Embassy of the United Arab Emirates Arms Fair Protest

Warm thanks and congratulations to all who took part in the [DSEi Clarion Baby Show] protests all over the weekend.

Please can we ask everyone to help with the next EAST LONDON AGAINST THE ARMS FAIR [ELAAF] effort which is on 25th March 2009 2pm onwards at the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates, 30 Princes Gate , South Kensington, London, SW7 1PT (nearest tube: South Kensington)

Map: http://tinyurl.com/UAE-embassy-map

The ExCel Centre has now been bought by the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Company, owned by the Abu Dhabi government. To communicate with the new owners we need to do more than keep up the protests at ExCel, important though that is. The new owners are wealthy enough to afford to give up the [DSEi] Arms Fair.

We plan a musical protest outside the Embassy. We have asked the Ambassador to come out and recieve a petition that afternoon or, if he prefers, invite a delegation in to present it.

Because this has to be on a weekday, when some ELAAF supporters will be working, we are appealing for as much extra support that day as possible. Please spread the word. We will be starting with Buddhist chanting and ending with some of the Big Red Band but more musicians and/or singers are needed. Any style welcome. We also need non musical protesters to hold posters & banners give out leaflets etc. There isn't a convenient wall to stick posters to.

Please spread the word. If you can't come yourself please invite any anti arms trade people you know who are free on a Wednesday afternoon. 

2. Photos & brief notes from DSEi Clarion Baby Show protests at ExCel last weekend

Photos: http://tinyurl.com/Baby-Show-Pics

Around 30 campaigners from East London Against Arms Fair (ELAAF), London Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT), Disarm DSEi, Tower Hamlets CND, Croydon CND, London Catholic Worker, Trident Ploughshares, the Big Red Band and a separate jazz combo joined forces on Saturday, 28 Feb outside the ExCel centre in London's Docklands to stage a musical protest against both The Baby Show organiser Clarion Event's plans to stage DSEi, the world's largest arms trade fair, at ExCel in September, and against ExCel itself for agreeing to host the event again. There was a lot of harassment from ExCel security / management, who kept trying to move the protesters to the far side of the forecourt, but most refused to move from their position at the end of the walkway from Custom House DLR station. The police were eventually called, but after talking to the protest co-ordinator, the armed officers went off without taking further action. Members of the public were leafleted and serenaded with music from the Big Red Band and a jazz combo,  accompanied by singing with appropriately modified lyrics by other protesters. The protest continued for three hours in total, from 1-4pm, and was well received by the public. On Sunday, 1 March, eight or so members and supporters of London Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) returned to the Baby Show at ExCel for a photo-stunt / demo. Two campaigners posed as 'babies' armed with machine guns and a missile, whilst others displayed placards, leafleted and took photos. We were there for about 2 hours, from 10am-12noon. Again, the protest received plenty of attention and interest from the public. ExCel security / management were on our case again, but less so than on Saturday, as specific arrangements had been made in advance. Still, the conditions imposed upon the demo were quite strict and limiting. Many thanks to the organisers of both demos, and to all who made the effort to attend and who bravely stood their ground in the face of intimidatory tactics by ExCel / ADNEC.