Yeah, that's what I was looking more into this afternoon after reading the Analytical Armadillo's blog. It's truly a dilemma, is arms/weapons etc. Clearly I understand the importance to our economy of the production of weapons, and to our security in the purchase of weapons. I may not like it, but if push comes to shove, ultimately I want our country - and people around the world - to be defended from people whose aim is to oppress, etc. I know that's a simplistic statement in itself but let's assume that there's depth to it that isn't in the words...
So then looking at what's going on here. It's not as simple as this events company hosting other events where we're selling a few tanks to the "good guys" (tongue firmly in cheek with that term). It's about actively recruiting seriously bad guys (tongue slightly out of cheek) to buy some pretty serious stuff. So, what's happened is that many other organisations have refused to have anything to do with Clarion because they don't want to be associated with that (more links here: www.caat.org.uk/issues/armsfairs/reedelsevier.php) but they still retain ownership of the Baby Show.
Is TBS inherently an ethical organisation? Of course not. It hosts companies which sell some useful stuff but also some absolute tripe. But that's my personal opinion (I don't like "stuff"). And it's irrelevant. What else - well - they also allow Claire "Buy My Book" Byam Cook to pay to speak there where she tells people that "nose to nipple" isn't the way to go about breastfeeding. Well, that's not bright.
So, just because it's to do with babies, should it be ethical (and I think there's a huge difference between manufacturing bolts for tanks and actively selling to seriously worrying regimes)? Of course there is no "should" about it, just because babies are involved. But, it turns out that many organisations feel that because of the link, they won't be involved with them. And I think people should know about it to make up their own minds.
That is all :)