Join us, StopSDSC, Peace Pilgrimage and Quaker Roots to challenge the arms trade in the West Midlands.
Witness against the arms trade in 2026
2026 began on a difficult note for peace, with news of military intervention, fuelled by the arms trade. Hearing about violence around the world can feel overwhelming, but there’s lots we can do to challenge militarism here in the West Midlands, and build peaceful community at the same time.
In February the Special Defence and Security Convention (SDSC-UK) will be coming to the NEC near Birmingham, having left Telford following two years of protest there.
The arms trade needs to be resisted everywhere, so when it tries to set up shop in Telford or now Birmingham we are here to say “No”. At the same time we say “Yes” to community and to peace.
Our friends at StopSDSC have an open letter to the NEC group, urging them not to host the fair. Please sign, and then join us to take action on SDSC, here in Birmingham:
Communities not Bombs
Weds 14th Jan, 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm Online
Join Peace Hub and Stop SDSC to explore how can say Yes to economic justice and No to the arms trade.
We want to stop the Specialist Defence and Security Convention (SDSC-UK) promoting weapons used to destroy lives around the world. But so often we hear that the arms trade is ‘creating jobs’, and ‘keeping us safe’.
This workshop will explore whether that is really true, helping us to understand the economics of the arms trade. We’ll share ideas on how a different approaches to security might help us build economic justice instead – in our communities here in the West Midlands, and beyond.
Pilgrimage to SDSC-UK
Sat 31st Jan, 10am – 3pm (approx) Birmingham, start location TBC
In witness against the SDSC arms fair, our friends at Peace Pilgrimage are are organising a one-day pilgrimage.
A time of walking, community, silence, prayer and sowing seeds of peace.
The route will be from Birmingham city centre to the NEC, about 10 miles – exact start location TBC.
Witness at SDSC-UK
Tues 3rd and Weds 4th Feb, all day at NEC
Two days of witness against this arms fair, to bring what is in hiding into visibility. We hope the days will include:
- creative responses to the arms trade – drama, puppets, music, poetry;
- engaging members of the public attending other activities at the NEC,
- a silent vigil led by Quakers,
- and more!
Image: a moving piece of theatre led by the Red Rebels outside SDSC in 2024.
Quaker Roots Strategy Launch
Weds 21st Jan 2026 at 7pm Online
Finally, with a view to a different arms fair, our friends at Quaker Roots will launch a new strategy of actions and campaigns to get Clarion Events to drop the DSEI Arms Fair. Join them online to hear about strategy, and welcome ideas and involvement from the Roots community. Folks from other groups, or concerned individuals interested in working together on Clarion are very welcome too.