Through four months of fruitful outreach, fortifying and expanding the network of civil society groups that make up the Global Day on Military Spending (GDAMS) coalition, the second Global Day last Tuesday, 17 April, was a tremendous success worldwide. The International Peace Bureau (IPB) and the Institute for Policy Studies (IPS) were able to convince [...]
The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, SIPRI, has published its annual calculations of global military spending. This year there is some reason for hope, as the slight increase in military spending around the world marks a major slowdown compared to global trends since September 11, 2001. Nevertheless, spending did go up from 2010, and modest cuts will not be enough to free up the resources necessary to reach the millennium development goals, nor to mark a true reversal of priorities from militarism and corporate greed to human needs and environmental sustainability.
The former Costa Rican President and 1987 Nobel Peace Prize winner has done us the honor of putting together this video in honor of the Global Day of Action on Military Spending! Without an army, Costa Rica has been able to invest public resources in the public interest – education, healthcare, development, humanity. Arias shares [...]
Our final Newsletter before the big day on April 17th is here. In it you will find a summary of the events planned around the world – we’re on every continent, in more than 35 countries with over 100 actions! You’ll also see some important reminders on how to maximize your event’s impact. We especially [...]
April 27th, 2012 
editor 
Through four months of fruitful outreach, fortifying and expanding the network of civil society groups that make up the Global Day on Military Spending (GDAMS) coalition, the second Global Day last Tuesday, 17 April, was a tremendous success worldwide. The International Peace Bureau (IPB) and the Institute for Policy Studies (IPS) were able to convince [...]
April 27th, 2012 editor The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, SIPRI, has published its annual calculations of global military spending. This year there is some reason for hope, as the slight increase in military spending around the world marks a major slowdown compared to global trends since September 11, 2001. Nevertheless, spending did go up from 2010, and modest cuts will not be enough to free up the resources necessary to reach the millennium development goals, nor to mark a true reversal of priorities from militarism and corporate greed to human needs and environmental sustainability.
April 18th, 2012 editor John Feffer’s recent article entitled “Death and Taxes” was distributed to the dozens of newspapers throughout the country that make up the McClatchy network of media outlets. After more than 50 actions took place across the US yesterday, this coverage is a great boost to the impact of the GDAMS message in the largest military [...]
April 16th, 2012 editor The former Costa Rican President and 1987 Nobel Peace Prize winner has done us the honor of putting together this video in honor of the Global Day of Action on Military Spending! Without an army, Costa Rica has been able to invest public resources in the public interest – education, healthcare, development, humanity. Arias shares [...]
April 13th, 2012 editor John Feffer from the Institute for Policy Studies published this piece on military spending and GDAMS in his weekly column, World Beat.
He focuses on the global interconnections in military spending, stating, “Any demilitarization plan must begin with the United States. As the number one military spender and arms exporter in the world, the United States is the heart that pumps the blood that keeps the military-industrial complex functioning worldwide. U.S. arms manufacturers have gamed the system to maintain their dominance. They have set up their manufacturing in as many states as possible in order to buy the support of Congress.”
April 13th, 2012 editor 
David Franco from SCRAP – the Strategic Concept for the Removal of Arms and Proliferation – penned this piece on the occasion of GDAMS, in which SCRAP will host a webinar with speakers from SIPRI, Reaching Critical Will and more. It begins at 4 PM UK time and will last two hours, so if you’re unable to attend a GDAMS action, this would be a great way to get involved! Find more info at their facebook page.
April 9th, 2012 editor 
“When I was a child, Costa Rica endured a war of its own, though it did not receive any attention in the pages housed in this building. When the war ended in 1948, Costa Rica made a voluntary decision that no other country had ever undertaken: to abolish its army and declare peace to the world. By doing this, my country promised me, and all its children, that we would never see tanks or troops in our streets. My country promised me, and all its children, that it would invest, not in the weapons of our past, but in the tools of our future; not in barracks, but in schools, hospitals, and national parks; not in soldiers, but in teachers, doctors, and park guards. My country promised to dismantle the institutions of violence, and invest in the progress that makes violence unnecessary. Quite simply, my country invested in its people.”
“This resulted not only in a healthy, educated, and free society. It resulted in concrete gains for national and regional security.”
Check out Nobel Laureate (and GDAMS endorser) Oscar Arias’ inspiring speech to the Newseum in Washington about the promise of demilitarization at FPIF.
EVENT REPORTS & PHOTOS
Photos, videos, and reports are coming in from all over the world. Check out our Event Reports page to see the worldwide success of GDAMS 2012!
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