Farnborough International 2004
Andrew Wood | 20.05.2004 11:18 | Analysis | Anti-militarism | Culture
The United Nations say that 90% of war-victims are civilians and at least half of these childern. Ironic then that Farnborough International 2004 should be using childern to foster acceptance of weapons systems at its 'air show' this year (Monday July 19 - Sunday July 25).
Farnborough 2004
It’s called an airshow but it’s actually an arms fair. Farnborough International 2004 is possibly one of the most important shop windows for aircraft and aerospace manufactures including the military sector. So important, that the Exhibitors Guide includes a forward from Prime Minister Tony Blair: ‘The UK looks forward to hosting the cream of the world’s aerospace industry’ he writes.
The displays of military aircraft both flying and on the ground, makes Farnborough a battle ground not just for arms sales but for wining the hearts and minds of the public too.
The attendance list of companies reads like a Who’s Who of the arms industry: BAE Systems, Eurofighter GmBh, Cobham, Elbit Systems, General Dynamics, Lockheed Martin, Northrup Grummam Corporation , Rafael, Raytheon and many others, in total 1,260 exhibitors in 2002. The planes, bombs and missiles from many of these companies were used in the attack on Iraq in 2003.
Farnborough is home ground for BAE Systems, Europe’s largest arms manufacturer. Farnborough Airport is used for private business flights and is operated by BAE systems subsidiary TAG Aviation.
Farnborough is where arms deals are done
The organisers are expecting to host, what they call, 1,000 VIP guests including heads of state, government ministers and officials, and military chiefs. There will be business chalets, lunches, demonstration flights and plenty of opportunities to clinch arms sales. The organisers say contracts, military and civilian, totalling over $9 billion were announced after the last Farnborough in 2002.
Feel the propaganda
The public days on the weekend of Farnborough attract the most visitors of the seven day event, about 150,000 of the 290,000 visitors in 2002. The organisers say that ‘Farnborough energies more people to stand-up to unfounded criticism of our industry, and push far further across the-board support. The public days are a very important part of the event, and to you as a company. They offer aviation enthusiasts, the general public and youth to experience first hand, the advancements of the Aerospace industry and the impact on our daily lives.’
Clearly the aerospace industry know they have a problem in public perceptions and they need to counter this. That military aircraft are weapons with their obvious function is difficult for the industry. Farnborough is important in fostering acceptance of the arms industry – when you can stand closed to fighter aircraft resting silently on the tarmac, then they seem almost harmless. That the Hawk jets are colourfully painted and perform aerobatics once again helps to foster acceptance of the weapons. Motor sports feature at Farnborough 2004: ‘See the rivalry between the fastest machines in the air and on the ground as a military jet and formula 1 car face along the runway’ says the programme. The message is clear – weapons systems are little different to sports – harmless fun. The cover of this years public programme shows a girl with pigtails grinning as the red arrow past overhead and says ‘How much fun can you have at the Farnborough Airshow?’. To help the kids enjoy the family day out there’s the Ronald McDonald-esce Captain Farnborough, as well as face painting too.
The public relations agency Luther Pendragon is being employed for Farnborough 2004. They oversee all media relations activity on site, provide strategic media relations advice and manage crisis communications planning. The importance of Farnborough as a propaganda tool for the arms industry is clear. As the organisers says: “This is a time when the aerospace sector faces many challenges, and Farnborough is the moment when we become most visible to all our audiences. We need a highly professional operation to ensure that we use that moment to convey the right messages to the right audiences as effectively as possible.” Interestingly, Luther Pendragon’s clients include McDonalds.
What you can do
If you bank with Lloyds TSB then write to them and ask for them to withdraw their sponsorship of Farnborough. The bank is sponsoring the Presidents Enclosure this year.
Come to a training day and get active
There will be a training day on Saturday 3 July in London for people who want to take part in either CAAT’s public engagement or the *non-violent* direct action at Farnborough. CAAT is organising a peaceful demonstration for the opening day, Monday 19 July, and public engagement on Saturday 24 July. The day designated for direct action is Sunday 25 July and it is being co-ordinated by Disarm (see their website below). Please note that the demonstration is a come-as-you-are event while the CAAT public engagement will require attendance on the CAAT training day.
Call the CAAT office on 020 7281 0297 or email
action@caat.org.uk for more information or to reserve a place. There will be a nominal charge for the training day.
