{"id":39,"date":"2013-01-22T21:31:20","date_gmt":"2013-01-22T21:31:20","guid":{"rendered":"\/?page_id=39"},"modified":"2021-03-12T22:01:53","modified_gmt":"2021-03-12T22:01:53","slug":"gdams-2020-statement","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/demilitarize.org.uk\/staging\/1381\/gdams-2020-statement\/","title":{"rendered":"GDAMs 2020 statement"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Global days of action on military spending<\/h2>\n\n\n
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How to spend the military budget better<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n
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The current figures from SIPRI<\/a><\/strong> put global military spending at  <\/i>$1.9 trillion in 2019, <\/strong>the largest annual increase in a decade. equivalent to 2.2 per cent of the global gross domestic product (GDP) or $249 per person.  Here you can find a full record<\/a><\/strong> of military spending since 1988<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The UK ranked eighth, spending \u00a345 billion<\/strong> i<\/a>n 2018\/2019.  During this time of Covid-19 we have all become more aware of the political decisions which have shaped where public money is, and is not, spent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute <\/a><\/b>Yearbook<\/a><\/strong> on military spending.<\/b><\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n

British government 2020 Budget showing \u00a355 billion now earmarked for ‘defence’: <\/strong>full details here<\/a> <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The UK ranks 2nd the in the SIPRI global arms sales<\/a> <\/strong>list, with 9.6% of the global share.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For too long we have lived with the myth that high military spending maintains peace, creates jobs and combats terrorism. This myth is promoted by governments and by multinational arms companies who benefit from the global arms trade politically and economically. It prevents the money being spent on tackling real challenges such as relieving poverty, improving health, and protecting the environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We come together<\/a>, as people concerned with peace, social justice, healthcare and environmental justice, to call for a new approach to our common security that will tackle the real problems of our world; an approach which addresses the root causes of conflict, including environmental problems, healthcare, inequality and access to resources. Military responses, with their real and hidden costs, do not help; they threaten human security. Take a look at Rethinking Security<\/strong><\/a> for more on this.<\/p>\n\n\n

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We call for<\/h2>\n\n\n\n