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Space Hijackers Tank for Sale

Peter Marshall | 12.09.2007 19:38 | DSEi 2007 | Anti-militarism | London

The Space Hijackers arrived at the DSEi arms fair in a tank and proceeded to have a party and conduct an auction of the tank and a mouse just outside the main vehicle gate, as well as making a very visible protest to those leaving the fair. Images are copyright, but will be licencensed free of charge for suitable non-commercial use.

That tank drives past the Tidal Basin Tavern
That tank drives past the Tidal Basin Tavern

The tank parked at the western entrance to ExCeL
The tank parked at the western entrance to ExCeL

Celebrating arrival on the tank
Celebrating arrival on the tank

Samba by Royal Victoria Dock
Samba by Royal Victoria Dock

Reporting from inside the tank
Reporting from inside the tank

Dancing on the dockside
Dancing on the dockside

A bid of a leg for the tank
A bid of a leg for the tank


Of course a tank is the obvious vehicle to take to an arms fair, and once the Space Hijackers had decided to do it, my only question was how to photograph it, especially as I had no information as to when and where it would arrive - if at all.

Several times I've been asked by police how I manage to be at the right place at the right time. But if you want to be a photographer you have to learn to predict what will happen.

So I was there to photograph the 'tank' arriving at the western entrance to the Excel centre, and after that it was easy apart from a certain amount of harassment by the police, who at one point simply refused to accept that my press card was genuine and threatened me with arrest.

The demonstrators were in position with banners as people drove past on their way out of the arms fair. I noticed one or two people in the cars that drove past - including one in military uniform - taking out their digital cameras to photograph the protestors.

The auction of the tank went well, though I had to leave for a meeting soon after the winning bid.

Lots of pictures showing the events in greater detail on 'My London Diary'  http://mylondondiary in a day or two. Images are copyright, but free licences available for suitable non-commercial use.

Peter Marshall
- e-mail: petermarshall@cix.co.uk
- Homepage: http://mylondondiary.co.uk

Additions

Thanks - more pictures now on the web

13.09.2007 16:12

They start at  http://mylondondiary.co.uk/2007/09/sep.htm#space

I think it was a really great idea and obviously it is important that people protest against the arms fair - and I'm very pleased to be able to do my bit to record and publicise it,

Peter

Peter Marshall
mail e-mail: petermarshall@cix.co,uk
- Homepage: http://mylondondiary.co.uk


Comments

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Great reporting

13.09.2007 08:24

well done, good pics and clear reports on dsei this year, thanks for being there!

snapper


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IMC UK is an interactive site offering inclusive participation. All postings to the open publishing newswire are the responsibility of the individual authors and not of IMC UK. Although IMC UK volunteers attempt to ensure accuracy of the newswire, they take no responsibility legal or otherwise for the contents of the open publishing site. Mention of external web sites or services is for information purposes only and constitutes neither an endorsement nor a recommendation.

"Arms dealer" repents and mends his ways...

13.09.2007 22:48

After seeing and hearing your protests thie week, I have decided to leave my highly paid job with a defence contractor and devote all my time to green charities.

Yeah, as if !!! Do you really believe that you are seen as any more than entertainment to the DSEi delegates?

Lets see if this post remains on indymedia - do you believe in freedom of speech or not?

Rare Damsel


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This posting has been hidden because it breaches the Indymedia UK (IMC UK) Editorial Guidelines.

IMC UK is an interactive site offering inclusive participation. All postings to the open publishing newswire are the responsibility of the individual authors and not of IMC UK. Although IMC UK volunteers attempt to ensure accuracy of the newswire, they take no responsibility legal or otherwise for the contents of the open publishing site. Mention of external web sites or services is for information purposes only and constitutes neither an endorsement nor a recommendation.

Well done ....

13.09.2007 23:08

for recruiting a much better class of women than the usual drum bangers.

Vast Action Tin


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