Wednesday 9th March saw the launch of CAAT's new campaign "Call the Shots" and the first outing of CAAT's latest street-theatre prop, a life-size revolving door, designed to convey our message with clarity, humour and style. A wonderful bunch of CAAT supporters made their way to the Queen Elizabeth Conference Centre in London, just over the road from Parliament, to show their opposition to the Defence Export Services Organisation, which was holding its annual symposium in the glass-fronted building. People came from near and far - one person from Scotland and two from deepest Norfolk - to say to delegates and the general public that the arms companies should be taken out of government and that DESO should be shut. Several others held a giant banner which read "Lock the revolving door" and depicted a giant key.

Intrigued passers-by and animated school children chuckled and giggled, making the links with the cartoon-like representation of the revolving door between government and arms companies and our very own civil servant / arms dealer, played by actor volunteer David, pushing his way through. David was representing Alan Garwood, the current Head of DESO who is also an arms industry boss. He wore a badge saying ‘Alan Garwood, Head of Government Arms Promotion and Arms Company Chief’ to highlight the fact that DESO is an example of the revolving door as it always seconds its Head from the arms industry and often returns them there afterwards.

The protest was short and firm and delegates certainly knew that we were there, despite the police penning the main protest onto the pavement across the road from the conference centre. Only a minor altercation with a rather bullish policeman cast a small shadow on the day, which was otherwise fun, serious, friendly, peaceful and successful.

The "Call the Shots" campaign is now well and truly launched, and we hope that with your help we will begin locking the revolving door between Government and the arms companies. The campaign has real potential for all kinds of creative local action and you don't need to make a life-sized revolving door to make that happen - though it's a fun project if you'd like the challenge! The campaign pack has loads of ideas for ways to make the campaign engaging and fun. Let us know what you get up to!