Fact: BAE Systems is a sponsor of First Australia, a US originated STEM program that educates kids as young as 4 in STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Maths) – source
Fact: Lego Education is partnered with First Australia to provide the First Lego League program, a “hands on approach to STEM learning” targeting children as young as 4-6 – source
Fact: BAE Systems is British multinational arms, security, and aerospace company based in London, England. It is the largest defence contractor in Europe, and ranked the seventh-largest in the world based on applicable 2021 revenues – source
Fact: BAE targets young people inside schools to secure their future workforce pipeline. “Our approach to education, apprenticeships and skills training guarantees our future talent pipeline and is crucial to our business’ future.” – source
Fact: Lego has an internal policy that stops them from making military sets and “prohibits Warfare or war vehicles in any modern or present-day situation, or national war memorials”. – source
Outraged that an arms dealer is using Lego to teach our kids about STEM?
Outraged that our school children are being funneled into military industry careers from such a young age?
Outraged that a weapons company is using kids in STEM as cover for fulfilling their corporate and social responsibilities to Australia? – source
Here are a few things you can do:
- Lobby your school to withdraw from the FIRST Lego League program due to be held in November 2023 this year.
- Write to Lego Australia expressing your dismay that their brand is being used alongside a weapons manufacturer trying to secure their talent pipeline
- Write to First Australia requesting they give back the sponsorship payment of BAE Systems and demand they adopt an ethical partnerships policy.
- Request that FIRST Australia’s university partners put pressure on FIRST Australia to stop being sponsored by BAE Systems
- Sign our open letter to NSW Department of Education to get arms dealers out of our schools