Guest essay by Eric Worrall
The United Nations appears to think nations should stop wasting money on guns and soldiers and instead embrace funding UN climate change, economic decarbonisation and sustainability programmes.
Redirect military budgets to tackle climate change and pandemics
Governments should stop spending billions of dollars on weapons and protect citizens from the real threats they face.
Denise Garcia
20 AUGUST 2020Despite threats to human existence from climate change, biodiversity loss and a pandemic that’s devastating economies and paralysing societies, countries still spend recklessly on destructive weapons for wars they will never fight.
As an academic who advises the United Nations on arms control and the military uses of artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics, I have long argued that nations should prioritize ‘human security for the common good’ over military spending1,2. That means ensuring people can live to their full potential — economically fulfilled, politically enfranchised, in healthy environments and free from the fear of violence and pressing mortal threats such as climate change or pandemics.
…
This year must represent a turning point for national security budgets. Governments need to accept that their concept of national security sustained by a military–industrial complex is anachronistic and irrelevant. To recover from the costs of the pandemic, estimated at up to $82 trillion over the next 5 years (see go.nature.com/2q5jtyf), they should instead focus their spending on stimulus packages for decarbonization, health, education and the environment. National security budgets should be ploughed into realizing the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the 2015 Paris agreement to avert dangerous climate change. Ratifying the Arms Trade Treaty — whose member parties are meeting virtually this week — should be a first step.
…
Read more: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-02460-9
Given how badly the UN WHO bungled their Covid-19 response, the UN is the last group I’d listen to for advice on how to make the world a safer place.
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Climate change isn’t about climate:
“Isn’t the only hope for the planet that the industrialized civilizations collapse? Isn’t it our responsibility to bring that about?”
Maurice Strong, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations
“This is the first time in the history of mankind that we are setting ourselves the task of intentionally, within a defined period of time to change the economic development model that has been reigning for at least 150 years, since the industrial revolution.” –
Christiana Figueres, UN Climate Change Executive Secretary
“We’ve got to go straight to the heart of capitalism and overthrow it.
George Monbiot April 12, 2019
Steve Case has gone straight to the heart of this scam.
but climate change is also about climate change
Seasonal, annual, indeterminate period?
What climate change? Everything on this planet is well within the range of normal.
The Swiss chalets are getting more expensive every year. Make your new payment on time so we can build our private bunkers and order new private jets.
One must keep up with Kofi after all.
OK Eric, here’s the key parts of the Denise Garcia biography. She is from Brazil and is a “yogi”, has a PhD in International Relations, and advises the Crapweasels at the United Nations. Oh, and her picture reminds me of Willie Nelsen saying “I never went to bed with any ugly women but I woke up with a few”. Fight climate change instead of China? Yikes!
She’s a yogi Berra.
Only he makes sense…
She’s responsible for her ideas, not her looks. “Ugly woman” comments degrade the conversation and could cause some visitors to write off WUWT as a credible information source.
She’s responsible for her ideas, not her looks.
Bingo!
Besides that skeptics don’t have to exaggerate, lie or in anyway buy in to the notion that CO2. methane and climate change represent a problem.
To quote Jack Webb’s Sgt Joe Friday, “Just the facts Ma’am”
But I would like to copy that Willie Nelsen quote !
– JPP
Willie Nelson
My favorite Willie Nelson story was when he came home drunk, with the smell of another woman on him, crashed into bed a slept. His wife sewed him up in the sheet, then took a baseball bat and beat him until she drug him out to the sidewalk, still inside the sheet, and called the cops. This is an example of failed attitude change, and is also relevant to the failure of climate change advocates.
“She’s responsible for her ideas, not her looks.”
Totally agree, Ralph. It’s basically anonymous cowardice to poke fun at someone’s looks when no one can see you.
Agreed that “She’s responsible for her ideas, not her looks” So calling her ugly on that basis is totally uncalled for. Calling her ugly for her ugly ideas on the other hand, would have been perfectly fine. And make no mistake, most proponents of CAGW have at their heart ugly anti-human, anti-freedom ideas.
