London Campaign Against Arms Trade (London CAAT) members will be descending on this weekend’s Destinations: The Holiday & Travel Show to highlight the show’s links with the arms trade.
The owners of this show are Clarion Events who also own the Defence & Security Equipment International (DSEI) arms fair, a biennial event that takes place in east London, where countries with dubious human rights records are invited to buy the latest weapons. They also own six other arms fairs.
Most visitors won’t know of the link between the Holiday & Travel Show and the arms trade. London CAAT aims to inform them of this link.
London CAAT member Rhiannon Rees said:
The involvement of Clarion Events in the arms trade is deplorable and they should immediately sell their portfolio of arms fairs as well as stopping their role in the organisation of the DSEI arms fair. Travel and holidays should promote friendship and understanding between peoples, whereas the arms trade thrives on conflict.
London CAAT will be at the show from 11am till 1pm on Saturday 5 February – the show takes place at Earls Court exhibition centre.
For further information contact CAAT’s Media Co-ordinator on 07990 673232 or 020 7281 0297 or media(at)caat·org·uk.
Notes
- London CAAT was established in late 2006 to peacefully protest against local elements of the arms trade. They have targeted a number of Clarion Events since they purchased 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 receives major financial, logistical and political support from the UK government, most notably through UK Trade & Investment Defence & Security Organisation. Columbia, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia were invited to DSEI 2009, the same year they appeared on the list of countries of concern in the Foreign Office’s annual report on Human Rights.
- Clarion Events brought DSEI and two other arms fair in May 2008. They have since brought a number of other arms fairs and have joined the Defence Manufacturers Association. Further information on Arms fairs is on CAAT website. Clarion Events also run a wide range of events such as the Baby Show and the Spirit of Summer Fair.
ENDS
