Stop Telford's arms fair
When people in Telford heard that an arms fair was coming to town in 2023, we wrote to the venue, the Telford International Centre to ask them to cancel the event.
An Open Letter to Telford International Centre (2023)
We are alarmed about the hosting of the Specialist Defence and Security Convention arms fair (SDSC-UK) in such a prominent Shropshire venue. We call on the Telford International Centre to cancel this booking and confirm the SDSC will not be welcomed again. We also ask the International Centre's other clients to rethink their business with the TIC as long as it hosts the SDSC.
This is not just another industry show. SDSC-UK is part of the destructive global arms trade which drives armed conflict, oppression and human rights abuses around the world. Many churches, universities and others have withdrawn investment from companies engaging in such harmful activities. To host an arms fair is not an apolitical act and this is not a straightforward third-party booking. Such an event will stain the Telford International Centre's reputation and betray the values of Telford’s community, in particular disrespecting those of us who have experienced armed conflict or had to flee war and persecution.
The SDSC's predecessor, the 3 Counties DSE, was the object of intense opposition across the shires of Hereford, Worcester and Gloucester. Now it has relocated to Shropshire.
SDSC exhibitors include companies linked to the Saudi-led coalition's war in Yemen and the resulting humanitarian crisis, to antidemocratic surveillance and repression, and to the drone bombings, night raids and the killing of civilians in many countries.
Shropshire was the birthplace of businesses that strove to be ethical during the industrial revolution. The labour, creativity and resources of Telford and Wrekin should not be co-opted for spreading violence.
Organisations signed:
PCS union, R&C Telford branch
Shropshire Stand Up to Racism
Telford Quaker Meeting
Malvern Individuals for Peace
Fossil Free Shropshire
City of Wolverhampton UNISON
Three Counties CAAT
Coventry Deanery Justice & Peace Group
Worcestershire & Shropshire Area Meeting, Quakers
Clun Valley Quaker Meeting
Malvern Quaker Meeting
Stop the War Birmingham
Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT)
Wolverhampton Quaker Meeting
SPEAK (praying and campaigning for global justice)
XR Midlands
XR Wrexham
Shropshire National Education Union
Shrewsbury Environment Centre
Scientists for Global Responsibility
Extinction Rebellion Chesterfield and North East Derbyshire
Pax Christi England and Wales
ForcesWatch
West Midlands CND
Shropshire and Telford Trades Council
Anglican Pacifist Fellowship
Fellowship of Reconciliation
Signed:
Angie Allport
Ellis Brooks, Bridgnorth
Rebecca Tully
Amanda Lawrence
Mike Davis
Eliot Walker
Jude Emmet
John Geale
Deborah Haskew
Emily Wills
David Fitzpatrick, Broseley
Martin Large
David Lawrence, Telford
Ruth Anderson
Joanna Blackman
Tina Teearu
Marion Curtis
Gary Northeast
Beverley Baker
Paul Ivor Rayner
Gillian Davis
Sal Mager
Mark stokes
Lynn Mann
Lorraine Murray
Rory Hosty
Ruth Stanier
Ann Holt
Sheila Milne
Andrew H Bound
Jude Pilgrim
Andrew Fleming
Karen Pearcd
Stephen Petter
Gill Davis, Telford
Bev McCarthy
Kim Holroyd, Ludlow
Louise Scrivens, Birmingham
Marie Prout, Hereford
Reverend Marjorie Brooks, Bridgnorth
Lydia Smart, Bromsgrove
Lynda Prescott, Stourport-on-Severn
Heather Davies, Hereford
Jerry Barr, Cheltenham
Jenny Mitton, Birmingham
Richard Pashley, Birmingham
Pam Bishop, Birmingham
Pam Archer, Stourbridge
Ann Farr, Coventry
Paul McGowan, Coventry
Nick Kelleher, Wolverhampton
Liz Hobbs, Birmingham
Ruth Longoni, Coventry
Dave Finch, Kidderminster
Jan Whitby, Atherstone
