Letter

18th January 2003

The most recent polls show that 83% of people in Britain do not support our government in its apparent determination to go to war with Iraq. And with only slight variations this result is consistent with all past surveys. It is also consistent with the views of the people of Buxton. Over the last few months we have been leafleting and petitioning in Spring Gardens and the Market Place and the overwhelming majority of people we have spoken to have been against the war. People have joined us in protest vigils and many felt strongly enough to join us in a Christmas procession for Peace. The hooting of support from passing motorists only confirmed that this part of High Peak, like the rest of Britian is strongly opposed to war.

Unfortunately despite protests and demonstrations throughout the country, and across the world, Tony Blair seems determined to go ahead with this “illegal, unecessary and irrational war” (the words of Alice Mahon MP). Iraq poses no immediate threat to either us or it’s neighbours and clearly has no nuclear weapons (unlike a number of undemocratic and aggressive nations in the world). As the weapons inspectors have still found no chemical or biological weapons to invade and kill many thousands of innocent people because the United States wants “regime change” and control of the rich oil reserves is clearly barbaric.

We all know the United States is armed to the teeth with horrific weaponry. It has the greatest arsenal of weapons of mass destruction ever and has already used nuclear weapons and other weapons capable of terrible destruction (such as daisy cutters); only recently the US suffered the effects of its own biological “terror” when its military grade anthrax was used against its own citizens.

These facts and many more explain why the majority in this country do not support our Prime Minister. But what is concerning is that our MP does support Tony Blair. Tom Levitt has not joined the group of MPs who oppose war. Why when he should be representing his constituents?

Like many others we feel the people of Iraq have already suffered enough from sanctions and from British and American bombing. Surely you can’t bomb people into democracy? And will the people of Iraq feel “liberated” by murdering invaders? In fact it is often said that in acting as the aggressors Britian and America will only encourage the growth of terrorism throughout the world.

We agree with Archbishop Demond Tutu when he says “Tony Blair’s support for the United States is mindboggling.” We do not want our independent sovereign state to be tied to the apron strings of the war mongering United States. Like hundreds of thousands of others we will be joining the huge protest in London on 15th February. Coaches will be leaving Glossop, New Mills and Buxton to take the people of High Peak to London. We will make our voice heard peacefully. On this day quite literally millions will be protesting throughout the world. If you want Tony Blair to know that this approaching war is not in your name contact Buxton Against the War and join us on the 15th February.

Secretary
Buxton Against the War