Media release, Tuesday 12 April 2011 Today, 12 April 2011, was the first World Day of Action to reduce military expenditure. It was celebrated in over 35 countries with events of various kinds: in Washington in front of the White House, in New York in front of the UN, in Geneva, Kampala, Dacca, Séoul, etc. This World Day of Action was organized by the Institute of Political Studies (Washington) and the International Peace Bureau (based in Geneva). Over 100 groups and NGOs were involved, including Religions for Peace, Scientists for Global Responsibility, and in France the Mouvement de la Paix and Action des Citoyens pour le Désarmement Nucléaire (ACDN). This day coincides with the publication of the annual report on world military expenditure from S.I.P.R.I. (the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.) In 2009, the world spent more than 1500 billion dollars on armies and armaments, and the US alone spent nearly half of this total. Even at a moment of economic crisis, the expenditure increased. At the same time, world resources were called on by other crises: climate change, earthquakes, widespread poverty, nuclear proliferation, disease pandemics… Increasingly large sums are said to be needed to improve the lot of societies affected by war, including currently Libya, Côte d’Ivoire and Afghanistan. France in particular, a nation already capable of killing a billion people with her estimated 300 atom bombs – each of which is from 7 to 22 times more powerful than that of Hiroshima – spends annually between 5 and 6 billion euros on research and development of new weapons (new nuclear subs, new missiles, new nuclear warheads, new aircraft-carriers etc). In so doing she flouts the Non-Proliferation treaty (NPT) which she signed, incites other nations to behave the same way, and paves the way for a nuclear catastrophe in which the French people will be both accomplices and victims. France and the other military powers are placing humankind on top of a powder-keg. It is high time for these policies to change. Action des Citoyens pour le Désarmement Nucléaire (ACDN) 31, Rue du Cormier - 17100 - Saintes (FRANCE) Tel : 00 33 6 73 50 76 61
The international community will not fulfil the Millenium Goals unless it gives drastic reconsideration to its economic priorities. On 12 April 2011 the citizens of the entire world are calling on their governments to reduce military expenditure and to devote the savings to satisfying real human needs.