Should Mumsnet be going to Baby Show ? We need your views

What about the lives destroyed by corruption in the arms trade?

Bigger issues at stake than weaning for some mothers...

Cross my heart I don't go anymore, and it was work not fun, honest.

Campaign Against the Arms Trade

There is stuff about Clarion on that page.

It won't make any difference to the international arms trade, but getting accurate advice on weaning/bfing/parenting makes a huge difference to lives. So MN should go ahead

What serenity said, except I don't go to arms fairs.

I agree with Carmenere when she says pulling out will make no difference but think of the mums you will be helping by going

Isn't Mumsnet famous for the whole business of strapping babies to rockets? And wouldn't a combined baby and arms fair therefore be an ideal platform for you?

Seriously, though, I would disocciate MN from anyone orgainising arms fairs -- but of course you have to make a living I suppose.

well yes they have bought this business knowiung that the previous owners sold it due to public pressure

cynicasl view that they would be immune to similar public pressure

these fairs are a significant factor in enabling international arms deals

it is a case where evicently pressure could be brought to bear and make a difference

i think it's fine.

there will be a lot of other stalls there that would be dubious anyway.

didn't clare verity do a speech one year?

Well what are the reasons behind going? That's important.

Is MN really going to be at the fair to attract pregnant ladies to the delights of this talk board? Or is it there to pick up advertisers and sweet talk Johnson and Johnson?

Not a judgment btw, just a question.

agree with prettycandles. Think MN should go.

Pull out.

Don't be seen to be supporting any organisation that makes money from the arms trade.

so they've actively gone out and bought the arms fair business because other people pressurised previous parent company to get rid of it for ethical reason?
so they actually know there are people out there who disapprove of profiting from arms?
then they should know that there are lots of people like that.
Tis not to do with disapproving of armed forces per se, as you could make a case for needing an armed force, but these people will sell to anyone, including those who ill use weapons (and torture equipment) agains civilian poplulations. Campaign against the Arms Trade will have plenty of info.
Don't go, MN!
(if I had been thnking about running a stall, which I'm not, this would stop me. Or, perhaps, I might go and ...well...diversify...)

Well not going will make feck all difference to the arms trade but going will make lots of difference to mothers lives so i think go.

I doubt there's any major company/corporation that doesn't do something that someone doesn't like. Arms Fairs in themselves aren't the problem (although I've been to a few that squicked me out, discussing the damage spread of hollow point bullets isn't something I want to go back to) Corrupt companies selling via third parties to corrupt/evil arsed regimes is. It's naive to think that we could have a world without Arms or the Armed Forces, it's a lovely thought but it isn't going to happen.

So that's a 'Don't pull out'

Yes, agree with zippi. Members of the armed forces don't profit from the sale of armaments; arms fairs (and therefore Clarion) do.

You don't have to look very far for evidence of rampant corruption in the international arms trade.

i think the difference is we believe our defence does good whereas the international arms trade is open to all

temperature is rising...

i think the whole idea of the baby show is revolting. but go anyway i won't hold it against you.

I used to work for Reed when they had a publishing company.

Erm. Not sure. What would be your grounds for boycotting the fair? That you think the organisers are morally bankrupt?