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Demilitarization

Global Mobilization Kicks Off To #StopLockheedMartin

April 23, 2022 David Swanson, World Beyond War. , ,
Today, the day of Lockheed Martin’s annual meeting, begins a week of actions around the world. These included a demonstration and a petition delivery at the company’s headquarters in Bethesda, Maryland, this morning. Reports, photos, and videos from actions around the world are being posted athttps://act.worldbeyondwar.org/stoplockheedmartin Activists delivered a petition to Lockheed Martin’s headquarters during its (virtual) annual general meeting, calling on Lockheed to begin work on conversion to non-deadly industries. They held colorful banners, and demonstrated in front of the Bethesda, Maryland, building, and then paraded half a mile to an overpass and displayed their banners over the highway (I-270) with messages including “Lockheed Martin weapons terrorize the world.”

Biden Has The Authority To Help Demilitarize Police But Isn’t Using It

April 22, 2022 Stephen Semler, Speaking Security. , , ,
Even if Biden’s record wasn’t what it was, he’d still be responsible for the more than $1.72 billion in combat gear that’s gone out through the 1033 program since its inception. This is because as president, Biden could easily recall all this military equipment by issuing an executive order. The 1033 program isn’t a sales program—it only authorizes the Pentagon to loan military gear to police. The militarized equipment transferred through 1033 remains Pentagon property regardless of how long the matériel has been in police custody. Put simply, Biden is free to order the Pentagon to take all its stuff back. That’s why the values in the chart below are cumulative. That Biden isn’t using his presidential authority to revoke the combat gear on loan to police through the Pentagon’s 1033 program makes him responsible for all of it—not just the military gear that has been loaned out since he’s been in office (>$106 million).

A Global Demand To 35 Governments: Get Your Troops Out Of Afghanistan

February 22, 2021 David Swanson, Antiwar.com. , , ,
The governments of Albania, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mongolia, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, Ukraine, UK, and US all still have troops in Afghanistan and need to remove them. These troops range in number from Slovenia’s 6 to the United States’ 2,500. Most countries have fewer that 100. Apart from the United States, only Germany has over 1,000. Only five other countries have more than 300. Governments that used to have troops in this war but have removed them include New Zealand, France, Jordan, Croatia, North Macedonia, and Ireland.

Lessons From The November 2019 U.S.-Backed Coup In Bolivia

February 6, 2021 Natalia Schuurman, Alliance for Global Justice. , , ,
In October of 2020, the Movement Towards Socialism (acronymed MAS in Spanish) returned to power 11 months after the U.S.-backed far-right coup regime of Jeanine Áñez ousted Evo Morales and his government during Bolivia’s November 2019 elections. The MAS party restored majority control over Bolivia’s legislature, and MAS candidate Luis Arce won the presidential election by a landslide victory, earning about 55% of the vote against the two main anti-MAS candidates, center-right ex-president Carlos Mesa (who received almost 29%) and far-right Luis Camacho (who received only 14%). The right-wing opposition had expected the vote to be close enough to force a run-off election, in which the hope was that the anti-MAS vote would consolidate to elect Mesa over Arce.

On This Day Of Thanks And Mourning, A Call To Demilitarize The US Border

November 30, 2019 By Tara Tabassi and Mariam Iskajyan, Commondreams.org , ,
One year ago this week, as families across the country were preparing to sit down together for a Thanksgiving (or Day of Mourning) meal, families at the U.S.-Mexico border were facing a potentially deadly threat; just one day prior, Donald Trump had authorized U.S. troops to use lethal force against migrants and asylum seekers. Since then, the militarization of the southern border has only intensified. Approximately 7,000 military service members are now stationed there, operating under continued unclear rules of engagement and nebulous legal authority to surveil, detain, and even kill.

Mexico: Indigenous Demand Demilitarization Of Zapatista’s Lands

June 3, 2019 Staff, Telesurenglish.net , , , ,
A "Global Action" is being carried out in defense of Mexican indigenous peoples' right to land, territory and autonomy. International networks supporting the Indigenous Council of Government (CIG) and the National Indigenous Congress (CNI), organizations that emerged from the Zapatista Army of National Liberation (EZLN), are protesting Friday in a "Global Action" in defense of land, territory and autonomy of Indigenous peoples and communities of Mexico. In San Cristobal de las Casas, hundreds of people protested in the main square changting: "Chiapas is not a barrack, get out military," and "we want schools and not military."

Two Koreas Begin Verifying Removal Of DMZ Guard Posts: Defense Ministry

December 15, 2018 By Dagyum Ji, Nknews.org , , ,
North and South Korea began a mutual on-site verification of the trial withdrawal and disarmament of 22 guard posts (GPs) along the demilitarized zone (DMZ) on Wednesday, the ROK Ministry of National Defense (MND) announced the same day. The verification process follows the completed demolition by November 30 of 10 GPs on either side of the DMZ as part of the two Koreas’ implementation of September’s joint military agreement. Seoul and Pyongyang originally agreed to destroy a total of 22 GPs from the area, but after withdrawing firearms, equipment, and all personnel decided to leave two standing for historic purposes.

