In 2013, activists blocked military equipment from entering the ExCeL Centre for over four hours. Find out about actions planned to try and stop the arms fair this September. |
It starts here. Let's stop it.
This September, the world’s largest arms fair is due to take place in London from 15-18 September: Defence & Security Equipment International (DSEI). The arms fair involves more than 1000 companies and 30,000 attendees, and its results are felt around the world as people are killed, economies are devastated, refugees are traumatised and peaceful protest is crushed.
War starts here: Despite Israel’s brutal attacks on Gaza last summer, it will host a pavilion at the arms fair to market its “battle-tested” weapons.
Repression starts here: Despite UK-made weaponry being used to suppress protests in Bahrain during the Arab Spring, the country’s brutal rulers were among 14 authoritarian regimes invited by the UK government to shop for weapons at DSEI 2013.
Environmental destruction starts here: Real security involves tackling the causes of problems, not creating more. Climate change is one of the biggest threats that we face yet the UK government spends 25 times more on weapons research than research into renewable energy.
Because it starts here, we can stop it here.
Join us from 7-12 September for a week of action to try and stop the arms fair from taking place. In 2013 activists kicked off a week of creative action by blocking the two access roads into the ExCeL Centre a few days before DSEI opened. This stopped military equipment from entering the building for over four hours. This year we are targeting the arms fair the week before it is due to start. Each day will highlight a different way in which the arms fair fuels repression and injustice, with a big day of action on Saturday 12 September.
We need you to help stop the arms fair:
- Take part in the week of action: Organise an action or come along to one that's planned. Each day will highlight a different impact of the arms trade. From targeting the UK's complicity in arming Israel (Monday 7 September), to calling for a shift from arms to renewables (Wednesday 9 September) and a conference about the militarisation of education (Thursday 10 September), there are lots of actions to get involved with.
- Join us for the big day of action on Saturday 12 September: We will come together for a day of creative protest outside the ExCeL Centre.
- Ask the companies supplying DSEI to pull out: Write to them using our template letter and tweet #armstradeenablers
On Saturday 22 August we're running an action-planning day in London to prepare for the week of action. Let us know if you're interested in coming.
Can't get to London?
- Organise an action at your local arms company. Find out which one's near you using our interactive map.
- This month we're running lots of creative workshops about the arms fair in different cities. Find out about taking action in your local area and at DSEI.
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Hope to see you in September
Sarah Reader
Campaign Against Arms Trade
P.S. Help spread the word about the week of action! Forward this email to your friends and networks and share the week of action on Facebook.