This panel will bring together academics, activists and experts to discuss the military, policing, legal, commercial and medical aspects of tear gas, both in historic and more contemporary contexts. First used in 1914, tear gas is a legacy of WWI, developed as a chemical weapon for military use, then misleadingly rebranded as a “non-lethal” weapon used to repress social protests around the world.

We will also explore how citizens have developed DIY gas mask instructions and home remedies, circulated transnationally in print and online, allowing for new kinds of ad-hoc “amateur practices” to emerge (i.e citizen journalists, citizen scientists, citizen lawyers).

Moderator: Dr. Dima Saber, Birmingham Centre for Media and Cultural Research, Birmingham City University

Panelists:

• Neil Corney – Omega Research Foundation
  Neil researches and writes on a wide variety of military, security and police issues, including the testing and trade of ‘less lethal’ weapons, and the human rights and health implications of their use.
• John Horne – University of Birmingham / Tear Gas Research Connection
  John is a PhD student researching representations of state violence in contemporary visual culture. He is a member of Bahrain Watch and works with Anna as co-coordinator of the Connecting Tear Gas Research initiative.
• Ala’a Shehabi – Bahrain Watch
  Ala’a is an academic and activist who has been a firsthand witness to the often deadly use of tear gas in Bahrain to repress the pro-democracy movement. With Bahrain Watch she’s also worked to document its misuse and campaigned to prevent further exports of tear gas to Bahrain.

Who should attend
Academics, activists, experts, students and professionals interested in exploring issues around social activism, tear gas production and use around the world and media for social change. This event is organised as part of the AHRC funded WW1 Engagement Centre Voices of War & Peace and the Connecting Tear Gas Research initiative and is hosted by the Birmingham Centre for Media and Cultural Research at Birmingham City University. Refreshments will be served.

For more details contact Dima Saber on 0121 331 7280 or @dimalb

To book your free place click here

Picture by Ahmed Al-Fardan, Bahrain