‘Not Your Average Demonstration’: Faith Leaders Arrested Demanding Demilitarization Of US Border

December 11, 2018 By Julia Conley, Commondreams.org , , , ,
"In the face of unfounded fear, racism, and violence, courageous action is necessary." Dozens of faith leaders were arrested at the U.S.-Mexico border in California on Monday after they confronted border patrol agents, demanding the demilitarization of the area and calling on the Trump administration to end its detention and deportation of asylum-seekers. "How we act in these moments determines who we will become as a nation." —Bishop Minerva G. Carcaño More than 400 religious leaders and immigrant rights advocates attended the Human Rights Day protest, with many carrying signs reading "Love Knows No Borders" and "No Cages, No Walls."

World Scholars, Artists, Activists Call For Demilitarization Of Okinawa

September 11, 2018 Staff, Consortiumnews.com , , , ,
In January 2014, more than one hundred scholars, peace activists and artists from around the world issued a statement condemning the Japanese and U.S. governments’ plans to close MCAS Futenma, which is located in the middle of a congested urban neighbourhood, and build a new base for the US Marine Corps offshore from the coastal village of Henoko in Northern Okinawa. While we applauded shutting the Futenma base, we strongly objected to the idea of relocating it inside Okinawa. Okinawa has suffered at Japanese and American hands for more than a century. It was incorporated by force into both the pre-modern Japanese state in 1609 and into modern Japan in 1879. In 1945, it was the scene of the final major battle of World War Two, resulting in the deaths of between one-third and one-quarter of its population.

Global Days Of Action On Military Spending U.S. CALL

March 18, 2017 Joseph Gerson, www.demilitarize.org , , ,
By Joseph Gerson for Global Campaign On Military Spending - Trump and Congressional Republicans are preparing to eliminate any restraints in the Pentagon’s budget, while also reducing spending for essential social services, from housing and medical care to environmental protection to education. Projected cuts in social services could be as hight as $10.5 trillion over the coming decade. Even without the proposed increases in military spending, the Pentagon’s budget equals the combined total of the world’s next eight largest military spenders. Add to this the “Overseas Contingency Operation” funding for the military interventions from Syria and Iraq to Libya and Yemen, Department of Energy spending for nuclear weapons, and the black budget for “intelligence”

How To Counter Recruitment And De-Militarize Schools

February 11, 2016 David Swanson, www.davidswanson.org , ,
By David Swanson for Let's Try Democracy - U.S. military recruiters are teaching in public school classrooms, making presentations at school career days, coordinating with JROTC units in high schools and middle schools, volunteering as sports coaches and tutors and lunch buddies in high, middle, and elementary schools, showing up in humvees with $9,000 stereos, bringing fifth-graders to military bases for hands-on science instruction, and generally pursuing what they call "total market penetration" and "school ownership."

Call For Portsmouth Naval Shipyard To Stop Building Weapons

October 26, 2015 Lisa Savage, www.went2thebridge.blogspot.com ,
By Lisa Savage for Went 2 The Bridge - I was delighted to have a day to join the Maine Peace Walk: Militarization of the Seas on Saturday October 24, 2015. A high energy opening circle kicked off the final day of the walk which began two weeks prior in Ellsworth, Maine. Jun-san's joyful dancing and her leadership along with other members of the Nipponzan order of Buddhists was much appreciated. And everyone enjoyed the tunes offered by the Leftist Marching Band. The band followed the walk all the way to the front gate of the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine where we stood across the street during the shift change. Hundreds of workers saw our message.

Harry Belafonte Joins Justice League NYC For March 2 Justice

April 19, 2015 Evelyn Diaz, www.bet.com , , ,
Harry Belafonte will join the Justice League NYC for its "March 2 Justice" event later this month. On April 13, members and supporters of the organization will engage in a 250-mile walk to deliver the Justice Package to Congress. The Justice Package is calling for three new pieces of federal legislation: Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA), the End Racial Profiling Act and the Stop Militarizing Law Enforcement Act. Marchers will journey through five states until they reach their final stop in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, April 21. Organizers are planning to gather in Newark, New Jersey; Philadelphia; Lincoln University in Pennsylvania; and Baltimore as part of the March2Justice. Their messages states, “We march for all the lives lost to police violence, we march to end racial profiling, to demilitarize our police forces, and to demand meaningful investment in our youth and communities.”

People Call For Demilitarization Of Springfield, Mass

August 30, 2014 Dan Warner, www.masslive.com , , ,
SPRINGFIELD — “Disarm the police! No justice, no peace!” protestors shouted at passing cars Thursday evening on the corner of State Street and Walnut Street. Cars, buses and even a police cruiser honked in support of the 75 protestors, who held signs showing solidarity with Ferguson, Missouri, protestors outside of the Arise for Social Justice offices. The protest focused on police militarization, misconduct and racial profiling issues. Protestors read poetry, gave speeches and led songs with a microphone hooked up to a loudspeaker on the corner. One organizer said that at a similar rally, a man came up to him and said police misconduct issues might be important in Ferguson, but don’t exist in Springfield. “If you or someone you know has been the victim of police violence or misconduct in the last year, raise your hand,” he called into the microphone. At least two dozen hands went up in the crowd.
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