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Bye Bye BAE

smelly hippies | 19.10.2005 10:08 | Anti-militarism

BAe systems successfully shut down at the Leeds Uni careers fair.

Yesterday, Leeds University hosted a careers fair that seemed to attract all sorts of horrific companies. To be honest, we were spoilt for choice, but BAe systems emerged clear favourite with everyone. Masters of doing huge arms deals to contries that kill, torture and repress it's own citizens and bribe govenments, it makes PR companies for multinationals look positively angelic.

Before the fair opened, one group of people sprayed their entire stall with fake blood and some well rotted comfrey manure (just fill a bucket with comfrey and water for a few days to make a right stink). We got out the building before the realisation set in, and noone got recognised.

Unfortunately, they cleaned this up pretty quickly, so we went back later and caused more havoc.

Personal attack alarms were set off and thrown in bins to create confusion around the stall, while another group threw a lot more fake blood and comfrey mix (this time some nice gloopy out of date tomatoes) over the stall, spalttering all their publicity, nice shiny backdrop and some of the stallholder's clothes. While all this was happening a "blood on your hands" banner was hung next to the careers fair banner on the main university walkways.

2 people were arrested in the escape, but were let out that night with just small fines for criminal damage. In the process, all the BAe staff had to spend the rest of the day giving statements and we totally shut down the stall and recruitment process for the rest of the day! This was the only careers fair that BAe have attended this year to our knowledge - we have heard that Leeds University has a 'special deal' with BAe that involves an exclusive recruitment deal in return for large wads of filthy cash.

All in all a really successful action. All the tactics were successful - tinned tomatoes were definately better than fake blood, the attack alarms had to be smashed by security to stop them working and the comfrey smell was pretty much unmovable and really embarrasing for both BAe and security.


-----


On a totally unrelated point, BAe are doing a lecture in the Careers Centre Seminar Room at Leeds University on Thursday the 27th of October at 5.15pm.

smelly hippies

Comments

Hide the following 14 comments

excellent stuff

19.10.2005 13:59

went past the uni today, saw ppl coming out with the careers fair bags and wondered if bae etc would be touting for business there...
busy thurs but spray some fake blood for me, wouldya?

passive-ist


nice work

19.10.2005 14:14

nice work. bae were in nottingham on monday and tuesday and although we didn't give them this particular treatment we surrounded their stall with a ring of counter-recruiters. they looked really edgy and security wanted to know when it was all going to "kick off" so the psychological damage has been done

dirty crusties


Aw what a shame!!

19.10.2005 16:44


I'd have loved to have been there to see that and the (green) washing that they had to do later

T P


Protests as arms dealers attend careersfair

19.10.2005 18:42

See feature on Nottinghamshire Indymedia:

Protests as arms dealers attend careersfair:
 http://publish.indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/nottinghamshire/2005/10/325974.html

The same careersfair, but two days earlier in Nottingham, BAE attended as well as Caterpiller, Rolls Royce and Shell and was vistited by protesters. Check out the feature with photo's.

Notts IMC


Peaceful demonstration

21.10.2005 20:06

I was present at your disgusting exhibition. What ever happened to peaceful protest. I also know that no FILTHY MONEY is given. Grow up you sick people!

William Bradley


outta interest

22.10.2005 11:40

sounds like a good action,
outta interest why was tomatoes better than fake blood??/
explain, it sounds amusing????

noback


How childish

22.10.2005 15:01

I was at Leeds University myself many years ago, and I thought I was all grown up at the time. Now of course I realise it was just my final three years as a schoolkid. Kids will misbehave.

The effectiveness of the action aginst BAE at the careers fair can only be measured in one way. In a few months, contact BAE and ask if they have failed to recruit the necessary staff.

Of course, I am assuming that the purpose of the exercise was to stop BAE recruiting. If the purpose was for a bunch of kids to have a good time, then the exercise obviously was a success.

Simmo


Good to know that not just activists read indymedia

22.10.2005 17:49

The comments above at least prove that more than the 'converted' read indymedia so thanks lads for your comments.
Whether the protests changed anything isnt really issue is it? the issue is that they are trying to create a more just world which is more than can be said for most people in todays society!

undercurrents


tomoatoes

26.10.2005 12:42

tomatoes just made a much bigger splat, smell a bit rank and are generally slimier! plus, big tubs of out of date ones are in plentiful supply if you know where to look ;)


they definately got taken out of operation, according to bastion of truth "leeds student" they shut down about half an hour after the action.


"leeds student" also claim it was people and planet, can i just say once and for all WE HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH PEOPLE AND PLANET. we are a bunch of diorganised and angry restless youths, i doubt p&p would piss on us if we were on fire...

glad thats sorted then.

smelly hippies


Idiots

27.10.2005 15:03

I think that if THAT'S your way of conveying a message, which you obviously believe so whole-heartedly in, then you're not going to get very far. Do you know how many moronic ignorami like yourselves have already done such things in the past? Yet, these people still turn up at Careers' Fairs. They still make a hell of a lot of money. They make economic sense. You just make a bit of a mess.

