Page 20 - Quaker News & Views Nov 25 - Jan 26

Against Armaments

Quakers were once again making their presence felt, along with other grass

roots organisations and activists, outside the ExCel building in London,
where the DSEI biennial Arms Fair took place on 9 - 12th September. But this

is not an unusual event. London has been hosting the Arms Fair since 2001,
despite persistent objections. Sadik Khan, Mayor of London, recently
commented ‘the arms fair offends asylum seekers and is 'inappropriate'

during Israel's Gaza campaign.’

The ‘Force for the Future’ website can only be viewed in full by those who
register but take a look at the cover page and you’ll see ordinary folk, very

much like you and me, chatting, drinking and admiring the hardware. Tanks
and weapons of all descriptions are there, like items on a shopping list. So

normal, so everyday. So sinister.

In these times, when it’s so easy to be arrested for voicing dissent, one can

only admire the bravery of Friends out there protesting. The organisers,
Quaker Roots, asked for Friends to provide support by creating origami

hearts, each with its own message inside. These were given out to members
of the public and visitors to the fair. Below is a photo of Friends from

Bournemouth and Poole Meetings making hearts.

Courtesy of Gill Coleman, Poole

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