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Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed. The world in arms is not spending money alone. It is spending the sweat of its laborers, the genius of its scientists, the hopes of its children… This is not a way of life at all, in any true sense. Under the cloud of threatening war, it is humanity hanging from a cross of iron.
— Former U.S. President, Dwight D. Eisenhower, in a speech on April 16, 1953
The arms trade is a major cause of human rights abuses. Some governments spend more on military expenditure than on social development, communications infrastructure and health combined. While every nation has the right and the need to ensure its security, in these changing times, arms requirements and procurements may need to change too.
The Arms Trade is Big Business
Last updated Sunday, November 09, 2008.
Each year, around $45-60 billion worth of arms sales are agreed. Some two-thirds of sales are made to developing countries. The 5 permanent members of the UN Security Council (US, Russia, France, United Kingdom and China), together with Germany and Italy account for over 80% of the arms sold between 2000 and 2007. Some of the arms sold go to regimes where human rights violations will occur. Corruption often accompanies arms sales due to the large sums of money involved.
Read “The Arms Trade is Big Business” to learn more.
World Military Spending
Last updated Sunday, September 13, 2009.
World military spending had reduced since the Cold War ended, but a few nations such as the US retain high level spending.
In recent years, global military expenditure has increased again and is now comparable to Cold War levels again. Recent data shows global spending at over $1.4 trillion, annually (or $1.2 trillion at constant 2005 prices).
The highest military spender is the US accounting for just under half of the world’s spending, more than the rest of the G7 (most economically advanced countries) combined, and more than all its potential enemies, combined.
Read “World Military Spending” to learn more.
Training Human Rights Violators
Last updated Tuesday, October 30, 2001.
- A US military training school, the School of the Americas, has trained many of the worst human rights violators and dictators in various Latin American countries.
- Some of the worst dictators and human rights abusers in the developing world have passed through the school's doors, including people like Roberto D’Aubisson from El Salvador and Manuel Noriega of Panama.
- The US Army maintain that the school was set up to preserve democracy.
Read “Training Human Rights Violators” to learn more.
Military Propaganda for Arms Sales
Last updated Saturday, June 21, 2003.
- Arms contractors and maintain that arms sales are essential to foster good relations and also create more jobs at home.
- Arms companies selling to one country will often demonize their neighbors. Those countries are then demonized to us so we purchase more. That does not foster good relations.
- Often, to secure a sale, the manufacture of the arms also goes to the target nation. Therefore, jobs are created, but not at home.
- Propaganda comes in various forms, often via manipulative advertising campaigns.
- Arms corporations benefit from alliances like NATO and conflicts such as Kosovo, where opportunity for sales increases.
Read “Military Propaganda for Arms Sales” to learn more.
Small Arms—they cause 90% of civilian casualties
Last updated Saturday, January 21, 2006.
- The growing availability of small arms has been a major factor in the increase in the number of conflicts.
- In modern conflicts over 80 percent of all casualties have been civilian. 90 percent of these are caused by small arms.
Read “Small Arms—they cause 90% of civilian casualties” to learn more.
A Code of Conduct for Arms Sales
Last updated Sunday, November 30, 2008.
The arms trade is one of the most corrupt trades in the world, fueling conflict and poverty. Since the early 1990s there has been efforts to review and develop arms-transfer principles and codes of conduct to ensure that arms are not sold to human rights violators. The US, EU and others have developed some codes, but they are fraught with problems, loopholes, lack of transparency and are open to corruption. There is a proposed international arms trade treaty to overcome these limitations. However, for various political and profit reasons, some nations seem unwilling to agree to a code of conduct. Proposals are growing stronger for an arms trade treaty. Will that suffer the same problem?
Read “A Code of Conduct for Arms Sales” to learn more.
Landmines
Last updated Monday, September 18, 2006.
- Civilians are the main landmine casualties.
- President Clinton, in 1994, was the first leader to call for an international ban on anti-personnel landmines. Yet in 1997 when they all met in Ottawa, Canada, to sign a treaty to ban the use, the USA weren't there. They still refuse to sign.
- Some signatories also continue to use landmines.
Read “Landmines” to learn more.
Arms Trade Links for more information
Last updated Sunday, August 29, 2004.
Read “Arms Trade Links for more information” to learn more.
Author and Page Information
- Created: Monday, July 20, 1998
- Last Updated: Sunday, September 13, 2009