TARGET BARCLAYS: SHUT ITT

see  http://www.smashedo.org.uk/target-barclays.html

Smash EDO will be launching the new campaign against Barclays with a picket at their Brighton branch on North Street on Saturday 28th at 11am. We are calling on groups around the country to take action on the same day. Why not organise your own local demonstration, email details to  smashedo@riseup.net

Barclays Banks are the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) market maker for ITT Corporation. ITT Corporation own EDO MBM/ITT in Brighton.

There has been a five year long campaign of direct action against EDO MBM/ITT aimed at persuading them to stop producing weapons components in Brighton. EDO's components are used by the US and UK in Iraq and Afghanistan and Israel in Palestine.

As ITT’s market maker, Barclays acts as a ‘middle man’, purchasing shares from a seller and holding them until such a time as a buyer becomes available. This ensures the stability of ITT’s share price by allowing shareholders to sell off their assets at any time, even when a a buyer is not immediately available, and vice versa. Barclays also profits from this enterprise by selling ITT’s shares at a small markup, which nevertheless generates a considerable income when spread across large sales.

For more information on 'market makers' click here.


Smash EDO are calling for autonomous actions against Barclays Bank to force them to stop providing 'market maker' services for ITT Corporation on the NYSE. By performing marker services for ITT Barclays Bank are profiting from EDO's complicity in civilian deaths in Palestine, Afghanistan and Iraq. Barclays are the largest UK investor in the global arms trade. Bankers and institutional investors are the glue that finances the state terror wreaked by the arms trade. Companies like EDO do not operate in a vacuum but are propped up by the networks of corporations and investors which constitute the global capitalist system which puts profit before peace, greed before people.

You can report your actions (securely) at www.indymedia.org.uk

REMEMBER GAZA SMASH EDO MASS DEMO JANUARY 18TH. Assemble at 1pm, Brighton, wear black. For regular updates, location, accomodation etc see  http://www.smashedo.org.uk/remember-gaza.htm

Our next mass demo will take place on January the 18th. If you are able to be a local contact for your area, arrange transport or meeting points for your area, help with publicity etc please get in touch by e-mailing  smashedo@riseup.net or by calling 07538093930. So far there are a few local contacts (more on the way!) so start networking!

Cornwall:  kernowaction@gmail.com

Hastings -  info@hastingsagainstwar.org

Greater Manchester -  info@targetbrimar.org.uk

Bath -  bluehayes@gmail.com

Swansea -  d@undercurrents.org


Also, if you are planning to come to the demo, do consider arriving with an affinity group if possible.

SMASH EDO FUNDRAISER, SUNDAY DECEMBER 6TH, Hector's House, 52-54 Grand Parade, Brighton, 7pm-1am. Donations on the door.

Please help us raise some money through having a great evening out with the Meow Meows, Chukin and Baba Slips.

And, finally, a reminder: There is an ongoing petition demanding that Brighton and Hove council table a petition to condemn the activities of EDO MBM/ITT in Brighton. If you have not already done so, please add your signature (especially if you are a Brighton and Hove citizen) and circulate the petition widely. It can be found on  http://www.petitiononline.com/edoitt2/petition.html