A network of individuals, independent and alternative media activists and organisations, offering grassroots, non-corporate, non-commercial coverage of important social and political issues.

BAE Systems

Charlie Babbage | 21.04.2004 16:53

I realise that there will be many here whp will not want to read this but it is relevant to our fight against the Arms Industry as it shows the money that BAE brings to the UK, money that we must look to replace if we are to stop arms production and sales in Britain.

I have no connection with BAE and I am not saying these figures are a good thing before I am flamed by half the world. They are just a statement of facts by an independent organisation

A report complied by Oxford Economic Forcasting estimates that BAE Systems contributed £5.4 billion to the UK economy in 2003. The impact was summarised as follows:

Employment £111,600
Investment £711 million
Exports £3,000 million
Taxes £2,553 million
Vales Added £ 5,430 million

Charlie Babbage

Comments

Hide the following 10 comments

Union

21.04.2004 17:35

This reminds me of a conversation I had with a Trade Union leader a little while ago when he said how they were 100% opposed to the Arms Trade but had hundreds of thousands of members working for defence companies. In some parts of the UK BAE Systems is the major local employer and we must ensure alternative work is available for these working class people.

I don't have an answer just a feeling of mixed emotions I suppose.

Sue

Who cares ?

21.04.2004 17:42

Who cares about those working for Arms companies, screw them. They are part of the problem.

SHUT DOWN BAe

fighter

There is no alternative?

21.04.2004 18:16

Employment
If the £200 million given to the arms trade by government were invested in the health service,not only would there be alternative jobs, but many, many more since the arms trade is not labour intensive.

Wealth
Shall we measure gain for Britain in terms of the rich getting richer or shall we recognise that standards of living are about the quality of life. The arms trade only diminishes lives.

lapwing

Invest the money in British farming!

21.04.2004 20:02

A year ago 400,000 people marched through London concerned about the state of the British countryside. OK perhaps a third were only there to protest against the ban on hunting, but that still left an awful lot who were concerned about the plight of Britains ailing farming industry.

Britain used to self sufficient in food only a few decades ago. The self reliance on food production helped it survive the World War II blocked of merchant ships. But over the past few decades valuable agricultural land has been sold off or allowed to go to waste. How about investing the money from the arms industry into British agriculture. That would provide tens of thousands of new jobs and revive an ailing industry. It would also halt the flow of people from the countryside to the cities and help revive local rural economies.

Environmentalist

farming is destroying the environment

21.04.2004 23:28

what a load of muddled lefist crap_
BAe, Trade Unions and all the farmers in the country can kiss my arse

sort it out you muppet

The Peace Dividend

22.04.2004 10:52

Ever heard of the 'Peace Dividend'? Look it up.

Barley Cabbage

the farming industry is fine

22.04.2004 11:41

it's just the meat farmers that are suffering. But that is 'suffering' in the broadest term. It is nothing compared to the suffering of the animals they rear, treat terribly and then slaughter.

Poor farmers, only making £1m profit this year rather than £10. Poor dears.

Get real people, the money should be invested into important things such as the NHS, Schools, Animal Welfare etc...

fredrico
mail e-mail: musteatvegan@yahoo.co.uk

Who paid for the BAe research?

22.04.2004 14:18

I believe the BAe research was funded by...BAe. Can anyone confirm or clarify

Sceptici Al

More from civil exports

22.04.2004 14:22

I think I recall from the first anti DSEI march last year that one speaker announced
that even the military (or a part of) reckoned they could make more money from making
and selling civilian/social goods than from arms- whether for domestic use or export.

There have been /are examples of the switch from military to civilian use in the past,so
we really need to push for this. (Was it Lucas aerospace in the late 70's? and surely
others since then?)

Exporting tech,either intermediate or renewables instead of arms or machine parts for
the same as is happening these days would surely be of more benefit to the 'majority
world',coupled with supplying our own needs (as others have posted)-and may provide more
jobs !?

we don't care

22.04.2004 15:40

I agree we should shut down BAE. I live in Bristol and have a large BAE presence in the city

fuck those that work in the attack industry - let them rot in the streets

they have blood on their hands why should they get away with it?

tekno anarchist

UK Indymedia