Letters to your MP

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If you want to take action online, check out Stop The War Coalition e-petition.

To find out your local MP, visit TheyWorkForYou.com.

“I am boycotting the census”

Dear [INSERT MP HERE],

My name is [INSERT NAME HERE], and I am writing to you because I wish to raise my deeply felt concern about the 2011 census.

As you will no doubt be aware, a £150 million contract was awarded to Lockheed Martin UK, a subsidiary of the world’s largest arms manufacturer, by the Office of National Statistics (ONS) to help run the data processing of the census.

I feel the government’s decision was entirely inappropriate as any involvement with the census can only serve to legitimise an industry that predicates its existence and financial gain on the promotion of weapons systems and war. Lockheed Martin is responsible for the production of cluster bombs, F-16 jets, and Trident missiles. They have also sold weapons to Bahrain, currently undergoing a wave of protest against its repressive regime.

As a citizen it is my duty and legal obligation to cooperate with the census, and fill out the information fields on the form to a complete and accurate extent. I find this to be an untenable situation: boycotting the census on moral grounds may result in a £1,000 fine; cooperating will, in my view, amount to the tacit support of a process of legitimizing the arms trade.

This is not something I am prepared to do, so I have made the decision not to return my census forms.

I cannot stress my anger and disappointment strongly enough, that to object on conscientious grounds makes me a criminal in the eyes of the law.

As my MP, I would like to know what actions you will take to ensure that ethical considerations are at the forefront of government contracting decisions in the future, and secondly, whether you intend to support those citizens who do choose to boycott because of the disregard of these same considerations this time round.

Yours faithfully,

[INSERT NAME HERE]

Find a Word document version here.

“I am not boycotting the census”

Dear [INSERT MP HERE],

My name is [INSERT NAME HERE], and I am writing to you because I wish to raise my deeply felt concern about the 2011 census.

As you will no doubt be aware, a £150 million contract was awarded to Lockheed Martin UK, a subsidiary of the world’s largest arms manufacturer, by the Office of National Statistics (ONS) to help run the data processing of the census.

I feel the government’s decision was entirely inappropriate as any involvement with the census can only serve to legitimise an industry that predicates its existence and financial gain on the promotion of weapons systems and war. Lockheed Martin is responsible for the production of cluster bombs, F-16 jets, and Trident missiles. They have also sold weapons to Bahrain, currently undergoing a wave of protest against its repressive regime.

As a citizen it is not only my duty, but a legal obligation to cooperate with the census, and fill out the information fields on the form to a complete and accurate extent. I find this to be an untenable situation: boycotting the census on moral grounds may result in a £1,000 fine; cooperating will, in my view, amount to the tacit support of a process of legitimizing the arms trade.

Whilst I have made the decision to cooperate with the census on March 27th, I cannot stress my anger and disappointment strongly enough, that to object on conscientious grounds would make me a criminal in the eyes of the law.

As my MP, I would like to know what actions you will take to ensure that ethical considerations are at the forefront of government contracting decisions in the future, and secondly, whether you intend to support those citizens who do choose to boycott because of the disregard of these same considerations this time round.

Yours faithfully,

[INSERT NAME HERE]

Find a Word document version here.

1 Response to Letters to your MP

  1. Moluki says:

    Superb use of WordPress! Good stuff!

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