From campaigners against the arms fair at the University of the West of England (UWE), Frenchay Campus, Bristol:
STOP
THE UWE ARMS FAIR
PROTEST
OUTSIDE THE ECC ALL DAY. WEDNESDAY 20TH NOVEMBER.
BRING
SOMETHING TO MAKE LOTS OF NOISE.
UWE
will be hosting an Arms fair in the ECC on the 20th of
November. UWE is giving them the space to network and plan the
selling and buying of weapons! This includes exporting to other
countries, new technology in weaponry and manufacturing of these
weapons.
Angry
with this happening? Then come to the PROTEST. If you do not have
enough time then email the vice chancellor at Steven.West@uwe.ac.uk
to voice your complaints.
MONDAY-
banner making and planning, core24 from noon.
TUESDAY- Drop Beats Not Bombs - rally/party against the arms trade, student village. Meet 4pm at the Frenchay bus stops. Bring people.
WEDNESDAY-
PROTEST OUTSIDE THE ECC!
The UK is one of the worlds largest exporters of weapons, most of
the arms sold go to middle east, and South & East Asia. There are
very few legal restrictions on where arms can be sold, even exporting
to countries with highly questionable human rights records is
considered legal.
In 2010 the UK Government Human Rights Annual Report identified
26 countries “of Concern”,. Despite these concerns the UK
approved arms exports to 16 of these countries, including Libya,
Israel and Saudi Arabia. During the Arab spring uprisings in 2011, UK
brought weapons were routinely used in the crack down against
protesters. The UK often sells weapons to both sides of a war,
prolonging conflicts to increase profits for arms dealers at cost of
the lives of soldiers and civilians. During the Falklands war
Argentina was legally sold weapons, which were then used against
British soldiers!
War creates poverty, any African nation at war economy shrinks 15%
each year. It looses infrastructure, spreads disease, makes land
infertile and kills a lot of the population. Most war related deaths
are civilian; around 90%.
At the same time we create stricter border control policies. We
promote war to countries, sell them weapons, increasing their
poverty, while decreasing their ability to live. We then refuse
refuge to those who try to escape these terrifying situations we help
to create.
If they do manage to get to the UK, refugees often face
discrimination. Like the disgusting “go Home” anti immigration
vans, that the government were proudly driving around earlier this
year. Go Home and be shot at, by our weapons!
The Government has always had incredibly close ties with the arms
companies.The Government’s
UK
Trade & Investment (UKTI) department is a vital element of
the UK’s arms dealing. In 2008 it opened the Defence & Security
Organisation (DSO) which promotes weaponry on behalf of arms
companies. 54% of UKTI staff now only invested in selling Arms.
The Government’s main arguments to defend it's behaviour fit
into three categories: arms exports are important for national
security; they are vital to the UK economy and
jobs;
and they are
stringently regulated.
These are all false
There is no “security of supply”. Arms production takes place
across the globe and all significant Ministry of Defence purchases
include hundreds or thousands of imported components and sub-systems.
If we were to go to war with any of those countries, or run out of
money, then why would those countries still supply us with weapons?
This argument also falls through in that it looks at the world
through a military lens, It marginalises major security threats such
as climate change, energy insecurity and inequality that are
acknowledged by Government but absent in terms of meaningful policies
and funding.
The arms trade is heavily subsidised to the tune of £852 million
a year - that's more than £13,000 per job per year! Imagine what
could be done if all those skills and resources were devoted to
socially beneficial projects.
Selling Arms is a drain on the public purse, causes human rights
atrocities and destruction of the environment, and is riddled with
accusations of fraud and illegality – none of which the government
has put much effort into investigating. The only reason to sustain
the arms trade is to make the politicians rich mates even richer,
and for those in power in our country to feel 'big' and important.
The companies which attend Arms Fairs are guaranteed potential
customers in vast numbers, including military delegations and
individual trade, government and armed forces representatives. They
make contact, negotiate and sign contracts over the course of a
number of arms fairs and interim meetings.
So don't even think a strongly worded letter to your local MP
will change anything. It is time to take action into our own hands
and Stop the Arms Trade. Lets kick the Arms Fair out of our
university!
More info on the Facebook Page:
https://www.facebook.com/NOWMDatUWE
More info on the Drop Beats Not Bombs rally at UWE on Tues 19th November here:
http://standingstonesblog.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/uwe-arms-fair-bristol-direct-action.html
This year's Earth Hour - organised by WWF - saw up to 70 environmentally aware people of all ages and many different backgrounds gather together on the green in front of the Royal Crescent to celebrate the event. Earth Hour, in which people are invited to switch off all electrical devices between 8.30 and 9.30pm, is an international campaign to raise awareness about energy usage. It began in 2007 in Sydney, Austrailia and has since become a worldwide hour of action. 
