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.
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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.
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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.
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
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!!!
No doubt China and Russia support this call for the West to disarm itself.
These are the same nutcases who assure us that if we outlaw the guns, that criminals will meekly turn theirs in as well.
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?
What comes next after Crimean takeover and South China Sea?