For immediate release: Monday, March 12, 2001
Cancellation of this year's Ottawa's War Show!
Organizers of the Ottawa War Show publicly announced this afternoon, that their
event for this year has been was cancelled.
The Coalition to Oppose the Arms Trade (COAT) has protested the so called
National Capital Air Show, and its military trade show component, since 1997.
COAT, a national network of activists and organizations, has also been
encouraging opposition to "air shows" across Canada.
COAT's efforts to oppose Ottawa's war show have been supported by numerous
religious organizations, trade unions, student groups, environmental, human
rights and Third World development organizations. Dozens of organizations
have joined COAT in promoting opposition, including a public boycott, of this
highly militaristic event.
Last year, COAT organized a Festival of Peace outside the war show's gates.
This event brought together well-known speakers, musicians and poets to
celebrate peace on the doorstep of Ottawa's war show. In previous years,
COAT's protests have included the exhibition of original paintings of warplanes
by children who have been victimized in wars by the very kinds of bombers on
display for Ottawa children.
One of the main reasons for widespread opposition to this spectacle is its
glorification and romanticization of war technology, and of war itself.
Particularly offensive is the way in which these warplanes -- designed to drop
nuclear and convention bombs -- are promoted as entertainment to delight young
Canadian children. Obviously, the children in dozens of countries who have
somehow managed to survive aerial bombardments by US and other warplanes of the
types displayed at Ottawa's war show, have a different perspective on these
aircraft.
Many local and national organizations have also objected to the military trade
show component of the Ottawa "air show." Organizers of the
"air show" have held military trade expositions in conjunction with
this annual military aviation event. These arms bazaars have assisted many
Canadian military corporations to export their deadly wares to overseas buyers.
For instance, in 1998, the "air show," and its military trade show
component, were deliberately timed to coincide with a major conference in Ottawa
(called CONJAFAMER) which brought together all of the air force generals from
South, Central and North America.
Ottawa's war show, euphemistically called an "air show," features an
array of military war planes. In fact, most of the aircraft on display are
warplanes, with a preponderence of US air force fighters and bombers. These
sophisticated and deadly weapons delivery systems -- including numerous nuclear
weapons bombers -- are displayed every year in Ottawa as if they were legitimate
sources of family entertainment. They are not. These are tools of mass
destruction, murder and environmental devastation.
Richard Sanders, coordinator of COAT says: "News that this year's war show
has been cancelled does not mean an end to our campaign. We will continue
to build public awareness and opposition to the planned return of this offensive
military event to our city. If it does return to Ottawa in Sept. 2002, we
will be even more prepared to meet their war spectacle with activities based
upon our profound believe in non-violent resistance and the need for peaceful
non-cooperation with the institutions of war."
Over the past five years, there have been growing protests (including civil
disobedience) to oppose air/war shows in numerous other Canadian cities and
towns, including, Hamilton, Toronto, Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Abbotsford, Vancouver.
COAT has produced numerous resource materials including pamphlets, booklets and
a 30 minute documentary, called "Mother's Day at the War Show."