London Campaign Against Arms Trade (London CAAT) and East London Against Arms Fairs (ELAAF) members will be descending on this weekend's 918-22 FebruaryBaby 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 will not know of the link between the the Baby Show and the arms trade. London CAAT aims to inform them of this link.
London CAAT member Sarah Reader said: "The involvement of Clarion Events in the arms trade is deplorable. They should immediately sell their portfolio of arms fairs as well as stopping their role in the organisation of the DSEi arms fair. Organising a family-friendly event such as the Baby Show is grossly incompatible with running an arms fair."
An ELAAF spokesperson added: "ELAAF members have been protesting against the arms fair since it came to our area in 2001 and we will continue to do so until it is cancelled. We do not want such a destructive and harmful event on our doorstep and the fact that Clarion Events also run shows for babies and their parents is particularly offensive."
ELAAF will be at the show from 2pm-5pm on Saturday 19 February. London CAAT will be there from 11am-1pm on Sunday 20 February. The Baby Show takes place at the ExCel exhibition centre in Docklands.
[Ekk/4]
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