CANADIAN POLITICS-OTTAWA:

CANSEC IS COMING-OPPOSE IT:

The following call to oppose the upcoming 'Cansec' arms fair in Ottawa comes from the Coalition to Oppose the Arms Trade (COAT). Those who profit by selling the mechanisms of deaths, the arms traders, may qualify as the lowest examples of human life on Earth. Look to following to see how you can help oppose them.

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Oppose the CANSEC War Machine!‏

Learn more about CANSEC and join the campaign to oppose it.
CANSEC is Canada's largest and most important War-Industry Trade Show. It's coming to Ottawa next week. Wherever you may be, please join the Coalition to Oppose the Arms Trade (COAT) in opposing this blatant symbol of Canada's role in the burgeoning international arms trade.

For more info., see the list of weblinks at the end of this email to learn more about CANSEC and how you can help COAT to expose and oppose it!

Here is a media advisory that COAT released yesterday.

Rally for Peace – Oppose the CANSEC War Machine
http://coat.ncf.ca/CANSEC2010/MediaAdvisory.htm

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.

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

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Learn more about CANSEC and COAT's campaign

CANSEC is Canada's largest and most important War-Industry Trade Show.
Please join the Coalition to Oppose the Arms Trade (COAT) in opposing it.

Here is an annotated list of weblinks about CANSEC and how you can help expose and oppose it:

Summary Article: What is CANSEC, and why do we oppose it?
http://coat.ncf.ca/CANSEC2010/CANSEC2010article.htm

"CANSEC: War is Business" (50-page COAT publication. Get the nitty gritty)
http://coat.ncf.ca/our_magazine/links/64/64.htm

"Rally for Peace," June 2, 5-7 pm, Ottawa
Includes a list of speakers, poets and musicians, and links to their websites.
http://coat.ncf.ca/CANSEC2010/Rally.htm

Spread the word about COAT's "Rally for Peace"
Fliers: http://coat.ncf.ca/CANSEC2010/fliers/fliers.htm
Posters: http://coat.ncf.ca/CANSEC2010/Posters.htm

Other antiCANSEC events: What to do in Ottawa on June 2, 2010
http://coat.ncf.ca/CANSEC2010/June2events.htm

Decorate CANSEC's Fence: Submit graphics/statements online, or bring them yourself.
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=116566681687834&v=wall&ref=ts

How you can help: Join the opposition to CANSEC, wherever you are!
http://coat.ncf.ca/CANSEC2010/OpposeCANSEC.htm

CANSEC 2010 Exhibitors: Links to info about 275 exhibitors and their websites.
http://coat.ncf.ca/CANSEC2010/CANSEC2010Exhibitors.htm

"Peace Bus" from Toronto to Ottawa, June 2: All aboard for the antiCANSEC rally
http://coat.ncf.ca/CANSEC2010/TOPeaceBus.htm

Coalition to Oppose the Arms Trade website (for CANSEC updates and more)
http://coat.ncf.ca

Support COAT: Donate, subscribe, order "CANSEC: War is Business"
http://coat.ncf.ca/support_us/support_us.htm