Ann Kelly, Birmingham
Jenny Maxwell, Leintwardine, Craven Arms
Mig Kerr, Coventry
Carol Rank, Coventry
Kris Pears, Coventry
Neslihan Ozfaris, Coventry
Janet King,
Penny Welch, Wolverhampton
David Gillam, Peterchurch
Karen Rock, Bromyard, Herefordshire
Louis Wombacher-Hadden, Hereford
Cathy Huckfield, Shrewsbury
Roy Huckfield, Shrewsbury
Gemma Collins, Stafford
Sandra Durkin, Coventry
Nicky Davis, Stoke-on-Trent
Paul Williamson, Stoke-on-Trent
David Haswell, Stone
Jacqui Burke, Aqueduct, Telford
Nicholas Paton Philip, Stourbridge, West Midlands
Steve Rush, Wellington
Barbara Phillips, Shrewsbury
Martin Tiller, Rugby
Ian Morgan, Cheltenham
Nigel Kelly, Shrewsbury
Jay Lanyon, Bomere Heath
Betty Halford, Shrewsbury
Peter Speirs, Chester
Tombari, Cheltenham
Hilary Topp, Birmingham
John Cutcliffe, Gunnislake
J. Doveston, Penzance
John Cooper, Birmingham
Jean Brant, Birmingham
Gill West, Broseley
Kim Fitzwarine-Smith, Broseley
Penny Osborne , Telford
Annette de la Cour, Malvern
Isabel Jones, Malvern
Angela Maloney, Birmingham
Emma Mary Gathergood, Malvern
Janie Bradshaw, Birmingham
Leo, Malvern
Emma Cooper, Lichfield
Ella Bradshaw, Birmingham
Ben Auton, Sutton Coldfield
Stephen Hardman, Birmingham
Isis Bradshaw, Birmingham
Marie Howie, Worcester
Clare Cooper, Broseley
Paul Cooper, Broseley
Fran Wilde, Birmingham
Suzanne Savage, Malvern
Jude Oliver, Birmingham
Geoff Goodyear, Lichfield
Russell Lowe, Rowley Regis
Chaz Stoll, Halesowen
Stephen Moore, Stroud
Sue Haydock, Stroud
Andy Chaffer, Birmingham
Dibah Farooqui, Malvern
Adrian Warburton, Malvern
Sam , Malvern
Jill Etheridge, Malvern
Hugh Mcmichael, Malvern
Annette de la Cour, Malvern
Anne-Marie H, Bridgnorth
Mike Fox, Codsall
Barbara McGarvey, Broseley
Susan Keane, Birmingham
Sara Venn, Telford
Jacqueline Fowler, Telford
Jeanette Picken, The Rock, Telford
Mary Griffiths, Stourport
A Gibson, Sandwell
Jennifer Davis, Newport. Shrops.
Alan Wheatley, Hereford
David Greeves, Hereford
Patricia Bradley, Hereford
Judith Baresel. Hereford
Audrey Nunn, Hereford
Christopher Coppock, Milton Keynes
Alison Crane, Cheltenham
Sue Wedlock, Church Stretton
Jamie Russell, Shrewsbury
Naomi Hutchings, Shrewsbury
Kelly B, Shrewsbury
Fiona McCleary, Telford
Kris Welch, Broseley
Tina Teearu, Shrewsbury
Sue McGavin, Longdon upon Tern, Telford
Claire Potter, Telford
Victoria Walton, Shrewsbury
Steve Hale, Bishops Castle
David Charlton, Shrewsbury
Kate Evans, Newport, Shropshire
Linda Murray Hale, Bishops Castle
Catherine Watson, Prees Heath
Dougal Purce, Shrewsbury
Eleanor Hartley, Shrewsbury
Antony Owen, Coventry
Maria Martin, Bishop's Castle
Lynn Mann, Telford
David Bell, Telford Madeley
Harvinder, Wolverhampton
Sarah Smith, Shrewsbury
Tessa Warner Muxton, Telford
Mrs Diana Harmer, Shrewsbury
Penny Osborne-Gajewski, Telford
C.Leverington , Telford
Kyle Briggs, Telford
Les Dobb, Church Stretton
Diana Griffith, Droitwich
Peter Griffith, Droitwich
Catherine Shaw, Shrewsbury
Luke, Shrewsbury
Liam Shaw, Shrewsbury
Barry Mitchell, Telford
Hannah Peters, Oswestry
Soledad Poseck, Wolverhampton
Eric Harley, Redditch
Rae Evans, Telford
Jackie, Wrexham
Mary Hopkins, Bishops Castle
R White, Cheshire
Christina Barnett, London
Sonja Watson
Kate Robertson, Llangrove, Ross on Wye
Kevin Skippon, Bishop's Castle
Susan Hepburn, Ledbury
Linda Green, Abergavenny
Heken Briggs, Hay on Wye
John Senior, Pant-y-Dwr,Rhayader
Kathryn, Shrewsbury
Paul Bolton, Bridgnorth
Jan Arriens, Bishops Castle
Angela Ditchfield, Solihull
Hazel Anderson, Abergavenny
Matt Raine, Walsall
Jonathan Sanchi, Shrewsbury
Buddika Perera, Canning Town
South Staffs Palestine Solidarity
Sophie Griffiths, Lichfield
Kim Turner
Gillian Pardesi, Stafford
Jim Goodall, Wolverhampton
Lenora Minto, Birmingham
Pam Williams, Llanidloes.
