In a protest co-ordinated by local group Hastings Against War, people gathered in the freezing cold to voice their opposition, hand out leaflets and, in some cases, go in and debate with BAE staff about the ethics of the arms industry.

In their ad in last week’s Observer, BAE Systems claimed to offer 'high quality projects and real quality of life.' But what about the quality of life for those on the receiving end of their weapons?

BAE Systems has a long and murky history of deals with dodgy regimes, including trying to sell military aircraft to Saddam Hussein's Iraq in the late 80s, and exporting attack aircraft to a genocidal dictatorship in Indonesia which were used in occupied East Timor.

The jobs that BAE had on offer were in Rochester, Kent. Representatives of BAE declined to comment when asked whether the aim of their recruitment evening was to “poach” staff from their local competitor, General Dynamics UK, which has two factories in St Leonards.

Emily, one of the protestors and a local resident said: “Companies like BAE and General Dynamics should be challenged whenever they try to present themselves as respectable corporate citizens. They profit directly from death and misery, and their business fuels conflicts all over the world.”

Links:
 http://www.baesystems.com/
 http://www.generaldynamics.uk.com/