Campaign Against Arms Trade press release re Global Day of Action on Military Spending

On Tuesday 17 April supporters of Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) will join other peace campaigners to protest against huge government expenditure on arms and the military, even as spending on health, welfare and education is being slashed.

Demonstrations will take place around the UK, while activists are encouraged to use twitter and other social media to get their message to government. In London, London CAAT will demonstrate with Jubilee Debt Campaign outside the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), in Victoria Street, Westminster, to call for an end to public subsidies for the arms trade and a cancellation of "dictator debt" - often incurred to buy arms.

UK military expenditure stands at £39 billion a year, making the UK military budget the fourth highest in the world in 2011 (after USA, China and Russia). As an illustration, just one F-35 Fighter jet costs £70 million. The UK government subsidises arms exports by £700 million annually. Campaigners point out that this would pay the salary of 33,000 newly qualified nurses at a time when it is estimated that 56,000 NHS staff have or will lose their jobs.

The day will also be marked by the release of latest figures on global military expenditure by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). The new figures will reveal that world military expenditure in 2011 was unchanged in real terms from 2010. While financial crises and government cutbacks saw modest falls in military spending in Western Europe and the US, this has been offset by large increases in Asia and the Middle East.

Anne-Marie O'Reilly, CAAT Outreach Co-ordinator, says:

"It just does not make sense that our government keeps spending more on its military budget than almost every other country in the world. Meanwhile we are meant to tolerate cuts to housing, youth services, education, welfare and health. We're taking action to point out the government has got its priorities very wrong. We need to put human need over arms company profits."

GDAMS in the UK

In Edinburgh, Scottish Member of Parliament Alison Johnstone has lodged a motion supporting the Global Day of Action and asking for cuts in government military spending. Edinburgh CAAT has organised a presence outside Scottish Parliament on the day.

Other protests and events by peace campaigners are planned for Hereford, Manchester, at Menwith Hill and in Swansea.
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CAAT is also encouraging online activity, including:
Mass tweeting HM Treasury with their preferred spending priorities - @hmtreasury with #demilitarize

Adding their voice to CAAT's This is NOT OK petition, calling for an end to government arms export subsidies.

ENDS

For further information please contact CAAT's Outreach Co-ordinator, Anne-Marie O'Reilly on 020 7281 0297 or mobile 07990 673 232 or email outreach@caat.org.uk. CAAT spokespeople are available for interview and photographs will be made available.

Notes
1.Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) works for the reduction and ultimate abolition of the international arms trade. The arms business has a devastating impact on human rights and society and damages economic development. Large-scale military procurement and arms exports only reinforce a militaristic approach to international problems. Around 75% of CAAT's income is raised from individual supporters.
2.The GDAMS London demonstration will take place outside the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), Victoria Street, London, between 8.30-9.30am on Tuesday 17 April (nearest tubes are Westrminster and St James Park; Victoria is also close). Further information on Facebook.
3.The Global Day of Action on Military Spending (GDAMS) is an international peace initiative. Jointly founded by the International Peace Bureau, based in Zurich, and the Institute of Policy Studies, in Washington, it has since grown to involve organisations and individuals in many countries. The first GDAMS was held on 12 April 2011.
3. The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) is an independent institute which researches conflict, armaments, arms control and disarmament. It provides data, analysis and recommendations, including annual surveys of global military spending, arms sales and arms companies.