Medsin Launches a Campaign Against the Arms Trade
Written by Jennifer Riches, about 1 year ago | Permalink | Campaign: Arms Trade
Images by Chris Graham
This weekend, members of Medsin's National Committee instigated a campaign on issues surrounding the arms trade. The decision was taken as a direct response to calls from Medsin's Patron Dr. Richard Horton, editor of The Lancet, for the organisation to step up pressure on Reed Elsevier to encourage them to disengage in the global trade in arms. The company organises several international arms fairs, including the biannual DSEi arms fair in Londons Docklands. This is inconsistent with its role in publishing medical textbooks and journals, such as The Lancet. Horton made this call to action during a speech at Medsin's annual Global Health Conference in Newcastle.
The national committee are able to initiate two campaigns per year, which are then ratified at the next General Assembly by voting members of Medsin. We felt it was a golden opportunity to formally launch this campaign in response to Dr. Horton's speech.
Medsin have had increasing involvement in campaigning against the arms trade in recent months. Medsin members at the annual Global Health Conference protested against the global arms trade, calling for increased investment in health rather than weapons. A group then proceeded to the BAE Systems site in Newcastle after the conference to protest outside the gates.
Medsin have recently had a letter published in The Lancet calling on Reed Elsevier to disengage from activities involving arms. The letter was written by Medsin's President and Secretary and was ratified by voting members on behalf of the whole organisation. The letter appeared alongside others from the Royal College of Physicians, the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Doctors for Iraq, The People's Health Movement, Doctors for Human Rights and Medact. Full text is available here. Medsin was also mentioned in relation to this issue in the Canadian Medical Association Journal. Full text available here
We need as many people to get involved with this campaign asap in order to step up pressure on Reed Elsevier and to continue our campaigning against the arms trade in general.
Please email Jen to get involved.
