Excessive
military spending reduces the available financial reserves for health,
education, and other human needs. For poor countries, it increases poverty,
unemployment, and destitution. It also strengthens dictatorial tendencies
in politics and acts against democratic values. If we want to achieve peace,
eliminate poverty, decrease inequality, and achieve social justice, we should
devote all our energies to reducing military spending and using the released
resources for economic development. For that, we need a concerted effort to
encourage disarmament.


This new
volume provides reflections and insights from
leading public figures and activists who oppose military expenditure in any
form. Many of the contributions to this volume were presented as speeches at
the 'Disarm!
For a Climate of Peace' meeting
held in Berlin in 2016, organized by the International Peace Bureau. The volume also includes additional research-oriented chapters to complement the transcripts
from the International Peace Bureau meeting.