Posted on Tuesday 22 February 2011
12 Noon, 19 April 2011, Grand & National Hall, Olympia
Hammersmith Road, W14 8UX [map]
Join Disarm DSEi as we confront the Counter Terror Expo—an event showcasing the latest equipment used by states to spy on, restrict and repress their citizens under the guise of “preventing terrorism”.
Across North Africa and the Middle East, tottering dictatorships are using equipment supplied by UK companies to spy on and attack demonstrators, and yet some of these countries will be shopping for more equipment at the Counter Terror Expo, along with other repressive regimes from around the world.
But the Expo’s biggest market is the UK, where police are widening their surveillance and repression to even the mildest dissidents. As the government sets about destroying the welfare state and dragging our wages to rock bottom, it continues to subsidise and promote the arms and security industries.
The event will host over 400 exhibitors, including leading arms companies like QinetiQ, Thales and ITT, who make huge profits from conflict and repression. It is officially supported by a vast range of military, police and private security organisations, and is endorsed by state agencies such as the MoD and NATO.
Surveillance systems will be a major focus, with companies promoting biometric and data gathering/mining technologies; promoting “freedom” through ever greater control and documentation of our daily lives. Not to mention drones (coming to a demo near you shortly!)
The event is organised by Clarion, which also runs DSEi – the world’s largest arms fair. What with governments looking to increase surveillance and control of their citizens, and the industry exaggerating threats to increase their profits, Clarion must think they’re onto a winner. Let’s show them they’re not.
Join Disarm DSEi; confront the counter terror expo, resist our ever encroaching surveillance society, and expose the exploitation of fear for profit!