Our outgoing Prime Minister Keir Starmer has just announced an extra £15 billion for military spending. The decision puts the UK on track to spend £80 billion per year on “defence” by 2029. This will be achieved by further cutting budgets at home and abroad.
At Peace Direct, we believe that governments should invest in peace, not war. The best way to achieve this is to support those building peace in their communities directly, not by buying more nuclear weapons, drones and destroyers. Weapons don’t end wars. They fuel them.
Building a secure society means actively preparing for peace. The new commitment takes us in the opposite direction. This is why, along with 54 other organisations and led by Rethinking Security, we have written to Keir Starmer – and Andy Burnham MP as the most likely successor – to ask them to stop funding war.
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As the UK Government continues funnelling money into “defence”, local peacebuilders remain committed to building long-lasting peace in their communities. Shop our store today and tell the UK Government to stop funding war!
While defence budgets continue to grow, investment in international cooperation, climate action, conflict prevention and peacebuilding has been cut. Meanwhile, the number of state-based armed conflicts has grown to 65 – the highest number since WWII.
We know from working alongside local peacebuilders that preventing conflict is not only possible – it is effective. Every day, local people are bringing communities together and reducing violence in some of the world’s most volatile places. Yet their work receives only a fraction of the investment it needs.
And it’s not just budget cuts that impact peacebuilders. The world’s largest powers, like the UK, are growing their militaries and nuclear arsenals, increasing the global arms trade. This increases tensions, and causes death and destruction, creating further instability. It enables atrocities and undoes progress. While solving none of the underlying causes of conflict, such as poverty, inequality and climate breakdown.
It’s not just us who want to build a more secure, resilient and peaceful world. Polling by Rethinking Security shows us that the UK public do not see “security” as just military spending. Instead their concerns are on day-to-day issues like affordability and health, while many still want a bigger focus on climate action and international cooperation.
Support a cooperative future today. One which supports people building lasting peace and stability in an uncertain world.
Every day, local people are bringing communities together and reducing violence in some of the world’s most volatile places.
Along with Rethinking Security and our fellow peers, we urge the UK government to do as others in Europe have done, and to take to a more productive path. One where the UK commits itself to building lasting peace and stability in an uncertain world.
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Share our letter to Keir Starmer and tell him to stop funding war.
