Today is Anti-War Day. It commemorates the beginning of the Second World War on September 1, 1939.
Heinz Bierbaum, the President of the European Left, comments:
Even 83 years later, in 2022, the global struggle for peace is still a central issue. We live in a new age of the arms race. Military-industrial complexes everywhere are rubbing their hands with glee. The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) reported that already the 2021 global military budget surpassed US$2.1 trillion for the first time. The Russian invasion has provided just another pretext for massively increased arms spending — and it’s maybe a great news for weapons manufacturers’ profits but a catastrophe for the ordinary people. While some make huge profits with death, investments for public services, climate, health, measures to protect the poorest population from inflation are missing out.
We also have to disarm for the climate. There should be no exceptions for the military in the climate agreements. The military, armaments industry and war destroy the environment as the basis of life and human security and contribute significantly to the climate catastrophe. In view of the dangers, a new policy of detente is more than necessary!
The Party of the European Left (EL) says stop the war! Peace and solidarity for the people of Ukraine and worldwide! The lesson of history is never Again war. We therefore demand the end of the war. An immediate ceasefire is needed to pave the way for negotiations and a political solution. We need a global policy of detente, and an end to the new armament spiral! We need a peaceful world and therefore a new policy of detente. In addition, World Peace Day should be celebrated as a European holiday.
