Arms to Renewables

Arms fairs such as the DSEI are the oil in the machinery of the international arms trade – and the sales it facilitates fuel conflict, support repression and make the world a more dangerous place for all.

The UK government supports and promotes this devastating industry, while other sectors that could make us safer are neglected. Shifting priorities from Arms to Renewables would help us tackle one of the biggest threats we face: climate change.

Research shows that  a move towards offshore wind and marine energy would provide alternative employment for arms trade workers and could produce more jobs than the entire arms industry.

Get involved in creative action on Wednesday 6th September to call for jobs which create a safer, rather than a more dangerous world.

Join the Facebook event.

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Get ready to #StopDSEI 2019!

2 July 2019
Every two years, the global arms trade comes to London. DSEI, one of the world’s largest arms fairs, returns in September 2019. This is where those who profit from war, repression and injustice do business. This is where we can stop them. More than 1,000 arms companies plan to set up shop, marketing their wares...
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Blocking and exposing the arms fair in 2017

10 September 2018
DSEI (Defence & Security Equipment International) is one of the world’s largest arms fairs. Hundreds of people got in the way of its set-up at London’s ExCeL Centre in September 2017. Dabke-dancing, aerobics, a gig on a flatbed truck, abseilers dangling from a bridge, theatre, military veterans undertaking unofficial vehicle checks for banned weapons, Kurdish...
A crowd of activists hold a banner in front of the Excel centre. It says When only 0.2% of jobs in the UK are related to arms exports #stopDSEI

Manchester activists plan to disrupt weapons sales at DSEI, the world’s biggest arms fair

8 August 2017
Military delegations from around the world will head to London for Defence & Security Equipment International (DSEI) – the world’s biggest arms fair – on the 12-15 September. Many of these delegations will be from countries with abominable human rights records. At DSEI, they will meet weapons industry salespeople who will have filled the ExCeL...
A crowd of protesters block vehicle from entering DSEI

Round up: an amazing week of action to challenge the arms fair!

17 September 2015
This September saw daily blockades and creative protest by a wide range of groups to try and stop one of the world’s biggest arms fairs from taking place in East London. Read reports on actions taken so far below: Monday 7 September: Day 1: week of action launched with a blockade! Tuesday 8 September: Day 2: armoured...
Activists hold a 'Stop the Arms Fair' banner in front of an armoured vehicle

Day 3: Wind not Weapons: great actions inside and out!

9 September 2015
Wednesday was another great day of action at the ExCeL Centre! Deliveries were stopped in the road by a line of wind turbines; Fuel Poverty Action and Global Justice Now ran an engaging workshop on energy democracy, and the members of the Woodcraft Folk blockaded the road. And this was before a cheeky group of...

It starts here. Let’s stop it.

2 June 2015
In September, the world’s weapons industry plans to arrive in London for a huge arms fair: Defence & Security Equipment International (DSEI). The results of DSEI are felt around the world as people are killed, economies are devastated, refugees are traumatised and peaceful protest is crushed. War starts here: Despite Israel’s brutal attacks on Gaza...
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On Trial: Defendants group statement

11 November 2013
We will defend our right to challenge the arms trade! A group of activists (mainly women) were charged after taking part in the ‘Occupy v the Arms Fair’ day of action on 8 September, which was part of the week of action against the DSEI Arms Fair at the Excel Centre, London. Our intention was...

Arms, oil and Algeria – Are EU gas supplies more important than human rights?

30 August 2013
This September, a delegation from Algeria is expected to attend the DSEI arms fair in London at the invitation of the UK government. The country has a long record of carrying out human rights abuses against political dissidents and human rights defenders. Here is an article by Hamza Hamouchene, currently researching the UK’s energy interests...