arms trade

On 27 April the Defence Review Committee appointed by the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans published its draft report. That report is available at www.sadefencereview2012.org. On 14 May the Ceasefire Campaign made a submission to the Committee, criticising the draft report. That submission is available at www.ceasefire.org.za.

So the no-news is that for the year 2011 the total world military spending amounted to $1,74 trillion ($1,740,000,000,000) as announced by SIPRI on the 17 April - which coincided with the Global Day of Action on Military Spending. This is just a "slight" increase from last year, just 0.3 percent. According to SIPRI, this figure means that for the first year in 13 years, the world military spending has leveled out.

Through four months of fruitful outreach, fortifying and expanding the network of civil society groups that make up the Global Day on Military Spending (GDAMS) coalition, the second Global Day last Tuesday, 17 April, was a tremendous success worldwide.

Sten Tolgfors may have resigned. But no one has so far taken responsibility for the scandal of the Saudi arms factory. The fundamental problems do not disappear with the resignation of the Minister of Defence. This is a systemic crisis on full public display, where the problems inherent in the Swedish defence and arms export policy have been made unambiguously clear to all, writes Anna Ek, president of the Swedish Peace and Arbitration Society.

The National Gallery is one of Great Britain's most iconic public institutions. It is also supporting the arms trade.
Last year the National Gallery hosted an evening reception to celebrate the first day of business at DSEi, the world's largest arms fair.

Over 130 events planned in 40 countries on April 17 Actions come as new global military spending data released by Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) Action coincides with U.S. Tax Day

Washington DC/Geneva – Over 130 different actions will take place in 40 countries worldwide, with participation in over 50 cities in the United States alone. The events, which coincide with Tax Day in the United States, emphasize the staggering amount of taxpayer money that goes toward military spending. Amidst global economic and climate crises, groups will be calling for a shift in spending from war and militarism to expenditures on human need. [FULL SCHEDULE OF EVENTS HERE.]An annual report on global military spending will be released on the same day, and is expected to show an increase.

Promotional video: Global Day of Action on Military Spending

[video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xn3XsxKVPvI width: 300 height:225]

CALL FOR ACTION
 
On April 17, 2012, people all over the world will join together for the second Global Day of Action on Military Spending. We urge you to join us.
 

The current economic crisis has put pressure on the world’s governments to reduce spending on critical human needs: confronting climate change, battling deadly diseases, achieving the Millennium Development Goals. But apart from a few courageous exceptions, national governments continue to waste enormous resources on the military. Figures from the 2011 Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) annual report show that the world’s governments are spending more than ever on the military: $1,630 billion per year – and rising. If spent differently, this money would go a long way to resolving the real challenges facing our planet.

The coalition “Banca Cívica sin armas” (Civic banking without arms) was launched last December in front of the central offices of Banca Cívica (Civic Banking) in Pamplona-Iruña, State of Spain.

This coalition is formed by three collectives: SETEM Nafarroa, Iruña Group against the Palestinian War Elkartasuna Ekimena, and Alternativa Antimilitarista KEM-MOC.
The website http://www.bancacivicasinarmas.org/ was launched at the same time laying out the reasons why the three collectives joined together.

The times they are changing...following the reference to Bob Dylan's Masters of War at the Barcelona seminar now what about times they are changing? Is all the social movement militancy we are seeing this year a sign that the times are indeed changing? The Arab spring, the indignad@s/occupy movement, and many others - are they really a statement that the 99% have just had enough?

Jordi Calvo Rufanges

The 15-M movement - which began occupying city squares on May 15 - has not emerged as a movement with necessarily overt antimilitarist, pacifist or nonviolent overtones. It has, however, from its very inception declared itself as “pacifist”, and conducted its protests through “peaceful means” and “without violence”. Without having carried out a detailed analysis of what this means exactly I can say that the many thousands of people in the squares of the Spanish State, have opted to carry out actions and raise their voices without using violence.

The Seoul International Aerospace & Defence Exhibition (ADEX) was held from the 18th to 23th of October, 2011 at a Seongnam airbase.

Many organisations including; Weapon Zero Team Korea, World Without War, and PSPD Center for Peace and Disaramament hosted the 2011 Peace & Disarmament Exhibiiton “Let's Talk about Peace Now” at the Bosingak Square during the Seoul Adex, from 22th to 23th.