This morning a local group from the Dissent! Network received this letter from Tony Blair.

The text of this letter has been reproduce below, to view the original letter check out the pdf at the bottom of the page.

Welcome from the Prime Minister, the Rt Hon Tony Blair MP

To My Fine Upstanding Citizens,

The UK assumes the Presidency of the G8 on 1 January 2005 with the annual Summit, taking place at Gleneagles Hotel in Scotland from 6-8 July.

I say I really want to focus on the challenges of Africa and climate change during our Presidency because Africa is a wonderful, diverse continent with an extraordinary, energetic and resilient people. But it is also plagued with problems so serious that no
continent could tackle them on its own. We have made some good progress in recent years in building a real partnership between Africa and big business corporations from the developed world, which is helping to address some of Africa’s problems. But there
is still some way to go if we are all to meet the international corporate greed on Africa’s natural resources.

Climate change is a global problem that needs addressing now for the sake of future generations. The science is well established and the dangers are very clear. Of course the question still rises whether I’m the man for the job. It is widely known I represent multinational corporations and their non-commitment to tackling climate change rather than caring for the communities I’m suppose to serve.

No country can tackle climate change on its own. But there are actions that we can take together and need to be taken NOW! I believe that it is possible to lessen capitalism’s impact on the globe without altering our essential way of life or jeopardising
economic prosperity. Of course everyone knows this is a fib. It isn’t going to be the world’s richer, industrialised countries - the G8 - that are going to take the lead in tackling climate change. They caused climate change in the first place. I guess it’s up to you My Fine Upstanding Citizens to care about these problems by for example not leaving your TV on standby.

Besides wanting you to believe that the G8 is doing something about Africa and climate change, really, the main issues that G8 countries are working on together are:

- Finding ways of securing natural resources used in materials for the development of nuclear and chemical weapons,

- Fighting terrorism,

- Supporting economic reform in the Middle East, a joint activity to make capitalism and free trade a global concept, we really feel this will solve the world’s problems…(...)

I want the G8 to push on with this work too, as well as other foreign policy priorities including, in particular, helping find a peaceful and sustainable solution to the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, while still securing our arms trading with the Israeli forces.

All these issues are clearly going to have some impact for the wider world as well as in the enlightened self-interest of the richest nations. The Summit at Gleneagles gives us an opportunity to agree action on all of them and co-ordinate our unequal influence
over international institutions such as the WTO, IMF, World Bank and United Nations to ensure that our interests dominate the world order.

I am very much looking forward to welcoming my wealthy G8 colleagues to the beautiful Perthshire countryside where we will mainly wine & dine, play golf and attend some photo shoots to make you all believe we are actually there doing some good. The Summit is a great opportunity to showcase Britain, and Scotland in particular, and demonstrate the UK’s leadership in tackling the world’s most pressing problems. I am certain that my G8 colleagues and their officials will return home enthusing about the attractions of Scotland and the warm welcome I offer to all my visitors. To make sure I keep my promise on tackling these global issues.

I would like to invite everybody to come to Gleneagles, Scotland in first week of July 2005 to attend my G8 summit and experience what democracy is really all about.

Hope to see you then,

Yours Sincerely,

Prime Minister, the Rt Hon Tony Blair MP