Press Release
FAO Newsdesks - Thursday 5 June 2003
Arms Companies targeted in Stop the Arms Trade Week
The London-based non-governmental organisation Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) ended a successful week of site visits to arms companies today.
Chris Cole, CAAT's Local Campaigns Co-ordinator, spent the last five days visiting arms export companies in Yeovil (30th May), Bridgwater (30th May), Portsmouth (2nd June), Titchfield (2nd June), Cowes - Isle of Wight (2nd June), Weymouth (3rd June), Christchurch (3rd June).
CAAT's annual Stop the Arms Trade Week focuses this year on the sale of weapons to conflict zones across the world.
Mr Cole targeted the BAE Systems' sites because BAE is the largest arms company in both the UK and Europe - with an order book worth some £42bn.
Mr Cole said: "Shamefully, the UK has supplied arms to warring parties in the last twenty of thirty serious armed conflicts recently. BAE has played its notorious part in this and we call on the company to act with far more corporate responsibility."
To underlie their message CAAT have produced an informative, easy-to-use, guide to UK arms sales entitled 'Fanning the Flames'. To order a free copy for press and media please contact the CAAT office at: enquiries(at)caat·org·uk
For more information about Stop Week or to speak to Chris Cole please call the CAAT office on 020 7281 0297 or email: outreach(at)caat·org·uk
ENDS
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