War Starts Here: Resist the DSEI Arms Fair with Quaker Roots
16 July - 11 September 2025
Throughout the summer join Quakers in Britain and Quaker Roots in a range of activities to Resist the DSEI Arms Fair, which takes place at the ExCel Centre London in September 2025.
get involved in creative craftivism - get updates here
Saturday 26 July
Friday 12 August
Monday 8 September
- Merchants of Death Walk of Witness to expose arms company HQs. Family-friendly action, starting with refreshments and crafts at Westminster Meeting House. All welcome.
- Evening vigil for DSEI at ExCel Centre, with Pax Christi that evening
Tuesday 9 September
- No Faith in War Day on the opening day of the arms fair
Wednesday 10 September
- an action at a strategic target
Advices & Queries 31 - 'We are called to live in the virtue of that life and power that takes away the occasion of all wars'. Do you faithfully maintain our testimony that war and the preparation for war are inconsistent with the spirit of Christ? Search out whatever in your own way of life may contain the seeds of war. Stand firm in our testimony, even when others commit or prepare to commit acts of violence, yet always remember that they too are children of God.'
Quaker Roots is a community of Friends building a creative, vibrant and radical Quaker response to the Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) arms fair.
Taking place in east London every two years, DSEI is a huge trade show bringing together 1,500 arms companies with representatives from militaries from around the world. Some of the world's largest companies market tanks, planes, drones, rifles, ammunition, surveillance technology, training and a huge array of other weapons.
In witnessing our testimony to peace, Friends have been driven to join the movement of resistance to this arms fair, which brings global human rights violations to our doorstep. Arms fairs like DSEI are a key root cause of the violence and injustice around the world.
Quakers have been involved in action against DSEI for many years. Quaker Roots is planning to build an unprecedented Quaker presence at the 2019 fair, standing together against DSEI and the global arms trade.
More information
For more information contact:
Quaker Roots
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