Andy Summers, Walsall
Shareen Khan, West Bromwich
Linda Wickham, Sennybriidge
Merrick Rose, Shrewsbury
Mike Plunkett, Bishop's Castle
Tashima Mustun,Walsall
Sunaina Iqbal, Walsall
John Babb, Wolverhampton
Ian Mancor, Stafford
Bridget Holtom, Sheffield
Muna Ferdus, Lichfield
Duncan Kerr, Oswestry
Carl Brown, Walsall
Morag Sinton, Abergavenny
Helen, Worcester
Ireneusz-Jan Kryczka, Crewe
Susan Porter, Bromsgrove
David Haswell, Stone
Maureen Alecock, STAFFORD
Walter Zuk, Ludlow
Michael Quinn, Crewe
Olly Rose, Oswestry
Mark Summerfield, Birmingham
Catherine Sweeney, Ludlow
Lea Cowin, Worcester
Sue Houghton, Kidderminster
Angela McAndrew, London
David Finney, Ludlow
Elizabeth Colley, Nesting
James Roberts, Shrewsbury
Badger Murray, Birmingham
Lorraine Gawlik, Pennerley Hill
Marian Bond, Stoke on Trent
Mary Smail , Ashbourne
S Flack, London
Hannah Laux, Shrewsbury
Beryl Knowle, Telford
Judith Baba, Wolverhampton
Heather Davies, Hereford
Peter Bloomer, Birmingham Unite Community Branch
Martin Davis, Cheltenham
Catharine JONES, Worcester
Ellen Martin, Bristol
Tashima Mustun, Walsall
J Houston, Birmingham
Shazia Nasreen, Walsall
Mamun Khan. Walsall
Sol, Walsall
Rhiannon Lockley, UCU NEC (Midlands) - Brierley Hill
Rosie, Walsall
Ethan Green, Shrewsbury
David Halls, Birmingham
SAF, Birmingham
Feroza Isakjee, Walsall
Ginny Russell, Uttoxeter
Ursula Walker, Walsall
Martin Lynch, Walsall
Martin Lynch, Walsall
Richard Ashwell, Wolverhampton
Mary O Sullivan, Wolverhampton
Maeve O’Sullivan, Wolverhampton
Gabriela Steinke, Wolverhampton
Helen, Wolverhampton
Louise Henfield, Telford
Simon Cardy, Wolverhampton
Patrick O'Sullivan, Wolverhampton
Dom Oliver, Wolverhampton
Mike O'Sullivan, Wolverhampton
Joaquim Marques, London
Jean Hancox, Wolverhampton
Megan Morris-Jones
Symon Hill, Oxford
Andrew Brown , Telford
Rev'd Rachel Parkinson, Telford
Suraya Mahmood, Walsall
T Sambrook, Shrewsbury
Ophelia Camp, Shifnal, Telford
Nicholas Collier, Newport Shropshire
Naomi Yates, Shrewsbury
Cynthia Prior, Ludlow
Carol Hyatt, Wolverhampton
Lenora Minto, Birmingham
Lesley Cook, Wolverhampton
Ann-Charlotte Holman, Wolverhampton
Alan Coe, Wolverhampton
Joy Crouch, Ludlow
Susan Readshaw, Wolverhampton
Denis Beaumont, Wombourne
George Heinz, Craven Arms
Carol Stanley, Neath
Christine J, Wolverhampton
Colin Townsend, Pelsall
Katie Smith, Shrewsbury
Qilf Middleton, Muxton
Tim Russell, Shrewsbury
Revd Ian P. Hamilton, Crumpsall
R. Middleton, Shrewsbury.
Christine Lewis, Brecon
Ann-Charlotte Holman, Wolverhampton
Ursula Freeman, Clun
Shaylee, Northampton
Jackie Kightly, Wrexham
Maria Pizzoni, Wrexham
Christopher Hall, Wrexham
Georgina Gittins, Wrexham
Jane, Wrexham
Richard Millward, Wrexham
Kevin Ellis, Chester
David Aheer, Wolverhampton
Sheila Griffiths, Wrexham
Diane Ward, Holywell
Pete Roberts
Mary Jo McElroy, Penmaenmawr
David Allen, Chyester
Vladimir Morozov, Llanfyllin
Jo Hindley, Birmingham
Henry Beakbane, Stourbridge
Kathy Sullivan, Stourbridge
Rajan Naidu, Birmingham
Dave Mainwaring, Wrexham
S maddocks, Broughton
Stephen Kent, Derby
Sara Higginson, Kinnersley, Herefordshire
Elena Auer, Wrexham
David Goodman, Market Harborough
Trudy Kilcullen, Swanley
Ruth Richards, Wrexham
Michael Vaughan, Stourton
Julia Wilson, Fairbourne
John Henry, Wrexham Clwyd
Janet, Bromsgrove
Dave Rolfe, Telford
Alexander Bruce Calderwood McLatchie, Stoke-On-Trent
Paul McGowan, Coventry
Ellen Teague, London
Paschal Somers, Coventry
Clara Wood, Stourbridge
Mark Shaw, Broseley
Mac-Paradise Okocha, Telford
Maddison Crew, Telford
Fiona Hoey, Coventry
Esther, Telford
Sarah Maguire, Swansea
Sister Ruth, Coventry
Kris Pears, Coventry
Anthong Stanley, Brierley Hill
Leslie Wilson, Reading
Maris Vigar, Stourbridge
Jo Davies, Wellington
Jo Hindley, Birmingham
Brianna Dymond, West Midlands
John Hughes, Telford