Why we support our firefighters not the warmongers?

what some residents of ( Casterbridge, Emminster, Snowman House, Hinstock & Mary Green with 400 flats) in Abbey Rd said on petition in support of the firefighters strike for 30k.
This is a spontaneous interview in relation to the second phase of the firefighters' strike. While a friend and me from the same local area were petitioning.
-30k is not a lot of money.
-They need money, I hope they get plenty support.
-The government spends millions a year just to keep submarines. How can they say they got no money?
- I pay tax and bills all the time, if they don't give it to firefighters & services, where does it go, this money?
-The government is crazy and it's sad that firefighters have to go on strike for a decent wage.
-This government just lies and is interested in bloody war. They don't care about us.
-I support them because their work is so risky and hard, but I can't sign because I am not English.
-They are all right just keep it going on.
-This government is destroying everything, that's why I didn't vote to anybody.
-The only way to make their point is striking.
-Only one person said, “I don't support their strike because, it risks people lives”. I said, “You don’t think that's the government responsibility in the first place, because they don’t want to give living wage to prevent the risk of strike? They don’t care about people lives; they also want to cut the number of firefighters.
-If they have enough money for war, why not for firefighters?
- A women with a disability said, when I'm stuck in the lift, it's only the firefighters who come & rescue me.
- Of course I support them completely, Tony Blair just became puppet of Bush to make a war, we should get rid of them.
- They deserve more money but not 40%.
- I don't like politics and I don't sign, but I support fire fighters.
- I believe firefighters deserve more money than ministers because every day they will put their lives at risk to save our lives, but the ministers' job is now making war killing innocent civilians and cutting the jobs and services in favour of fat cats.
- I have two photos to show how they saved my life when there was a fire and smoke here. I hardly believe that they get £6 per hour while the council asks me as pensioner to pay £8 per hour to the cleaner.

Result:
*At least 90% of residents support firefighter strikers.
*Big majority of the firefighters supporters are against the war and most of them use the anti-war argument.
*They strongly want to spend their money & taxes on public services & service workers, instead of war.
*Most of the firefighters supporters don't trust the 3 major parties in parliament.

Do you know?

* $900+ bn a year is the world military budget.
* $379+ bn for US/will rise to $500bn by 2007.
* US has spent 50-100% more than EU on arms
* each year in past 50 years.
* Biggest world arm sellers: USA with 45%,UK 17%,RUSSIA 13%, France 4% and the restof the world 21%. Ref (The Economist 2003).So, who produce the most weapon of mass destruction?

*Pay rise for Prime ministe 41%, MPs 40%, Chief executives 27% and Firefighter 4%.

* £30. 000, (40% pay rise) may sound a great deal but after deductions is only £8.50 per hour.

* Many of firefighters like Teachers, nurses, postal, rail workers …who serve London, they can’t afford to live in London because of mad housing prices, 22% increase only just last year. Ref (Daily Mirror Feb10 2003)

* 2/3 of UK workers recieve less than average wage (£465 per week). And the pay gap has increased because of the sharp pay rise for bosses since the Labour got power in 1997. Ref (guardian 3rd Feb)

* 3/4 of UK workers work overtime but only a third are paid extra which is the worst in Europe. Now
-1 in 6 UK employees works more than 60 hours a week compared 1 in 6 just two year ago.
-Women working a 60 hours week has doubled in same period. Ref (The Independent 19jan 2003).

* The government shamelessly declared that, their modernisation means cutting 6000 firefighters, increasing working hours, overtimes, and privatisation . That means killing peoples directly.

* Women firefighters, control-room staff(Majority women) & partner of firefighters are saying Bain( Gov. represented) proposals would undermine existing family -friendly working arrangements.

* Defense Secretary Geof Hoon happily announced that BAE has won a 10bn contract to build two aircraft carriers. Each one will able to carry 1600 crew and 50new F35 aircraft bombers (weapon of mass destruction) that will “create 10,000 jobs”. Ref((Dail Mail jan31 2003)

Lets share our experiences without seeking power and leadership over anybody. Hassan

See you in strike support & anti-war movements.