stories written by Phoebe

Reporter: Phoebe, aged 10,
Interviewee: Brian Haw
Date: 25/10/2006
Duration: 3-3:30p.m.
Location: Parliament Square, London

Brian has been protesting about the Iraq war outside the Houses of Parliament, for more than five years. He's there all day and night in all weathers.



"My Neighbour's Child"

Phoebe: When did you start?

Brian: June 2nd 2001

Phoebe: What made you want to protest?

Brian: Phoebe did, I didn't even know her, but I did know you are as precious as my own little girl. Love your neighbour as yourself, love your neighbour's child as your own. That's what Jesus tells me. Whatever the colour of your skin, the country you live in, your race or religion. Love is the answer, not hate. Peace not war, truth not lies, giving not stealing, that is the path to peace.

Phoebe: Why did you choose Parliament Square?

Brian; Because that's where God told me to go. Parliament, our country is murdering my neighbours, their babies and children in other countries. It's wicked it has to stop.

Phoebe: Do you sleep here?

Brian: Yes, sometimes, on Saturday morning I slept under the green plastic. At 3:00 o'clock in the morning, and at five o'clock in the naughty Inspector Fox comes to steal the babies washing. Baby clothes looking like blood, because when you drop bombs, you kill everybody, babies as well. It's horrible isn't it? Bread not bombs. Welfare not Warfare. Spend money on schools, hospitals and houses, not destroying other people's schools, hospitals and houses in other countries. Naughty Inspector Fox drags me away in handcuffs. Stop bombing babies, send a bad policeman to put me in a cell. Who's the criminal? A woman was here she tore down the rainbow peace flags and Picasso's peace dove. Stop torture, protect humans and bloody babies washing. Bush and Blair and Britain and America's dirty washing. Naughty Inspector Fox arrested me because he said the washing upset the woman. Did the Peace flag upset her? and Picasso's Peace Dove as well? Are the mum's and dad's in Iraq upset at their poor bombed babies? Who is the criminal? Mr. Bush and Mr. Blair, Britain, America, this lady and naughty Inspector Fox or me?

Phoebe: What do you do when it rains?

Brian: I use an umbrella. What happens when bombs fall is an umbrella any good for that? Nearly five and a half years, in all weathers. I'm here because it's much harder for other people, when we bomb them and shoot missiles and bullets and horrible things.

Phoebe: Do you have a family?

Yes wife and seven children, Judge says I'm divorced. I'm more upset at other fathers and husbands and people losing their family to war forever.

Phoebe: Do you make all your posters?

Brian: I've done loads of posters over five years. Banners and poster in 23 different languages, different languages are good, Police stole my posters. visit my website http://www.parliament-square.org.uk/ You'll see naughty police man walking off with my teddy bears at 3:00 on 28th May this year. They stole our display. Police shouldn't steal should they? We're going to get it back, but just watch and see where it turns up first. All 45 metres of it.

Phoebe: How do you wash?

Brian: I wash with water, have one shower every 8 days, whether I need it or not. Children and people in Iraq hardly ever wash in clean water. There is no clean water. We destroyed it all, We made it all dirty. The temperature goes up to 60ºC in Iraq. They need water, they need food, they need Peace, they need love, they're dying. Are we going to help them before it's too late. That's why I'm here, because it's very urgent. And my neighbour's girl should be loved like mine, and you sweet Phoebe. Am I right? Let's do it now!!

Phoebe: What do you do in winter when it gets cold?

Brian: I get cold, but not as cold as the people in the mountains in Pakistan when they had the earthquake or Afghanistan in the mountains where we are bombing them in their villages.

Phoebe: Do you want more people in Britain to stand up against War?

Brian: Yes 60 million, am I greedy? Because we are each responsible, am I my brother's keeper, or my brother's babies bomber. This is done in our name folks. We have to stand up and say "Not in our Name".