Dear Supporters,

CAAT News 275 is here!

CAAT News goes by email to many thousands of readers and we also send out a printed version, but to far fewer. After a hiatus in the middle of last year, when we were only able to get CAAT News out by email, we’re delighted to confirm that we will be sending printed copies of CAAT News 275 shortly.

There is - sadly, of course - plenty to read and digest about the many shocking things still happening both at home and worldwide; the world is a less safe place and, together, we must continue to challenge the arms trade and the policy decisions that provide the environment for it to prosper.

Many thanks to all our supporters who made donations in 2025, especially towards our anti-DSEI funds and everything that keeps CAAT campaigning.

I’d urge you – if you can – to follow CAAT on our Social Media streams and read the Blogs on our website. That way you can hear our news and comment more swiftly than in CAAT News, though you will generally get a more in-depth approach here.

Here are some of the headlines:

1. Uneasy ceasefire in Gaza – read our thoughts on page 3.

2. DSEI 2025 – Emily reports from the Shut Down DSEI day of action on page 9, and there’s a review of the two weeks of protests on page 10.

3. Worries about our right to protest – these are set out from a prison cell on page 13.

4. The Scottish Government – the SNP government will cease all its grants to companies that have armed Israeli forces or other countries committing genocide. Read on page 14.

5. CAAT is looking for volunteers to join our new Advisory Council – see the advert on page 2. Please note that the deadline for applications has been extended and is open until 9th February. Contact [email protected] for full details.

Please support CAAT in our continuing work to STOP the arms trade by making a donation to Keep CAAT Campaigning.

As always, we thank you for all your support in so many ways – coming out in the streets, signing and sharing our petitions, organising events for us to speak at, writing to MPs, councils and the arms companies themselves. Please keep it up and do look at the table on page 15.

We trust that you believe in what we are doing, and support our work. Do let us know your thoughts, and alert us of anything you hear of that you think would be useful for us to know.

As you know, I’ve been asking you to consider making your donations to us by Direct Debit: these are easy to set up and really do mount up over time (you can easily stop them at any time).

They have the further benefit of helping us manage our regular budget   and make our plans for the future.

If you are not able to help financially at the moment, please read on for plenty of other ways to get involved in this work in this edition of CAAT News.

Thank you all again so much for your support in so many ways!

And a farewell from me…

After a little over three years’ fascinating work at CAAT, I am retiring at the end of this month. I’d like to express my personal thanks to all of you for your magnificent support for our work, whether it’s by writing letters, turning up in the rain for a protest, or contributing financially. It all matters – so do spread the word!

We should have a new Supporter Development Manager in the role in the next couple of months, and I am confident that you will continue to keep them busy.

With all best wishes,

Charles

Follow CAAT on Instagram - try this QR Code or click on it