One of the world's largest arms fairs, DSEI, takes place in London next week, on 9-12th September. Amid global instability and conflict, arms dealers will gather to make deals that benefit the few at the expense of both people and planet.

Will you join the PPU at DSEI for our vigil on 11th September? We're looking for people to read, distribute flyers and white poppies, hold placards, or simply be present and bear witness.

We'll be leading an hour-long vigil with Every Casualty Counts as the arms dealers queue to enter, reading stories of those killed in conflicts, laying wreaths, and observing moments of silence. Every 12 minutes, a siren will mark another civilian life lost to armed conflict.

Following this, Sarri Bater (PPU Council member) will speak about migrant justice and the arms trade – 'Profiting from War, Punishing the Survivors'.

The Mad Hatters – a London-based pacifist affinity group – will then lead the vigil for another hour before continuing an East London Against Arms Fairs tradition of a ceremony to throw wreaths representing various countries at war into the dock.

The full programme of resistance to DSEI is on the Stop the Arms Fair website.

How to join us at DSEI

Where

Excel Centre, West Entrance - London

Nearest station: Custom House DLR or Elizabeth Line. There may be tube strikes scheduled, but these will not affect the Elizabeth Line. However, we still recommend planning your route carefully and checking for any potential disruptions in advance.

Directions - Exit Custom House for the Excel Centre.

Walk down Western Gateway until you reach a paved area between Busy Bees Nursery and the Novotel Hotel.

The walkway at Custom House may be shut. However, you may still be able to cross the tracks and exit the station to join Western Gateway via Seagull Lane. If this is not possible, you can walk to Royal Victoria DLR along Victoria Dock Road (6 minutes) and cross the tracks there to join Western Gateway from the other direction. Buses 147 and 474 also stop near Royal Victoria.

When

• Thursday, 11th September 2025
• Vigil led by PPU & ECC: 9:30am - 10:30am (please arrive by 9:15am)
• Presentation by Sarri Bater: 10:45am - 11:00am
• Vigil led by the Mad Hatters: 11:00am - 12:00pm

How to Join

Let us know at mail@ppu.org.uk if you're coming and would like updates.

Or just turn up on the day – there's no commitment to take on a specific role.

Join us afterwards

We will repeat the vigil outside the Department for Business and Trade at 3pm. Please join us whether or not you've been at the Excel Centre in the morning. This is a great opportunity to engage the wider public and draw their attention to the arms fair and the systems that allow it to continue.

For their ceremony, the Mad Hatters will meet by the cable car terminus at 1:30pm for a walk with Buddhist monks drumming around the dock to the wreath-laying at the dockside opposite the Excel Centre from 2:00pm - 3:00pm. There will be chanting, speakers, and maybe singing.