4 MPS from Wales go to arms companies dinner

4 MPS from Wales go to arms companies dinner 
Owen Smith Labour MP for Pontypridd Guest of Airbus
Madeleine Moon Labour MP Bridgend Guest of Finmeccanica at Arms company dinner
Ian Lucas Labour Wrexham Guest of Finmeccanica
Alun Cairns Conservative Vale of Glamorgan Guest of Raytheon 

The British government's close ties to the arms industry was illustrated this week at a London banquet hosted by the UK's defence and security companies. There were 40 MPs on the guest list for a £250-a-head gathering at the Hilton hotel on Park Lane organised by trade organisation ADS, according to information provided by activist group Campaign Against Arms Trade (Caat).   

Welsh government welcomes THALES to Wales

Thales UK is a leading arms company, including in nuclear weapons.

IeuanWyn Jones in 2010 welcomed their new centre in Llangennech near Llanelli, where they were equipping ‘Warthog’ tracked military vehicles destined for Afghanistan

The Minister said “The significant contract awarded to AB Connectors is excellent news as it has already created 40 new jobs and opens the door for potentially more business."

Thales is equipping the Warthog vehicles with over £150m worth of communications systems, specialist counter-measure equipment and extra protective armour.

TheMarch 2012 'Vision of Humanity' report: gives Thales, Serco etc heading a list of the top 20 nuclear weapons producers.

Link with an Abercynon company

ABConnectors is an Abercynon company that moved in 1996 into manufacture of military electronic components. They were in the news recently (18 October 2012) when their owners TT Electronics announced up to 45 redundancies out of the 193 current employees. This states AB Components “manufacture complex electronic connectors and systems for aerospace, defence and rail projects”.

Pippa Bartalotti recently told of working in a company Encrypta which supplied electronic security devices.
I worked in the Glastonbury sheepskin industry in 1973 – 5, then the fashion business in the West End of London 1975-1986… I then started Encrypta Electronics (employing 25 people and sub contracting to AB Electronics among other local businesses) and moved to South Wales.

Can Pippa disclose more about Encrypta’s sub-contract with AB Electronics/Components? She is recorded as Director & Manager of Encrypta Electronics from April 1992, Did their contract continue after Encrypta went bankrupt in 2003? She was also involved in Toucan Systems, 2001-2003: “In my time the company made one replacement keyboard for Thales”. Might they also be a past or current supplier of military components?

Metrix sham Public consultation

Letter from Phil published in the Penarth Times and the Gem. I guess it may be in the Barry and District News as well.

4^th April 2009

Dear Editor,

I took part in the public consultation in Barry about the St. Athan Project last Friday. My principal concern is that this development, as the largest ever UK Private Finance Initiative, is coming after such schemes have been widely criticised by many House of Commons Committees.

A primary concern in relation to the St. Athan Project is that in order to maximise the profits of the companies involved, the services of the facility will be opened to armed forces from all over the world. When I raised this with the Ministry of Defence staff, they assured me that countries like Iran would not be given access. When I asked about Indonesia and Saudi Arabia, no such assurance was possible. The UK Government has already given the green light for such training, yet these are regarded by Amnesty as amongst the most repressive regimes in the world. If the proposed privatisation goes ahead, we can expect training for these and similar forces to be radically extended. I also raised the fact that Raytheon, one of the world’s largest weapons manufacturers, is a major contributor to the St. Athan Project. Again, they tried to assure me that Raytheon’s part at St. Athan is only in relation to its training skills, and that its interest in weapons sales will be kept entirely separate. I wonder what Raytheon’s investors think about that?

I looked through the information made available at the meeting. Here we have a £12bn project yet there was no reference to the names of the firms which are to receive the money. I asked if a list was available. ‘No, but we can send it to you, or you can find it on the website’. Why on earth isn’t this basic information available at a public consultation? In the absence of a statement, I can only guess that its absence is because of the adverse publicity already in the public domain about some of these firms, such as Raytheon’s production of missiles which dispense cluster bombs (weapons which have done enormous damage to civilians).

