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Tank sold at arms fair by activists

Mike Wells | 12.09.2007 12:49 | Anti-militarism | London

Activist group The Space Hijackers acquired a tank which they planned to sell at auction outside the DSEI arms fair in East London. When police prevented the tank from reaching the arms fair they announced they had a second tank which was then approaching the arms fair.

Space Hijackers' first tank prepairs to leave East London yard
Space Hijackers' first tank prepairs to leave East London yard

First tank on Street outside yard in East London
First tank on Street outside yard in East London

Police stop first tank for "road-worthiness" check
Police stop first tank for "road-worthiness" check

Space Hijackers anounce tank is decoy and 2nd tank now approaching DSEI
Space Hijackers anounce tank is decoy and 2nd tank now approaching DSEI

Second tank prepared for approach to DSEI|
Second tank prepared for approach to DSEI|


Surprise; 2nd tank arrives at DSEI
Surprise; 2nd tank arrives at DSEI

Drinks and nibbles aboard British warship moored outside arms fair
Drinks and nibbles aboard British warship moored outside arms fair

First tank leaving yard
First tank leaving yard

a little bit of promotion to sell the tank
a little bit of promotion to sell the tank

Auction gets under way, bidding prooves to be brisk
Auction gets under way, bidding prooves to be brisk


Police initially blocked the Space Hijackers tank into a yard in East London, later letting it out of the yard and then claiming it had to be checked for road-worthiness. However not long after the police pulled the tank over for the road-worthiness check the Space Hijackers announced that the tank was a decoy and that they had a second tank which was, at that time, approaching the EXCEL centre where the Defence Systems and Equipment International (DSEI) arms fair is taking place.

After arriving at DSEI the Space Hijackers put the second tank, a huge tracked vehicle painted in UN colours, up for auction. In this ironic action they mimicked real-world arms dealers claiming that they would sell the tank to any buyer, and that the use to which the tank was put after the sale was neither their concern nor their responsibility.

While the Space Hijackers’ spoof auction was taking place, visitors to the arms fair where enjoying drinks and nibbles on the deck of a British warship moored outside the exhibition centre.

Mike Wells
- e-mail: mikejwells@yahoo.com

Additions

nibbles and drinks on deck of British warship moored outside arms fair

12.09.2007 13:18

nibbles and drinks on deck of British warship moored outside arms fair
nibbles and drinks on deck of British warship moored outside arms fair

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Mike Wells
mail e-mail: mikejwells@yahoo.com

Comments

Hide the following 2 comments

Hurrah for the spacies !!

12.09.2007 22:24

Well done to the space hijakers. It is high time that we saw some decent well dressed people getting involved in the peace campaign. I have for many years despaired at the predominance of unwashed hippy types on the steets at these protests. These types only serve to turn-off most ordinary people from our cause and allow the media to portray us as the lunatic left. Besides, I don't think that a lot of these hippy types really care about what us happenning in the middle east, but they will just jump on any band wagon that allows them to confront authority.

Lets please all raise our game a little - like the Space Hijackers have done.

Space Man

dressing up

14.09.2007 10:51

Hello,

I agree that dressing up in a suit etc has definately helped what we do, it certainly helps the police speak to us in a different tone. But don't cuss everyone else, a variety of tactics, approaches and levels of activism is what makes our movement so great. If we all start turning up in suits all the time, we'll be in a uniform no different from the police. So yes, smarten your act up if you can, but don't fall into the trap of running divisions between our friends.

xx

Bristly Pioneer