The weapons used by governments to perpetuate occupation and genocide in
Afghanistan and Palestine, in Haiti, Sri Lanka and here on Turtle Island,
will be bought and sold in Ottawa at Canada’s largest Weapons Fair on May
27th and 28th, 2009.
Join the call to:
SHUT DOWN CANSEC 2009!
Confront those who profit from War and Genocide!
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4:00pm
Wednesday, May 27th
Central Park (Bank @ Patterson)
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Peoples Global Action Ottawa invites all individuals and groups
opposed to genocide, occupation and war profiteering to join us in
organizing opposition to CANSEC 2009.
We will gather and march from Central Park to Lansdowne Park, site of this
year’s Arms Fair, to confront war profiteers as they arrive for the CANSEC
Evening Reception, which runs from 5:00pm-7:00pm. The Evening
Reception is a black-tie affair, where war profiteers and government
representatives from around the world cut deals on cluster bomb
purchases and discuss the latest developments in white phosphorus�
munitions.
WHAT IS CANSEC?
CANSEC is Canada’s largest Arms Fair, this year featuring nearly 300
companies displaying the latest in weapons, surveillance, and ’security’
technology. It brings together weapons manufacturers and
government representatives from around the world, with the aim of
increasing sales of the newest methods of raining death and despair on
civilian populations.
In particular, companies that directly profited from the recent invasion
of Gaza will be present and proudly displaying the technologies that
killed 1,400 Palestinian men, women, and children.
These companies include Israeli weapons manufacturers such as Soltam,
makers of white phosphorous munitions, and Elbit Inc., there to sell their
“Lizard system” which “provides munitions guidance towards laser
designated targets”. Other Israeli corporations that are members of CANSEC
include Elisra, Israeli Aircraft Industries, Israeli Military Industries,
Rafael, and Simigon.
Of course, the CANSEC’s perennially blood-soaked North American
corporate members will be present again this year, including Boeing,
Raytheon, Northrup Grumman, General Electric and Blackwater (now calling itself Xe).
Just as significant are the dozens of smaller corporations that
produce systems and parts for assembly by the larger, more well-known
war profiteers. Many of these smaller companies are based here in
Canada. For example, there are more than 50 Canadian companies
contributing to the construction of 3 major weapons systems used by
the Israel Airforce: the F-16 and F-15 fighter jets, and the AH-64
attack helicopter. It is these weapons, many of whose parts are
manufactured here in Canada, that the Israeli military used when
committing possible war crimes in Gaza, such as the death of more than
50 civilians during the aerial bombardment of two UN schools.
Further, while CANSEC has taken place in Ottawa for the past 8 years,
the relocation of this event from the provincially-owned Ottawa
Congress Centre to the city-owned Lansdowne Park, is particularly
problematic. This event violates a 20 year-old municipal bylaw
prohibiting arms shows from being held on city-owned property. In
preparation for CANSEC 2009, this bylaw was sidestepped by City
managers, who claimed that, due to Ottawa’s amalgamation, the bylaw no
longer applies. The most notable proponent of the relocation was Mayor
Larry O’Brien, founder and current Board Member of Calian, an
exhibitor at CANSEC 2009.
For all these reasons, we invite all groups, organizations and individuals
to join us in opposing CANSEC 2009. Bring your noisemakers, placards,
photographs and props as we march to confront those who profit from
genocide, war, and death.
OCCUPATION ANYWHERE, RESISTANCE EVERYWHERE!
To get involved in organizing, or for more information, contact:
stopcansec@gmail.com
If your organization would like to endorse this callout, please contact
us! You can also print and distribute the posters!
