Stop the world’s largest weapons
fair!
DISARM DSEi
10-16 September 2005
London Docklands,
UK A week of action and resistance
DSEi (Defence Systems and Equipment International) is the world’s
biggest weapons fair, sponsored by the British government and selling
everything from battleships and attack helicopters to cluster bombs
and machine guns.
At DSEi 2003 there were 973 exhibitors selling their
deadly wares to delegates from a third of the world’s countries. This
included seven of the G8 countries, six of whom feature in the top
ten of world arms exporters.
The arms trade, of which DSEi is an important part, is an international
political business made up of multinational companies which make products
that kill and maim for profit. Wars continue today only thanks to
the arms trade.
Due to globalisation, the arms companies operate above
the law, outside of trade agreements, and firmly in favour only of
the rich and powerful. These companies play a leading role in the
unjust global economic system which causes poverty and abuse of human
rights around the world. Poverty will never be made history whilst
the arms trade proliferates and until the domination of these arms
companies is directly confronted.
Remember DISARM DSEi 2003? Arms fair preparations
blockaded, trains and buses full of delegates stopped, DSEi security
breached, arms companies’ offices visited by day and night, blockades,
street protests and many other actions, £4.5 million spent on policing.
DISARM DSEi 2005... It’s up to YOU! Form a group and start planning
early for DSEi 2005. Take action now against companies involved in
DSEi. See www.dsei.org for resources, information and more.
What is
being planned? 10 - 16 September 2005 DISARM DSEi is co-ordinating
a week of action and resistance to the arms fair and the unjust global
system that supports it. We envisage a week of affinity group actions
and public events. We are planning a conference with workshops, training
sessions and information-sharing in the days leading up to the arms
fair itself, which runs from 13 – 16 September. If you would like
us to publicise any of your group’s events, please let us know. Disarm
DSEi is a non-hierarchical organisation. We have no guidelines and
work by consensus.
We intend to create a space where various groups
can use the methods of protest and tactics of action they believe
are most effective. There will be a convergence centre, which will
provide opportunities to meet other activists as well as hosting the
conference. Basic accommodation will also be available. Please let
us know you are coming. If you need a bed or access arrangements please
contact us as soon as possible so that we can try to accommodate those
needs.
Get involved now
DISARM DSEi will be organising workshops and other gatherings in the
run-up to DSEi. If your group would like a workshop or speaker for
a meeting, please get in touch.
We also need people to get involved
with organising for the week including: publicity, fundraising, convergence
centre, workshops, accommodation, and anything else you would like
to see happen. Please get in touch if you can help.
DISARM DSEi is funded entirely by donations, so please consider
sending a cheque payable to DISARM DSEi to the address below or donate
online using Paypal via our website.
DSEi 2003 was just a warm-up.
This time we will shut them down! Please translate, copy and distribute
this call to action, and mobilise support in your area.
DISARM DSEi
Web: www.dsei.org
Post: BM Box 3679, London WC1N 3XX
Phone: 07817 652029
Email: disarm@dsei.org
Email discussion list: disarmdsei-subscribe@lists.riseup.net
Download this call to action as a PDF here.
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