Pat Gaffney reports on Women in Black vigils for GDAMS 2025.
For a good number of years Women in Black London have marked the Global Days of Action on Military Spending, now Global Campaign, at their weekly vigil. Our vigils began in 2000 and have continued without a break. We focus especially on the impact of war and militarism on women, families and the Global South. Recent vigils have included Palestine & Israel and the up-coming arms fair in September.
On 23rd and 30th April we chose the GCOMS focus to draw attention to the global increase in military spending and that of the UK Government in particular. As is our pattern, we produced placards on the theme, stating basic facts about our military spend in contrast to what we spend on environmental protection and overseas aid. We have found a great way to engage those passing is to ask them how they would spend the annual military budget of £62.2 billion, giving them the opportunity to write this down and be photographed with their choices. We were a little anxious this year that the brainwashing by the government of the need to up the budget and have a stronger military presence in the world would overwhelm our message and ask. How delighted we were then that this was not the case. We had great conversations with UK nationals and many tourists about other ways of building true security in the world. Here are some of the alternatives offered. Spend it on:
NHS and social Care, Housing and Care Workers, Water Aid and Global Health Care, A War against Poverty, Upgrading the nations infrastructure and more.
We feel that our style of engagement is unthreatening – we stand in silence with our messages while those who are happy to engage stand out to talk with people. We are there every week, so some people value the steadfast nature of our witness, even if not always agreeing with our messages.
Women in Black hold vigils every Wednesday between 6-7 pm at the Edith Cavell Statue, opposite the National Portrait Gallery, St. Martin’s Place, London WC2.
Our vigils are silent, women-only and if possible we wear black. We welcome all
women who support our call for an end to militarism and war.
Contact us: FB @womeninblack.london http://london.womeninblack.org/
