Students protest links with arms trade

Students across the country are protesting against universities’ links to the arms trade today.

February 27th has been named the national day of action for university ethical investment by Campaign Against the Arms Trade (Caat).

Students at UCL, Oxford, Manchester, Lancaster, Nottingham, Warwick and Newcastle will be campaigning against university shareholding in arms companies.

According to Caat: “Despite on-going campaigns at campuses around the UK, university financial directors are still convinced that investing in companies whose products are used to kill, maim and threaten people is legitimate.”

The protests will take the form of open-air debates and attempts to sell fake arms.

UCL student and campaigner Sara Hall told the BBC that ‘universities are keen to see students as consumers, but students are amongst Britain's most ethical consumers’.

She added: "Universities such as Bangor and SOAS have ditched their arms shares without any damage to their finances.

"Other universities now have an opportunity to improve their reputation by announcing that they will end their links with the arms trade."

A Caat report has claimed 26 top UK universities have received contracts for at least £725 million over six years in sponsorship by arms companies and public military bodies.