We have seen what happened to banking when profit became the over-riding value, namely extensive loss of truth. So, people of the Vale, keep asking the questions. And to the schools which are already promoting this project, will you be willing to think again? Our young people are connected, however indirectly, with other young people who experience the awful effects of the arms trade. Let’s teach about that, and encourage them to work for a project in Wales which is primarily focussed upon peace-building. What about developing a Peace Garden in every school (see www.paxchristi.org.uk/pubs.HTML )?

Sincerely

Phil Kingston

AEROLINK PROTEST 2

Pictures below and story
PROTEST to oppose the arms trade and highlight the role of wales in war crimes in gaza and the companies that make money from killing people
http://caatcardiff.blogspot.com/ Go there for pictures
RED Choir/Côr Cochion http://members.tripod.com/cor.cochion/
out in good voice along with CAAT and the Green Party, CND and Stop the War

There was a peaceful protest and some folk picketed the gate with leaflets as the police wouldn't let us give any out near the hotel entrance where we set up our banners just after 8 this morning. A group of anarchists arrived and were stopped going into the hotel by a dozen or more burly police officers who later described the group as trying to 'STORM' the building!
Not much chance with such a big police presence to defend those people who kill people for money and profit from war!

A green party spokes person said "arms dealers are not welcome in Wales making money by killing people. It is shocking that Ty Hafan the well-known Welsh charity which runs a hospice for dying children was there! Why they would take blood money after what happened to the children of GAZA is beyond belief!"

Magellan Aerospace, with facilities in Wrexham, manufactures the CRV7 rocket weapon system (RWS), General Electric (GE) has been supplying the Israeli army since 1950 and, given its gargantuan profits, wars in he Middle East are good for business. One of GE’s success stories is the F110 jet engine, used to power the F-16.
Gardner Aerospace, part of the Carlyle Group, helps build war planes, including the C-130 Hercules, the military transport plane used by the Israeli airforce operating from its Nevatim Airbase.
Thales is a specialist manufacturer of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or drones, which are used extensively by the Israeli airforce to locate targets prior to bombardment. While the Hermes 450, made by Israeli company Elbit and tested at ParcAberporth in West Wales, remains Israel’s UAV of choice

AREOLINK protest today

Red Choir out in good voice along with CAAT and the Green Party, CND and Stop the War

There was a peaceful protest and some folk picketed the gate with leaflet s as the police wouldn't let us give any out
near the hotel entrance where we set up our banners just after 8 this morning. A group of anarchists arrived and were stopped going into the hotel by a dozen or more burly police officers who later described the group as trying to 'STORM' the building!
Not much chance with such a big police presence to defend those people who kill people for money and profit from war!

A Welsh team bus arrived of? Perhaps someone can identify the team that were Happy the hotel and rub shoulders with the arms trade.
Anne Greagsby from the green party said arms dealers are not welcome in Wales making money by killing people. It is shocking that Ty Hafan the well-known Welsh charity which runs a hospice for dying children was there! Why they would take blood money after what happened to the children of GAZA is beyond belief!

he red choir , the green party and the CAAT will be protesting today ...

This is why we are going to protest....and we wish to highlight the role of wales in war crimes in gaza and the companies that make money from killing people


Picture White phosphorous attack on Beit Lahia school

Magellan Aerospace, with facilities in Wrexham, manufactures the CRV7 rocket weapon system (RWS) for the F-16 jet fighter and the AH-64 Apache atta ck helicopter. Both were used with devastating effect by the Israeli armed forces in Israel’s recent aggression against the people of Gaza which killed upwards of 1500 Palestinians, including hund reds of children. i have seen photos of the carnage after a UN-run school at Beit Lahia was bombarded with burning white phosphorous. Magellan Aerospace also manufacture the M156 Smoke missile that goes with the CRV7 system. ‘Upon detonation’, Magellan’s story goes, ‘the high explosive ruptures the warhead and disperses the white phosphorous to generate a white smoke cloud.’

