MSVU Student River Smith protests Lockheed Martin's presence at job fair. Photo: Dwayne McIntosh

Activists protest Dal deal with arms maker

Student group stages mock inspection of Lockheed Martin at job fair

Dressed in white, stained lab coats, boots and safety glasses, a group calling itself the "Weapons Inspection Team", held a protest outside the Cunard Centre where a job fair organized by Dalhousie, Saint Mary's and MSVU, was taking place earlier today.

The group, which is actually the Students Coalition Against War, wasn't protesting the job fair itself, but one of its participants, U.S. company Lockheed Martin, the largest defence contractor in the world.

One of the protesters, second-year Dalhousie international development studies student Shatha Hussein, said, "We are here today because the world's largest weapons manufacturer, Lockheed Martin is present at the career fair to recruit students to work for a company that essentially profits out of conflict."

"The fact that Dalhousie has a $2-million contract with Lockheed Martin goes against the resolution that Canada signed not to assist, produce, and endorse any company that creates cluster ammunition that's essentially illegal. Any type of endorsement and encouragement for students to work for such a company is illegal and should be shameful for Dalhousie, SMU and the Mount," said Hussein, who also accused the firm of having made weapons used in the Gaza conflict this past month.

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Asaf Rashid or Dr. Cluster bomb for the Student Coalition Against War. Photo: Dwayne McIntosh

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Student Coalition Against War members protest Lockheed Martin's presence at university job fair. Video: Dwayne McIntosh

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Canada joined more than 100 countries in signing a global treaty banning cluster bombs in December. Dalhousie announced in May 2008 that it had undertaken a $2-million research contract with Lockheed Martin for the study of quantum computing, physics and material sciences.

According to its website, the student group aims to "propose solutions ... to social, economic and political issues, which induce, promote and sustain contemporary war."

"Stupid" protest

The student coalition, led by Asaf Rashid or "Dr. Clusterbomb" as he called himself, tried to get inside "to inspect the firm to see if it was clean of weapons of ‘mass deception.'"

But Halifax regional police made sure the coalition didn't get past the doors.

It was clear Rashid was simulating the United Nations' inspection for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq six years ago.

"I just think it is stupid," said Karaline Edwards, who studies accounting at Dalhousie and who plans to apply for a job at the firm.

"We are here to get summer jobs and they (Lockheed Martin) are just trying to help people in the Middle East," she said.

However, she acknowledged she didn't how the firm was helping them.

"I don't know, I am not really up to date to what's going on. But if [militants] are gonna come and bomb the States, then they deserve everything they get back," she said.

Inside the Cunard Centre, Michael Barton, manager of communications and public affairs for Lockheed Martin Canada said he respects people's right to protest peacefully and lawfully.

"What we do for a living is well documented in our annual report, also available in our website. Whom we sell to, how much we sell what we manufacture is all there for public information," Barton said.

He also said the firm is expecting to recruit about 50 to 60 people in Halifax and about 200 across Canada over the next 12 months.

At the job fair, the company was particularly looking for soon-to-graduate engineering students.

This is not the first time Lockheed Martin faces opponents.

Because of the same controversial subject, students and community organizations in Fredericton prevented the firm from setting up a recruitment session at the University of New Brunswick back in January 20.

Although Barton said they will try to set up again on February 24 at the same institution.

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