We do not want a war (From Stroud News and Journal)

We do not want a war

GREENHAM COMMON peace campaigner Ann Pettitt will be joining Stroud campaigners in a mass anti-war demonstration at Fairford air base later this week.

In 1981 Ann Pettitt organised a march from Cardiff to Greenham Common which snowballed into the Greenham Common Peace Camp.

On Sunday, January 26 Ann and many of the Greenham women will be joining Gloucestershire Weapons Inspectors (GWI) for what they say is a mass citizen's weapons inspection at USAF Fairford, tbe biggest bomber base in Europe.

"There are remarkable parallels between then and now and that's what caught my imagination," said Ann Pettitt.

"In 1981 we were told that theatre nuclear weapons, cruise missiles, at Greenham would make the world safer but we felt they edged us nearer to crossing the nuclear threshold.

"It took years to pull back from the threshold back then and yet we now find ourselves, once more, on the brink.

"Last week Sir Joseph Rotblat said: 'We are on a slippery slope, heading for disaster.' I'd go even further and say that Fairford stands at the edge of a precipice. My fear is that once over the edge there's no turning back.

"Contemplating the use of weapons of mass destruction in a war that's supposed to be about eliminating such weapons is absurd, it's just plain wrong," she added.

Self-styled Chief Weapons Inspector Dave Cockcroft, of Bisley Road, Stroud is helping organise the demonstration with Ann.

"It possible that the next nuclear bomb to be used will be carried on a bomber from Fairford. It is the biggest bomber base in Europe and one of only three forward bases for the B-2 Stealth Bomber in the world," said Dave.

"January 26 is the last day for inspections before Hans Blix reports to the UN Security Council and we felt we should mark the day with our third attempt to inspect Fairford," said Dave.

At the first inspection there were 20 people, the second brought more than 500 and Dave is expecting thousands to turn up on Saturday.

Everyone is invited to attend the march, full details can be found on the GWI website www.gwi.org.uk