Category: Actions

Can you knit or crochet or sew?

Quaker Roots new strategy aims to get Clarion, the organiser of DSEI arms fair, to stop running the arms fair.

Clarion also organises many non-military events around the UK and across the world. One of these is a Baby Show, held at three locations in London & Birmingham each year. We plan to give out baby clothes with information highlighting the contradiction between the sale of products for children and the sale of weapons that harm children.

The aim is to raise the awareness of sponsors, exhibitors and attenders of The Baby Show about Clarion’s complicity in the arms trade in the hope it will encourage them to ask questions about how Clarion’s role in the arms fair fits with their values. This in turn is part of a broader strategy to put pressure on Clarion, to drop the arms fair.

Get crafting

If you are interested in making baby clothes (mittens, bootees, hats, etc.), you can send them to the Peace Hub, 41 Bull St, Birmingham B4 6AF.

You are welcome to use any suitable pattern – the idea is to provide a personal touch, so variety is good. If you need some inspiration, this site has a lot of free patterns.

Please note that the craftivist element of this witness is important – the fact that items have been made by people who care about the issue helps create a human connection with people attending the baby show. So while it’s tempting to collect things from charity shops, please leave those for people who need those items at low-cost, and have a go at getting creative.

If knitting, crocheting or sewing aren’t your thing, you could make some of these very simple origami hearts, which we can also hand out with a message of peace.

Help spread the word

Below is a downloadable flyer, which can be printed and shared at your meetings, or with anyone else who might like to get involved.

If you would like to join our witness at the Baby Show contact us  at hello@quaker-roots.org.uk

A shareable post for spreading the word: