Peace Action Meanjin (PAM) disrupted a STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education and defence conference at the Emporium Hotel on August 15. They called for weapons companies to be banned from primary and secondary schools.
The describes itself as 鈥渁 cornerstone event that brings together Defence, defence industry and education to discuss the future of the Defence workforce鈥.聽It is sponsored by Lockheed Martin, the world鈥檚 biggest weapons manufacturer.
Lil Barto from PAM said the group aimed to highlight the weapons industry鈥檚 growing influence on STEM education. The number of STEM programs in schools is the result of 鈥渋ndustry partnerships鈥 with private weapons manufacturers. 鈥淲eapons corporations simply have no place in schools,鈥澛爏he said.
鈥淎rms dealers should be banned from schools 鈥 just like junk food and gambling operators,鈥澛燘arto said, herself a science graduate.
Eleni Dowling, 18, held a banner saying: 鈥淕et weapons corporations out of schools.鈥澛犫淵oung people want options. They want to repair the environment, build renewables, create transport options, make art. We don鈥檛 want to make weapons. Where is the conference for $1000 a head to organise those things?鈥
[A video of the disruption can be found .聽For more information visit .]