In February, the Peace Hub Action Group focussed on the arms trade – sharing a range of ideas for action, from a creative activity you can join at home, to in-person witness at the heart of the arms trade. Any Friends concerned about these issues can connect with others, ask questions and share ideas at the Action Group on the fourth Wednesday of each month.
If you only have a few minutes, a quick an easy action you can take online is CAAT’s campaign on F-35 fighter jets.
Knitting to stop the arms fair
Can you knit or crochet or sew? Quaker Roots are looking for crafted baby (hats, mittens booties etc.) items for a creative action to highlight the contradiction between the sale of products for children and the sale of weapons that harm children.
We will give out baby clothes with messages, outside The Baby Show – this event is organised by Clarion who also organise the biennial DSEI arms fair in London. The aim is to raise the awareness of sponsors, exhibitors and attenders of The Baby Show about Clarion’s complicity in the arms trade in the hope it will encourage them to ask questions about how Clarion’s role in the arms fair fits with their values. This in turn is part of a broader strategy to put pressure on Clarion, to drop the arms fair.
You can send (or hand-in) items to us at Peace Hub: 41 Bull St, Birmingham B4 6AF.
Keeping pressure on the NEC
Witness against the Specialist Defence and Security Convention (SDSC) at the NEC in February helped bring this hidden arms fair into visibility. The fact that security were keen to keep protestors segregated from attendees of the Spring Fair and Ice-cream show (happening at the same time) shows that the venue is wary of the negative PR associated with hosting the arms trade.
So, while the arms fair is sadly due to return to the NEC in 2027, the campaign continues with opportunities for creative actions at other events at the same venue throughout the year – beginning later this month (March 2026).
Contact StopSDSC to hear more about upcoming actions
Local Arms Manufacturers
Visit the Peace Hub website to read more about UAV Engines Ltd is based in Shenstone, and Moog, a US arms company with a factory in Wolverhampton.
There are regular protests outside the factory, mostly low-key groups of people providing a reminder that business cannot continue as usual hidden away.
On Weds 25th March 11am -1pm a demonstration will be held outside UAV Engines as part of a Palestine Solidarity Campaign day of action.
And for those with more time and energy to give to this issue, there will be an International Peace Camp outside Lakenheath air base in Suffolk 1st – 6th April. Read more and sign up.
You can contact our Peace Hub coordinator to discuss any of this, and join any meeting of the Peace Hub Action Group to connect with other Friends.