14th April, Huddersfield
Huddersfield Wool Against Weapons unfurled part of a 7 mile long pink scarf for peace in St George’s Square Huddersfield as part of a global day of action calling for military spending to be redirected to meet human needs.
Just part of the £34.5 billion of the annual UK military budget could help save NHS services from cuts, for instance arms exports are subsidised by £700m a year, enough for 33,000 new nurses.
Julia Mercer, local resident and grandmother, explains why she is taking part in the action:
“In the last two years we have had cuts to Sure Start centres; threats to our library services and now the A&E at our hospital is threatened. Meanwhile, our government spends more on weapons and military than almost every other country in the world. I think it’s time to get our priorities straight, and that’s why I’m taking action today.”
