Petition asks for end to Eurosatory
Online petition launched
An online petition has been launch by a collective of concerned groups asking for the closure of the Eurosatory arms fair. The collective ‘No Eurosatory 2014’ includes Movement Quakers France, the International Fellowship of Reconciliation, the Network Franciscan Gubbio, Pax Christi and other pacifist groups. Eurosatory, scheduled to run from 16 to 20 June 2014, is one of the largest arms fairs in the world. In mid-June thousands of manufacturers, representatives, and arms dealers will meet at Paris Villepinte for the biennial exhibition. The campaigners describe Eurosatory as a ‘supermarket of death’
An Oxfam report has highlighted that a high percentage of weapons that are illegally trafficked are produced and marketed legally. The organisers of the petition have drawn attention to the loss of life in conflicts in the world today, such as Syria, South Sudan, Mali, The Democratic Republic of Congo and Libya.
The collective ‘No Eurosatory 2014’ say that they have organised the petition: ‘Because the arms trade perpetuates war and contributes to unspeakable suffering of the people who are daily victims; and because increased arms makes possible the destruction of many by the foolishness of a few’.
They ‘demand the cancellation of the Eurosatory that shames our conscience and threatens our humanity’.
They also ask ‘our authorities to create the conditions for a real public debate on disarmament, given the place occupied by France in this ruinous and deadly industry. It is unacceptable that all major political parties continue to ignore this heinous trade. Is the mission of our country to offer dictators of today and tomorrow the means for armed political terror?’
