NO to arms trade: NO to the grotesque paradox. Poppies, Head of States, and hypocritical manipulators: What is the point of politicians attending ceremonial events to mourn the deaths of millions in the world wars when they are at the same time waging or provoking wars in their own countries?
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If The Bridge Magazine was a satirical magazine, this November, in response to the world’s observance of Remembrance Day, our front page picture would have featured a provocative cartoon depicting hypocritical world leaders as ugly monsters eating their own children.

Latest figures on casualties of conflict from the Department of Peace and Conflict Research since the start of 36 major armed conflicts of recent years raises eyebrows: according to Adams Roberts in regards to lives and statistics, “90% of  modern war victims are civilians”.

Adam Roberts is president of the British Academy and Senior Research Fellow at The Centre for International Studies at Oxford University’s Department of Politics and International, and editor of the United Nations Security Council and War.

London arms trade fair- the world’s biggest arms fair. The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) found that the UK was second only to the United States in terms of generating money from the arms trade.
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But not only does The Bridge Magazine draw a distinct line between journalism and satire, but most importantly, we feel that a constructive and solutions-oriented critical approach suits our context better since the majority of head of states in the world are high-ranking scholars of a certain calibre.

This November, each head of state should reflect in their home and foreign policies and ask themselves why are the arms trade is still flourishing? Why substantial   budgets are still diverted into the promotion of war rather than healthcare, housing, education and employment whilst they are still claiming to vote on laws that protect their population’s welfare?

In Roman Catholic culture, the month of November is the month of souls in Purgatory, when the Church commemorates all her faithful children who have departed from this life but have not yet attained the joys of heaven…

What is the point of politicians attending ceremonial events to mourn the deaths of millions in the world wars when they are at the same time waging or provoking wars in their own countries?

In his 1998 book, Hidden Agendas, Chapter 2, ‘Flying the Flag, Arming the World’, John Pilger wrote:
‘Today, Britain is the world’s second largest arms exporter after the United States. […] The most famous arms dealer of all was Sir Bazil Zaharoff, “I made wars so that I could sell arms to both sides” he declared’
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In his 1998 book, Hidden Agendas, Chapter 2, ‘Flying the Flag, Arming the World’, John Pilger wrote:

‘Today, Britain is the world’s second largest arms exporter after the United States.

In no other export sector is Britain so successful as in the arms business…The most famous arms dealer of all was Sir Bazil Zaharoff, whose reputation popularised the term ‘merchant of death’.

Zaroff understood the connection between arms and power, diplomacy, spying and bribery, and flying the flag, regardless of whose flag it was. “I made wars so that I could sell arms to both sides” he declared.’

Britain and other Western powers have built their empires on war and the arms trade…

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Rachel Tcheungna, Author, Writer of 

The Bridge Books and 

The Bridge Magazine Editor.