CAAT - Arms Fairs

Opposing Arms Fairs

Arms Fairs are the trade exhibitions for the military industry which are an integral and important part of the international arms trade. They happen all over the world, from Paris to Jakarta, and provide arms companies with a forum for marketing their goods and services, and an opportunity to discuss collaboration on military projects.

The UK's two main arms fairs take place on alternate years and are Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEi) and Farnborough International, which focuses on aerospace.

Arms Fairs allow the weapons manufacturers an opportunity to promote their products to regimes in conflict, those with terrible human rights records, or with human development needs (for example, water and sanitation, health and education). For all the reasons that CAAT opposes the arms trade, we oppose the existence of arms fairs.

The DSEi arms fair

Defence and Security Equipment International (formerly Defence Systems and Equipment International), or DSEi, is one of the world's biggest arms fairs and has been held in the ExCel centre in East London's Docklands since 1999. The most recent DSEi arms fair took place in September 2009 - the next is scheduled for 13-16 September 2011.

DSEi is a "tri-service defence exhibition", which means it is a forum for selling military equipment of all kinds for land, sea and air. The arms fair is owned and organised by Clarion Events, a commercial company, and receives major financial, logistical and political support from the UK government, most notably through UK Trade & Investment Defence and Security Organisation (UKTI DSO).

protestors outside the Excel centre

Clarion Events

CAAT had long been campaigning for the closure of DSEi, placing pressure on the commercial organiser, Reed Elsevier and organising protests against DSEi. In June 2007 it won an important victory when Reed Elsevier announced that it intended to pull out of the international arms fair business and focus on more ethical activities.

In May 2008, a buyer finally came forward in the form of Clarion Events who not only aquired DSEi but two other arms fairs from Reed Elsevier.

Clarion Events was new to the arms business, with its exhibition portfolio focusing on consumer and business-to-business trade shows, including the Baby Show, The Travel Show and The Spirit of Christmas.

However, it soon demonstrated an unhealthy appetite for the weapons industry, buying several more arms fairs in the following year. Their portfolio currently includes ITEC (Military Training and Education), UTC (Undersea Defence Technology) Europe, CNi (Security and Resilience) Expo, LAAD (Latin America Aero and Defence). In July 2009, they acquired Counter Terror Expo, also held in London.

Unlike Reed Elsevier, which was a public company, Clarion Events is a private equity company, bought by US-based Veronis Suhler Stevenson in 2004. It operates in 15 market areas and has offices in seven countries. Despite its lack of public accountability, Clarion is accutely conscious of its public image and has attempted to counter criticism of its venture into the arms fair business.

CAAT and its supporters are campaigning against Clarion, pointing out the unethical nature of the arms industry, and is continuing to call on the government to end its support for DSEi.

Actions

Email Clarion Events' Chief Executive to let him know your concerns about their new area of activity.

Action Reports

Read about our protests against:

CAMPAIGN AGAINST ARMS TRADE

Opposing Arms Fairs

The DSEi arms fair

Clarion Events

Actions

Action Reports

Further reading