More than 1500 companies trading in weapons of death and mass destruction will be holding one of the world’s largest arms trade fairs in Newham this month.

By Peter Landman and Aidan White

London's Excel centre — Photo: www.delegateconnect.co/

Despite protests from Council leaders, anti-war organisations, religious organisations and Newham community groups the Defence and Security Exhibition International fair (DESI) will host up to 3,000 diplomats, military leaders, arms traders and politicians from around the world at the Excel Centre in the Royal Docks from 12-15 September.

A series of protests in London and at the Excel Centre itself are planned to highlight how the arms trade remains controversial and unwelcome to many people not just in Newham but around the country.

In 2021 the Mayor of Newham, Rokhsana Fiaz described the arms fair, which is held every two years, as abhorrent and unwelcome in the Borough.

But now it’s back and the Mayor is still speaking out. “Newham Council will be engaging our community, to raise awareness about the fearsome consequences of the arms trade and to foster discussions on building a more peaceful and just world,” she said last month.

Councillor John Whitworth, Deputy Cabinet Member for Planning and the Environment pointed to the irony of the fair being held in a borough which has become a safe haven for thousands of people fleeing the impact of inhumanity and war in their own country such as Afghanistan, Syria and Ukraine.

“Our borough has deep connections to communities that have endured the horrors of war and displacement,” he said. “It is our duty to support them; and hosting an event that profits from this pain is simply unacceptable”.

A motion protesting over the arms fair was tabled for discussion at the Newham Council meeting in July, but not reached because the meeting ran out of time.

The arms fair will include exhibits from Nuclear weapons manufacturers as well as companies selling armoured vehicles, missiles, sniper rifles, tear gas and bullets – all weapons of war that cause death and devastation.

Newham’s leaders, peace campaigners and local protesters will be making their feelings known before and during the arms fair itself.

Rokhsana Fiaz will be among speakers at an online protest event being organised by the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament on 13 September at 7pm. Further details are available at https://cnduk.org/

Candlelit Vigil: Monday,11 September 19:00 – 20:00 at Royal Victoria Square, ExCeL Centre West Entrance will be a silent, candlelit vigil on the opening eve of the arms fair, in solidarity with victims of the arms trade, organised by Quakers in Britain and Pax Christi

Other planned events and protests in Newham included:

Peace Pilgrimage: Oxford to ExCel Centre From Tuesday 5 September to Monday 11 September there will be a peace pilgrimage from Oxford to Newham and the Excel exhibition centre to highlight opposition to the arms fair.

Palestine Solidarity Campaign Stop DSEI Vigil 5 September 18:00 – 19:00 at Cundy Park, Newham there will be a vigil to show solidarity with Palestinians and others resisting racism, colonialism and state violence led by artists and activists in opposing arms fair with speeches, readings and spoken word.

Walk from Stratford to ExCel: 6 September 11:00 – 13:00. This will be a family friendly walk from Stratford Station organised by Mad Hatter affinity group (Trident Ploughshares) , Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF UK).

No Faith in War: 7 September 09:00 – 18:00 at Excel East on the roundabout. A multi-faith day of action. Coordinated by Quaker Roots.This day will bring together people of all faiths and none to resist the arms fair. Pax Christi and Anglican Peace Fellowship are also organising walks from the local Catholic and Anglican churches respectively.

Anglican Peace Walk for No Faith in War : 7 September 2023 10:30 – 18:00
At the Ascension Church Centre. This will be creative prayer for Anglicans And others to demonstrate against the arms trade, from 10:30 on 7 September at the Ascension Church Centre and then the East Gate of the Excel Centre

More details of events and activities can be found on the website of the Stop the Arms Fair campaign which for more than 10 years has been campaigning against promotion of the arms trade. https://stopthearmsfair.org.uk/about/

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