Pax Christi joins No Faith in War Day protests at UK's largest Arms Fair

On Thursday, Pax Christi joined the Anglican Pacifist Fellowship, Quakers, Columbans and others for the 'No Faith in War Day' protest at the DSEI Arms Fair, the ExCeL Centre, London.

After a prayer and peace walk from St. Anne's RC Church in Newham, the groups gathered at the entrance gates to the site to pray, worship and delay access for exhibitors delivering to the Centre in preparation for the official opening of the Fair on the 12th September. Other acts of worship took place through the day including a Pax Christi Liturgy of Resistance.

Billed as the 'premier hybrid event of its kind, 'bringing governments, the armed forces and the wider defence and security industry together', the event will be the biggest yet in its 24 year history. Over 2,800 exhibitors will be present and countries invited previously have included Bahrain, Bangladesh, Colombia, Egypt, Iraq and Saudi Arabia, all of which are on the Foreign Office human rights watchlist as countries of concern.

Andrew Jackson, Chief Executive of Pax Christi said: "It was very important that Pax Christi was present yesterday both to express our opposition to the Arms Fair and to stand in solidarity with all those who will be killed and suffer from the use of the weapons traded and supplied through events like this. On Wednesday evening we had met online to pray and to remember, in particular, the people of Yemen. Thousands have been killed in military action by Saudi Arabia who, the UK Government has acknowledged, are using weapons manufactured in the UK in those attacks.

"We were encouraged by the statement from the Bishop's Conference condemning the Fair and will continue to highlight and campaign against the evils of the arms trade. As Pope Francis said recently on World Humanitarian Day, we want to see a massive reduction in military spending and for the 'tools of death' to be turned to' tools of life'."

Pax Christi will be back at the ExCeL Centre on the evening of Monday 11th September for a Candlelit Vigil with the Quakers. Details can be found on the website. For details of other events in protest at the Arms Fair see the Stop the Arms Fair coalition website www.stopthearmsfair.org.uk