Not In MY Name

Our government is keen for Britain to be established as the world's second largest arms exporter.
Yes, you did read that correctly - and despite the fact that the Foreign and Commentwealth Office 'Report on Human Rights and Democracy' identified 30 'countries of concern', with respect to their record on human rights abuse and torture. Yet the government gave 8 of these countries 'VIP Status' at the 2015 DSEI Arms Fair and in 2016 the UK licensed military equipment to 20 of them
I do not want London to be the centre of the Arms Trade.
Many people, of many faiths, feel just the same.
It appears that our Prime Minister [despite being ever eager to claim her Vicarage Heritage] does not share this opinion with us, and seems to place profit above peacemaking.

Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, says he would like to prevent the 2017 Arms Fair happening here but sadly does not have the powers to prevent it. He says he is 'opposed to London being used as a market place for the trade of weapons to those who contribute to human rights abuses'
Steve Hucklesby has written a helpful article for the JPIT [that's the Joint Public Issues Team of the Baptists, Methodists, URC and Church of Scotland] You can read the full article here or a condensed version here.
The actual warmongers' event starts next week.
The peaceful pickets and protests start today
Because my week is very busy, I am preparing this post on Sunday afternoon, against a backdrop of news bulletins about weapons testing in North Korea. I cannot be among those in London who will be peacefully protesting. But my thoughts and prayers are with them. May God keep them safe, and through their actions, may He challenge the consciences of those who make their living in death and destruction. Deep in my heart, I do believe, that one day, the words of the prophet Micah will come to pass.

They will beat their swords into plowshares
    and their spears into pruning hooks.
Nation will not take up sword against nation,
    nor will they train for war anymore.
4 Everyone will sit under their own vine
    and under their own fig tree,
and no one will make them afraid,
    for the Lord Almighty has spoken.
5 All the nations may walk
    in the name of their gods,
but we will walk in the name of the Lord
    our God for ever and ever.