Geneva, June 12, 2007.  The International Peace Bureau (IPB) expressed profound concern at the announcement yesterday by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute at the launch of its annual Yearbook (www.sipri.org) that world military expenditures in 2006 reached a new high of $1204 billion. This represents an increase of 3.5% over the 2005 figure, and is 37% more than a decade ago. The USA accounted for nearly half the total, with $529 billion. These amounts constitute a huge treasury that should be re-directed to the fight against mass poverty and the threat of climate change, according to the IPB.

The UN's Millennium Project (2005) has estimated that the annual costs of meeting the Millennium Development Goals by the target date of 2015 are of the order of $135 billion per year, little more than 10% of the money currently allocated to the military sector.

“In a year in which public awareness of the accelerating impacts of climate change has rocketed, the continued investment of human brainpower and financial resources in narrow, weapons-system 'security' on this gargantuan scale is nothing short of scandalous”, said IPB Secretary-General Colin Archer. “One has only to look at the deteriorating situation in Iraq to appreciate that pouring billions more dollars into a failed military occupation will simply increase the levels of killing and desperation in the whole region. Another way has to be found. Redirecting the US's spending priorities would send a powerful signal to states on all continents who, with few exceptions, prefer to build up their military arsenals rather than reallocate their budgets.”

The IPB, whose main programme is entitled Sustainable Disarmament for Sustainable Development, is working to build an international civil society alliance to bring together peace, anti-poverty and environmental organisations. The purpose is to press for an end to the over-funding of military establishments and for the creation of new funds to tackle human insecurity and common threats to the planet. IPB will organise a seminar on this theme at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Egypt, on November 11-12, 2007.

World-Wide Data on Military Spending

Military Spending Projections 2006-2011

Table on World & Regional Military Expenditure, 1994-2003

15 Major Spenders 2004

Countries with Highest Military Spending in the World

CIA List of Military Expenditures for All Countries as % of GDP

Military Spending in the World

Graphs on Military Spending

SIPRI-Methodology for Comparison of Government Priorities

SIPRI-The Reporting of Military Expenditure Data

Country-Specific Data on Military Spending

Algeria Boosts Military Spending

Australia Military Spending Rises 3 Percent Per Annum from Year 2000

Canada's Alarming Rise in Military Spending

China Increases Military Spending More Than 14 Percent in 2006

Germany: Das Bombengeschäft - Steigende Militärausgaben

India Raises Military Spending 7.2 Percent 2006-7

Israel and Egypt Receive Most US Military Aid

US Military Aid to Israel

Japan Low Military Spending Underscores Dependence on US

Russian Military Spending 2005-2006

Venezuela Wants Biggest Army in America

Military Spending in Developing Countries

Military Spending in OECDs

Data on US Military Spending

US Military Spending vs the World

Military Spending in the USA

The Runaway US Military Budget

US Spending Priorities Are Distorted

US-2007 Domestic Programs Take the Hit

Where US Tax Dollars Go

The US - What It Means to be Number 1

Highlights of 2007 Pentagon Spending Request

Private Military Contractors by Alex Krauss

Military vs Social Spending

Military Spending and Homelessness

World Council of Churches - World Military Expenditures, Education & Health

Missing the Mark - Rich Countries' Contribution to Universal Primary Education by 2015

Financing Education

Military Spending vs the Rights of the Child

Action Plan for Governments to Fulfil Medium-Term Development Goals for Children

IPB Paper on Four Key Concepts Art 4 of Convention on Rights of the Child

IPB Memo to UN Committee on Rights of the Child Re Ehiopia Jan '07

Guide for NGOs Reporting to the CRC

Monitoring Implementation of Convention on Rights of the Child -- Nine Country Case Studies

Networking for Children's Rights - A Guide for NGOs

South Africa - Childrens' Budget 2006

Human vs National Security

Military Spending vs Human Security, PPT Notes by Elizabeth Skons

Human Tide, the Real Migration Crisis - A Christian Aid Report

Warfare or Welfare Ch 1 - The Human Security Concept, & a Critique

Conflict Diamonds & Human Security in Sierra Leone

NGO Calls to Action

Don't Spend Money on War - Use It for Peace

Warfare or Welfare Ch 3 - Military Spending & the Costs of Militarism