Posted on Friday 23 March 2012
April 25 2012, 6.30pm
at the Royal Garden Hotel,
2-24 High Street Kensington:
nearest tubes High Street Kensington and Knightsbridge.
As “counter-terrorist experts”—many better known as armament companies—gather at the Royal Garden Hotel to guzzle champagne followed by four course dinner. Pausing only to gaze over Kensington Gardens. (At a mere £156 a ticket—guess who isn’t suffering from “austerity”?)
Join Disarm DSEi as we confront exhibitors at the so-called Counter Terror Expo—an event showcasing the latest equipment used by states to spy on, restrict and murder their citizens under the guise of “preventing terrorism”. Let’s help them choke on it! (Remember the DSEi dinner demo at the National Gallery!)
Dinner guests include:
- General Dynamics
- British arm of US-based firm agreed deal to upgrade military equipment for an elite Libyan government security brigade.
- Chemring Defence
- British contractor produced CS gas canisters fired at civilians by Egyptian security forces in Tahir Square.
- L-3 Security & Detection Systems
- A division of $15bn surveillance and communications giant L-3 Communications.
- Thales
- French aerospace and defence company paid fine of €630m in 2010 over bribes to win contract for 1991 sale of frigates to Taiwan.
- Northrop Grumman
- US global aerospace company, world’s fourth largest defence contractor.
(Check out the full list of exhibitors)
Across North Africa and the Middle East, dictatorships have, and still 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.
The UK is a major market, where police are widening their surveillance and repression to even the mildest dissidents. As the government relentlessly destroys the welfare state and drags our wages to rock bottom, it continues to subsidise and promote the arms and “security” industries
The event hosts hundreds of exhibitors, not only leading arms companies, 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 again 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 everywhere looking to increase 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.
www.dsei.org / www.corporatewatch.org
Posted on Sunday 11 September 2011
Media release for immediate release:
Protesters confront battleships en route to world’s largest arms fair
Today, HMS Dauntles was disrupted en route to the world’s largest arms fair by protesters angry at a trade that inflicts untold misery and death across the planet. Protesters manoeuvred kayaks in front of the ships to prevent them gaining access to Royal Victoria Dock.
At a time of austerity and government cuts, East London will be hosting Defence Systems Equipment International (DSEi) from 13th – 16th September, with much of the cost borne by the taxpayer.
Every 2 years the ExCeL centre in London’s dockyards welcomes dictators, arms dealers and suspected war criminals in an attempt to persuade them to buy British weaponry. Many of the weapons used by dictators to kill demonstrators during the Arab spring were procured from DSEi exhibitors.
This year DSEi falls on the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people. It is worth remembering that (according to the British Medical Journal) nearly 400,000 people die every year from armed
conflict.
A spokesperson for Disarm DSEi stated “The same politicians that shed crocodile tears for the 9/11 victims are fuelling the fires of war and armed conflict around the world. It is up to ordinary people to intervene to stop the obscene traffic in arms. DSEi, the world’s largest arms fair, must be stopped.”
This is just one action in a concerted campaign. Protesters have vowed to disrupt DSEi throughout the week, including a day of action on the 13th to blockade the DLR and prevent delegates attending the event.
For further information and pictures contact – 07592 769 907 or 07415 810 637
Notes for Editors:
Several warships will form part of this year’s DSEi – hosting receptions and showcasing military technology, including HMS Dauntless, the pride of the British Navy.
Over 1200 arms companies will be selling their wares to 25,000 buyers from around the world, including military delegations from some of the world’s most repressive, human rights abusing regimes.
DSEi is held in Newham, one of London’s most impoverished boroughs. Whilst the government has subsidised DSEi by £320,000 and paid up to £4million for policing, Newham council are being forced to cut
£116 million from their budget over the next four years.
For years leading up to the “Arab Spring”, arms companies have exported equipment to the regimes which are now being condemned by governments rapidly backtracking on their support. A report issued in April this year confirmed that since 2009 the UK have exported components for military helicopters to Algeria, sub-machine guns and tear gas to Bahrain, machine guns to Egypt and hand grenades to Jordan. British defence contractors have also sold small arms ammunition to Syria, hand grenades, sniper rifles and tear gas to Saudi Arabia and shotguns to Morocco.
Posted on Friday 9 September 2011
10am, Tuesday 13th September 2011.
Custom House DLR station (inside the station and on the trains).
Last DSEi we visited the banks, the backers of the arms trade. Offices were invaded and windows smashed.
This year we are returning to the belly of the beast and confronting the arms dealers directly.
In previous years people have locked on to trains, climbed on their roofs, pulled emergency alarms, occupied stations and generally caused disruption and chaos.
Tell the dealers what you think of their deadly wares and show their journey to DSEi will not be an easy ride. It’s time to stop the arms dealers in their tracks and make DSEi 2011 a year to remember. (You may want to bring a scarf, gloves and a change of clothes in this unpredictable climate).
DSEi, Defence Systems Equipment International, the world’s largest arms fair, takes place every two years at the ExCeL centre in London’s docklands. Over 1200 arms companies will be hawking their deadly wares to 25,000 buyers from around the world, including delegates from some of the world’s most repressive regimes. This year, for the first time, the UK government will be inviting paramilitaries and border security forces.