Useful Websites
CAAT – www.caat.org.uk
Disarm – www.dsei.org
Farnborough 2004 – www.Farnborough.com
Activists Legal Project – www.activistslegalproject.org.uk
Non-violence training – www.seedsforchange.org.uk
It’s called an airshow but it’s actually an arms fair. Farnborough International 2004 is possibly one of the most important shop windows for aircraft and aerospace manufactures including the military sector. So important, that the Exhibitors Guide includes a forward from Prime Minister Tony Blair: ‘The UK looks forward to hosting the cream of the world’s aerospace industry’ he writes.
The displays of military aircraft both flying and on the ground, makes Farnborough a battle ground not just for arms sales but for wining the hearts and minds of the public too.
The attendance list of companies reads like a Who’s Who of the arms industry: BAE Systems, Eurofighter GmBh, Cobham, Elbit Systems, General Dynamics, Lockheed Martin, Northrup Grummam Corporation , Rafael, Raytheon and many others, in total 1,260 exhibitors in 2002. The planes, bombs and missiles from many of these companies were used in the attack on Iraq in 2003.
Farnborough is home ground for BAE Systems, Europe’s largest arms manufacturer. Farnborough Airport is used for private business flights and is operated by BAE systems subsidiary TAG Aviation.
Farnborough is where arms deals are done
The organisers are expecting to host, what they call, 1,000 VIP guests including heads of state, government ministers and officials, and military chiefs. There will be business chalets, lunches, demonstration flights and plenty of opportunities to clinch arms sales. The organisers say contracts, military and civilian, totalling over $9 billion were announced after the last Farnborough in 2002.
Feel the propaganda
The public days on the weekend of Farnborough attract the most visitors of the seven day event, about 150,000 of the 290,000 visitors in 2002. The organisers say that ‘Farnborough energies more people to stand-up to unfounded criticism of our industry, and push far further across the-board support. The public days are a very important part of the event, and to you as a company. They offer aviation enthusiasts, the general public and youth to experience first hand, the advancements of the Aerospace industry and the impact on our daily lives.’
Clearly the aerospace industry know they have a problem in public perceptions and they need to counter this. That military aircraft are weapons with their obvious function is difficult for the industry. Farnborough is important in fostering acceptance of the arms industry – when you can stand closed to fighter aircraft resting silently on the tarmac, then they seem almost harmless. That the Hawk jets are colourfully painted and perform aerobatics once again helps to foster acceptance of the weapons. Motor sports feature at Farnborough 2004: ‘See the rivalry between the fastest machines in the air and on the ground as a military jet and formula 1 car face along the runway’ says the programme. The message is clear – weapons systems are little different to sports – harmless fun. The cover of this years public programme shows a girl with pigtails grinning as the red arrow past overhead and says ‘How much fun can you have at the Farnborough Airshow?’. To help the kids enjoy the family day out there’s the Ronald McDonald-esce Captain Farnborough, as well as face painting too.
The public relations agency Luther Pendragon is being employed for Farnborough 2004. They oversee all media relations activity on site, provide strategic media relations advice and manage crisis communications planning. The importance of Farnborough as a propaganda tool for the arms industry is clear. As the organisers says: “This is a time when the aerospace sector faces many challenges, and Farnborough is the moment when we become most visible to all our audiences. We need a highly professional operation to ensure that we use that moment to convey the right messages to the right audiences as effectively as possible.” Interestingly, Luther Pendragon’s clients include McDonalds.
What you can do
If you bank with Lloyds TSB then write to them and ask for them to withdraw their sponsorship of Farnborough. The bank is sponsoring the Presidents Enclosure this year.
Come to a training day and get active
There will be a training day on Saturday 3 July in London for people who want to take part in either CAAT’s public engagement or the *non-violent* direct action at Farnborough. CAAT is organising a peaceful demonstration for the opening day, Monday 19 July, and public engagement on Saturday 24 July. The day designated for direct action is Sunday 25 July and it is being co-ordinated by Disarm (see their website below). Please note that the demonstration is a come-as-you-are event while the CAAT public engagement will require attendance on the CAAT training day.
