Thread by @redalphababe

This morning at 5.30 in Cyprus all the municipalities sounded an air raid siren to mark 45 years since Turkey launched their invasion of the island. I didn’t know until after what it was. But my automatic reaction was one of fight or flight and it was a scary moment.

My heart was pounding and I jumped out of bed in complete confusion. We quickly established what it was but it was an anxious few moments.

It got me thinking, this is a tiny tiny taste of how people across Europe must have felt in conflicts across our beautiful continent and it makes me reflect how and why the European project came about.

Giving up guns for a negotiating table and partnerships to settle differences was the most sensible and important thing the founders of the EU could have done. They said never again will our nations fight each other with the the priceless lives of our citizens.

It said “we are family now” and over the years other countries thought it was important and joined too. It’s not a perfect organisation and we as members are constantly trying to improve it.

But this founding principle of what we now know as the EU being a conduit for the positive protection of the peace between neighbours is still the strongest benefit.

Today marchers will be in London on a #MarchForChange. We want to change the conversation to how our EU membership is a privilege and a benefit . We don’t want to throw that away. If you are anywhere near London please join the march.

#MarchForChange
#NotoBoris
#YestoEurope