07/11/2017 |

New documents for campaigners

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Two new documents for the Cut Milex campaign are now available: A Handbook on Cut Milex lobbying strategies to influence decision-makers, and a Social Network toolkit on how to use social networks to challenge political representatives on military spending issues. You can also download them from the Cut Milex material webpage.

Much of the money locked into the military sector should be redirected and made available for peace and disarmament sectors as well as in public services such as health and education.

The IPB five directions to redirect military resources include peace, disarmament, conflict prevention and resolution and human securitysustainable development and anti-poverty programmes; mitigation and adaptation on a climate change and biodiversity loss scenario; social programmes, human rights defence, and gender equality and green job-creation, and humanitarian efforts to assist refugees, migrants and other vulnerable populations.

The Handbook on Cut Milex lobbying strategies is a documents for campaigners with the aim of  introducing the military spending debate in Parliaments. Actions are usually organized in October-November, coinciding with the discussion period of National Budgets in Parliaments. It is to not only to raise awareness about military spending, but also encourage politicians in Parliaments to take actions against it and to redirect part of the Milex budget to human needs. The idea is to generate powerful messages, in order to impact politicians and decision-makers, and to attract strong media coverage. Given that the political situation varies among countries, and given the lack of intergovernmental agreements and treaties to limit Military Spending, national-level action is vital. The handbook presents clear recommendations on who to lobby and how to lobby.

The Social network toolkit provides campaigners a set ideas and specific, ready-to-use material on how to use social networks to challenge political representatives on military spending issues. The aim is to convince key policy-makers in different countries to vote or take a stand against military expenditure, to challenge political representatives and members of parliaments on  military spending issues, and to inform them about peace culture issues. The document focuses on twitter actions.

We need to involve even more citizens and organisations in an open and robust debate on the counter-productive results of military expenditure. More than ever, we need new partners to work on the ongoing Global Campaign on Military Spending (GCOMS). Please visit our GCOMS webpage and send us any new idea or suggestion you may have!