Peace Economy ProjectSome Peace Economy Progress in 2009; Many Challenges in 2010
by Charles Kindleberger
1/31/2010
The Year 2009 will be remembered for many things – the challenge of health care reform, 10 percent unemployment rates, failure to make significant progress on climate control, and much more. For those in the Peace Community, the new year is a chance to celebrate some victories during 2009, even as we lament the setbacks. The beginning of a new year is also an opportunity to renew our commitment towards progress during 2010.
President Obama came to office in January 2009 determined to have the country adopt a more cooperative, multi-lateral approach to world problems, and to stand up to the excesses of the military industrial congressional complex. What is the record?
Nuclear War. In April 2009 President Obama gave an impressive speech in Prague. He articulated his dream of a world in which there were no nuclear weapons and his commitment to work towards that goal. He spoke of the importance of stopping proliferation of nuclear weapons and the comprehensive test ban treaty.
Much of the year was then spent negotiating what should follow the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START), which terminated on December 5th 2009. Reportedly the United States and Russia are close to an agreement, which would reduce strategic nuclear weapons from 2200 to 1600 on each side, and delivery systems (bombers, submarines, and land based missiles) to 800 each. At year’s end things turned more pessimistic as Prime Minister Putin suggested that a new START treaty might be possible only if the US gave more in terms of missile defense.
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3 Steps to a Peace Economy
by Andy Heaslet, PEP Coordinator
Adapted from a presentation to attendees of the Memorial of the 64th anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Columbia, MO on August 8th, 2009.
I’ve said it many time, instead of a War Economy, we should shift towards a Peace Economy.
What does that mean, though? And how do we get there?
A Peace Economy, well, a Peace Economy wouldn’t make profit off of making instruments of war. Wouldn’t profit off of inciting and supporting international arms races. Wouldn’t profit off of fear-mongering and hate.
In a sentence, a Peace Economy would place the needs and priorities of the people ahead of the needs of war profiteers.
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About PEACE ECONOMY PROJECT
The Peace Economy Project is a 501(c)3 non profit organization that researches military spending, educates about the hazards of an unchecked military-industrial complex and advocates for conversion from a military to a more stable peace-based economy. We focus our attention on local weapons manufacturing and its connection to global militarization. We collaborate with other organizations to raise consciousness of where our tax dollars are invested and to encourage others to reinvest in their communities.
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Priority Projects
These are among PEP's top research interests.
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Boeing Awareness
The St. Louis hosts the weapons divisions of this major military contractor, responsible for a variety of missiles and fighter planes. Boeing is involved in jet, space, missile, and bomb manufacture and sales. The Peace Economy Project tracks the activities and contracts of this company and seeks to show the connections between its activities and world events. While several groups track the arms trade, only the Peace Economy Project focuses on Boeing.
Instead of War
PEP is part of the St. Louis Instead Of War Coalition. Over twelve organizations participate in this collaboration, which advocates for nonviolent alternatives to war. The coalition connects the questions of war in Iraq with both domestic and local consequences through organizing rallies and nonviolent direct actions.
Other Research Topics
These are topics on which PEP has done work in the past but to which, due to limited resources, we devotes less time. These include: Analysis of Military Budget * The Arms Trade around the World * * Nuclear Weapons * Landmines * South and Central American issues * The Environment * Weapons in Space * Other St Louis Area Defense Contractors
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