Campaign Against the Arms Trade are calling for activists to join them for a week of action against one of the world’s biggest arms fairs at London’s ExCeL centre next month.
The Defence & Security Equipment International (DSEI) arms fair involves more than 1,000 arms companies showcasing their weapons and making deadly deals with buyers from across the world, including those from countries with serious human rights problems. The arms fair, due to take place in the large exhibition hall near London’s Dockland on 15-18 September, attracts some 30,000 attendees.
The aim of CAAT’s week of action from 7-12 September is to make it as difficult as possible for the arms fair to go ahead.
Each day different groups will organise actions highlighting the impacts of the arms trade and repression just as the exhibition equipment and military hardware is rolling (or sailing) into ExCeL.
“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,” said CAAT’s Sarah Reader in an email to supporters. “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.”
Further details of the week of action are on a Stop the Arms Fair website, but the outline schedule of action is as follows:
- Monday 7 September: Stop Arming Israel
- Tuesday 8 September: No Faith in War
- Wednesday 9 September: Stop the Arms Fair: Arms to Renewables
- Thursday 10 September: Study War no More
- Friday 11 September: Freedom of Movement for People not Weapons
- Saturday 12 September: Big day of action! to stop the arms dealers going about their deadly business.
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More about Campaign Against the Arms Trade is here.
Find out what actions are taking place here.
Join the Facebook event and invite others to do so too.
