http://www.infoshop.org/inews/stories.php?story=02/04/09/3100882 ANARCHIST AND ANTI-MILITARIST SECTION IN THE MARCH AGAINST THE ARMS EXPO (EXA), BRESCIA 13th APRIL 2002 EXA, or the "Brescia Arms Expo" has been held in the town of Brescia since 1979. This expo claims to be a "pacific" exposition of sports arms (clay-pigeon shooting), hunting arms (as if that were a sport) and arms for collectors. But a large majority of the exhibiting companies produce and sell arms for war, small calibre arms and anti-riot equipment (tear gas, rubber bullets etc.) - chief among them being Beretta. Among them are many international exhibitors, the real titans among weapons producers, like Browning, Colt, Winchester... It is estimated that there are something like between 500 million and 1 billion small arms throughout the world and that $50m, the cost of a fighter jet, would be enough to arm a small army with 200,000 assault rifles. These weapons are easy to use and maintain, in fact easy enough for a child of 10 to use - over 250,000 children under the age of 18 have taken part in 33 of of the most recent armed struggles, and in 26 of these even children under the age of 15 have taken part. Neither should we forget those arms which are hypocritically categorized as non-lethal, but whose lethal nature has been experienced above all for internal control - for the repression of demonstrations and marches, in prisons etc. Among these instruments of death and torture we can count tear gas, rubber bullets, water cannons, anti-personnel mines, acoustic arms (which can emits waves of 170 decibels, enough to damage organs), electric batons etc... This is why it is important to continue in a determined manner not only the anti-war struggle, but also the anti-militaristic struggle. We cannot stop war unless at the same time we impede the basis of war - the production and trade of arms (the banks which act as go-between), the armies, the states and capitalism together with every form of hierarchy, coercion and subordination. Therefore, we accept the invitation on the part of the "E. Bonometti" Anarchist Circle to create an anarchist, anti-militarist section in the march which will take place on Saturday 13th April 2002 in Brescia against the EXA Fair. THE MARCH LEAVES PIAZZA REPUBBLICA (100m. FROM THE RAILWAY STATION) AT 2.00pm. We invite all anarchist groups, federated and otherwise, to participate in the demonstration and to support this appeal. For futher information contact: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
