September 13, 2011 09:00 - Day of Action: Stop the Ams Fair

ExCel Centre, London Docklands

info@stopthearmsfair.org.uk

OCCUPY THE DLR on 13 September Arming repressive regimes. Boosting arms company profits. Displaying the latest killing technology. It’s an event you don’t want to miss.

The world’s biggest arms fair – DSEi – is coming to East London this September. Unless we stop it.

This year we’ve witnessed more of the horror that comes when the UK arms repressive regimes — armoured vehicles used to suppress protest in Libya and Bahrain were sold by the UK, along with crowd control equipment and tear gas.

With over 1200 companies exhibiting, and military delegations from all over the world, DSEi 2011 is back and bigger than ever, selling everything from F16 planes to unmanned drones.

Stop The Arms Fair coalition have called a day of action on 13th September – the first day of the arms fair. The first action that we have heard is planned is to stop the arms train…

What’s the DLR? Why the DLR?

The arms fair takes place at the ExCeL centre in East London’s Docklands. It’s a large complex of private land within a mainly residential area in one of the UK’s poorest boroughs. During the arms fair, locals have access around the site seriously restricted.

The main access route is the Docklands Light Railway (DLR), which many of the 25,000 delegates use on the days of the fair. The DLR is one of the only places where us members of the public are visible to the arms dealers at DSEi.

A loud conversation with a friend or a chat with a friendly arms dealer; putting the arms trade on trial or hosting a comedy gig in the carriage – the possibilities for creative action are endless. There have been calls for staggered actions on the DLR which could stop access to the arms fair at ExCel.

How can I get involved?

There is plenty of room for autonomous action on the day. Whatever your focus – from Palestinian liberation to anti-cuts action – get involved, as an individual or as a group.

If you’re planning an action you want to advertise publicly, let us know and we’ll help publicise it. As groups announce public actions, we’ll be publishing them on our website, so put the date in your diary and keep an eye on the website.

STOP THE ARMS TRAIN: OCCUPY THE DLR ON SEPTEMBER 13th!

For more info about DSEi (Defence & Security Equipment International), see Campaign Against Arms Trade’s introduction or have a look at the Disarm DSEi website.

http://www.caat.org.uk/issues/armsfairs/

http://www.dsei.org/

Contact:

info@stopthearmsfair.org.uk