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Libya: IPB condemns military strikes and urges political negociations to protect the civilian popula

21 March, 2011

A new historical era opened three months ago with the popular uprisings in Tunisia and then Egypt, the first of the ‘Arab spring’ season. These rebellions brought hope to millions and youthful energy to societies suffering decades of repression, injustice, inequality, especially gender inequality, and increasing economic hardship. The Libyan revolt was inspired by these largely nonviolent victories, but, as the world has witnessed with dismay, has rapidly become militarized and is now embroiled in a full-scale civil war. Continue reading “Libya: IPB condemns military strikes and urges political negociations to protect the civilian popula”

Nuclear Weapons: at what cost?

Ben Cramer, 2009, 150pp

Nuclear weapons not only threaten massive destruction, but they also incur enormous costs. Apart from the damage caused by blast, fire and radioactive fallout from actual use in warfare, the weapons impose major financial, moral and political costs on nuclear weapons states and countries that host the weapons. The US alone spends annually over US$ 50 billion on its nuclear arsenal, and the global annual total is around  $90 billion. At a time of global economic crisis, when the international community is also struggling to come up with ways to respond to climate challenge and dwindling energy resources, can this be the right use of public money? Nuclear Weapons: At What Cost? offers a survey of the costs of the nuclear weapons programmes of all the relevant states

Four key concept in implementing article 4 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child

By Bruce Abramson and Clara Didio, 2007

One important reason for the persistent gap between the CRC and its implementation is the failure of governments to allocate adequate resources for the realization of rights, in spite of their obligation to fulfill economic, social and cultural rights “to the maximum extent of their available resources”, as set out in CRC Art. 4. As a matter of fact,  military spending takes a far greater share of both public spending and national income in most countries, thereby diverting huge resources from programmes for children and adolescents.

Reduction of military spending, greater fairness in budget allocations for young people, as well as more transparency and accountability in government expenditures, must all become major components of efforts to promote the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Full text here.

Warfare or Welfare?

Colin Archer and David Hay-Edie, 2005, 96pp

Disarmament for Development in the 21th Century. A human security approach

Warfare or Welfare sets out information and arguments that form the basis of our DforD programme. The two main issues addressed are military spending and the effects of weapon systems on development.

Translations in French, German and Arabic are available on request

From War to Peace

Caroline Guinard, 2002, Co-published by the IPB and Nonviolence International, 176pp

From War to Peace Summary is a practical handbook for peace negotiators, either governmental or non state actors, drawing on nine specific country studies of transitions from armed conflict to peace.

Read the summary of findings here.

Peace is Possible

Fredrik S. Heffermehl, 2000

Peace is Possible aims at showing, with personal stories and practical experience recounted by people like Nelson Mandela, his holiness the Dalai Lama, Jody Williams, Daniel Ellsberg, Howard Zinn, and unknown grassroots activists, that everyone can find their way to contribute, and that the peace movement makes a real difference in today’s world.