For immediate release

May 25, 2010

Rally for Peace – Oppose the CANSEC War Machine


Ottawa – Peace advocates, human rights groups and environmentalists, are gathering to denounce CANSEC

2010, our nation’s largest weapons trade show. CANSEC is a symbol of Canada’s commitment to the business

of war and our role in the profitable, international arms trade.
 

Richard Sanders of the Coalition to Oppose the Arms Trade says, “CANSEC is a blatant manifestation of our

country's part in fuelling major global conflicts through the sale and export of weapons systems and their

components.”


This year's effort against CANSEC is the latest chapter in a struggle that began over two decades ago when the

Coalition to Oppose the Arms Trade (COAT) campaigned against ARMX, a now-defunct arms bazaar. COAT's

work against ARMX led the City of Ottawa to ban arms exhibitions on municipal property. CANSEC is

returning to Lansdowne June 2 and 3, because last year City Council overturned this municipality's historic

20-year ban on weapons shows.


“This trade show is a symbol of Canadian government subsidization of an industry involved in producing and

promoting weapons of destruction,” added City Councillor Alex Cullen, candidate for Mayor in the 2010

municipal election. “It graphically illustrates the part we play in aiding and abetting wars and human rights

abuses.”


CANSEC exhibitors supply parts and services for many of the world’s deadliest weapons systems used in Iraq,

Afghanistan, Gaza and elsewhere around the world. Research by COAT names 60 CANSEC exhibitors

supplying parts for weapons systems in Iraq. That war alone has killed 1.3 million since 2003.

Diane Holmes, City of Ottawa Councillor says, “These weapons and weapons systems have caused destruction

around the world. They have taken an immeasurable toll on the lives and livelihoods of innumerable innocent

people, their families and their children.”


Peace groups, human rights and environmental groups, will hold a RALLY for PEACE on June 2, 2010 at

Lansdowne Park on Bank Street, 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Politicians, citizens, poets and musicians will speak against

profiting from war weapons, and for peace in the world.

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For more information, media contact :
Richard Sanders, Coordinator, Coalition to Oppose the Arms Trade (COAT) and Editor, Press for Conversion! magazine;
Tel: (613) 231-3076

Renseignements médias:
Hélène Lebrun, les Soeurs du Sacre-coeur de Jesus; Tel: (613) 237-6607

Inquiries:
website: http://coat.ncf.ca
email: overcoat@rogers.com