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changed political climate, after Sept. 11, has
the world focusing too much on defense and less
on sustainable
development, was a conclusion drawn by a panel
during the third preparatory meeting (PrepCom 3)
for the
World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD).
During the animated discussion, entitled "Reduce
Military Budgets, Redirect Funding to Development," that
took place at UN headquarters in New York City,
representatives of international nongovernmental
organizations (NGOs)
spoke of the harm caused by military consumption
and production. Audience members were as passionate
intheir contributions to the meeting as Rashmi
Mayur, of the Global Futures Network and Pauline
Cantwell
of the Peace Caucus -- the two scheduled speakers.
The panel discussion resulted in a brainstorming
session for the NGO representatives present.
"The
money of the planet is going towards destroying the
planet," stressed Mayur. He informed those present
that the US government's defense budget was at $
800 billion and this is projected to rise to one
trillion dollars by 2005.
Mayur also addressed the environmental damage
caused by military consumption and production.
He said 32 percent of damage to the planet has
been caused by the military since World War II,
though he stressed that this damage did not occur
during war.
Even
though Mayur targeted and criticized the Bush
administration's
defense budget, he said
that the US president is not solely to blame.
He faulted governments' new found nervousness
over the fight against terrorism, for increasing
defense budgets. Mayur said that countries "arming
themselves to the teeth," such as India,
Pakistan and countries in the Middle East, should
be challenged for their expansion in weaponry.
"This summit [WSSD] is more important than
just environment and development. It is about
our future," he said. He added that the
eventual failure to implement decisions made
at the Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit in 1992 was
not the fault of governments and the UN alone.
NGOs were also to blame, he said. He appealed
to the NGO representatives present to find ways
to make the reduction of military consumption
and production a priority at the Johannesburg
meeting.
Cantwell
seemed to share the sentiments of Mayur. Speaking
of environmental degradation, she said
landmines in areas of conflict were a serious
problem. Landmines stay active for decades and
render the land unusable, she noted. Putting
this example in the context of everyday life
in New York she said, "If there were two
landmines in Central Park, we would not be able
to use the Park."
Armies
plant landmines and subsequently leave the
area,
thus creating a problem for the area's
inhabitants, she said. "There is no accountability
for the military," she asserted. "They
operate above the law." She also pointed
out that the military bases are not held accountable
for the pollution they create -- especially outside
the US.
Cantwell added that chemicals used during warfare
have adverse consequences on both the environment
and its inhabitants. She cited the example of
Agent Orange, an herbicide manufactured for the
military and used during the Vietnam War. She
passed around articles and photographs of Vietnamese
farmers who's children had suffered birth defects
due to the chemical. However, armies were not
the only culprit, Cantwell said. Corporations
that manufacture weapons should also be held
responsible.
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