To destroy a culture, just get people to stop reading books.

“You don’t have to burn books to destroy a culture. Just get people to stop reading them,” Ray Bradbury famously said one day.

The British coalition government is systematically destroying culture-related public services in Britain.

The government’s cuts, that have led to the loss of more than 200 libraries in 2012 only (according to the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy — The Guardian Newspaper, 10th December 2012) and more than 350 libraries between 2010 and 2012, are harming our children and, as a consequence, our society as a whole!

Those cuts are simply pathetic, counterproductive and unnecessary! They hit the poorest and most vulnerable in our society, because libraries are FREE!

During my UK Tour, last year, I have visited many book clubs, libraries and schools in Britain, and I was always amazed by the warmth of the very young readers, their absolute thirst of reading, their quest for knowledge and their call for more fun-learning!

There, I met children from every type of background who only want one simple thing: read books!

There, I met many parents who told me they only want one simple thing for their children: easier access to books and culture!

There, I met librarians and teachers, whose daily work and efforts are fantastic, who only want one simple thing for our little ones: introduce more children to the joy of reading!

Join the protest against library cuts everywhere in the UK, and anywhere else in the world.

Right now, join the protest against library cuts in Newcastle, where Newcastle City Council plans to close 10 of 18 libraries to save £7m from its library budget and sign the petition too.

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ps. Saturday 9th February 2013 is National Libraries Day. Show this government you support public libraries across the UK and visit your local library!