For more information on DSEi and the many reasons why we have to shut it down see www.dsei.org
Follow @disarmdsei for updates
#stopdsei
Posted on Sunday 31 July 2011
Shut down DSEi day of action – 13th September 2011 – details TBC
During the last twelve months there have been massive militant protests against government cuts and austerity measures. Understandably, and rightly, the bankers and tax avoiders have been widely targeted. However, apart from a few mentions of the trident nuclear weapons replacement (latest figures at £97 billion in case you were wondering), the arms trade has been largely ignored.
Whilst there have been 40% cuts to universities, and 60% cuts to social housing, the arms trade was cut by just 8%. The government spends more money buying arms from BAE Systems alone than it does on climate change, equating to £64 a year for every adult and child in the UK. Furthermore, according to figures obtained by Campaign Against Arms Trade, £700 million a year is spent on government subsidies to the arms trade.
DSEi, Defence Systems Equipment International, the world’s largest arms fair, takes place every two years at the ExCeL centre in London’s Docklands. Over 1200 arms companies will be hawking their deadly wares to 25,000 buyers from around the world, including military delegations from some of the world’s most repressive, human rights abusing regimes. This year, for the first time, the UK government will be inviting paramilitaries and border security forces.
DSEi is held in Newham, one of London’s most impoverished boroughs. Whilst the government has subsidised DSEi by £320,000 and paid up to £4million for policing, Newham council are being forced to cut £116 million from their budget over the next four years.
Say no to private companies profiteering from our money whilst our services are decimated. This year Disarm DSEi are calling for a mass blockade of the DLR – the means by which most delegates visit the fair. Let’s stop the arms trade in its tracks and destroy this deadly trade.
For further information about the DSEi, including role of DSEi exhibitors in arming the repressive regimes of the Arab Spring, as well as tips for action, download our handy pamphlet.
Follow @disarmdsei on Twitter for further updates.
Posted on Monday 11 July 2011
Please distribute and display this poster/flyer for the Disarm DSEi 2011 Day of Action. Click the image for full resolution, or download a print-quality PDF.
Posted on Monday 27 June 2011
Disarm DSEi has produced a pamphlet all about opposing the DSEi arms fair. The pamphlet explains the links between DSEi and various other issues including banking, repressive regimes, the occupation of Palestine, border controls and environmental destruction.
The pamphlet is also a call to take action against the arms fair, and includes helpful advice for first-time activists.
Please download this pamphlet, forward it, print it, distribute it and help to spread the message. Thanks!
Contents:
- The Call-out – Disarm DSEi’s 2011 call for direct action against the arms fair
- Action History – A brief and incomplete round-up of DSEi actions 1999-2009
- Making a Killing – Banking and it’s links to DSEi
- DSEi and Palestine
- DSEi and the Middle Eastern and North African uprisings
- DSEi and the Border Regime - How exhibitors at DSEi help to both create and oppress migrants
- Militarism: the Environmental Cost
- What is an Affinity Group?
- Mask Up?
Posted on Sunday 8 May 2011
This September, the world’s biggest arms fair – DSEi – will be back at the ExCeL conference centre in London Docklands.
Over 1200 arms companies will be hawking their deadly wares to 25000 buyers from around the world, including military delegations from repressive, human-rights abusing regimes. This year, for the first time, the UK government will be inviting paramilitaries and border security forces.
Make no mistake; this is the big one – the nexus of capitalism, war and repression. Will we let this obscene event pass off unopposed? NO WE WON’T! We are calling on everyone to take part in the Day of Action against DSEi on Tuesday September 13th.
Last time DSEi came to town we had a raucous march around the banks that finance the arms industry. This year we’ll target the ExCeL conference centre.
Previous Days of Action have included street parties, Critical Mass bike rides, die-ins, mock sales of “arms”, legs and even a tank; splashing fake blood across the entrances, engaging with arms dealers on the trains and platforms, invading the car park and rail entrance, blocking the roads, locking on to the trains, even swimming in the dock!
And it’s not all about the Day of Action: In previous years there have been visits to exhibitors’ premises, and tripod and boat blockades to stop equipment from arriving at the arms fair. And of course we’ll find out where the arms dealers’ dinner is taking place on September 15th and spoil their party!
In the run up to the fair we are calling on groups around the country to hold actions against the high street banks that fund the arms trade. You might also want to pay a visit to your local arms dealer, which you can find on our map of DSEi exhibitors.
What happens this year is up to all of us. Let’s show these dealers of death how unwelcome they are. Let’s Disarm DSEi!
For news, events and resources, keep an eye on dsei.org.
Posted on Sunday 10 April 2011
MAKE SOME NOISE!!
Come join the noise demo outside Counter Terror Expo on 19th April 2011 at 12:00 at Grand & National Hall, Olympia Hammersmith Road, W14 8UX [map].
Bring pots, pans; musical instruments even! And banners. Let’s drown out the sound of UK govemnment-encouraged state terrorists buying the next generation of tools of repression.
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.
Posted on Friday 18 February 2011
Let’s not make this one easy for Clarion Events. Full details at www.dsei.co.uk