[COAT] Making a Killing on War! Cancel CANSEC, Canada's top arms show

[coat AT list.openconcept.ca]

Join the opposition to Canada's largest weapons exhibition, CANSEC
2009.
Please sign the
ONLINE
 PETITION to
"Stop Ottawa's Arms Bazaars" and encourage others to do
likewise.

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http://coat.ncf.ca/ARMX/MakingKilling.htm

Stop Making a Killing on War! 
Cancel CANSEC 2009, Canada's top arms bazaar 
By Richard Sanders, coordinator,
Coalition to Oppose the Arms Trade
(COAT)
  
The City of Ottawa has now agreed to host the international CANSEC
weapons show at the municipality's prime publically-funded facility,
Lansdowne Park, between May 27 and 28, 2009.
 
Among the more than 200 military firms flogging their wares inside the
Ottawa Congress Centre at CANSEC 2008, were some of the world's biggest
and most profitable war industries: BAE Systems, Boeing, Honeywell, L-3,
Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman. 
 
These six firms are prime contractors for many of the deadliest weapons
systems ever made, including dozens of different bombers, fighter jets,
bombs and missiles. Remarkably, these six corporate giants sold about
US$100 billion worth of military equipment to the Pentagon in 2007, and
their combined revenue from global military sales was $130 billion in
2006. (See details in table,
"Top Six
Global War Industries at CANSEC 2008.")
 
The profits made by these leading war industries have come at a
disastrous price. The horrendous wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere
-- where their deadly products are used daily -- have taken an
inestimable toll on the lives and livelihoods of millions of innocent
people, and their ecosystems. 
 
Also exhibiting their wares at CANSEC 2008 were many of Canada's foremost
arms industries including CAE, CMC Electronics, General Dynamics Canada,
Magellan Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney Canada and SNC-Lavalin. These
companies -- which consistently rank within Canada's top ten military
contractors -- are largely reliant on exports to the US. 
 
But CANSEC does much more than just facilitate the growth of top war
industries. Hundreds of smaller players in the bustling world of weaponry
are also eager to join the action. The 500 booth spaces at CANSEC 2009
will be bristling not only with displays showcasing war technologies but
also an array of products used by police and paramilitary
"security" forces to "maintain order" around the
world. 
 
We stopped them before!   We can do it
again!

In 1989, during a campaign against an arms show called
ARMX, the City of Ottawa banned all such exhibitions from municipal
property. However, in 2008 -- for the first time in almost 20 years --
City Staff leased Lansdowne Park to a military trade show called
"Secure Canada." 
 
Due to a legal technicality, City Staff claims that Council's historic
1989 ban no longer applies to Lansdowne Park saying there is "no
true impediment to hosting these types of events, while recognizing the
degree of sensitivity regarding activities that focus primarily on
armaments and various weapons."
 
"Secure Canada 2008" was eventually cancelled due to federal
restrictions on government participation in controversial events during
the election. Its organizers also blamed heightened security costs caused
by potential protests.
 
CANSEC is probably the most blatant manifestation of the rapacious,
corporate system of global economic exploitation and destruction that
will reveal its presence within our local community this year. 
 
As a potent symbol of the international arms trade, CANSEC graphically
represents some of the persistent underlying issues faced by peace, human
rights and environment activists. As such, CANSEC presents an opportunity
to raise awareness about many complex, inter-related issues. 
 
As a starter, please sign COAT's
online petition urging
City Council to respect Ottawa's ban on hosting arms exhibitions.
 
Please join our efforts and encourage other individuals and groups to do
likewise!

---

Richard Sanders, is coordinator of the
Coalition to Oppose the Arms Trade, and
editor of its magazine, Press for Conversion! 
COAT was initiated 20 years ago to organize opposition to ARMX '89,
which was the last arms show held at a City of Ottawa facility. 
To learn more, and to get involved, see COAT's website:
http://coat.ncf.ca