The Greenpeace web team hand-delivered almost 8,000 email messages to Tony Blair's office at No. 10 Downing Street this week.
We believe internet users have the right to send the Prime Minister an email - especially when it concerns an issue as serious as the war on Iraq.
Since Tony Blair doesn't have an email address, we set one up for him (Tony.Blair@uk.greenpeace.org). Thousands of people used this address to urge the Prime Minister not to go to war.
Greenpeace burnt all of the messages to a single CD-rom for delivery - saving at least 8,000 sheets of paper.
Our appointment at 10 Downing Street coincided with the second House of Commons debate on military action against Iraq.
Thankyou to everyone who took the time to email Tony Blair.
Where is Blair's email address?
Back in September 2000, Tony Blair launched the Government's campaign to get the UK online, promising "universal access to the Internet and all Government services on the net".
"The UK on-line campaign aims to get business, people and government on-line," he said.
More than two years have passed and Blair himself still isn't online.
For several months, the No. 10 Downing St website has said, "A facility to allow you to email the Prime Minister will be available very soon".
The Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives have asked the Prime Minister how members of the public can contact him by email.
Tony Blair replied: "At present there is no e-mail address by which members of the public can contact me. However an address will be made available in the new year."
Given that the new year is long gone, we called No. 10 for a progress report.
Our caller was asked whether or not she was a member of the public (isn't everyone?) before the switchboard operator put her call through to No. 10's Communications Department. The following conversation transpired:
Greenpeace: "Hi, I've just been on the Downing Street website, and was wondering if there was an email address I could use to email Mr Blair?"
Comms Dept: "No"
Greenpeace: "Wow, that's strange! You can email Mr Bush at the Whitehouse."
Comms Dept: "All correspondence for Mr Blair comes through this office, and there is no email address for him."
Greenpeace: "But on your website you are highlighting correspondence received from Iraqi exiles who support an attack on Iraq and some of that correspondence came via email."
Comms Dept: "All correspondence for Mr Blair comes through this office, and there is no email address for him."
Greenpeace: "But isn't it somewhat unfair that those that support Mr Blair's position can email him, and those that don't, can't?"
Comms Dept: "All correspondence for Mr Blair comes through this office, and there is no email address for him."
Greenpeace: "Well I 'd like to make a complaint about that and I'd like it followed up on. Would you like to take my details?"
Comms Dept: "Yes."
