In his recently published book “Schwarzbuch Waffenhandel” (The Black Book of the Arms Trade), Grässlin estimates that in the past 50 years, an average of 114 people per day fell victim to the use of weapons produced by Heckler & Koch. Gräßlin will be speaking on the “Deadliest Company in Europe” at the IPPNW “Human Target” congress on small arms and light weapons that will be held from May 30 to June 2, 2013 in Villingen-Schwenningen in Southern Germany.
According to the UN, small arms are the number one weapon of mass destruction in the 21st century. This type of weapon brings about the death of one person every single minute. Physical mutilation and psychological injury are frequent consequences of their use. The congress has invited national and international experts to discuss the social and health costs resulting from small arms, as well as to address the individual suffering of victims of small arms violence. Some 280 people have already confirmed their attendance. Over one third of participants come from 25 different countries from Europe, the Asia-Pacific region, the Middle East, Africa, and North and Latin America. Among the international speakers will be Andrew Feinstein, writer, researcher, and political activist from South Africa, as well as author of the book “The Shadow World: Inside the Global Arms Trade.” Andrew Feinstein and Jürgen Grässlin will feature at a press conference on Friday, May 31, 2013 at 1 pm in the Villingen Tonhalle.
On Thursday, May 28 at 11 am IPPNW Congress President Dr. Helmut Lohrer and the Mayor of Villingen-Schwenningen, Dr. Rupert Kubon, will answer questions about the congress at a press conference at the Town Hall in Villingen (Münsterplatz 7/8, room 1.3).
During the conference, the IPPNW and Chornetzwerk, a combination of five different choirs, will stage a public protest in front of the gates of Heckler and Koch, Europe’s largest producer of small arms, on June 1, 2013 from 11-12:30, in Oberndorf. The choir, made up of singers from all over the state of Baden-Württemberg, will perform outside the factory gates for conference participants who will be bussed to the event from Villingen-Schwenningen especially for the event.
Prior to the conference, there will also be a bicycle tour to protest against small arms. 30 young activists from all over the world will cycle from May 26 to 30 from Ulm to Villingen. They will also participate in public events to highlight the issue of the small arms trade. On Thursday May 30, 2013, at 2 pm, there will be a press and photo session to greet the cyclists in front of the Villingen Tonhalle.
Further information can be found at http://www.human-target.org
We hereby cordially invite you to report on the conference and its accompanying activities. Accreditation for the conference, the press conference, and protest activities in front of the gates of Heckler and Koch, as well as the press and photo session with the cyclists can be found here: http://www.ippnw.de/?id=521
Contact: Angelika Wilmen, IPPNW Press Officer, Tel. 030-69 80 74-15, German Section of the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW), Körtestr. 10, 10967 Berlin, www.ippnw.de, www.zielscheibe-mensch.de, E-mail: wilmen[at]ippnw.de
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