When London plays host to one of the world’s largest arms fairs, war, repression and injustice start here.
Activists inside the DSEI arms fair
Academics and students take action
All Africa Women's group speak out against DSEI
Stop Arming Israel activists block the set up to DSEI
Big Day of Action against DSEI 2015
staf-cheering-credit-jess-hurd
DSEI activists found "Not Guilty" for arms fair action
That’s why a huge and diverse movement is building to shut the arms fair down on 4-11 September before it even gets started.
For four days in September 2017, the international weapons industry plans to set up shop in London at a huge arms fair, DSEI. The weapons sold here fuel the death, destruction and injustice perpetrated by militaries, police forces and at borders around the world. In 2015, hundreds of people took part in a huge week of action to stop the set up of the arms fair – the biggest-ever protests against DSEI. For six days we blocked entrances, disrupting the set-up of the fair.
With the arms fair planning to return in 2017, the protests will be even bigger and – with your help – we plan to shut it down for good!
A week of action has been called for the 4 – 11 September 2017, and we need everyone to help make it happen.
If you’d like to join the action, there’s plenty of ways to get involved. You can:
Come to a Stop the Arms Fair event, and get stuck into helping organise action against the DSEI arms fair
Book a speaker or workshop on the arms fair for your group by emailing outreach(a)caat.org.uk
Join us on 22 – 23 July for It Starts Here, and get skilled up to help stop the arms fair!
Waterloo Action Centre
14 Baylis Road
London
SE1 7AA
Get Organised! is a day of workshops and discussions bringing together people and groups that are interested in or campaigning on the key issues of 2017 such as migrant solidarity, precarious work, the Far Right, housing or gentrification.
Stop the Arms Fair will be participating alongside the Anti-Raids Network, SOAS Detainee Support, Docs Not Cops, Schools Against Borders for Children, and many more… check the facebook event for updates as more groups are confirmed.
Whether you are a seasoned activist who wants to learn about the tactics and methods of others, or someone looking to learn more about and get involved in a group or organisation, this day is for you!
We want to bring people who are looking for new ways to engage in politics with more experienced organisers and groups that centre collective liberation, and give existing activists a chance to meet, reflect and find people to support the activities of their group.
The morning of ‘Get Organised’ will feature facilitated discussions between groups and individuals exploring the tactics and ideas of how we change our world, as well as an honest conversation about how grassroots politics is doing in today’s political landscape. The afternoon will have a practical focus – with practical and skills based workshops which will build confidence and inspire action – before we end the day on a hopeful note.
N.B. the provisional venue is wheelchair accessible – details TBC. Please contact us to request a fare to get to us if you need it.
DSEI (Defence & Security Equipment International) is one of the world’s largest arms fairs. It takes place in the ExCeL centre in the Docklands area of London every two years, and receives major financial, logistical and political support from the UK government.
Why stop it?
• The weapons sold here fuel the death, destruction and injustice perpetrated by armed forces and militias around the world.
• These companies are profiting from the death, maiming and displacement of millions of innocent people.
• Most casualties in today’s conflicts are civilians – many of them children.
• Arms fairs encourage governments to spend public money on militarism rather than health and education.
A huge week of action is planned to stop the set-up of London’s DSEI arms fair between 4-11 September 2017.
This workshop will show you how to turn creative action ideas into reality, and let you meet others keen to take action locally and travel to London to join the national demonstrations. Together, we can create an inspiring and effective week of action to shut down DSEI. It’s free to attend and you can just turn up on the day. You can also join and share the facebook event to help us spread the word!
Plymouth Quaker Meeting House
74 Mutley Plain, Plymouth
50.383278-4.134579400000007
Saturday 29 July 2017
14:00 - 17:00
Plymouth Quaker Meeting House
74 Mutley Plain
Plymouth
PL4 6LF
*Please note: this workshop was moved from the 1st July to the 29th July*
This coming September, the international weapons industry plans to set-up shop in London at a huge arms fair: DSEI. The weapons sold here fuel the death, destruction and injustice perpetrated by militaries, police forces, and at borders around the world. Because war, repression and injustice start here, let’s stop them here.
A huge week of action is planned to stop the set-up of London’s DSEI arms fair between 4-11 September 2017.
Come to this workshop in Plymouth to hear more about the resistance to the DSEI arms fair. Find out how to turn creative action ideas into reality, and meet others keen to take action locally and travel to London to join the national demonstrations. Together, we can create an inspiring and effective week of action to shut down DSEI.
The workshop will be held at the Quaker Meeting House in Plymouth at 74 Mutley Plain, Plymouth PL4 6LF on Saturday 29th July from 2pm to 5pm. It’s free to attend and there’s no need to book- just join us on the day. You can also join the facebook event for the workshop.
