Not to make light of a grave issue but people with real conviction and a determination to do their part make a difference in their own way are a dying breed. Literally.
Anti-war activist Brian Haw, the man who camped on the greens of the Houses of Parliament in London for the last decade, died after a battle against lung cancer, in Germany. He was 62.
Haw set up camp in June 2001 as an angry response to economic sanctions and British and American bombing raids on Iraq. The scope of the protest widened after the 9/11 attacks on New York and Washington DC, and the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq that followed.
The British officers had tried to have him removed, succeeding recently only to move his protest to the pavement after the Greater London Authority received permission from the court to evict Haw and his supporters from Parliament Square.
Justifying his presence and his conviction he told reporters last year that “We're there because our country is committing infanticide, genocide, the looting of nations. I'm determined to be there until they kill me.”
Haw has travelled around the world to various conflict hotspots to protest injustice and war.
Jeremy Corbyn, a Labour Party legislator, said on Twitter that he was always pleased to see Haw outside Parliament. “He reminded us that one person with determination can show principles while lies and distortions abound,” he tweeted.
Equally committed, but to fun, and doing his small part to make a difference in the lives of his buddies serving with him in Afghanistan was a Royal marine who left £100,000 in his will to send 32 of his mates on holiday.
David Hart was killed by a Taliban bomb a year ago at the Helmand danger spot of Sangin in Afghanistan. He was 23 at the time.
Hart took out a £250,000 life insurance policy before setting off to Afghanistan - £100,000 of which was left for his mates to go on holiday with their girlfriends “to go on a party trip in his memory if he died.” Thirty-two of his pals are making the trip to Las Vegas.
David, a combat medic for the 40 commando unit, also left a large sum to his family and £50,000 to his favourite charity for injured marines.
I have to admit I had never heard of Brian Haw or David Hart until I had read news of one' death and the other's legacy, but now I will probably never forget the level of their conviction and their commitment to live life on their own terms.
Brian Haw. David Hart. RIP.
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Anti-war activist Brian Haw, the man who camped on the greens of the Houses of Parliament in London for the last decade, died after a battle against lung cancer, in Germany. He was 62.
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| Brian Haw with the Big Ben in the background |
Haw set up camp in June 2001 as an angry response to economic sanctions and British and American bombing raids on Iraq. The scope of the protest widened after the 9/11 attacks on New York and Washington DC, and the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq that followed.
The British officers had tried to have him removed, succeeding recently only to move his protest to the pavement after the Greater London Authority received permission from the court to evict Haw and his supporters from Parliament Square.
Justifying his presence and his conviction he told reporters last year that “We're there because our country is committing infanticide, genocide, the looting of nations. I'm determined to be there until they kill me.”
Haw has travelled around the world to various conflict hotspots to protest injustice and war.
Jeremy Corbyn, a Labour Party legislator, said on Twitter that he was always pleased to see Haw outside Parliament. “He reminded us that one person with determination can show principles while lies and distortions abound,” he tweeted.
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Equally committed, but to fun, and doing his small part to make a difference in the lives of his buddies serving with him in Afghanistan was a Royal marine who left £100,000 in his will to send 32 of his mates on holiday.
 |
| Image from The Sun |
Hart took out a £250,000 life insurance policy before setting off to Afghanistan - £100,000 of which was left for his mates to go on holiday with their girlfriends “to go on a party trip in his memory if he died.” Thirty-two of his pals are making the trip to Las Vegas.
David, a combat medic for the 40 commando unit, also left a large sum to his family and £50,000 to his favourite charity for injured marines.
*
I have to admit I had never heard of Brian Haw or David Hart until I had read news of one' death and the other's legacy, but now I will probably never forget the level of their conviction and their commitment to live life on their own terms.
Brian Haw. David Hart. RIP.
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