Archive for March, 2011

The Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, a GDAMS partner, issued a statement on the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day:

As the weapons spread, so does their use. Armed conflict, war, terrorism, and occupation are cause and consequence to the ever increasing levels of militarism and military spending around the world. While military expenditure increases, investments in conflict resolution, peace building, and development lags far behind. Armed conflict and excessive militarism prevent economic stability and sustainable livelihoods and absorb vast amounts of funding that could otherwise be spent on human security, including the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. Funds reserved for development initiatives are increasingly spent on emergency relief and rehabilitation operations to clean up after violent conflict. The high level of militarism is also inextricably linked to the reported human rights violations and the failure of peace processes.

Read the whole address here.

The Financial Times reminds us that many arms expenditures are invested fully at home:

China’s spending on internal public security overtook national defence for the first time last year, underlining Beijing’s growing concern about public unrest.

The finance ministry said, in a budget released at the weekend, that spending on public security grew 15.6 per cent to Rmb549bn ($84bn) last year, compared with defence spending that grew 7.8 per cent to Rmb533.4bn. Public security spending was Rmb34.6bn, or 6.7 per cent, over budget.

Security spending, budgeted at Rmb624bn, is this year scheduled to outpace defence, at Rmb602bn, and will be more than the combined budgets for healthcare, diplomacy and financial oversight.

This reprioritisation underscores Beijing’s nervousness at escalating public unrest. Violent riots in Xinjiang and Tibet have prompted more spending on public security forces, including paramilitary forces known as the people’s armed police.

Read the whole article here.

We are pleased to announce that GDAMS now has the support of Better World Links, an incredible database with thousands upon thousands of links to inform and direct positive social change. Our friend Norbert at BWL has set up a special page for GDAMS resources. Check it out, and share the link with your networks! Suggestions for links or other resources are welcome.

“There continues to be little transparency in the development of military budgets, and open, transparent conversations in parliaments and legislatures around the world. Defence and security budgets remain shrouded in secrecy, while ever-shrinking resource envelopes are allocated for national investment in poverty-reduction strategies, infrastructure, and social programming…”

Read more at IANSA

From the BBC:

China’s military power is keeping pace with its growing economic dominance

China is to increase its defence budget in 2011, amid fears in the region that its military might is growing.

Spending will increase by 12.7% to 601.1bn yuan ($91.5bn; £56.2bn) up from 532.1bn yuan last year, officials said.

Many analysts say China’s actual spending on defence is far higher than the government reports.

…

Beijing insists that its military modernisation programme is entirely peaceful but the latest hike in defence spending to boost the 2.3m-strong People’s Liberation Army is likely to further stir regional unease.

China is developing stealth fighters and advanced missile systems, and also plans to launch its first aircraft carrier.

China’s neighbours say that Beijing is becoming more assertive as its military develops.

Read more at the BBC.