Hazel Dawe, Folkestone and Hythe, Green Party

i.
what do you think is the most important issue in this election?

Globally: Global Warming

Nationally: the illegality of our participation in the war on Iraq and the deception practiced by the Government on both the people and Parliament.

Locally: Romney Marsh Wind farm and the sea front development planned for Folkestone

ii.
why did you make the decision to stand in this constituency and for this party (as an independent)?

Michael Howard needs to be challenged on the environment. Blair's record is hopeless, Howard's is worse but not as well known.

iii.
what kind of vote are you expecting on May 5th?

High enough to ensure that whoever wins the seat cannot ignore Green issues.

iv.
aside from the vote what are you hoping to get out of this campaign?

Wide spread acceptance that the Wind Farm on Romney Marsh is beneficial to everyone. A better designed and conceived development for Folkestone seafront which harmonises with its surroundings instead of the current ugly 15 floor high monstrosity.

v.
in your view what is the greatest threat to our civil liberties at the moment?

So-called anti-terrorist legislation which imprisons people without trial for indefinite periods on the basis of evidence which no one has seen apart from our unaccountable and apparently easily manipulated secret service and which the 'accused' has no opportunity to challenge or disprove because s/he is not allowed to see the evidence.

vi.
Blair has taken us to war three times since coming to power (not including the occasional ad hoc bombing raid) in the Balkans, Afghanistan and Iraq. Can war ever be justified?

A war to defend ourselves is justifiable. War on other people's territory should be exceptional but can occasionally be justified e.g. World War II.

Just about everything that has been privatised starting with the railways. All utilities should be run for the public good not for profit. Paying shareholder dividends diverts funds which should rightfully be put into infrastructure investment. Hence our substandard railway tracks, crumbling sewers and leaking water supply pipes. Water is part of the Global Commons and should be available as of right to everyone.

viii.
Some environmental campaigners have started talking about nuclear power as a way to bring down CO2 emissions - what do you think of this?

They are deluded. Energy conservation and more renewable energy is the way forward.

David Bellamy has said that nuclear is the answer "if the waste problem can be solved". If the nuclear industry has not managed to solve it in the more than 50 years of its existence what makes him think they will solve it now? Radioactive waste which needs to be stored for a quarter of a million years is not sustainable. Why should future generations pay with their health and lives for our comfort and convenience now?

ix.
Asylum and immigration will be central issues in this election. What action on this issue would you like to see the next government push through?

Fairer, better informed more efficient decision making on asylum applicaitons. This would include abolishing the White list of supposedly safe countries and ensuring that decision makers have accurate unbiased information on asylum seekers countries of origin.

x.
What question do you wish was on this list but doesn't appear?

I think  you have managed to ask the important ones. I hope your web site gets lots of hits.

April 2005