London: People of faith gather outside arms fair

Bishop McMahon (right( with campaigners

More than 140 people gathered in the wind and rain outside the London ExCel centre last night to keep a vigil of silence and prayer on the eve of Defence Services Equipment International arms fair. This is the world's largest arms fair and among the delegates attending are Saudi Arabia, Colombia and Pakistan, three countries features on the FCOs own list of "countries of concern" in terms of human rights abuse.

Organised by the Quakers and Pax Christi, Sam Walton of Quaker Peace & Social Witness opened the event saying : "We are here as people of all Faiths and none. A huge amount of work has been done over the last week and over the last two years to try and stop this arms fair. There has been a great outpouring of concern, outrage and sadness from across the UK and around the globe that this arms fair will take place this week.

Our country cannot promote peace & democracy, London cannot be a city of peace, if it is where repression begins, where torture begins, if it where the
seeds of war are sown."

Bishop Thomas McMahon, emeritus Bishop of Brentwood Diocese joined the gathering. He has been a faithful follower of this vigil for many years and commented on the large turn-out this year. Affirming what Sam had said he went on to acknowledge the importance of witness, reminding those gathered of the scripture passage which invites us to "be witnesses of these things"

Pax Christi members carried placards with the words of Pope Francis: "And we seek peace for this world, subjected to arms dealers who profit from the blood of men and women".

While the vigil was taking place others attempted to hand out leaflets to those passing in and out of the building, to inform them of why the vigil was taking place.

Last week Pax Christi took part in a day of prayers and actions under the banner of "No faith in war". An account of this can be found here:
http://paxchristi.org.uk/news-and-events/news-reports/september-october-2015/

Reports no peace actions in the run-up to the arms fair can be found here: www.stopthearmsfair.org.uk/