You
know that argument used by the arms industry: “If we
don’t sell it, somebody else will.”? The best argument against it is to
slap that person in the face. And if he complains you just say: “If I
didn’t do it, somebody else would.” Mark
Thomas, British
comedian
Mouse against elephant
The Campagne tegen Wapenhandel is a small grass roots organisation
campaigning against the arms trade for more that 12 years. We have a
staff of three and a very supportive advisory board. We are political
independent. We do researched based campaigning. We work for media,
for peace- and solidarity organisations and for ethical
investors. We often contrubute to publications,
radio and TV. We
publish research
reports,
sometimes on request, sometimes because we find a subject important. We
publish all our information, including sources, on the internet because
we think informaton about arms trade should be as transparent as
possible.
Export support
European governements support the arms trade with cheap export
credits.
Because arms trade is not included in the EU or WTO
treaties it can receive all kind of financial state support. The Dutch
state is a big arms exporter by itself and delivers high-quality second
hand equipement all over the world, for exampleto Chile.
Control
Partly due to our campains the transparency and control on arms trade
in the Netherlands has increased. But transparency and control alone
will not stop the arms trade, nor do treaties or EU rules. It needs
permanent public vigilance and campaigning because the arms industry
and their supporters in defense and government circles will always try
to find ways around rules. Because the arms industry works
internationally we also work internationally. Campagne tegen
Wapenhandel is an active member of the Network
Against Arms Trade (ENAAT). We want a strick interpretation of the Common
EU position on Arms Export
which sets a good ethical standard but is interpreted as it suits
governements, depending on economical, political and military
interests.