The arms trade
Together the United States and the Russian Federation produced nearly four million commercial firearms in 2001. In total, around 8 million new guns are made every year. Now there are approximately 640 million small arms in the world, or one for every ten people. Another worrying fact is that on average around one million guns are lost or stolen every year, ending up in the 'wrong' hands.
The world's biggest arms suppliers are the world's most powerful governments. The five permanent members of the UN security council (France, Russia, China, the UK and the USA) together account for 88% of the world's conventional arms exports. And it appears they don't mind who they are selling these weapons to. There are currently almost no legally binding international arms export controls in existence. The arms industry is unlike any other. It operates without regulation and makes its profits from selling machines designed to kill and maim human beings.
- 'Small arms' are weapons designed for personal use, and include revolvers, self-loading pistols, rifles and light machine guns.
- 'Light weapons' are designed for use by several persons serving as a crew, and include heavy machine guns, grenade launchers, portable anti-tank and anti-aircraft guns and portable missile launchers.