Call the CAAT office on 020 7281 0297 or email
action@caat.org.uk for more information or to reserve a place. There will be a nominal charge for the training day. Useful Websites
CAAT – www.caat.org.uk
Disarm – www.dsei.org
Farnborough 2004 – www.Farnborough.com
Activists Legal Project – www.activistslegalproject.org.uk
Non-violence training – www.seedsforchange.org.uk
Andrew Wood
e-mail:
action@caat.org.uk
Homepage:
http://www.caat.org.uk
Comments
Hide the following 3 comments
Farnborough International Airshow 2004
21.06.2004 13:32
Keith Parkins
Homepage:
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2004/06/293691.html
Big it up Keith!
27.06.2004 15:03
25.06.2004 12:37
Keith is talking up the protests at Farnborough and well, good luck to him.
I'm not sure I'd describe others years protests as a 'straggle' of protestors as they've been sincere and well intentioned even if few in number.
Farnborough is a challenge for those opposed to the arms trade there's no doubt. Farnborough is both an arms fair and a public air display unlike say DSEi, which is exclusively an arms fair and where the visitors are only those buying or selling arms rather than the general public too.
But I don't think this challenge should dissuade people from taking action, it just needs to be effective - and this of course depends on your aims.
Standing on the sidelines shouting abuse at visitors is unlikely to change anyone's mind. It's worth bearing in mind that the profile of the visitors does vary depending on which day of Farnborough week you're talking about. Monday to Friday it's trade days with buyers, sellers and those working in the aerospace sector including their families. Saturday and Sunday it's the general public, youth and aviation fans.
I can't say, or rather don't know what other people will be doing at Farnborough but this is what Campaign Against Arms Trade plan:
Monday, 19 July. A peaceful demonstration with some street threatre, props and leaflets. Simply being there shows your opposition to arms trading. We'll be explaining how the arms industry is financed out of the public purse. Knowing that your company exists due to a large slice of corporate welfare rather than single minded hard work and determination isn't something that most arms workers know, and their employeers probably don't want them to know either. CAAT welcomes people joining its peaceful demonstration on Monday. We won't be shouting abuse at people for sure, quite the opposite.
Saturday 24 July. We hope to run some public engaugement. This will simply be informing th e public that they are visiting an arms fair. Most of the public don't realise Farnborough, unlike say the Air Tatto at Fairford - which is solely an airshow, is an arms fair. I don't expect anyone will turn round and head home on hearing this but some visitors might think twice about attending next year.
For more information contact the Campaign Against Arms Trade office on: 020 7281 0297 or email
Andrew Wood, CAAT
Andrew Wood
e-mail:
action@caat.org.uk
Homepage:
http://www.armsfair.com
DISARM DSEi ACTIONS AT FARNBOROUGH AIRSHOW
20.07.2004 10:40
Farnborough Airshow Direct Action Day, Sunday 25th July – 12 onwards, follow signs from Farnborough station to public entrance or get shuttle bus organised by the airshow to the public entrance.
Farnborough International 2004 (July 19-25) in Hampshire is the most important arms fair this year. Not only is it the battleground for the sale of military aircraft and associated weapons systems but for the public acceptance of them too. At the last Farnborough in 2002 military and civilian contracts totalling over $9 billion were announced with exhibitors including murdering bastards such as BAE Systems, Lockheed Martin, Rolls-Royce and Boeing queuing up to sell their latest weapons systems.
As usual with these events one of the places where contacts are made and established is at the delegate’s swanky dinner. The dinner, described as “the social event of the Airshow week” will be held in the “splendour of the Great Room at the Grosvenor House Hotel”. A presentation of a sword will also be made for a “significant contribution towards Anglo-American aerospace cooperation” and will be presented to Lord Robertson (NATO Secretary General). Their website promises “an exciting and entertaining evening”, let’s make sure we provide one!
However there is also another side to Farnborough, that of fun days out for all the family with the weekend public days. We are therefore calling a day of direct action on one of these family days to show that Farnborough is primarily an arms fair and also to state that watching the latest fighter jets is not family entertainment.
There is the option of buying tickets for the public event for £20 – see www.farnborough.com for details.
Contact the organisers of Farnborough in person at: Farnborough International 2004, Duxbury House, 60 Petty France, London SW1H 9EU, 020 7227 1043,
For more information please contact
BM Box 3679, London WC1N 3XX, 07817 652 029
www.dsei.org
DISARM DSEi
e-mail:
farnborough@dsei.org
Homepage:
http://www.dsei.org