Brisbane Peace Convergence
stop the exercises | close the bases | end the wars
Friends of the Earth Brisbane
members Queensland Nuclear Free Alliance
mobile: 0413 397 839
Media Alert: 23 October 2006
Purveyors of Death to Meet in Brisbane
“Our river city to play host to conference on the best way to make a killing”. Some of the world’s worst serial killers and mass murderers will be meeting at the Brisbane Convention Centre for three days this week as part of the Australian Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) 2006 Land Warfare Conference.
Protest action:
4pm Tuesday 24 October 2006
Brisbane Convention Centre
cnr Glenelg & Merivale Streets
Some of the world’s worst serial killers and mass murderers will be meeting at the
Brisbane Convention Centre for three days this week as part of the Australian
Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) 2006 Land Warfare Conference.
Running from 24 – 27 October and entitled “Urbanisation, Complexity, Lethality:
Meeting the Challenge for the Land Forces 2006”, the conference will allow infamous
war profiteers to make presentations about their latest war fighting technologies.
Raytheon, British Aerospace Systems (BAE), Boeing, General Dynamics, Israel Military
Industries- as well as companies well known for domestic products such as Qantas,
Canon, Panasonic, Ericsson, Samsung, SAAB, and Chrysler will all be exhibiting at
the conference.
“It’s obvious this conference is about the best way to wage war and kill people,”
states spokesperson Ms. Kim Stewart. “Using terms like “tailored lethality” might
attempt to hide that fact, but this conference is about perfecting murder.”
“The majority of Brisbane residents are against war and therefore would be disturbed
if they knew this conference was happening in their city – especially with
Queensland and Federal government sponsorship.”
Ms. Stewarts also asks, “Why is the Queensland government hosting war
criminals? Raytheon, for instance, makes Depleted Uranium bunker busters that
are outlawed by the United Nations. These same weapons are being used to kill
innocent civilians in Iraq.”
The ‘urbanisation’ theme of the conference ‘urban combat and operations’ reflects
the increasing incidents of wars being fought in urban areas.
“With wars being fought in urban highly populated areas, civilian casualties can
only increase. No where on the conference program is it stated that there will be
discussion regarding the reduction of civilian casualties.”
“Every company attending has a hand in promoting military and violent solutions to
problems. Weapons don’t create peace, they perpetuate war.”
A protest will take place at the steps of the Convention Centre on Tuesday 24
October commencing at 4pm to coincide with the Chairman’s reception.
The aim is to draw attention to this conference and allow people to question the
morality of hosting this conference in Brisbane.
Background: Land Warfare Conference website: http://www.dsto.defence.gov.aueventLWC
---------------------
More details on some of the exhibitors at the LWC:
(from Sourcewatch.org)
General Dynamics - is the sixth largest defence manufacturer in the world . Established in 1952, it includes Electric Boat, which built the first nuclear-powered submarine, USS Nautilus. In 2002, General Dynamics registered a 25% growth in military business. Primary categories of military hardware produced by the company include nuclear submarines, warships, armoured vehicles and ammuntion. Makes Combat Systems including "Ordnance and Tactical Systems" (formerly Primex Technologies) which includes ammunitions, including those which might utilize depleted uranium penetrators.
Alliant Techsystems (ATK), maker of ammunition, smart bombs, and rocket propulsion systems. A leader in the production of solid propulsion rocket motors, ATK builds motors for space launch vehicles such as the Trident II and the Delta II. ATK is also one of the top suppliers of ammunition -- from small-caliber rounds to tank ammunition -- to the US and its allies. Additional lethal offerings include anti-tank mines, aircraft weapons systems, and high-tech weapons components.
Alliant makes depleted uranium shells for use in U.S. tanks, armored personnel carriers, air gunships and howitzers.
Alliant has produced over 15 million 30 mm PGU-14 shells (used in the A-10's Gattling gun) for the U.S. Air Force and over a million 120mm M829 rounds (described by the Army as the world's most lethal kinetic energy shell) for the U.S. Army.
Israel Military Industries - Makes 'proven' weapons systems for the Israeli Defence Force. Also makes less-than-lethal systems for riot control. We all know where they were 'proven'.