If you've got an issue with their business, then question why their business exists in the first place. It's the world that has morality issues, as the world (minus you) asks the company to exist. It's like throwing a box of tissues at a cold, when in fact you should be remedial in your approach and eat more oranges.

You're a waste of everyone's time. Grow up

Jo McConnell


Idiots?

27.10.2005 18:10

"If you've got an issue with their business, then question why their business exists in the first place. It's the world that has morality issues, as the world (minus you) asks the company to exist"

Ha ha - I never asked the arms trade to exist either. The arms trade = welfare for the rich.

Now, in the interests of consistency, please tell me that you believe that the world asks drug dealers and child pornographers to exist. After all, there is a demand for their products.

If even one person was dissuaded from working from BAE, then the action was a success.

anti arms trade


waste of time?

28.10.2005 19:42

what effect will your little demonstration have had. very little as BAE offer some of the best graduate jobs in the country. they are extremely over subscribed and you aren't going to put anyone off working there. i agree with peaceful protest but when u start to take the action that u have done u become hypocrites. why is it alright for u to be violent??? if u want to solve the problem look mugabe etc without them theres no problem.

philbo


Leeds Uni hippies versus mighty BAe

08.11.2005 05:39

Hey All. Your description of the action sounds fantastic.
Well done for what you did.
Forget too, some of the dissenters on here who have replied to your posting with the usual "grow up" nonsense.
The truth is that, when and only when THEY grow up, will they then see the evil,sickness and killing that scum multinationals like BAe spew and spawn.

We, who are thankfully already enlightened, see the truth and we must speak it to power, or in your case, SHOW it, to power wannabees.

Resist the arms trade. Resist these evil, selfish, sick killers and their apologist supporters who support the killings by implication.
Let them know, again and again that, by supporting BAe and it's worldwide murders and mutilation, they are breaking the law. Legal law and moral law. British and International Law.

Tell these selfish, self-centred, perverted creatures how sick they are. Each and every day.

Resist the arms trade. Fight war NOT wars.

Ya Basta!

Auntie War


wake up and smell the fair trade coffee

09.12.2005 17:51

I have no deal with your ideologies or whatever, I'm almost indifferent, but what really pisses me off is that you people are such a waste of time, and that if you're going to do it, then do it properly for goodness' sake.

"Now, in the interests of consistency, please tell me that you believe that the world asks drug dealers and child pornographers to exist. After all, there is a demand for their products."

In the interests of consistency, Indeed:
"It's the world that has morality issues" So yes, the world provides the facilities for these people to exist: socio-economic conditions, the internet, the people themselves, and so forth. You want to shut down organisations such as BAE? Think about how to do that: is it really to run around throwing fake blood? mmmmm, you just gained respect for your opinions...

Why not look longer term, and develop yourself into the people who are making the decisions about how an international corporation such as BAE systems ought to be acting and regulated (...and punished should they not conform); into the people who will be able to judge what is the globally morally correct thing to do?


"If even one person was dissuaded from working from BAE, then the action was a success."

I would very much doubt that that was the case, though. Think about the 'sort' of person who would want to work for BAE. Either: they're equally as morally corrupt as you wish to demonstrate the company to be, or... BAE is a massive company that receives a lot of serious publicity over its' work and practices. Any person looking to work for them would have been able to assess already in a much more informed way whether they want to work for them or not. You are deluded if you imagine that acting like that would sway their opinions of the company. You attract more attention to yourselves than to them. As an objective bystander who is looking for a decent graduate employer, that's certainly what's enraged me. Not BAE systems, but you.


"Forget too, some of the dissenters on here who have replied to your posting with the usual "grow up" nonsense.
The truth is that, when and only when THEY grow up, will they then see the evil,sickness and killing that scum multinationals like BAe spew and spawn."

We prefer reported facts, thanks, not a careers fair full of fake blood and MommyDidn'tLoveMeEnoughOrMaybeABitTooMuch attention seeking, ineffective and uninspiring performances which merely demonstrate the worthlessness of the bandwagon-jumping of the so-called 'rebels', whose actions serve NO PURPOSE other than boredom and neurotic self-indulgence. A perfect example here:

"We, who are thankfully already enlightened, see the truth and we must speak it to power, or in your case, SHOW it, to power wannabees."

The irony of it is, that you're power wannabes: You seek to influence people and organisations. You probably ought to start being more effective, then. Because at the minute, you just suck at what you do.

"Let them know, again and again that, by supporting BAe and it's worldwide murders and mutilation, they are breaking the law. Legal law and moral law. British and International Law."

My god. It's like you try to be wrong. What the fuck is moral law? There is no such thing as moral law. Unless you're referring to your senseless and snivelling protestations at how it's YOUR opinions that ought to be valued above everyone elses, about how it's YOUR opinions that are absolute and correct.
How is it breaking any law by working for a company, unless it is you that signs the death warrant? How is it breaking the law by wanting to work for a company? By allowing such a company at your careers fair?

"Resist the arms trade. Fight war NOT wars."

Or if you're THIS joker, then start pointless smaller wars and conflicts in an already disunited society.

So I'd reiterate: Grow up and do something proper about it. Your efforts are futile. Do something EFFECTIVE.

Shit, I just wasted 5 minutes of my life on you godforsaken idiots.

GKL


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