Combat Vehicle Research in London   
a message from Counter-Stryker


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The Research Contract
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The University of Western Ontario (UWO) Faculty of Engineering has a four-year, $800 000, 
research contract with General Dynamics, one of the world’s leading military contractors.  
General Dynamics develops, manufactures, and sells equipment for military operations.  The 
UWO research project will enhance the effectiveness of General Dynamics fighting machines – 
particularly the Stryker (which is discussed below).  This research will strengthen the 
lightweight armour on these vehicles, thus allowing them and the soldiers they contain to
move into striking distance more rapidly and securely.  The partnership between UWO and
General Dynamics was arranged without open discussion within the university, let alone among
the broader public.


Stryker Combat Vehicles
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The Stryker is a medium-armoured vehicle that is often fitted with heavy weaponry such as
machine guns, mortars, or guided missiles.  Highly mobile Strykers are used to transport
brigades of soldiers into battle, and these vehicles are employed in urban warfare for
purposes ranging from aggressive patrols, to destruction of buildings, to raids on homes.
Stryker fighting machines are manufactured here in London as well as in Alabama, and the
vast majority of these vehicles have been purchased by the U.S. government.  Strykers are
currently deployed in Iraq, and similar vehicles are in service in Afghanistan.


Counter-Stryker
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We are a group focused on issues of military research at UWO and at Canadian universities
generally.  Counter-Stryker has formed to question the ethics and politics of this research
contract and others like it.  We aim to speak directly to those who are, or may become,
involved in such projects.  Counter-Stryker also aims to show companies such as General
Dynamics that the price of campus involvement is open, critical public discussion of their
activities.


Our Concerns
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We object to universities such as UWO becoming integrated into military production and
conquest due to the lure of corporate funding.  Our public academic institutions might
instead focus on more constructive projects, from reducing pollution to feeding the global
poor.  However, the UWO administration has chosen to assist in weapons-manufacture – and
without consulting the public.  We demand that future military-industrial partnerships
under consideration be subjected to open discussion and debate.  Counter-Stryker also
calls for an ethics review of all academic research with known, direct military applications.
The current research partnership with General Dynamics must not be allowed to set precedents
for future academic work.


Contact Us
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To offer support, to request information regarding General Dynamics armoured vehicle research
at UWO, or to receive updates about our efforts, you can e-mail us at counter-stryker@excite.com