Care to post your portrait, Ron?
I have a better idea. Divert any money that might get sent to the UN and use it for disease research and treatment. Starve the beast that wants to turn the world into a worse place.
Now that would make a difference.
The irony is that such a comment should ideally be taken as a joke but the the UN has drifted so far into hyperventilation space that it is actually a serious option.
https://tass.com/world/1180059
18 JUL, 12:40
UN Secretary General initiates New Global Deal for fairer world order
+42
defund the UN is the one defund movement I support.
Can’r wait for this to be a UN treaty proposal, i look forward to China convincing them with an argument it shouldn’t apply to a small developing nation such as themselves.
Following the 80/20 rule then begin with the armies of Russia and China as they are the largest and have allways voiced their intent to change the world through the barrel of a gun. The May Day parades are not necessary considering the huge expensive displays of armaments and soldiers and the savings can go towards climate mitigation (whatever that is). As these countries profess collectivist and solialist values then they can lead by example to ‘save the planet’ so that Russia can stop producing oil and gas and China can stop burning coal in it’s myriad coal fired power stations.
The IPCC/UNFCCC and UN are all the same. Their motivation is suppressing the West, specifically the US, and arises from the envy of capitalistic successes coupled with concern that Western freedom is an impediment to the globalization around Socialist/Marxist policies they want to achieve and control.
“The IPCC/UNFCCC and UN are all the same. Their motivation is suppressing the West”
Their real intention is to gain more political power for themselves and that necessarily requires that the West and Democratic values be suppressed.
The UN has devovled into authoritarianism and they are seeking as much control of the lives of human beings as is possible, and Human-caused Climate Change is a perfect vehicle for them.
If the UN thinks it is a good idea to cut military budgets, they should start with their own.
There are a lot of forces lined up against the West: The UN; the Leftwing political parties of the West; and all the bad actors around the world. What do they all have in common? They all want to control every aspect of your life. They want you to obey or they will destroy you. Your personal freedoms mean nothing to these people.
Trump is our best defense against these people. We better get him elected again, or all freedom-loving people are going to have BIG problems. Trump is the only impediment to a Leftist/Socialist/Authoritarian takeover of the West and the destruction of the United States.
When will the world call out the UN to get back to their intended mission of maintaining peace between countries? There’s been MORE wars since their inception then before. They’ve overstepped their function in every conceivable way except preventing wars and have grown into a body larger than many countries’ governments. Their stated goal of being the “One World Government” should bring chills to everybody. It’s nothing more than a reincarnation of The League of Nations and it’s past time for them to dissolve. The USA has been their whipping boy since inception yet it contributes more to their existence than any other country. Time to move on the UN.
https://tass.com/world/1180059
18 JUL, 12:40
UN Secretary General initiates New Global Deal for fairer world order
https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/press-encounter/2020-05-28/the-secretary-generals-press-conference-the-prime-ministers-of-canada-and-jamaica-financing-for-development-the-era-of-covid-19-and-beyond
Defund the police V2.0
Decarbonization is one of those words that just boils my blood. Why have we been brought to a place so evil as to think that to get rid of carbon (us, etc.) is a good thing. Hell who need to eat when you can have a one world govt to supply you with Vienna sausage in a can for weeks on end. Seems like Australia is the testing ground for one world nonsense . I feel for them but they must stick up for themselves , Wear the mask do the dance and be happy we let you out every once in a while. They seem so few in numbers, so how does this madness continue, so few with so much makes it tough.
Yes it should be Decarbondioxideation.
I thought that’s what you meant.
– JPP
I can imagine the European culural elites getting their sticky fingers into someone else’s money. It would be a nirvana moment for them that would truly demonstrate their status vis-à-vis the grubby colonialists.
China first there Denise? North Korea or Iran second?
“That means ensuring people can live to their full potential…”
I’m pretty sure that civilized people living in civilized societies are doing this on every day that ends in ‘y’. And we’re doing this without any assistance and/or “input” from the UN.
