News

SPEAK hold charity gig

By Harriet Di Francesco
Published: 02/11/2009

SPEAK, a social action group with a Christian basis, have recently been campaigning to raise awareness about the global arms trade. Currently the organisation has been focussing on the university’s investment via shares in companies such as BAE, who are currently facing accusations of selling arms to countries with records of human rights abuses.

On Sunday 25^th October, SPEAK hosted a charity gig at the Harley, entitled GIVE A DAMN.

With the purpose of enlightening and encouraging active awareness amongst the public, additionally the event aimed to raise money for the Pan African Institute of Community Health.

IPSAC, a non-governmental organisation in the Congo, works in collaboration with other health associations to improve community health and well-being in communities affected by the ongoing impact of civil war.

President of SPEAK, Chloe Skinner, believes that Sheffield could “take a stand as an ethical university” and seek alternative investment in companies with more peaceful and productive agendas; such as research schemes into renewable energies.

The event also sought to inform the public of the Conservatives’ intention to reinstate DESO (Defence Export Services Organisation) and fill a petition against this potential decision.

DESO, which was closed under Labour in summer 2007, would provide subsidies and support for the British Arms Industry. David Cameron proposes to move DESO to the Ministry of Defence from the UKTI (UK Department of Trade and Industry), which would eventually give more weight to the arms industry and less to the development and production of renewable energy technologies.

The university, which is due to review its investment policies within the next month or so, held £35.8m worth of shares in arms companies in March 2008, according to the Campaign Against the Arms Trade (CAAT) website.

Companies such as BAE sell arms indiscriminately around the world, including equipment for the conflicts in Afghanistan, Iraq and additional supplies to the Saudi Arabia regime.

The gig itself included the support from live acts such as ska band Nice One Greg, soulful pop group Arabella and Nu-Jazz sensation Flamingo Love Parade (FLP).

Ex-President of SPEAK and member of FLP, Mikey Sandford, hopes that events such as GIVE A DAMN will provoke discussion amongst students about the importance of divesting from companies involved in the arms trade.

Secretary of SPEAK, Harriet Redman, hopes that the combination of music and justice will raise SPEAK’s profile and “foster links between people with related interests.”

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