ExCeL Centre
ExCeL Exhibition Centre, Royal Victoria Dock, 1 Western Gateway,, London
51.50843060.025559400000020105
Monday 4 September 2017 - Monday 11 September 2017
All day
ExCeL Centre
ExCeL Exhibition Centre, Royal Victoria Dock, 1 Western Gateway,
London
E16 1XL
Week of Action to Stop the Set-up: 4-11 September 2017 #StopDSEI
For four days in September 2017, the international weapons industry plans to set up shop in London at a huge arms fair: DSEI. The weapons sold here fuel the death, destruction and injustice perpetrated by militaries, police forces and at borders around the world.
In 2015, hundreds of people took part in a huge week of action to stop the set up of the arms fair – the biggest-ever protests against DSEI. For six days we blocked entrances, disrupting the set-up of the fair.
With the arms fair planning to return in 2017, the protests will be even bigger and – with your help – we plan to shut it down for good!
This year the week of action has multiple actions planned on each day.
Here are some of the actions already planned:
Monday 4th September: Stop Arming Israel
During the world’s biggest arms fair, Israel and its arms companies will have a National Pavilion and boar about their field-tested weapons systems, which have been used to devastate Palestinian families and destroy their communities. Join a day of creative action in support of the campaign to stop arming Israel.
Tuesday 5th September: No Faith in War
Faith groups of all kinds will come together for a day of worship and nonviolent action against the arms trade and war profiteering. From holding services in the road to bearing witness, they will be coming together to say ‘no faith in war!’ If you’re part of a faith group and want to take action then please get in touch.
Wednesday 6th September: Anti-nuclear action
Nuclear weapons don’t make us safer: they threaten all our lives. Trident is estimated to cost the UK over £205 billion and is draining vital public resources away from the things in which we really need to invest: schools, hospitals and social services. On the Wednesday, join a day of creative direct action against nuclear weapons companies.
Thursday 7th September: Solidarity Without Borders
The arms and security industry profits from a cycle of repression and violence which marks all our lives, from fuelling conflicts and state oppression with weapons to policing national borders and criminalising migrants and other vulnerable communities. But our resistance is powerful. Join us as we make links between the issues to build solidarity without their borders.
Friday 8th September: Conference at the Gates
The military and the arms trade plan in increasingly significant role in universities and schools. As government funding is drained from universities, the arms trade and the military are moving in. On the Friday, academics, students and other will come together for a day of workshops and panel discussions exploring the militarisation of our education; and this will take place at the gates of one of the world’s largest arms fairs.
Saturday 9th September: Big Day of Action
The week of action will culminate in the Big Day of Action on Saturday, a colourful and powerful carnival of resistance, with music, art, drama and creative action to celebrate our movement. But we need you to make it as big as it can be. Come and celebrate a successful week of action, and help cause havoc for the arms fair’s organisers.
Sunday 10th September: War Resisters International
War Resisters International will hold a public event on international militarism and the arms trade, bringing activists from countries affected by the arms trade into dialogue with activists from exporting countries.
War, repression and injustice start here. Let’s stop them here.
Want to get involved before September? See our events page for more ways you can get stuck in!
Saturday 22 July, 10am – 5.30pm: Hear from powerful speakers, take part in workshops and learn from the inspiring groups already taking action.
Saturday 22nd July, from 7.30pm: Join us for Dance to Disarm at Rich Mix, for an evening of thought provoking spoken word, politically conscious live music, and DJs dropping floor-filling beats from around the world.
Sunday 23 July 1pm – 5pm: In-depth training to prepare for September’s action. Build the confidence and skills you need to start legal observing, taking direct action and get stuck into prop making!
The day time events are free entry, which includes access to workshops, speakers and training opportunities, and tea and coffee on Saturday and Sunday daytime. There’s a suggested donation on the day or while registering, to help us pay for lunch on Saturday and cover the costs of running the event.
The eight activists from Peru, Chile, Bahrain, Belgium and the UK who were arrested for taking action at the DSEI arms fair last September were found not guilty on the ground of trying to prevent a greater crime.
Eight people are on trial this week (11-15 April) for trying to stop one of the world’s biggest arms fairs. The trial is taking place at Stratford Magistrates Court from 10am each day and anyone can watch the trial from the public gallery. Join and share the Facebook event for updates and follow #StopDSEI.
The government is capitalising on public fear to hold back peaceful dissent in the UK and deepen its ties to repressive regimes around the world.
Heavy police presence during protests outside the DSEI arms fair in September 2015
In liberal-democracies like the UK, conservative state powers face a potential barrier: how can they advance militarist agendas, and hold back effective protest movements that challenge their power, whilst still projecting the image of a nation that values freedom and critical debate?
Under the climate of fear that comes with recent terrorist atrocities, policy initiatives pushed under the guise of national security have increasingly far reaching consequences. In times of perceived insecurity, issues become “securitised” when they are presented as a universal threat that requires an extreme response from the state. As we become desensitised to the creeping militarism and surveillance this brings, we are told to let go of our civil liberties and to be more suspicious of those around us.
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