What happens if your country can’t afford to defend itself? It gets overrun by someone else.
As Britain was preparing to be invaded, things were dire. The Home Guard had a bit of artillery but almost no ammunition. The crews couldn’t even afford one round for practice. link
For whatever reason, Britain was spared. I’m guessing she didn’t have anything useful, like oil for instance.
Rather, let’s divert the UN budget to military sustainability!
This can only come from a person that does not have a clue about the reasons that lead to the UN foundation and the main justification for its existence.
Let the UN lead the way by abolishing the IPCC which is just as dangerous, if not more so, as anything they have listed
Most of NATO aside from the US did this a while ago. Time to disband NATO unless all members either meet their commitments or pay us the difference.
Let’s not forget…
U.N. Geneva tweeted: “UN #HumanRights experts express profound concern over a recent statement by the US Attorney-General describing #Antifa and other anti-fascist activists as domestic terrorists, saying it undermines the rights to freedom of expression and of peaceful assembly in the country.”
…..but of course this is fine…
“China has been appointed to a panel on the controversial U.N. Human Rights Council, where it will help vet candidates for important posts”
…….and of course this too is just dandy…
“It came under fresh criticism last year when Venezuela, a country plagued by poverty and mass human rights abuses under the regime of dictator Nicolas Maduro, was elected to the Council.”
…..nothing to see here, everything’s normal.
Cherry on the cake, next year Turkey has the Presidency of the UN general assembly…… yayyyy!!!
“U.N. Geneva tweeted: “UN #HumanRights experts express profound concern over a recent statement by the US Attorney-General describing #Antifa and other anti-fascist activists as domestic terrorists”
Antifa is not anti-fascist, they are fascists themselves. It’s 1984 Doublespeak. Fascists now claim to be anti-fascists. And UN bureaucrats echo this sentiment.
The truth is Antifa and these other violent organizations are terrorists, and should be designated as such, and they are being funded by George Soros and other Leftwing Biliionaires who want to see the destruction of Western Democracy, so it can be replaced with a One-World government run by themselves.
I think Attorney General Barr is looking hard at these organizations. Like Newt Gingrich said the other day: The way to stop these terrorists is to keep locking them up until there are no more left to lock up. That won’t take long. The hard-core anarchists are small in numbers. But even small numbers of anarchists can cause a lot of havoc if the local authorities don’t do anything to stop them. Lock them up!
No doubt China and Russia support this call for the West to disarm itself.
So much so, that they are going to disarm first.
I saw a report this morning where the Chicoms are planning on doubling their nuclear weapons capabilities over the next few years.
Perhaps the UN should speak to the Chicoms about their military spending. The UN should tell the Chicoms to do away with their military. The Chicoms would get a good laugh out of that one.
All this “getting rid of the military spending” is aimed at the Western Democracies. The rest of the world will laugh at the suggestion.
These are the same nutcases who assure us that if we outlaw the guns, that criminals will meekly turn theirs in as well.
If you outlaw guns than only criminals will have guns. by definition.
Outlawing guns will make the world safe … for criminals.
The punchline for me… defund the military, and give that money to the Green Climate Fund.
“A substantial part of military expenditure and expertise should be diverted, to renewable energy programmes, climate mitigation and adaptation projects and humanitarian aid for natural disasters and COVID-19 recovery. Governments should put some of this arms money into the Green Climate Fund, for instance, to help low- and middle-income countries to meet their Paris pledges.”
Tell you what .. I’ll supply a Swiss bank account number for all the money currently used for warfare to be sent to ..
… and I promise, these wars will end.
PS you have to send it all or it won’t work.
Declaring that wars should be fought according to Queensberry Rules? Seriously?
These guys don’t even do politics by Queensbury rules.
What comes next after Crimean takeover and South China Sea?
Restoring eastern Europe to it’s rightful place as part of the Russian empire. Germany and France will join voluntarily.