Letter: Arms to Africa
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Arms to Africa
Sir: Tony Blair is currently visiting South Africa with a view to establishing relations with president-in-waiting Thabo Mbeki. He is also there to secure UK defence contracts. South Africans are outraged by their government's intention to spend billions on weapons purchases, including pounds 700m on British Aerospace/Saab Gripen fighters at pounds 700m and possibly another pounds 300m on BAe Hawks.
As one South African economist, Terry Crawford-Browne, has put it: "People cannot eat warships, warplanes or tanks. Issues of human security relating to people - access to health services, clean water, jobs etc must take priority over the traditional notions of military security. Fortunately there is no military threat to South Africa. Yet the very real threat to security by poverty undermines our still fragile transition to democracy."
Talk of industrial participation benefits has been described as a smoke screen. Expenditure could be better used in education, housing and health.
Once again the short-term interests of UK arms export companies are placed above social, economic and humanitarian concerns and once again Tony Blair leaves his government open to the suggestion that policy is manipulated by the arms exporters.
RACHEL HARFORD
Joint Co-ordinator
Campaign Against Arms Trade
London N4
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments