5th Dec 2018, 8:30 am – 9:30 am
at outside HSBC, BirminghamA series of vigils organised by Midlands Christian Action (MiChA) of which Peace Hub is a partner organisation.
Join us outside HSBC for an hour-long peaceful vigil calling on HSBC to divest from the arms trade.
We will open and close with some short prayers reminding us that as Christians we are called to be peace-makers and to oppose violence where we find it in the world. The season of advent is a particular reminder of this, as we reflect on the message of “peace on earth and goodwill to all people”. In between the prayers, we will hold our vigil for an hour: with placards calling on HSBC to divest from the arms trade, and leaflets to explain to passers-by what we are doing.
These vigils chime with our Peace Hub theme Taking a Stand, as two of the countries that HSBC-financed weapons are sold to are Isreal and Saudi Arabia. As part of the theme, we’re showing solidarity with concientious objectors in Israel (such as Noam Gur) and human rights defenders in Saudi Arabia (such as Loujain al-Hathloul).
Why the Arms Trade?
UK is the world’s 2nd biggest arms exporter on average in the last 5 years, behind only the USA, with £53bn of arms exports in that time (Source: UK Trade & Investment)
Since 2010, Britain has sold arms to 39 of the 51 most oppressive regimes as defined by Freedom House, and 22 of the 30 countries on the UK governments own human right watch list. (Source: The Independent Sept 5th 2017)
UK Arms sales to repressive regimes have increased to £5bn since the last Election, mostly from increasing exports to Saudi Arabia, which is killing innocent people in an illegal war in Yemen. Exports to despots ahead of human rights (Source: The Guardian, Sept 10th 2017)
In 2011, the arms industry received subsidies equivalent to £13,000 per job. ( 55,000 people employed 0.2% of the UK workforce £700m subsidy) Money that could fund the renewable energy sector, which needs the same type of high skilled jobs. (Source: Campaign Against Arms Trade)
Why HSBC?
The arms trade needs banks and financial institutions to invest in it, in order to keep exporting the machinery of war around the world.
HSBC have £102m of shares in Boeing and £180m of shares in BAE Systems, who are the 2nd and 3rd largest arms companies in the world, amongst many others (Source: Stop Arming Israel, 2017).
Secret documents reveal that global banking giant HSBC profited from doing business with arms dealers who channelled mortar bombs to child soldiers in Africa, bag men for Third World dictators, traffickers in blood diamonds and other international outlaws. (Source: The Irish Times)
HSBC says it has been withdrawing from arms trade investments. But War On Want found HSBC listed as a shareholder in all 19 arms companies they looked at who export to Israel, with investments totalling more than $1bn. (Source: War on Want, 2017)
Where else can I bank?
There are several banks committed to being ethical, including Triodos and Metrobank. Building societies also avoid investing in the most unethical funds, and as a customer you will have a say in how the society is run at their AGM.
This guide from ethical consumer allows you to rank UK current account providers by various ethical criteria, including their involvement with the arms trade (under ‘People’).
If you want to stick with HSBC, or one of the other major banks that finance the arms trade (Barclays, Lloyds, Halifax or Royal Bank of Scotland) then you could contact them, asking them to cease all investments, loans and banking facilities for arms trade companies.
Who are MiChA?
Midlands Christian Action is a group of people who, guided and inspired by our faith in Jesus Christ, aspire to work for peace and justice for the whole of humanity and the whole of creation.
“Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.” Micah 4:2-4
Part of the Faith and Resistance Network.
Peace Hub is a partner organisation of MiChA.
Location
outside HSBC
130 New Street
Birmingham
B2 4JU
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