Mr. Macdiarmid was invited to continue his talk, but declined. Those who had come to attend the talk were sympathetic to the protestors’ position, and pressed the BAE manager for answers.
The activists questioned Mr. Macdiarmid over his participation in a company which was responsible for arming regimes from countries such as Indonesia, Israel, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Zimbabwe. (The first three are engaged in programs of repression of indigenous peoples, Saudi Arabia is renowned for its anti-democratic internal repression and Zimbabwe has arms embargoes, which BAE has violated.) Mr. Macdiarmid relied that at 53 he was too old to change his mind. He declined to comment on the views expressed by a former head of PR at BAE, Don McLen that ‘Sometimes in this business, you have to leave your conscience at the door.’
It was communicated that anyone participating in such a company would be supporting the murder of civilians, the stability of oppressive regimes and the use of bribes – such as the 20 million pound ‘slush fund’ that BAE has kept to bribe Saudi Royals. (The Guardian reported BAE’s corrupt practices two days ago). The arms companies are inevitably engaged in such practices, as are driven by a profit motive.
Macdiarmid protested that it was not his responsibility what his company was doing. It was pointed out that his company was able to continue, because that is the attitude that people took. By working for the company, Macdiarmid supported it.
The activists advocate a philosophy of ‘think global, act local’: being aware of the atrocities being perpetrated in places like Indonesia and trying to address their route causes in our local communities.
Matthew Baker, one of the activists present said: ‘It’s really important that everyone consider the ethical impact of the career they choose.’ ‘Every major atrocity committed in the world is committed with weapons made and sold by some person, with the backing of some other person: we can’t allow this to continue’. He continued ‘don’t believe the propaganda on the company’s website: do you own research’.
Mr. Macdiarmid, who holds a senior position in BAE, was attending the meeting the evening after the company’s Annual General Meeting. When the activists left, it appeared that Mr. Macdiarmid had decided to cancel the talk. The protest had been calm and civil throughout, on both sides. The activists had met through the Oxford Student Activist Network, though this action was independent of that group. They are in support of the aims of the Disarm DSEi and Campaign Against the Arms Trade groups. The group is determined that arms dealers in Oxford will always be confronted by students who will expose the crimes that their coroporations have committed.
We call on all JCRs and MCRs to take action to ensure that their college is not investing in arms companies.
The leaflet given out by activists is attached.
Pictures available at
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Leaflet
06.05.2004 12:00
sociétélibre
link to photos
07.05.2004 20:01
linker
plaintext leaflet
09.05.2004 16:31
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Exciting Career Opportunities in the “Systems” Industry!
Join BAE Systems: "the leading systems company, innovating for a safer world."
With BAE, you can explore exciting career opportunities in the world of the arms trade.
For example:
- SELL arms to the repressive governments of Saudi Arabia, Zimbabwe, Indonesia, and Israel!
- MARKET expensive weapons systems to the governments of countries that can’t afford healthcare for the poor, like South Africa!
- SUPPLY the US Department of Defence with the armaments it needs to bomb and occupy Iraq and Afghanistan!
- NEGOTIATE to sell arms to embargoed countries (Libya, Iran, Democratic Republic of the Congo)!
- KEEP Labour MPs in your pocket to lobby for your arms deals and subsidize your industry more than any other except agriculture!
- BE the lead UK contractor for the US "Star Wars" Missile Defence system!
- MAINTAIN a 20 million pound slush fund to bribe Saudi royalty for arms contracts!
- PROMOTE the supply of weapons to brutal governments and armed forces in civil wars across the world!
BAE SYSTEMS: Helping Indonesia bomb civilians in East Timor since 1984. Helping the Israeli military maintain the occupation. Helping the Zimbabwean government suppress dissent. Helping India and Pakistan keep the Kashmir conflict alive. Helping South Africa spend its resources on fighter jets instead of AIDS medicine. Helping buy Saudi Arabian princes shiny new cars...
__Who do you want to help today?__
"Sometimes in this business, you have to leave your conscience at the door" --Don McLen, Former PR director, BAE Systems
Learn more about BAE Systems and the crimes of the arms trade:
http:// www.caat.org.uk – Campaign Against the Arms Trade
For info on the Saudi bribery scandal, see The Guardian, search “BAE”
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And in PDF format...
09.05.2004 22:54
:-)
sociétélibre