Media releases

Media Release. Airport congratulated on improved ads; more progress needed. 21 July, 2016

The No Airport Arms Ads (NAAA) campaign today congratulated Canberra Airport on the improved look of the arrivals hall with large display ads celebrating Canberra.  In particular, Canberra’s 100% renewable energy target, and our first-class educational institutions, are now featured in separate advertisements.

No Airport Arms Ads campaign convenor Dr Sue Wareham said today, “We are delighted to see images that celebrate the progressive city that we live in.  These reminders will be very welcome for Canberrans returning home, and equally welcoming for visitors in giving a taste of what a great place they’ve just landed in.”  The ads themselves will help promote pride in what Canberra is achieving as a renewable-powered city, and in the value we place on education.

Media Release. Address push factors in responding to the refugee problem. 18 April, 2016

Members of the No Airport Arms Ads campaign today drew attention to the close links between global refugee flows and warfare.

Rallying near Canberra Airport, the group displayed a banner “Weapons fuel wars.  Wars create refugees” and urged the airport to stop its prominent advertisements for the weapons industry.  Group spokesperson Dr Sue Wareham said that the ads promote a militarised view  of how to handle tensions in the world, which will ultimately make the global problem of refugees even more overwhelming.  The number of people displaced by armed conflict, generalised violence, persecution or human rights violations is over 50 million, and rises every time we go to war. 

Media Release. Iraq War veteran warns against arms industry promotions. 5 November, 2015

US Iraq War veteran Vince Emanuele, who is visiting Australia for premiere  screenings of the film “We Are Many”, has warned of the dangers of arms industry promotions that tend to normalise warfare as a response to conflict. He cited the adverts for weapons at Canberra Airport, where he arrived on Thursday, as a disturbing example.

Media Release. Canberra Airport to receive over 1,560 requests to remove weapons ads. 28 October, 2015

The Canberra Airport management will this morning receive a petition from over 1,560 people urging the removal of weapons advertising from the airport terminal.  The petition will be delivered by members of the No Airport Arms Ads (NAAA) campaign which has stirred recent debate about the inappropriate nature of prominent defence industry promotions where new arrivals to our city wait for their baggage.

Media Release. Contributors to nuclear arms industry shouldn’t advertise at Canberra Airport, leading campaign group says. 19 October, 2015

The presence at Canberra Airport of advertisements for companies involved in the nuclear weapons industry has been strongly criticised by a leading group campaigning for the abolition of all nuclear weapons.

Media Release. Conflicting messages at Canberra airport, says new group. 31 August, 2015

A new Canberra community group says Canberra airport advertising sends conflicting messages to residents and visitors.

“Canberra is a Refugee Welcome Zone yet the walls of our airport carry advertisements for arms companies whose products have devastated countries that refugees have fled from”, said Dr Sue Wareham, convener of the No Airport Arms Ads (NAAA) campaign, which was launched in Civic on Saturday morning.  Diana Abdel-Rahman, President of Australian Muslim Voice, who also addressed the rally, suggested that weapons advertising could be replaced by messages of welcome for refugees.

Media Release. No Airport Arms Ads, New campaign. 24 August 2015

A new community campaign, No Airport Arms Ads (NAAA), believes Canberra is badly-served, as the national capital and as a congenial place to live, by the placement at Canberra Airport of advertisements for arms companies. NAAA says ‘Open arms, not lethal arms’ should be Canberra’s message. The group believes these advertisements could be offensive to many people, particularly refugees from countries which have been torn apart by heavily-armed warring parties. The advertisements also distort the image that Canberra presents to visitors and returning residents. Their prominence at the airport reflects the wealth of the companies concerned, not their importance to the Canberra community.