Beit Lahia - the aftermath

General Electric (GE) has been supplying the Israeli army since 1950 and, given its gargantuan profits, wars in the Middle East are good for business. One of GE’s success stories is the F110 jet engine, used to power the F-16.

Gardner Aerospace, part of the Carlyle Group, helps build war planes, including the C-130 Hercules, the military transport plane used by the Israeli airforce operating from its Nevatim Airbase.

Thales is a specialist manufacturer of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or drones, which are used extensively by the Israeli airforce to locate targets prior to bombardment. While the Hermes 450, made by Israeli company Elbit and tested at ParcAberporth in West Wales, remains Israel’s UAV of choice, Thales will, no doubt, be keeping an eye out for opportunities to do business with the pariah state.

Arms manufacturers 'making a difference' in Gaza

http://www.aerolinkwales.co.uk/

Jill Evans MEP in Gaza

S4/Clic Y Byd ar Bedwar

Source: www.s4c.co.uk

Defnyddiwch fotwm y dylluan yn y chwaraewr i newid o'r Saesneg i'r Gymraeg neu ddewis dim isdeitlau. Os nad oes isdeitlau ar gael, fydd y botwm ddim yn weithredol.

Film of Jill Evans MEP in Gaza during the recent visit by the parliamentary
delegation. You can view the programme with English language subtitles by clicking on the Owl icon in the player window.

Cardiff Students Against War is *ENDING OUR OCCUPATION*

*-- VICTORY!! --*

Cardiff Students Against War is *ENDING OUR OCCUPATION* of the Large Shandon
lecture theatre, Cardiff University Main Building! We're about to leave,
march around campus to declare our victory, and make our continued presence
known to the university community. Banners and megaphones, BOOKS not BOMBS!

Following the open letter to Vice Chancellor David Grant, the BOOKS not
BOMBS demonstration outside the Student Union and the subsequent occupation
of the Large Shandon, *Cardiff University has divested all shares from BAe
Systems and the aerospace arm of General Electric*! They have instructed
their external fund managers to avoid future investments in the arms trade,
and have promised to raise the issue of an ethical investment policy at the
next Council Meeting on May 18th. They are also willing to discuss the
provision of surplus computers and resources to institutions in Gaza.

The victory comes after three days of occupation which has been inundated
with messages of support from all over the country, as well as further
afield. This has included university staff, students and societies, local
Plaid Cymru politicians and groups, activist groups such as CND Cymu, No
Borders South Wales and South Wales Anarchists, and has had extensive press
coverage, from the local papers and student publications to Indymedia and
the BBC. We are extremely proud to have received a message of solidarity
from Noam Chomsky!

*We see this as the beginning, not the end*. The occupation has attracted
considerable interest and support from the Cardiff University community, and
has succeeded in raising awareness of the effects of the arms trade and the
horrific situation in Gaza. Cardiff Students Against War will continue to
campaign on these issues, and to make sure that the university doesn't go
back on its promises.
*
So well done to everyone who has been involved!!*

But it's not over yet. The campaign will continue because we believe that
Cardiff Uni should be doing more for Gaza, such as facilitating scholarships
to Gazan students and boycotting Israeli products in protest at the
treatment of Palestinians by the IDF, and the settlers occupying the West
Bank.
*
POST-OCCUPATION SOCIAL!!*
Tonight!
Pen & Wig 7.30!!

Noam Chomsky message of support

Cardiff Students Against War has just received a message of support from the legendary Noam Chomsky!!

I am very pleased to learn about the courageous and honorable actions
of the Cardiff University students. These are particularly significant
because of the Britain's role in arms sales generally, and it's
contribution to the savage onslaught on Gaza and on the occupied
territories generally, second only to the decisive role of the United
States -- a disgrace for all of us. I hope you have the greatest
success in arousing public opinion and bringing these crimes to an end.

Noam Chomsky

occupiedcardiff.blogspot.com

rush messages of support to cardiffstudentsagainstwar@gmail.com