British modern history that invokes shame and promotes deceit – at home and abroad.
' After Iraq, we can never again go to war on a lie '
The democratic structures must represent the views of the people and have an accountable impact on policy and action. Imagine a guarantee of a minimum of 50 % of women ' s representation on every committee, panel and board that has any influence on British approaches to foreign policy. If our perspective of the world is unequal and unjust how can we expect the consequences of our actions to be anything but? Similarly imagine if the views and decisions of those who suffer the consequences of Britain ' s role on the world stage were considered? Imagine the power of the voices of the people directly affected by warfare and political conflict over those of the lobbyists, the arms manufacturers, the corrupt politicians and the media barons.
Every illegal and immoral action that has been taken by representatives of the British Government; occupation, rendition, torture, internment, every life that has been taken as a consequence of propping up the aims of imperialism and the neo-liberal agenda must be a marker of how far we have to go to in order to create the new rules, make the decisions and ensure the equality of all people and all states. It ' s undeniably a big task, and not one that any person or group that wants to see a new future approach should shy away from.
' Every life that has been taken as a consequence of propping up the aims of imperialism must be a marker of how far we have to go '
Over the last two years, the increase in the impact of people taking power and challenging the roles of governments and business have afforded us a real insight into what can be achieved with a shared commitment to create a better world. From the ongoing fight for freedom by ordinary Egyptians in Tahrir Square, broadcast globally and shared through multiple social networks, to the young, desperate and disenfranchised taking space to learn to develop new ways of working in cooperation to achieve change in the Occupy movement across the world, things have already changed. Although those holding the reins of power will not let go of their grip easily, a new generation is creating a new set of rules, outlining a new set of aims and are committing themselves to playing a part in what they see as an unravelling of the old game.
Putting people before profit is an old cliché, but needs to underpin our whole attitude of how we operate in the world we live in. It’ s a big job but we ' ll get there.
References Wall Street Journal, January 4 th, 2007 Wall Street Journal, January 15 th 2008 revolutionise. it 36