Work with others | Raising awareness | Lobbying government | Challenging arms companies | Online campaigning |
Wanted: Local contacts
Local contacts are the life-blood of CAAT. They are key for raising awareness of the arms trade at a local level, whether on the high street, in their community, or through other related campaign groups. They are our link with MPs in their constituency and our way of challenging arms companies where they operate. They can also help bring local CAAT supporters together to take action as a group.
Could you be a CAAT Local Contact?
We always need people to be CAAT local contacts. Don’t feel that you wouldn’t be experienced enough to undertake the work. Most local contacts grow into the role after a short time. All that’s needed is a bit of spare time and a commitment to end the arms trade.
If you are interested, we will send you some more details. Please email us or ring us at the office for a chat (020 7281 0297).
Remember, it may well be that someone else in your area is also thinking about doing something about the arms trade and we could put you in touch. Working together means we can have an even bigger impact and is more enjoyable.
Four Local Contacts describe what they do:
Romey Chaffer, Durham
CAAT is one of the organisations supported by Peace Action Durham. At the monthly meetings I give a report on CAAT activities which is included in the minutes that are sent to all members, and I ask members to write letters, or take part in online petitions, when requests arise . We have stalls in Durham Market Place when we talk to as many shoppers as possible, and CAAT materials are available. Material is also made available on the stall at the annual Durham Miners’ Gala, where many people have lively debates amongst the hotdog stalls and Miners’ Banners. We are providing material for a "Peace Workshop Day" organised by Durham University Students this summer.
Roger Knight, Bexleyheath
I lobbied my MP at the House of Commons. I had not done this before, although we had exchanged many letters.
My MP is Conservative, so I was well prepared for opinions very different to my own. I had a list of questions and points and was determined to work through them and not be side-tracked. My MP was very pleasant but most emphatic that the DESO office should not be closed and that arms should be sold anywhere they were needed. Following the meeting I wrote a letter of thanks. Later when the closure of DESO was announced I wrote to the Prime Minister thanking him and sent a copy to my MP.
Although I realise one visit was unlikely to change his mind, I do consider meeting my MP has helped to forge a cordial relationship. This may open the door to more constructive dialogue with him about the arms trade in future.
Monica Pearce, Bath
In Bath we hold CAAT actions as part of Bath Stop War Coalition. We have a weekly anti-war vigil on Saturday mornings outside Bath Abbey, and after hearing of the amazing success of the BAE/Saudi bribery judicial review, we made the vigil focus the BAE bribery inquiry. We already had lots of placards from the previous BAE vigil and gave out postcards to send to Gordon Brown to demand the re-opening of the inquiry. We always include CAAT campaigns and updates in our local CND/CAAT newsletter and also in our Bath Stop War email bulletin. Some of our members joined the ‘Shut DESO’ demo in London. We also had a public meeting on the BAE bribery scandal, addressed by a CAAT speaker.
Penny Walker, Coventry
We have a regular information stall on the third Saturday of every month from 10 til 12 noon. Annually we run a workshop each year in Peace Month and have a stall at the two day Leamington Peace Festival in June. We support the excellent actions at Warwick University and get down to CAAT national demonstrations in London. Street theatre has worked well in the past and we’re hoping to get that started again. We would welcome support with that!
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