On September 16-19, Edinburgh International Conference Centre, a council owned event space, is set to host SPIE Security + Defence, an arms industry conference sponsored by one of the world’s biggest arms companies, Leonardo.
Leonardo has armed human rights abusers around the world. It makes equipment which is used in F-35 fighter jets, which are being used by Israeli forces in the genocide being inflicted in Gaza.
It is part of the Eurofighter consortium, which makes fighter jets that have been used by Saudi forces in Yemen, and makes helicopters that have been used by Turkey in its military operations against Kurdish groups.
In May 2024, Edinburgh’s Green councillors secured a ban on arms trade advertising on council owned assets or events. Now it’s time for arms-length organisations to follow their lead.
Join us in calling for EICC to support the ban and stop hosting arms dealers and war profiteers.