Arguments Against Arms Fairs

If you are writing to your MP, newspapers or government bodies, you might want to use some of the following arguments about why the government should stop supporting armsfairs:

Arms fairs are directly engaged in fuelling conflict around the world
They allow companies to promote weapons to countries engaged in conflict, or on the brink of it. Where there is tension, arms purchase can make conflict more likely and, once it is under way, more deadly.

Many of the countries invited have appalling human rights records
Countries invited to DSEi 2007 included Saudi Arabia, China, Turkey and Indonesia. Getting an invite not only allows suppressing regimes to purchase weapons, which can be used to carry out human rights abuses and which increase their military authority, but also gives them a message of international acceptance and approval.

Arms sales negatively effects sustainable development
Countries invited to DSEi 2007 included Botswana, Morocco, India and Pakistan - countries ranked on the bottom third of the UN Human Development Index 2007/2008.

Arms sales can have two main negative effects on sustainable development: Firstly, and obviously, money spent on arms it not then spent on health, education, or other vital social services. Secondly, the sales can affect development through the conflicts they sustain or even provoke. The physical ability of authorities to deliver public services, whether vaccination or primary education, is severely impeded by conflict. Similarly, economic security is virtually impossible in a conflict zone. Civilians are often forced to flee their homes, reducing their living standards dramatically and often making them dependent on an overstretched state.

Arms fairs secure profit for arms companies
Arms are marketed and sold purely in the interest of arms companies and their shareholders.

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