Mysteries of the Unseen World, currently showing at the Science Museum IMAX, is a science documentary targeted at children, and partly funded by the largest arms manufacturer in the world.

Though the film focuses on the natural world, two incongruous scenes feature advanced drones in lavish detail, while a voiceover asks us with awe to imagine a future where such technology is widespread.

You can see a short excerpt of the first drone scene in the film's trailer. What is not shown is the next sequence where a fire of unknown origin burns on the horizon, and a swarm of insect-like robots flies towards it.

Note how out of place the drone sequence is against the nature photography through the rest of the trailer, and the carefully tacit suggestion of use in warzones.

This film is part of an ongoing propaganda campaign by Lockheed Martin to normalise the public to the use of drones, with particular focus on children.

We can't stop this company from buying advertising space from commercial enterprises, but we CAN demand that our public and educational institutions refuse to broadcast such material to our children.

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Background - Drones and Lockheed Martin

- Lockhheed Martin manufactures missiles, unmanned combat drones and attack aircraft

- Even the banks stopped dealing with Lockheed Martin after they refused to stop manufacturing landmines and clusterbombs

- Lockheed Martin is going after the military drone market in a very big way

- Drones are being sold by US companies to regimes with even worse human rights records than the USA

- Unmanned drones have killed between 500 and 1,000 civilians so far

- There is no internationally agreed regulation for the use of drones and automated killing machines, which means the manufacturers need the next generation of citizens and voters to accept them as part of the normal fabric of life.



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The difference between science education and propaganda

Like a lot of people, my first experience of the science museum was on a school trip, and I have fond memories. The Science Museum hosts wonderful exibits, like the Rubbish Collection, which teach kids (and adults) about the threat of climate change and the value and science of recycling. It also displays the worst of scientific progress: the bombs, the missiles, the warplanes - which should serve as a reminder to us of the great violence science enables people to inflict.

It may be argued that if it's acceptable to inform children about V-2 missiles, or let them ride the RAF Simulator, then exposing them to drones in a film is no different.

There IS a crucial difference here, however. This movie was not a politically neutral exhibition of existing drone technology. This movie was not contextualised with historical fact. It was ostensibly a nature documentary, with positive things about drones shoe-horned into the middle. This is not science education - this film is propaganda.

I understand that institutions like the science museum rely on donations of artefacts and exhibits from technology companies like Lockheed Martin - but the line between the donation of a historical artefact musn't be blurred with the permittence of editorial control and product placement/subliminal marketing.

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The Science Museum is presenting the film as an educational product for children and schools

Not only this, they are also offering teachers free cinema tickets and popcorn to encourage them to spend part of their budget on school trips to see the film! Our tax money is directly funding this warmongering propaganda.

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On Lockheed Martin's general propaganda campaign

Mysteries of the Unseen World is just one element of a larger campaign aimed at normalising the use of drones in combat and in everyday life.

- While it's true drones can offer us many benefits, Lockheed Martin is committed to distracting us from the great harms they will also cause, and the huge profits they will generate for corporations like Lockheed Martin, who are largely funded by taxpayer money.

- Lockheed Martin also funded a controversial documentary on drones, broadcast on PBS

- Lockheed Martin sponsors IMAX cinemas in museums around the world

- Lockheed Martin isn't just going after us - they spend a lot of money on persauding our governments too

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I visited the science museum to see the film with friends, unaware of how it was funded. On discovering Lockheed's involvement I immediately asked for a refund, and to their eternal credit science museum staff were curteous and helpful. If you are in any doubt, I urge you to see the film for yourself and to request a refund if you feel as uncomfortable about it as I did.