CAAT National Gathering 2008
CAAT's National Gathering 2008 was an inspiring day for all involved – a chance to reflect on our successes this year, to meet other supporters and to get involved in the launch of CAAT's new campaign UKTI: Armed and Dangerous.
The importance of campaigning against the arms trade was emphasised by Solomon Hughes, author of 'War on Terror, Inc. - Corporate profiteering from the politics of fear'. He highlighted the way in which profit is driving security and military agendas. Participants found his talk “fascinating” and “eye-opening”.
Solomon Hughes talks on The War on Terror
Solomon Hughes talks on The War on Terror
Solomon Hughes taking part in a 'Q & A' with CAAT's parliamentary
officer Ann Feltham
Solomon Hughes taking part in a 'Q & A' with CAAT's parliamentary
officer Ann Feltham
CAAT press officer Symon Hill
The central theme of the day was our new campaign, UKTI: Armed and Dangerous, which aims to confront the government's close relationship with the arms industry by tackling the vastly disproportionate support arms exports receive from UK Trade & Investment compared to other industries. One supporter commented “[The launch was] excellent – it made me want to start immediately!”
Thinking about taking action around the new campaign informed our skills workshops for the afternoon. Participants at the action planning workshop came up with ideas for highlighting this nastier side of UKTI's business at UKTI non-military exhibitions and using any public work Prince Andrew does to highlight his role as ambassador for UKTI-supported arms exports. Other workshops looked at ways of using the local media and internet to publicise the campaign, whilst 15 CAAT supporters tried out their public speaking skills on the issue.
CAAT's core campaign manager Sarah Waldron launches the
UKTI - Armed and Dangerous campaign
All photographs on this page © Przemek Wajerowicz 2008
CAAT's core campaign manager Sarah Waldron launches the
UKTI: Armed and Dangerous campaign
CAAT's core campaign manager Sarah Waldron and Selina Larsen
UKTI: Armed and Dangerous campaign launch
CAAT supporters take part in the UKTI: Armed and Dangerous
campaign launch
Anna Stavrianakis and Anne-Marie O'Reilly in one of the CAAT
workshops
Anna Stavrianakis and Anne-Marie O'Reilly in one of the CAAT
workshops
The day also provided opportunities for CAAT supporters to network around topics relevant to them – the Christian Network, the Universities Network, Local Campaigning and arms fairs. This is one of the most valuable things about the National Gathering: “The best thing about the day was sharing ideas and information with other CAAT campaigners!”
Participants also had the chance to learn more about the jobs argument, the Arms Trade Treaty, or to get an introduction to the arms trade.
Supporters and staff went away fired up to take action on CAAT's new campaign. One activist's summary of the day was: “Getting inspired and informed!”
Take a look at notes from some of the sessions at the National Gathering:
Make your actions count
PDF (110k)
Universities networking
PDF (62k)
Arms Trade Treaty
PDF (55k)
Read what happened at
CAAT's 2007 National Gathering.