuminate the tension between the government’s efforts to criminalise dissent and the activists’ justification of their actions as morally and legally necessary. By integrating legal perspectives with activist actions, the project highlights the critical importance of preparation in non-violent direct action — both to maximise its effectiveness and to provide a robust defence against institutional power.

This project gathers various forms of archival material related to the Trident Three’s disarmament actions and the ensuing legal conversations, including photographs, news articles, and court transcripts. These materials are combined into a single "toolkit" for disarmament, offering a historical record and a resource for future activism.

In the context of ongoing global conflicts and the persistent threat of nuclear escalation, this project carries a sense of urgency. Focusing on the non-violent actions of the Trident Three underscores the necessity of nuclear disarmament and raises ethical questions about nuclear deterrence. Their actions served as a call to action and dialogue around the dangers of war and weapons of mass destruction. Additionally, the project connects to contemporary protests, such as those against Elbit Systems factories in the UK, reinforcing the ongoing fight against the global arms trade and the pursuit of peace.